Horticulture Volunteers assist with tasks that support Production, Sales Yard and Seed Departments to model horticulture practices. Volunteers help maintain the grounds of invasive weeds and non-native vegetation, the native plants throughout our gardens, and properly label and move plants into the nursery. The tasks are labor intensive that require attentiveness, working outdoors, heavy lifting, and most important following instructions and safety procedures. Volunteers who have completed the TPF Volunteer Orientation and participate in 1st Saturday events are eligible to become Horticulture Volunteers.
Weekly, Monthly
Teens, 55+, Adults
Individuals
Physical, Outdoor
Formal
Weekdays, Weekends
Clean Linens
We have a few easy care tablecloths which need to be laundered. Unfortunately, we do not have facilities on site. If there is a kind soul out there willing to clean these, it's worth DOUBLE hours (because nobody likes to do laundry).
Occasional
Teens, Adults
Individuals
Indoor
None
Weekdays, Evenings, Weekends
Garden Tour Docent
Docents play a vital role in the success of the Garden Tour. They are ambassadors on behalf of the Theodore Payne Foundation, and provide an interpretive element for garden visitors. Docents welcome tour attendees, and talk about the beauty,practicality and environmental benefits of gardening with California natives.
Occasional
55+, Adults
Individuals
Indoor, Outdoor
Formal
Weekends
Bookstore Volunteer
Bookstore volunteers welcome customers and assist them with the purchase of books, plants and other merchandise. They also receive and stock merchandise, answer phones and help keep the store looking well stocked and attractive. Bookstore volunteers duties vary but will generally include sitting and standing for extended periods of time, bending, reaching overhead, lifting, handling money and customer information are also part of this opportunity. Retail sales or customer service background is desired but not necessary.
Occasional
55+, Adults
Individuals
Indoor
On-site
Weekdays, Weekends
How you help
Today, more 250 active volunteers help maintain our grounds and nursery, work in the office, chaperone school field trips, staff booths at outreach events and assist customers in the store and on sale days.
About us
The Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF) is a non-profit education center and full-service native plant nursery in Sun Valley, CA -- open to the public year round and offering, over the course of a year, more than 800 different native plant species and cultivars, as well as 200 kinds of native plant seed. It is the largest retail nursery in Los Angeles County devoted exclusively to native plants. TPF offers gardening and natural science classes for adults, programs for children (K-12) on-site and at schools, and operates the Wild Flower Hotline every March through May.
