
PLANT IT FORWARD FARMS
What Is It?: A nonprofit that offers economically disadvantaged refugees an opportunity to become self-sufficient through growing, harvesting, and selling produce from a sustainable urban farm in Houston, while providing fresh, local produce to Houstonians.
Help Needed: Help with farming activities, prepare produce for market, sell produce at farmers’ markets, work on fundraisers or other special projects, take photos, help with social media, or assist in the office. Please contact Plant It Forward for COVID-related updates.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: 7. Volunteers age 7-16 must have adult supervision. Students over 16 can work independently (or in groups) with parental approval.
Help Needed
FARMING / HARVESTING
After a 15-minute orientation, volunteers are paired with farmers to assist with daily farming activities. This may include harvesting, weeding, composting, watering, or cleaning up the land, depending on the specific needs of the day. This is usually a morning activity and will be a physical activity.
PRODUCE PROCESSING
After a daily or weekly harvest, produce is taken to Plant It Forward’s (non-air-conditioned) warehouse for washing, sorting, and market prep. Assistance here does not require as much mobility as on the farm.
HELP AT FARMERS’ MARKETS
Plant It Forward’s farmers sell their produce at Farmers Markets throughout the city, and volunteers can help. A current list of times and places is here.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
This could be helping to build out a new farm, helping with a farm dinner, or other special projects that wouldn’t be possible without assistance from volunteers and the community.
HELP IN THE OFFICE
Plant It Forward sometimes needs help with administrative duties. This could include webpage maintenance, mailings, photography, or other things. This may not have as much contact with the farm or the farmers, but is a big help to the organization.
2016
Fulbright volunteers at University of St. Thomas garden, 2016
Westbury market, 2016
PIF farmers from Congo Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017
At City Hall Farmers Market, 2016
Henriette with African eggplant, Westbury garden
University of St. Thomas garden, 2016
Girl scout with tiny carrot man, 2017
Westbury Community Garden
Mid Main party, 2016
Building market pods, 2017
2016
Scouts planting milkweed, 2017
Building market pods, 2017
Chef Monia Pope at a market
2017
2017
Benefit lunch, 2016
Story time with Culture of Health, 2016
2016
Farmers Market
St. Paul Presbyterian Church, 2016
2016
Benefit lunch, 2016
2017
Volunteers, 2016
Fondren Farm, 2016
St. Paul Presbyterian, 2016
Farmer Christine, 2016
Cristo Rey volunteers, Westbury garden, 2016
Vegetables, dandelion tea from the garden, 2017
Girl scout butterfly / milkweed event, 2017
Harvesting sweet potatoes
Enactus University of Houston business classes for the farmers, 2016
2017
2017
2017
PIF farmer Adrien, 2016
2016 Fiesta event
Volunteer at Urban Harvest Farmers Market Eastside
Westbury Community Garden, 2016