Becoming an active Volunteer is fun, easy,  and has perks!  

Becoming a Garden Patron is Tax Deductible and Easy!

Who are MNGI Active Volunteers:

MNGI Volunteers are individuals that provide service hours to benefit Marshall Native Gardens. You can become an Active MNGI Volunteers by participating in 3 MNGI events/work days in a calendar year or at least 12 hours of service to Marshall Native Gardens during a calendar year. The volunteer hours can tally participation and preparations for meetings associated with functional MNG committees, mini presentations at our garden parties after monthly work days, and/or actual labor at work days or project days. To become an Active Volunteers, it is necessary for the new recruit to demonstrate that they have meet active volunteer criteria by submitting a "volunteer request form" that is found at the main desk of the Marshall Library or at the MNGI display board in hallway of the Marshall Library.  All Active Volunteers will be listed below will then become eligible for MNGI perks as long as they remain active.

Current List of MNGI Active Volunteers:

Rita Pelczar, Terry Hopkins, Bobbi Tousey, Bill Klodt, Kim Bellofatto, Larry Bryan, Michelle Clausen, Miriam Luse, Janet Foster, Mike Foster, Ed McNally, Scott Moore, Katherine Early, Susan Sanborn, Rachell Skerlec, Sue Stephenson, Patricia Kean, Jessie Howard, Erica McKinney, Nathan Buchanan, John VanVoorhis, Penelope Glass, Marge Utterback, Jim Utterback, Dwight Fender, Susie Fender,  Mike Stevenson, Sandy Stevenson.

Perks for Our Active Volunteers:

Active MNG Volunteers (those who are listed above on this MNGI webpage and/or the Library MNGI Bulletin Board) will be eligible to receive a free MNGI hat and name tag, a thank you call and a personalized volunteer survey phone interview to get contact info and inputs about the type of skills and involvements sought. All active volunteers will get an invitation for early access to the online MNG plant sale (to be held in late September each year) and they will gets email invitations to attend the spring MNG plant & seed exchange in May and the Fall MNG annual social. They also will get a discount coupon for 35% off of their online sale purchases for MNG plant sale. They will also receive monthly email invitations to garden service opportunities and a variety of MNGI social activities throughout the year.

To Start Volunteering just go to the Library front desk and ask the Librarian for the MNGI notebook to fill out the  "Volunteer Survey"  

or

Come to our Monthly Service Day on the Morning of the 3rd Saturday of each Month and we will help get you start!

Description of many MNG Volunteer Opportunities:

Executive Committee: Consists of officers and champions of each garden plus at large members. Meets once a month to oversee and approve garden plans and activities. Reviews finances and updates Strategic Plan.

Committee Chair or Member: In addition to the Executive Committee there are four active committees which meet as needed. Each one has a chair and several members. Activities and events are planned throughout the year. Following is a brief description of each.

1. Outreach & Education - Marketing, promotional materials, writing articles and creating educational opportunities.

2. Gardens & Grounds - Overseeing and coordinating work in each garden.

3. Volunteers and Social - Finding volunteers for a variety of jobs, developing incentives, rewards and planning volunteer social events.

4. Fundraising and Plant Sales - Developing an annual budget and fundraising plan. Plans and operates the Spring and Fall Plant Sales.

Garden Champions for our themed gardens - The Native Grasses and Cliff Gardens are closely related so they have been joined together. Each garden has a Champion who oversees the activities of each garden. Volunteers are needed to plant, water, weed and maintain the gardens. Following is a brief description of each garden.

1.  Entry Garden - Demonstrates how native plants can be used in a traditional home landscape.

2.  Butterfly Garden - A garden to attract, retain and encourage butterfly and other pollinator populations. 

3. . Medicinal Garden -  Showcases plants which have a historical and continuing cultural value to medicine. 

4.   Rain Garden - A bowl-shaped area in designed to capture and soak in rainwater with plants that are chosen that grow primarily in wet, sunny areas.

5.  Shade & Woodland Garden - A garden that is based around trees and plants that need shade throughout the day.

6.  Pizza Garden - A small garden in the library playground area, planted with annuals which can be used on a pizza. Primarily for children. 

7.  Forest Farm Garden - A low-maintenance, sustainable plant-based food production system incorporating food and nut trees, shrubs and vines which directly useful to humans. 

8.  Bird Garden -The area in back of the library that is being designed to a habitat to provide birds with food, shelter, and nesting sites throughout the year.

9.  Native Grasses & Cliff Garden - A display of native grasses and vines that grow on the cliff in front of the library. 

10.  Native Shrub Garden - A demonstration garden with a variety of native shrub species which are important components of home gardens.

Garden Maintenance & Projects - These volunteers serve by planting, watering, filling bird feeders, tool and shed maintenance, and hardscaping, etc…

Garden Docent and Garden Assistants - Throughout the year groups of adults and children frequently visit the gardens. Volunteers are needed to lead the groups and interpret the plants and their environments. Prior training is provided.

MNGI Photographer - Garden photos are needed for a variety of educational and outreach materials and events. With 11 gardens throughout four seasons, a number of photographers are helpful.

Online resources - MNGI has a website and a Facebook page which need frequent updating and maintenance. This would be an opportunity for someone with good computer skills.

Volunteers Coordinator – One or more individuals are needed to coordinate the activities, roles and timeliness of the activities listed above. More than one coordinator would be helpful.

FYI - Below is your invitation letter to become a volunteers and/or patrons!