Opportunities From: Volunteer DBQ

Every Thursday through the growing season, volunteers will help with processing and preserving the fruits & vegetables harvested each week from our gardens.  Shifts are scheduled from 10am to noon and noon to 2pm, but you are welcome to sign up for both shifts!  

This volunteer role does require training, so if you have attended one of our Kitchen Volunteer training sessions, you are eligible to sign up.  Otherwise, please reach out to our Program Coordinator at jessica@convivium-dbq.com to learn more about getting trained to help in our kitchens.

Every Thursday through the growing season, volunteers will help with processing and preserving the fruits & vegetables harvested each week from our gardens.  Shifts are scheduled from 10am to noon and noon to 2pm, but you are welcome to sign up for both shifts!  

This volunteer role does require training, so if you have attended one of our Kitchen Volunteer training sessions, you are eligible to sign up.  Otherwise, please reach out to our Program Coordinator at jessica@convivium-dbq.com to learn more about getting trained to help in our kitchens.

Every Tuesday during the growing season, Garden Volunteers are invited to join us from 9 - 11am to learn and assist with watering, weeding, mulching, harvesting and more. All garden tools will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Don't forget your sunscreen and a water bottle!  In the event of rain, the volunteer day will be considered cancelled.

Have any questions? Email jessica@convivium-dbq.com.

Convivium serves as a Food Box Distribution location every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in partnership with the St. Stephen's Branch of the Riverbend Food Bank.  Boxes are distributed starting at 3 pm, first come first served, and are available until supplies last.  Volunteers are needed to help unload the boxes upon arrival and carry boxes to recipients' vehicles as needed.  Volunteers should arrive at 2:30pm to be ready for the delivery and plan to be on hand to assist until approximately 3:30/4pm depending on how quickly boxes are distributed.

Convivium Urban Farmstead restaurant has a from-scratch menu that highlights fresh produce we grow ourselves in nearby neighborhood gardens. All proceeds from the restaurant help support our classes and other nonprofit programming. Our Free Community Casserole program also prepares, assembles and distributes about 200 free casseroles every week to address food insecurity in our community. Kitchen tasks vary throughout the seasons and may include tasks like processing our garden produce or baking holiday treats. We rely on volunteers to help in our kitchens to help us fulfill our mission of “improving lives through food.”

Veg Preppers will work alongside Team Leaders to process our garden harvest or prepare food for use in casseroles or by prep cooks. Tasks vary week to week but may include peeling, dicing, spinning or packaging produce. Kitchen volunteers should be able to meet physical requirements necessary with kitchen work like standing for long periods of time.

*We are still determining days/times for this position, please note your preferred availability in application below.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Tours of Convivium Urban Farmstead are interactive and unique experiences that showcase our urban farm and facility, as well as teach participants about our mission and outreach efforts to increase access to healthy food here in the North End of Dubuque. Guides will highlight small space gardening techniques, our Common Bed gardens that anyone can harvest from, and encourage participants to eat their way through the neighborhood – tasting a variety of plants we are growing this year! Guides must be able to stand/walk for at least 45 minutes and attend a training.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead restaurant has a from-scratch menu that highlights fresh produce we grow ourselves in nearby neighborhood gardens. All proceeds from the restaurant help support our classes and other nonprofit programming. Our Free Community Casserole program also prepares, assembles and distributes about 200 free casseroles every week to address food insecurity in our community. Kitchen tasks vary throughout the seasons and may include tasks like processing our garden produce or baking holiday treats. We rely on volunteers to help in our kitchens to help us fulfill our mission of “improving lives through food.”

The Produce Preserver team helps our produce live throughout the year. Whether it is turning basil into pesto, tomatoes into tomato jam, tomatillos into salsa verde, or dehydrating peppers, cherry tomatoes and herbs – the Produce Preservers help process our abundant harvest in a way that can be enjoyed all year round. Previous cooking or canning experience is helpful, but training will be provided for required tasks. Kitchen volunteers should be able to meet physical requirements necessary with kitchen work like standing for long periods of time.

*We are still determining days/times for this role, please note your preferred availability in application below.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

The Convivium facility is an old greenhouse complex built in the late 1920s. Maintenance volunteers work on projects to keep the facility working and looking great. Woodworking and construction skills would be helpful but not necessary. Tasks vary week to week and seasonally.

*We are still determining days/times for this role, please note your preferred availability in the application below.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead restaurant has a from-scratch menu that highlights fresh produce we grow ourselves in nearby neighborhood gardens. All profits from the restaurant help support our classes and other nonprofit programming. Our Free Community Casserole program also prepares, assembles and distributes about 200 free casseroles every week to address food insecurity in our community. Kitchen tasks vary throughout the seasons and may include tasks like processing our garden produce or baking holiday treats. We rely on volunteers to help in our kitchens to help us fulfill our mission of “improving lives through food.”

Convivium Kitchen Team Leaders must have some experience and knowledge of cooking, baking, safe food handling and be open to learning new techniques and skills. Professional food preparation experience a plus, but not necessary. Those interested in this role should be welcoming, friendly, have excellent communication skills and some experience leading groups. These volunteers will work closely with Convivium staff and will lead small groups in weekly tasks including food prep, dishwashing, packaging etc. We are seeking volunteers who can commit to recurring weekly volunteer work. Team leaders should be able to meet physical requirements necessary with kitchen work like standing for long periods of time. Team Leaders are also expected to attend an orientation/training.

*We are still determining days/times for this volunteer opportunity, please note your preferred availability in application below.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead grows food on over 7000 square feet of garden space. This food is used in a variety of ways towards supporting Convivium’s mission of “improving life through food.” Some of the food is enjoyed in our restaurant or merchandise, where the proceeds go toward supporting our non-profit outreach programs. Some of the food is handed out as ingredients in our weekly free casserole program. And some of the food is picked by the general public as free, accessible, healthy produce. 

Volunteer gardeners are an important part of the labor force that brings that food to life, gets it on to people’s plates, and helps fulfill Convivium’s mission.

Garden Tenders keep Convivium’s gardens healthy, thriving, and productive. Garden Tenders work at recurring weekly volunteer sessions alongside a Garden Guru preparing beds, planting, mulching, watering, weeding, harvesting, and doing all the little things that help food to grow. Garden experience is beneficial but not as important as a willingness to learn and a desire to become part of the Convivium mission of improving life through food.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead grows food on over 7000 square feet of garden space. This food is used in a variety of ways towards supporting Convivium’s mission of “improving life through food.” Some of the food is enjoyed in our restaurant or merchandise, where the proceeds go toward supporting our non-profit outreach programs. Some of the food is handed out as ingredients in our weekly free casserole program. And some of the food is picked by the general public as free, accessible, healthy produce. 

Volunteer gardeners are an important part of the labor force that brings that food to life, gets it on to people’s plates, and helps fulfill Convivium’s mission. 

Harvest Helpers guide the produce from Convivium’s gardens on its journey from the field to the kitchen. By working with the Farm Manager and the Harvest Coordinator, Harvest Helpers carefully harvest, safely transport, (possibly sample!), clean, and weigh the harvest before handing it off to the kitchens. Garden experience is beneficial but not as important as a willingness to learn and a desire to become part of the Convivium mission of improving life through food.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead grows food on over 7000 square feet of garden space. This food is used in a variety of ways towards supporting Convivium’s mission of "improving life through food.” Some of the food is enjoyed in our restaurant or merchandise, where the proceeds go toward supporting our non-profit outreach programs. Some of the food is handed out as ingredients in our weekly free casserole program. And some of the food is picked by the general public as free, accessible, healthy produce. 

Volunteer gardeners are an important part of the labor force that brings that food to life, gets it on to people’s plates, and helps fulfill Convivium’s mission.

A Garden Guru leads small volunteer groups in growing and caring for Convivium’s gardens. Working closely with the Farm Manager, a Garden Guru leads weekly volunteer sessions in varying aspects of tending a garden including preparing beds, planting, mulching, watering, weeding, harvesting, and general garden care. Some gardening experience is helpful, but not as important as a willingness to learn, a welcoming and friendly temperament, and the ability to lead a small group. 

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead's mission is to "improve lives through food." As part of our mission, we provide access and education about healthy food choices to children and others who are struggling with food access and the adverse health effects of eating a diet of highly processed food. Our adult, family, and youth cooking and nutrition education classes are designed to expose people to real, fresh foods; provide the knowledge of where our food comes from and the importance of healthy choices; and teach the skills of how to prepare simple recipes using fresh ingredients. Volunteer instructors will lead such classes. Curriculum is provided. Instructors should have experience cooking and baking. Formal experience teaching or leading groups would be beneficial. Instructors must attend an orientation/training.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead's mission is to "improve lives through food." As part of our mission, we provide access and education about healthy food choices to children and others who are struggling with food access and the adverse health effects of eating a diet of highly processed food. Our adult, family, and youth cooking and nutrition education classes are designed to expose people to real, fresh foods; provide the knowledge of where our food comes from and the importance of healthy choices; and teach the skills of how to prepare simple recipes using fresh ingredients. Volunteer instructor aides will help lead such classes. Curriculum is provided. Instructor aides will help with class set-up and clean up and serve as extra hands throughout the class. Experience  cooking, baking and/or teaching or leading groups would be beneficial but not required. Instructor aides must attend an orientation/training.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here. 

Convivium Urban Farmstead is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve life through food. We do this through classes, demonstrations and experiences—all which require a lot of office work! Admin tasks will vary week to week and may include answering phones, data entry or filing documents. Volunteers should be flexible and open to a variety of tasks that require attention to detail skills.

The first step in joining us in fulfilling our mission is filling out a volunteer application found here.