Volunteer

Group volunteering

We love it when people come and get stuck in. It really does make a difference. We have regular and occasional volunteers. Common Soil couldn’t run without all of the hours put in on a voluntary basis and it’s true that many hands make light work.

Everyone is welcome. We can find tasks for all ages and abilities, no experience necessary. Whether you like digging, weeding, harvesting, packing boxes, building things, tending seeds, taking photos or writing instagram posts, we can find something to suit your skills and interests.

It’s well known that spending time in nature doing purposeful work together is good for physical and mental health, and for the soul. We foster a sense of belonging to our inclusive community, and to the land.

Our volunteers also tell us that they pick up the knowledge and skills of ecological food growing by being involved in our processes, which include permaculture and biodynamic influences.

“It’s been so good to be involved with a community project, meeting like-minded people. It’s like having an allotment but sharing it with so many other people!“
― Common Soil volunteer

Options for volunteering with us:

  • Every Monday morning and Friday morning we hold a group volunteering session from 10am until 12pm at the field. We provide company and support with tasks in exchange for your participation in whatever way you can.
  • We also work at the field on a Tuesday and Wednesday and you’re welcome to get in touch with us to arrange to help us out on those days.
  • We have regular volunteer arrangements where people commit to 3 hours a week or fortnight on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday and we offer support, teaching and development in food growing techniques.
  • We run ad-hoc community work sessions on weekends, approximately bi-monthly. Email us to ask us to inform you of the dates.
  • Help us with administrative tasks or communications.
  • Stand to be elected as a member of the management committee. This is open to all members at each AGM.
  • We host work placements for young people seeking experience, through Prospects.

Please do let us know in advance that you’re coming, so we can ensure someone is there to meet you. Contact us with any questions or to book in.

You can read more about the finer details of how volunteering at Common Soil works in our volunteer policy on the policies page.

The only limitation to participation at the field is that the access track to the growing area is not tarmaced, so you need to be able to walk 200m on uneven ground to reach the site. We’re aware of this and working on it. If this is an issue then we’d love you to get involved in an administrative capacity.

“Morning volunteering helps me be more productive in the afternoons when I need to do work and I enjoy spending more time working outside and being connected to the food I eat.“
― Common Soil volunteer

What to bring

We provide all tools required for the work. If you have a favourite pair of gardening gloves then bring them along as it’ll spare you from having to wear our muddy ones. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather as we don’t have spare workwear. Walking boots or wellies are needed at most times of the year. In spring and summer long sleeves and full-legged bottoms are suggested to provide protection from ticks and insect bites.

We provide tea (and sometimes cake) at the regular Friday volunteering session (let us know of any dietary requirements). If you come at other times please bring any snacks you need.

We look forward to spending time with you.

“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” 
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass