We accept applications for Docents, Gardeners & Gift Shop Volunteers year-round, but the best time to apply as a Docent or Gift Shop Volunteer is Jan-Feb so that you can take part in the in-person training in March.
Introductory meetings take place in January & February followed by Volunteer training the first 2 or 3 (depending on the role) Saturdays in March. If you have a conflict for one of these dates, we can work with you to get the info.
Volunteers starting later in the season will receive a combination of online info, in-person training, & shadowing current Volunteers.
For more information, call the office at 707-524-5445 or fill out the contact form here.
Docents:
Docents take visitors on 40-45 minute tours of the Luther Burbank Home, Greenhouse and portions of the surrounding Gardens. The tour season is April through October, Tuesday through Sunday. Each Docent serves three half-day shifts per month during the tour season. Docents may wish to lead Group Tours or serve as Children’s Tour guides as well. Volunteer Now!
Gardeners:
We invite you to join our Volunteer Gardener Program – open to anyone (18+) who truly enjoys gardening. Working under the guidance of our Garden Curator, volunteers care for an elegant historic landmark, tending our botanical and demonstration gardens: a living collection of ornamental, edible, and floral plants and trees that represent many of the 800 varieties introduced by Luther Burbank. This is a curated historic site, not a community garden, so we garden to a shared plan in support of our mission.
As a tiny nonprofit, we rely on our Gardener team to keep the grounds beautiful and to grow plants for our fundraising sales. Gardeners get “hands-on” with planting, pruning, propagation, watering, weeding, mulching, and preparing beds and displays for tours, special events, and plant sales. This is a team-based, scheduled role with morning shifts and a commitment to garden two 3-hour shifts per month, year-round. Volunteer Now!
Gift Shop:
Each Gift Shop Volunteer serves three half-day shifts per month during the tour season greeting visitors and selling Gift Shop products. The tour season is April through October, Tuesday through Sunday. The Gift Shop features items related to Burbank’s life and work. Many of the products such as prints and posters, cards, books and tee-shirts are designed and produced especially for LBH&G. Volunteer Now!
For those who wish to become more involved in the organization, special events, including our annual Holiday Open House, workshops and committees provide additional volunteer opportunities.