2025 CMGA Volunteer Project List

Address: 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86005,

Phone: 928-774-1442.

Description: Horticulture volunteers can help with a wide variety of projects in the greenhouse and gardens such as plant propagation & maintenance, pot washing, weeding, planting, seed collection and assisting with special events like plant sales. 

 

thearb.org​

Greenhouse Primary Contact: Gina Goegan, gina.goegan@thearb.org

Gardens Primary Contact: Sarah Armanovs, gardens@thearb.org

Primary Contact: Elizabeth Johnson,

epjohnson@arizona.edu, 

2304 N. Third Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 

928-773-6118. 

 

Description: We offer several volunteer opportunities for Master Gardeners.

1) Answer our Master Gardener Hotline/Email: Research the community’s horticultural questions and respond to them. This is a great way to learn about aspects of gardening that you might not be familiar with as you will be researching questions and compiling answers.

2) Table an event: we need volunteers to go out into the community and share information about the Master Gardener program including what resources are available to the public.

3) Give a talk/teach a workshop: this is a great way to get volunteer hours and meet the mission of our program which is educating the community about gardening! See a separate listing for volunteering with the Coconino Master Gardening Assoc. (CMGA).

Primary Contact: Carol Burris for Floriculture,

928-526-9021,

Richard Conway for Volunteering,

928-679-8028,

and Galen Guerrette for Horticulture/Agriculture,

928-600-2298,

or Nick Lipinski for Horticulture/Agriculture

928-526-0789.

Description: The Coconino County Fair is held over Labor Day weekend each year. This year from August 29-September 2. Volunteers are needed a couple of weeks before to clean the building, the week before to assist with registration, entry judging, or building greeter during the event. Volunteers work 4-hour shifts and receive a pass to the Fair.

Primary Contact: Elizabeth Johnson epjohnson@arizona.edu and Cindy Murray sauron52@msn.com.

Description: Gardening Etcetera is a weekly column published in the Thursday edition of the Arizona Daily Sun. You can either write regularly or submit a one-time article about something you are particularly interested in. Please help us keep this Flagstaff gem alive by writing about an aspect of gardening you are passionate about!

If you are interested in contributing a 700-word article, contact Cindy Murray to get your article started and edited. To read an introduction to the past and current editors, go to: https://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/columnists/gardening-etcetera-an-introduction-to-our-new-editors/article_32573d57-86f3-519b-9b11-c14cd69fb61e.html

Primary Contact:, Dave Shuck,

shuck@lowell.edu,

1400 N Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001,

602-826-8521.

Description: We would love to have a Master Gardener come to Lowell this year. One project that stands out in my mind is Our new GODO (Giovole Open Deck Observatory). It was finished 2yrs ago and because of budget cuts didn’t get a proper garden/landscape around the perimeter. Irrigation is there and the area is an open canvas. The project that could appeal to somebody is the Three rock planters by the Clark telescope also has irrigation. Volunteers would be required to complete a volunteer application and undergo a background check.

Description: The Museum of Northern Arizona has several garden areas as well as 200 acres of sustainably managed grounds featuring native plants, which all serve to educate the public about the ecology of the Colorado Plateau. Volunteers assist with caring for all the gardens and grounds and have the opportunity to learn by working with MNA botanists and experienced volunteers. The volunteer times change with the weather and season, so you will want to sign up as a volunteer in order to get the regular updates on the volunteer schedule. There are also opportunities for individuals and groups to arrange a specific gardening assignments that fits their schedule. Visit the museum website to see upcoming garden events and photos of the gardens (https://musnaz.org/about/campus/gardens/)

 

Primary contact for all MNA gardens: Kristan Hutchison, Director of Public Engagement email khutchison@musnaz.org or phone 928-774-5211 ext. 273

Contact to volunteer in any MNA garden: Mari Soliday, Volunteer Coordinator or email msoliday@musnaz.org or phone 928-774-5213 ext. 275

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Contact to schedule a group visit or tour to any of these gardens: Sacha Siskonen, Education Manager, email tours@musnaz.org

Botanical expertise: Jan Busco, Botanical Research Specialist email jbusco@musnaz.org or phone 928-864-7037 or Kirstin Phillips, Botany Collections Manager email kphillips@musnaz.org

Community Garden advisor: Carol Fritzinger (aka Fritz) has many years’ experience developing community gardens in Flagstaff and is a valuable resource, email  beetbatbadger@gmail.com

 

Attached is a LINK to a description of some of the MNA gardens and garden-related projects. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MTv4NEgUMQI_Q_fF4AZUHXNMoDAJaCAK/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109011286784673579352&rtpof=true&sd=true

Primary Contacts: Emily Lefrois (sslug.garden@nau.edu) Address: 19 W McConnell Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86011 (NAU Campus, Social & Behavioral Sciences – Bldg. 70).

 

Description: Come volunteer at a garden on NAU's campus! The Students for Sustainable Learning and Urban Gardening (SSLUG) garden is the largest campus garden at NAU. We demonstrate permaculture design principles using organic growing methods, with volunteers assisting in all aspects of gardening from composting and sowing to harvest and seed saving. Volunteers can also assist in workshops and group activities that support youth groups through various summer camps. Our volunteer shifts differ depending on the week and season, but our needs are greatest in the summer.

 

We encourage folks to follow us on our Instagram @NAUSSLUG to stay up to date. Feel free to email us if you have questions about volunteering or anything related to SSLUG.

Primary Contact: Kari Usher, dancingwvr@q.com, 928-814-9839 or Deb Stalvey, debistalvey@msn.com. 1300 Riordan Ranch Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.  

 

Description: We work to restore, enhance and maintain the gardens at the Riordan Mansion with natives and water wise plants to reflect its historical character.  We are moving towards drought tolerant/low water usage plantings because of visits only every other week in the spring and summer as well as limited irrigation. The mansion raises money for some of its operations through hosting weddings, parties and miscellaneous events many of which are in the gardens and outdoor space.  We try to enhance these spaces to entice more usage and ultimately some income for keeping the mansion running.

Primary Contact: Susan Lamb. susan@susanlamb.net, 928-779-4381. 703 E. Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. 

 

Description: Partnering with Coconino County Parks and Recreation, we maintain and improve the native plant habitat gardens surrounding the Willow Bend EE Center in Archuleta County Park, which are freely accessible to the public. Volunteer opportunities range from preparing planting beds, putting in perennials, watering, weeding, and pruning, to helping with new projects. As a volunteer, your ideas to enhance the gardens are always considered. We are in the gardens from 8 am - noon on Fridays and Saturdays between mid-April and late October; feel free to join us in the gardens any time we’re there. For more information, please contact Susan Lamb.

Primary Contact: Cami Brazell,

email: gardens@flagstaffaz.gov,

phone: 703-254-3615 

Description: The Sustainability Office is looking for members for our Community Garden Advisory Group for this growing season! The goal of the advisory group is to engage community members in long-term planning and guidance for the Community Garden Program. We would like to invite Master Gardeners to volunteer on this Advisory Group for the opportunity to work on the following: 

• Attend monthly meetings with Community Garden Coordinator and Food Systems Coordinator (typically first Wednesdays in the evening but subject to change)

• Give feedback and help develop strategies on how the community gardens program can best serve gardeners and the community

• Help plan and run free public educational workshops on gardening topics 

• Work on garden expansion and improvement projects such as adding greenhouses, new beds, educational signage

• Serve as a Master Gardener mentor to first time gardeners in the community gardens. First time gardeners are paired with Master Gardener mentors to ask questions, seek advice, and learn how to garden in Flagstaff. 

• Support growing, watering and compost needs in the gardens 

• Support the growth and care of the pollinator garden spaces 

 

Please email us at gardens@flagstaffaz.gov for sign up or further details. Volunteering for the Community Garden Advisory Group can be flexible depending on time capacity. Other community garden volunteer opportunities will be hosted periodically May - October. Once scheduled, they will be posted on our community gardens website linked here

Primary Contact: Cheryl Blume,

cdblume@icloud.com  

928-607-2772, PO Box 3923, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-3923.

Description: The CMGA was founded in 2009 by a small group of Master Gardeners to further the mission of the Master Gardener program. Our monthly events are the 2nd Thursdays of the month live or on Zoom at 600pm. We are currently at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church. They include a guest presentation followed by a business meeting. Volunteers are needed to participate in monthly meetings, volunteer on committees, chair committees, coordinate and assist with special events, and serve as executive board officers. For 2025 we have 2 events we could use volunteers for: Plant and Garden Festival, and a Garden Tour. Let us know if you’re interested in helping.

Primary Contact: Daryl Bennett,

evb_church@qwestoffice.net,

10655 N HWY 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004,

928-527-8977.

Description: Volunteers are needed for a June 7 open house and plant giveaway. We need help in our Garden Tours in August and September.

Primary Contact: Elizabeth Johnson,epjohnson@arizona.edu and Carrie Zerafa, czeraf@gmail.com, 

2304 N. Third Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001,

928-773-6118.

Description: The seed library needs volunteers to pack seeds and to take the seed library out into the community to share these free seeds. Let’s talk about ways to bring these seeds to the community.

Primary Contact: Richard Hofstetter at Rich.Hofstetter@nau.edu or Mike Wagner at Profmike.wagner@gmail.com 

(928) 864-8175.

Two locations: (1) NAU Greenhouses. 

Description: Volunteers will help establish, tend, collect seed, and submit periodic reports on milkweed species planted in an experimental garden they plant. It’s anticipated this project will require 2 hours a week of work.

(2) Rockin' River Ranch State Park. 

Description: Volunteers will help establish and tend pollinator plants in a large area (>10 acres), up keep butterfly path, and help collect seed in the fall.  This project will require 2-4 hours a week of work (on Saturday or Tuesday mornings)

Primary Contact: Adair Patterson, adair.patterson@nau.edu, Bldg. 79, Pine Knoll Dr., South Campus NAU, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928-523-9103.

Description: NAU's greenhouse is used for research and teaching in ecology, forestry, and other biological sciences. The volunteer projects available are variable. Please contact Adair by phone or e-mail if you are interested in helping. An introduction and training in NAU greenhouse procedures are required.

Starting in April and going until October we have a new opportunity, volunteering with the SNAIL (Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscaping) Community Garden right next to the NAU Greenhouse. Volunteers will be able to help plant native pollinator species, weed garden beds, tend vegetables, decorate the garden and harvest produce to take home with them. We will announce volunteer days as they come closer and volunteers are also welcome to plan with me if they can't make it to the planned volunteer day.

Primary Contact: Pam Garcia, pamorama@canyonfan.com, 752 N Switzer Canyon Dr., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001.

 

Description: Volunteers are needed to help plant and maintain established gardens, composting, irrigation, fundraising and educational programs. The scheduled workdays are from May through October on Monday and Thursday mornings from 8am to Noon with opportunities to work on your own.  An orientation with Pam Garcia is required for working in the garden. During the winter volunteers are needed for occasional indoor work at the house and for watering outdoors if needed. All volunteers must sign a confidentiality form and a liability release. Seasonal volunteers need a TB skin test provided by NHPC, attend an orientation session on HIPAA regulations, and complete a volunteer evaluation form.

Primary Contact: Sylvia Sruss, Sylvia.struss@flagstaffaz.gov, 928-213-2328 or C 928-814-8894, Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve, 3920 N El Paso Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

 

Description: Join the City of Flagstaff Open Space Program in protecting Picture Canyon’s native ecosystem by helping remove invasive weeds! Volunteers play a crucial role in managing invasive species and supporting the growth of native plants. This hands-on experience is a great way to learn about invasive weed control, reseeding with native grasses and flowers, and the importance of ecological restoration—all while enjoying the beauty of Picture Canyon. We welcome participants to share their experiences and knowledge with others, and Master Gardeners will often be available to assist in teaching. Students may also be volunteering on the same day, making it a great community learning opportunity. If you haven't visited Picture Canyon yet, you're in for a treat! Wednesdays from 7:00–10:00 AM on the following dates: 6/4, 6/18, 7/2, 7/16, 7/30, 8/6, 8/20, 9/3, and 9/17.

 

Pre-registration is not required, but if you'd like to sign up for specific dates, visit https://volunteer.flagstaffaz.gov. Come enjoy the outdoors, learn, and make a difference!

Primary Contact: Dr .Alice Christie, founder@tynkertopia.org, 3330 E. Elder Drive, Flagstaff, AZ, 86004, 928-326-3400.

 

Description: The Tynkertopia Community Garden is an innovative space designed to foster hands-on learning and community engagement in sustainable gardening practices. Situated in the public housing Siler Homes Community, this garden serves as a living laboratory where individuals of all ages can explore environmental science, nutrition, and the art of growing food. It’s a place where creativity meets nature, offering opportunities to learn about soil health, plant care, and ecological systems, all while promoting a sense of community and connection to the land. 

 

The Master Gardeners of Flagstaff can play an essential role in this project by contributing their expertise in sustainable gardening practices, plant care, and environmental stewardship. Their knowledge could enhance the educational experiences offered through workshops, mentoring, and hands-on guidance for garden participants. By collaborating with Tynkertopia, the Master Gardeners can help cultivate a space where both youth and adults can grow their skills and deepen their understanding of the natural world, while also contributing to the beautification and health of the local community.

They could use someone from April 1 – October 31 for about 10 hours per week and have extra hours available for garden camps in June and July. For details on this project and how you might help contact Dr. Christie.