Tips for Volunteers: Come Ready to Work

In order to have an enjoyable experience working at the farm it is necessary to come prepared. The following is a list of items to bring, or not bring, with you when you come to work in the fields.

Shoes	Shoes or boots with hard soles are best. Do not wear sandals and do not go bare-foot in the fields.
Work clothes	Dress in layers and bring rain gear if there is a chance of rain. Check the weather before you come to the farm to work so you can dress accordingly.
Insects	If you will be working in the early morning or at dusk you should wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt for protection against mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have not been a problem at other times of the day. We ask that you not wear perfume while you are in the fields - it attracts insects and can also be transferred to the vegetables. Bees don’t usually bother us, if we don’t bother them. However, if you are stung by a bee while at the farm, please let a staff person know. If you are allergic to bee stings it is your responsibility to bring a bee/wasp sting kit with you.
Hat	A hat with a visor will provide some protection from the sun.
Work Gloves	These are not a necessity, but some folk prefer to wear gloves in the fields.
Lunch or snack	We break for lunch at noon, bring a lunch and join us.
Sun screen	It is a good idea to wear sun screen if you work in the fields for an extended time.
Water bottle	It can be very dehydrating to work in the fields because of the exposure to the sun and the wind. We encourage you to drink extra water the night before a working visit to the farm and to bring a water bottle filled with plain water or an electrolyte-containing beverage.
Children	Children require special attention and supervision when they visit the farm. Young children should be escorted by an adult at all times. Children may be more sensitive to the dehydrating effects of sun, heat and wind than are adults. They should wear sunscreen, protective clothing and drink adequate amounts of fluid on visits to the farm.