Not every volunteer needs to pull weeds in the sun.

Some belong in the kitchen. Some belong with chickens. Some know tractors. Some just want to show up, learn, and help.

Healthy Connections is built around people sharing what they know, learning what they don’t, and working together in ways that actually fit their strengths. Each area below has two ways to get involved.

● Steward Role

For people with experience who want to help guide the project, teach others, and build the systems that keep the work moving.

● Seedling Role

For people who want to jump in with no experience required. Show up, learn, and help where needed. There is a place for you.

Where you can help

Volunteer areas.

Food Preservation & Kitchen

Preparing food, preserving harvests, canning, cooking, baking, dehydrating, fermenting, turning fresh produce into useful food.

Steward: Experienced canners, cooks, bakers, and nutrition-minded volunteers guide kitchen projects, teach others, and develop systems for preserving food.
Seedling: Wash produce, chop vegetables, label jars, organize supplies, and support experienced volunteers during preservation days.

Chickens & Poultry

Poultry care, egg production, breeding, flock management, and health, with a focus on Indio Gigante and Ameraucana birds among a diverse flock.

Steward: Experienced poultry keepers manage flocks and breeding programs, monitor bird health, teach workshops, and support responsible practices.
Seedling: Feed and water birds, collect eggs, clean coops, prepare bedding, help with chicken-tractor moves, and learn alongside others.

Fungi

Mushrooms, mycology, composting, inoculation, cultivation, and fungi’s role in healthy soil and ecosystems.

Steward: Volunteers with mushroom-growing or composting experience guide projects, teach workshops, and manage grow areas responsibly.
Seedling: Prepare growing materials, fill bags or logs, move wood chips, water grow areas, harvest mushrooms, and learn as you go.

Aquaculture

Fish, shrimp, stream-fed water systems, tank maintenance, water quality, heating, and nutrient cycling that feeds the orchard.

Steward: Volunteers with aquaculture, plumbing, or water-testing experience guide system design, maintenance routines, and animal care.
Seedling: Feed fish, check tanks, clean equipment, assist with water testing, and support larger workdays around the system.

Tractor & Landscaping

Safely operating tractors, attachments, trailers, chainsaws, and mowers for land management and infrastructure projects.

Steward: Experienced operators lead safe workdays, move materials, prepare planting areas, clear debris, and train others when appropriate.
Seedling: Move brush, stack materials, shovel mulch, guide safe work areas, load trailers, and assist operators from a safe distance.

Gardening & Orchard

Planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, harvesting, soil building, cover crops, food forests, and general garden maintenance.

Steward: Experienced gardeners, farmers, and orchardists plan growing areas, teach others, lead garden days, and support long-term food production.
Seedling: Plant seeds, pull weeds, spread mulch, water plants, harvest produce, and learn by working alongside others.

General Volunteer

Not sure where you fit yet? That’s fine. There is useful work for almost everyone.

Steward: Organizing, teaching, construction, fundraising, outreach, event planning, or leadership experience helps build the systems that keep us moving.
Seedling: If you are willing to show up, listen, learn, and help where needed, there will be a place for you.

Tell us where you'd like to plug in.

Healthy Connections works best when people are honest about what they enjoy and what they don’t. The goal is to help you land somewhere you can be successful, helpful, and connected.

A retired canning expert shouldn’t be guilted into pulling weeds in July, and someone who loves tractors shouldn’t be trapped labeling jars all afternoon. Tell us what you actually enjoy.