Ben Franklin Children’s Classroom and Horticultural Program

Volunteers are welcome for this all-year program, Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., at the Ben Franklin School, including indoor classroom sessions with all fourth graders and outdoor sessions working with students, as well as summer maintenance of the garden. Contact Geoffrey Black at jazzygeebee@gmail.com to volunteer.

Community Garden Mentors

The committee trains Master Gardener Volunteers as mentors to help community members start and grow vegetable gardens. The mentors extend the reach of the OSU Extension staff by providing support, answering questions, demonstrating gardening techniques and working one-on one with garden leaders. Contact admin@cuyahogamg.org to volunteer.

Cuyahoga Community College Encore Program

Each spring and fall, MGCC offers a seven-week course covering a variety of gardening topics. Sessions are held at Tri-C East (4250 Richmond Rd) or Tri-C West (11000 Pleasant Valley Rd). Volunteers are needed to facilitate the sessions or give presentations. Contact Marilyn Hallenburg at mahallenburg@gmail.com or Susan Pandoli at susanpandoli@yahoo.com to volunteer for this program.

Library Talks and Speakers Bureau

Master Gardener Volunteers present educational programs to many organizations throughout the county as well as prepare new programs for presentation.

Library Committee

This committee creates a new educational program each year which members present at libraries throughout Cuyahoga County. The Library Talks are open to the public. Master Gardeners choosing to attend earn continuing education credit. To be a presenter or to suggest new programs for development, contact Susan Hildebrandt at gongci@aol.com or Rosie Daniels at rosiejimdaniels@oh.rr.com.

Speakers Bureau

Once the library programs are completed, the presentation materials go to the Speakers Bureau archives. Master Gardener Volunteers present educational programs to many organizations throughout the county as well as prepare new programs for presentation. To be a presenter or to suggest new programs for development, contact Donna Schneider at dmeaschneider@gmail.com.

Donna Schneider coordinates speaker requests and can be contacted at mgspeakerbureau@gmail.com.

William Rainey Harper School and Garden

MGVs present basic plant, tree and seed classes combined with fun hands-on learning activities to the fourth-grade scholars. Two-hour sessions occur once a month during the school year.    Contact Mary Jo Rawlins (darbyo317@aol.com, 216-410-6273) or Linda McConaughy (lindymcconaughy@gmail.com, 410-790-4050) to volunteer, 

Nature in My Backyard

Nature in My Backyard (NMB) is a program designed by the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and the Shaker Lakes Garden Club to address the global biodiversity crisis by bringing research-based information to homeowners for improving habitat on their property. As part of the MGCC’s partnership with this project, a pair of trained MGV volunteers will visit clients’ yards and identify the non-native invasive plants to be removed, suggest removal techniques, and discuss native flowers, trees, and shrubs appropriate to the site that provide food and shelter for birds and pollinators. This is a step-by-step process over time, and it is not necessary for homeowners to remove beloved non-native plants that are not invasive, nor remove all of their lawns. NMB offers well curated resource lists, and the first step is always “Plant a Native Tree.”

As a volunteer, you will be required to participate in training that expects you to learn about non-native invasive plants in our area, native plants with which to replace the non-natives, site assessment, and some simple rules of design. The information will be presented virtually to view at your leisure. There will be a meet and greet event in May after which prospective volunteers will begin shadowing trained practitioners in clients’ yards for at least three, 1 1/2-hour sessions. Good listening skills are a must!

Contact Jane Ellison at natureinmybackyard@clevelandaudubon.org for information on how to volunteer.

Cleveland Clinic ADHD Program

This is a 6-week course in cooperation with the Cleveland Clinic’s summer ADHD program at Notre Dame College in South Euclid. Master Gardener Volunteers teach a weekly class on gardening. There are raised beds where the children plant veggies and a few flowers to attract pollinators, leading up to salsa feast day. The children voted gardening class their favorite class. Contact Claudia Gordon (cpg5turkeys@gmail.com, 216-392-4502) to volunteer.

Therapeutic Horticulture

Volunteers are always needed for the on-going horticultural therapy program. Assist a Horticultural Therapist with programs for patients in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers in Cuyahoga County and work directly with patients on a regular basis. Various times are available at the following locations.