Volunteering Programs: Group Volunteering
Please note: 2025 Group Volunteering sign-up is now open!
Why Volunteer with Us?
Every year groups large and small come to the Sharing Farm for their team volunteering days and company days of giving. The saying “many hands make light work” rings true here, and we are so grateful for all the work done by our fantastic group volunteers.
Quick Info
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WHEN: Thur & Fri afternoons Jun-Oct
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WHO: groups of up to 20 people
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DONATION:
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$450/group of 10 people ($45/additional person)
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$300/children's group of 10 children and up to 2 supervising adults ($25/additional child and $45/adult)
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ACTIVITIES: In classic farming fashion, the activity will be whatever is most important for that day. Check out the photos of past groups below to get a sense of what to expect.
At the Sharing Farm, your team will get to...
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Contribute in a meaningful way by helping us grow food for community members facing food insecurity.
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Participate in hands-on food production.
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Spend time outside with your team members.
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Learn about our farm and ecologically-sound farming practices.
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Get your hands dirty, experience something new, and have fun!
About the Sharing Farm
The Sharing Farm practices sustainable agriculture, and donates fruits and vegetables to the Richmond Food Bank, the Musqueam Nation, community meal programs and directly to folks facing food insecurity.
Since the early ‘90s, we have donated over 350,000 lbs of fruit and vegetables. With the help of many volunteers, we donate an average of 20,000 lbs annually and our produce is on the plates of up to 2200 people each week.
If you visit the farm on a summer’s day, it will likely be buzzing with the activities of people who are dedicated to providing fresh, healthy, local produce to community members facing food insecurity. We hope you choose to become part of this story!
How Your Donation Helps the Sharing Farm
As a non-profit charity, we rely on donations to cover many of the costs associated with growing healthy food for those facing food insecurity year after year. Your donation is used to cover the costs of operating the farm – including the fantastic staff working with you – and also to purchase tools and materials needed to grow the food.
Should your team wish to find out more ways that you can help us, please let us know. Many groups who volunteer with us organize fundraisers to make additional donations on an annual basis. Sponsorship opportunities are available for groups who donate $1000 or more.
For families facing food insecurity, nutritious meals are often not affordable. This is where the Sharing Farm helps. We cannot do this work alone. We need partners – like you – to help us achieve our mission of providing healthy food to those who are food insecure. Multiple sponsorship levels enable our partners to find the level of support that is right for them. All sponsorship levels include a complimentary group volunteering experience alongside many other benefits.
Housekeeping Details
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Public washrooms and drinking water are available.
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Please bring your own lunch and snacks which can be eaten at the uncovered tables in our herb garden or at the covered tables.
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Please plan to take away all your garbage and recycling, but we will happily take your fruit and veggie scraps for our compost pile!
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Please dress appropriately for farm work, including close-toed shoes/boots and rain gear. Yes, we work in the rain!
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There is a covered space to leave your belongings, but it is not secured so please do not bring valuables with you.
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We provide all required tools and gloves (but feel free to bring our own gloves).
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There may be an opportunity to purchase our produce/flowers/honey at the end of your visit.
Directions & Parking
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The Sharing Farm is located at 2771 Westminster Hwy in Richmond, BC.
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From the intersection of Westminster Hwy and No. 1 Road, drive west along Westminster Hwy and take the second right onto Barnard Drive. Then take your second left to get back onto Westminster Highway.
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As you near the end of Westminster Hwy, you will see a parking lot on your left (across from a stand-alone giant house). Please park here. This is a free, municipal lot.
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To reach the farm, continue walking down Westminster Hwy about 1 minute and look on your right for the sign for 2771.
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Walk down the driveway and go to “Mary’s Barn” (on your right) where a Sharing Farm staff member will be waiting to greet you!
Donation
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Our donation rate is $45/person (groups of 10-20 people) for the 3-hour volunteer session (minimum $450).
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Children are welcome to join accompanied by a guardian ($25/person for those under 12).
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Sponsorship opportunities are available for groups donating $1000 or more.
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We’re happy to host smaller groups, but the minimum donation remains $450.
We are unable to waive the donation requirement. Although your volunteer hours at the Sharing Farm are extremely valuable to us, it does take a lot of time and resources to host groups. In order to ensure that your team has a successful and rewarding experience at the Sharing Farm we try to ensure that there are sufficient staff and resources available for your visit.
Your Day on the Farm
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1:30pm: Arrive and start orientation/tour
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2:00pm: Discuss farm task(s), gather tools and break out into group activities
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3:00pm: Short break (and as needed)
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4:15pm: Wrap up field tasks, wash and put away tools
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4:25pm: Group photo!
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4:30pm: Done!
Volunteer Activities
Activities are scheduled around the needs of the farm. For this reason, we can't take requests for farm tasks, but rest assured that any work you do is extremely valuable to our operations! Check out what our 2023 volunteers were up to to get a sense of what you can expect!
Please let us know if some of your team will need accommodations and we will do our best to provide an appropriate task.
How to Sign Up
1. Fill out our Group Volunteering Booking Deposit Form.
2. Choose your volunteering session date(s).
3. Give the rest of your donation (after confirming participant numbers; can be after the session).
Sessions are first come, first served. To hold an available date from the calendar above for up to 5 days, email Jenna at volunteering@sharingfarm.ca.
Cancellation Policy: We book groups according to specific farm needs and last-minute cancellations are hard on us. For this reason, if you cancel within 8 weeks of your scheduled date, the $450 booking deposit is non-refundable.
2023 Volunteers
Thank you for your time & energy!!!