Volunteer with MAKE: Good for you - Good for the earth

Author: Giselle Ortega

On what seemed like just a normal Saturday morning, the MAKE community came together once again for another Volunteer Day. With gloves on and good energy all around, I went around asking a few volunteers why they decided to spend their weekend helping out. Their responses were heartfelt: “I like being outside, helping, supporting the community, and getting to know people.” Another one said, “to gain experience working on a farm” because someday, they dream of having one of their own. 

MAKE Projects is all about connecting people through food, farming, and community. That’s exactly what the day felt like. Some volunteers discovered MAKE from friends and others stumbled upon the old restaurant on 30th St in North Park. Each story was different, but everyone arrived with the same goal: to give back and get their hands dirty (literally). 

The day’s tasks were flipping garden beds and direct seeding beets, and were simple yet satisfying. There was something special about seeing everyone work together, laughing as they learned the right way to do things. As one volunteer put it, “People working together can accomplish anything.”

When I asked about their favorite part of the day, the answers were: “Seeding–it feels good to see food being planted that we’ll eventually eat.”, “Flipping beds–it’s fun!”, and “Meeting new people–old friends and new friends” 

By the afternoon, the farm looked transformed, and so did the volunteers. What started as a morning of work turned into a shared experience of connection, teamwork, and purpose. One person summed it up perfectly, “It’s just beautiful–the plants, the soil, the people.” 

If you’ve ever wanted to give back, learn something new, or just spend a day surrounded by good people and good energy, MAKE Farm is the place to be. Whether you come for the fresh air or the friendships, you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

Volunteer harvesting sunflowers to take home!

Volunteer using the Earthway Seeder to direct seed beets - a hearty winter crop!

MAKE Program Trainee showing volunteers how to water the newly seeded beets.