Current volunteer sites
St. Louis Master Gardeners are involved with local community horticultural projects throughout St. Louis City, County and Shaw Nature Reserve. Parks, streetscapes, schools, community gardens and more all benefit from the hands-on gardening and teaching by Master Gardeners. Active Master Gardeners contribute at least 40 hours of volunteer service each year.
For volunteers who finished the training after 2026, please log your hours in our statewide portal.
Program topics and sites
Select one of our topics below and learn more about where you can volunteer.
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum
EarthDance Organic Farm School
Program Topics
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum
Volunteers are needed with gardening and other tasks from 8am-5pm Monday through Saturday. Schedule volunteer activities with Dan Fuller: dfuller@bellefontainecemetery.org
Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum has played an important role in the early growth of St. Louis. It is the final resting place of many historical figures from William Clark to Adolphus Busch. It was established in 1849 and it is a Level II Accredited Arboretum, set in 314 acres and is listed in the Morton Register of Arboreta. Though a historically significant cemetery, Bellefontaine is still active as a final place of rest. Currently Bellefontaine is the only area cemetery with Green Burial options.
Its Gardening mission is to support and enhance the cemetery as a place of perpetual commemoration and as a garden of beauty and historical significance.
Project Leader
Dan Fuller
4947 W. Florissant Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63115
314.381.0750
dfuller@bellefontainecemetery.org
Brightside St. Louis
Brightside St. Louis (formerly Operation Brightside) has been dedicated to cleaning and greening St. Louis since 1982. The organization helps make St. Louis a more beautiful place to live, work, learn and grow. Brightside St. Louis would love to have help from Master Gardeners in caring for our Demonstration Garden as well as with other gardening projects, including providing direction to student and corporate volunteer groups.
Master Gardeners in Brightside Demonstration Garden, 4646 Shenandoah Avenue, volunteer hours: Thursday mornings, March-November – 9:00-11:00 a.m. (during hot summer months, we will start at 8:00 a.m.) Second Saturday of the month, April – October – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 (or noon) For other volunteer opportunities with Brightside including planting around City Hall, planting the window boxes for City Hall, sowing seeds and serving as mentors for neighborhood gardens, please call Brightside at 314.772.4646 or email Marylou@brightsidestl.org
Project Leader
Mary Lou Green
4646 Shenandoah Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
314.772.4646
marylou@brightsidestl.org
Bring Conservation Home
Since 2012, volunteer BCH Habitat Advisors have been performing on-site habitat consultations with private landowners and providing them with specific written recommendations on how to improve their landscapes for the benefit of birds, butterflies and their own enjoyment. By 2018, nearly 900 landowners had enrolled their landscapes in the BCH program, representing over 400 acres of potentially new habitat for our native wildlife and community.
Habitat Advisors also may staff information tables at outreach events, assist with the planning or execution of one of our unique native plant events or help with the installation of a native plant demonstration garden.
The St. Louis Audubon Society was founded in 1915, serves the entire St. Louis metro region with free environmental education and conservation programs and is the largest affiliate chapter of the National Audubon Society in Missouri.
Project Leader
Dan Pearson
dan@stlouisaudubon.org
314.599.7390
Compton Hill Reservoir Park
The Water Tower & Park Preservation Society works collaboratively with the City, the Water Division and surrounding communities to preserve the historic structures and to improve the park and gardens.
Compton Hill Water Tower is a late-19th century engineering masterpiece designed by Harvey Ellis and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Built (1898-1899) on one of the highest points in the city it is flanked by the Naked Truth statue that celebrates the city’s newspaper heritage, a lily pond and walking paths. The building contains a standpipe that served as a pressure relief valve for the uneven pressure produced by the pumps of the city’s public water supply system. The tower was taken out of service in 1929 when the pumps improved.
We recruit volunteers from the Master Gardener program to help maintain our gardens, to help supervise large groups of volunteers from Operation Brightside and local Universities. To volunteer email Phyllis Nolan (pgnolan@swbell.net).
Project Leader
Phyllis Nolan
Volunteer Coordinator
pgnolan@swbell.net
(314) 772-5595
EarthDance Organic Farm School
Volunteer field shifts include planting, harvesting, wash/pack and general bed maintenance. Our third Saturday garden shifts focus on our native beds as well as our demonstration garden. Sign up for a volunteer orientation on our website.
Project Leader
Dani Fuhrman
dani@earthdancefarms.org
Emerson YMCA
Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant community garden that celebrates cultural diversity by growing traditional foods, sharing heritage practices, and creating a welcoming space where all cultures can connect, learn, and thrive together. Growing culture, cultivating community.
- Volunteer activities: garden maintenance (composting, mulching, watering, weeding, planting, harvesting) and helping with garden events.
- Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Flora Conservancy
Want a great way to help beautify one of St. Louis’ most beloved parks? Why not volunteer with the Flora Conservancy of Forest Park and work in beautiful settings such as the Jewel Box, Pagoda Circle, the golf course. Volunteers work in partnership with the St. Louis City Parks Department.
Keep your green thumbs working all winter in the greenhouse of Forest Park assisting with seed planting, propagating, and maintaining plants. When the weather warms up, the Flora Conservancy volunteer group heads outside to prep planting beds and install our winter’s work. All summer we meet to maintain the beds and keep them as weed free as we are able. Volunteer hours are generally Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings from 9:00 – 11:00. For more information on becoming a Flora Conservancy volunteer, please call Jack at 314.289.5323.
Project Leader
Jack Breier
314.283.0854
Forest Park Forever
Forest Park Forever volunteers work side-by-side with knowledgeable horticulture and naturalist staff to maintain landscapes in Forest Park. The shifts fall on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. mornings from 9am to noon. Forest Park Forever is responsible for overseeing seven zones (approximately 500 acres) in partnership with the City of St. Louis Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.
Typical duties include planting, weeding, pruning, clean up, watering, removing invasive species and mulching. Volunteers are placed based on organizational needs and capacity. More information and volunteer application
Project Leader
Hilary Sears
Volunteer Manager
hsears@forestparkforever.org
Office Hours: Monday – Friday
Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center
5595 Grand Drive in Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63112
Direct 314.571.6072 | Office 314.367.7275
Forest ReLeaf
Help pot, grow, and plant young trees and shrubs at Forest ReLeaf of Missouri’s CommuniTree Gardens, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven tree nursery, in Creve Coeur Park. Since 1993, Forest ReLeaf has distributed more than 200,000 trees and shrubs for planting by community groups and individuals throughout the region, while also engaging and educating citizens about trees and their care.
Work days are held nearly every Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:30am until noon. Additional opportunities are available on some Saturdays, and upon request. Volunteers may also participate in tree planting and maintenance in the greater St. Louis area. Fill out a volunteer application at www.moreleaf.org to get started!
Project Leader
Linda Kopp
liana@moreleaf.org
Garden of Eden
Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays most weeks, 9-11am during March, 8-10:30 the rest of the season. Email Stephanie Rhea (srhea@jccstl.org) to join.
Project Leader
Myra Rosenthal
myrasuer@gmail.com
Great Rivers Greenway
Great Rivers Greenway is a public agency created by a vote of the people in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County in the year 2000 to develop a sales tax dedicated to parks and greenways. This allows us to collaborate with partners and communities to build, care for, bring to life your network of greenways (140 miles and counting!), creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way.
Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists can engage directly in our mission to make the St. Louis region a more vibrant place to live, work, and play by caring for our stormwater basins, native plant gardens, and other landscaped areas. As part of the Adopt-a-Greenway program, Great Rivers Greenway will work with Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists to ensure an impactful and rewarding volunteer experience, with on-site visits beforehand and ongoing support and resources.
Learn more about each volunteer site here. Volunteer hours will vary by site.
Project Leader
Bryn Blackburn, Conservation Supervisor at bblackburn@grgstl.org with any questions.
Green Center
Founded in 1998, The Green Center is a natural oasis in the heart of the St. Louis metropolitan region. The center is headquartered in a residence built in 1932 and is located in Kaufman Park, University City, Missouri. The heart of the Green Center is its outdoor spaces which include learning and demonstration gardens on the headquarters’ grounds; a half-acre prairie within a short walk of the headquarters; a half-acre Missouri wetland; the 26-acre Ruth Park Woods; and an Arboretum in University City’s Heman Park. We have projects going on throughout the year including native plant propagation, working with schools on and off site, and maintaining our 28-acre campus. The Green Center is an arts and environmental organization dedicated to helping people understand the natural world using hands-on experiences, native habitat restoration, and encouraging artistic experiences inspired by nature. Our regular volunteer day is Wednesday morning but meet more frequently for ongoing projects. Our campus includes a prairie, herb garden, vegetable garden, children’s theme garden, 33 ft. Geodesic green house, wetlands, and the Ruth Park woods. We encourage visitors to explore the Green Center’s outdoor spaces on their own or take advantage of our classes, guided field trips, summer youth camps, scout badge programs, and service learning and volunteer opportunities. Artists find inspiration here for their photography, painting, and creative writing. Direct volunteer information HERE.
Project Leader
Jan Oberkramer, Executive Director
8025 Blackberry Ave.
University City, MO 63130
314.725.8314 x102
joberkramer@thegreencenter.org
Green House Venture
Every other Saturday starting in March from 9am – 11pm.
Project Leader
Kurt Keister
Embankment Committee Chairman
ghventure@gmail.com
kurtkeister@gmail.com
(314) 922-9572
Kathy J. Weinman Shelter
The Kathy J. Weinman Shelter is a 39 bed domestic violence program for abused women and their children operated by St. Louis County. The Shelter’s mission is:
- To offer safe shelter and support services to promote the healing of women and their children suffering the trauma of intimate partner violence
- To work together with individuals, families and our community to break the cycle of violence. We provide safety, encouragement, support, and education through an array of comprehensive services.
The Master Gardener class of 2012 landscaped the grounds surround the Shelter building to provide a beautiful and peaceful environment for residents and staff. We attend to the grounds 1-2 mornings a month for upkeep and are currently looking for additional volunteers. If you are interested in joining us or want additional information, please contact the project leaders.
Project Leaders
Linda Monday
monday811@charter.net
Tina Short
shortcuts40@gmail.com
Kirkwood Park
Native gardening advice and selection, planting annuals, perennial, and bulbs, watering, weeding, seeding, seed collection, plan division Every Tuesday and Thursday from April-October.
Project Leader
Sebastian Kaiser
Horticulturist and Arborist
kaisers@kirkwoodmo.org
314-915-4511
Lafayette Park
Master Gardener volunteers are needed to assist in the maintenance and preservation of this historic gem all year long. The Lafayette Park Conservancy organizes the volunteer days at the garden. During winter months, volunteers will be in the Forest Park greenhouse under the guidance of the Flora Conservancy assisting with seed and cuttings propagation. During the spring, volunteers head back to Lafayette Park to prepare garden beds and plant the results of their winter’s work. Summer maintenance tasks include watering, mulching, pruning and landscape design.
Lafayette Park was set aside from the St. Louis Common in 1836 and in 1851 established by city ordinance as one of the first public parks. It is considered by many historians to be the oldest urban park west of the Mississippi. Lafayette Park first served as a parade ground during the Civil War. Extensively landscaped after the war by the renowned landscape architect, Maximilian Kern, the park truly came into its own during the Victorian “Gilded Age” of the late 1800s.
Project Leader
Sharee Paulus
314.712.3344
volunteer@lafayettepark.org
Longview Farm Park
Master Gardeners are involved in nearly all aspects of care at Longview Farm Park. We plant annuals in spring and fall, weed, deadhead, divide, while successfully battling poison ivy, Japanese beetles and ticks. If you would like to learn general garden maintenance, have a say in what plants are selected for the annual beds, and wish to work in the most beautiful 30 acres in West County, this project is for you.
We are a knowledgeable bunch consisting of many Master Gardeners, some already working in the hort industry, and others who continue to learn horticulture at STLCC Meramec. We meet every Friday morning from late March to early November. If we are tackling a large project, we add other workdays. The city supplies tools, but many members bring their favorites from home.
Project Leader
Claire Chosid
314.479.3156
claire@chosid.us
Missouri Botanical Garden Outdoor Gardener
Volunteer your time to educate the public at one or Missouri Botanical Garden’s sites, including Shaw Nature Reserve, Litsinger Road Ecology Center, and the Butterfly House. Come work alongside Master Gardeners, volunteers and trained staff members to help share knowledge and maintain one of the world’s most prized public gardens. Specific volunteer activities vary by site.
Project Leader
Elisha Banh
Manager, Volunteer and HR Programs
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110
ebanh@mobot.org
314.577.5187
Seed St. Louis
Seed St. Louis has many projects where Master Gardeners can volunteer across St. Louis City and St. Louis County in Missouri and St. Clair and Madison counties in Illinois. Master Gardeners are a vital part of this organization’s outreach to local community gardens and on-going projects.
Seed St. Louis is proud to support over 250 community and school gardens and orchards. They are always thrilled to see what neighbors can do with a few tools, seeds, and a little bit of land. As part of Seed St. Louis’s ongoing support, groups are coordinated and sent to these gardens for work days and individual volunteers are put in contact with local community gardens of their interest. These gardens can include raised beds for vegetables, perennials, and fruit trees and shrubs.
For Master Gardeners looking for a regular volunteer schedule, Seed St. Louis organizes at least two Saturday work mornings a month in the demonstration garden and in other community or school gardens and orchards in the network as a part of the Demonstration Garden volunteer group. To be placed on this mailing list, or to participate/learn about any other volunteer opportunities, contact volunteer@seedstl.org or complete the online application.
Speakers Bureau
Each year St. Louis Master Gardeners make over 100 presentations to garden clubs, schools, businesses, churches, neighborhood and civic organizations. Presentations are typically 50-60 minutes in length.
The Speakers Bureau currently has many members who present 50-minute programs for a $50.00 fee/donation. The fee offsets costs for Master Gardener equipment and materials. A list of topics can be found at the Speakers Bureau.
Project Leader
Eliza Pessereau
314-403-7410
eliza.pessereau@missouri.edu
St. Louis County Parks
Come join us in one of the St. Louis County Parks and volunteer alongside fellow Master Gardeners, other volunteers and the horticulture staff. Volunteers are one of our most valuable assets in the St. Louis County Parks system. The Horticulture Department appreciates all of their efforts at Jefferson Barracks, Queeny Park, Faust Park, Laumeier Park, and Tilles Park.
Whether you’re a lifelong gardener looking for another outlet or a novice looking for new experience, you will be a welcome addition to the volunteers. You will learn from experts and make new friends along the way. As one of our volunteers has stated, “I think there’s not any nicer people than gardeners”. With the seasons our times change, but generally 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Monday – Tilles Park
- Tuesday – Jefferson Barracks Laborers House Garden
- Tuesday – Faust Conway House Garden
- Wednesday – Queeny Barn (Mason Road)
- Thursday – Laumeier Park (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
- Friday – Faust Carousel Gardens
Project Leader
Krista Farrow
Volunteer Coordinator
Kfarrow@stlouisco.com
314.615.8865
St. Louis Garden Hotline
Master Gardener volunteers answer home gardeners’ questions by email, phone, and in person.
The St. Louis Master Gardener Hotline has been answering gardeners’ questions since 2019. We answer 400-500 questions a year; most are sent by email (stlgardenhotline@gmail.com) but we also answer voicemail messages (314-400-7657). In-person table events are hosted at libraries, gardens, local nurseries, and farmers’ markets. We aim to provide the best research-based information available. Volunteers for the Hotline are required to be certified Master Gardeners. We provide additional in-person training for new volunteers (including approaches to finding reliable information and accessing experts for difficult questions) and ongoing continuing education for all our volunteers.
Project Leaders
- Kathleen Kennedy
- Carol Kreader
St. Louis Zoo
The Zoo's mission is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public. Master Gardener can help with this education by assisting the Horticulture team with native planting establishment, maintenance, and signage. Volunteer Shifts are Tuesday-Thursday from 7-11am or 9-11am. Volunteers will be assigned maintenance zones to take care of. Volunteers can chose one-time opportunities or apply for a year-round slot.
Project Leaders
Bridget Whittaker,
Horticulture Lead
bwhittaker@stlzoo.org.
U City in Bloom
U City in Bloom is a non-profit organization, founded in 1985, that maintains gardens planted throughout University City, MO. The gardens are located in many areas of the city including businesses, public schools, parks, major streets, and quiet neighborhoods. Over 300 beds and 100 planters are maintained. Funding comes from the city and the school district, donations, and fund raising activities such as the spring plant sale.
Gardening practices are focused on sustainability, use of native perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees.
Volunteers help with planting, weeding and watering the public garden locations.
If interested in volunteering, complete the form that is on their website. No previous gardening experience is needed.
Project Leader
Judy Prange, Executive Director
7005 Amherst
University City, MO 63130
314.725.8243
314.518.0258 cell
Jane Keating, Director of Volunteers
j.keating.7007@gmail.com
Jesse Gilbertson, Director of Horticulture
jesse.allen.stl@gmail.com
314.479.4549
Wild West Community Garden
The Wild West Community Garden was established in 2011 on the property of the Wildwood Family YMCA. There are 70 community garden plots, a children’s garden with 8 raised beds, a large food pantry area, and berms full of natives, flowers, and milkweed around the perimeter of the garden. The newest addition is the Therapy/Sensory garden. This space was designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements of gardening for ALL. The garden mission is to provide a peaceful, and welcoming setting that encourages gardeners to gather, socialize, and learn about the benefits of organic gardening. They are passionate about the bounty share food pantry program (donated 5000 pounds of produce in 2021), teaching children about where their food comes from, and environmental stewardship.
Volunteer opportunities: Walking tours, adaptive programming (requires background check), planting seedlings in the spring for plant sale, planting in the garden in community berms (native plants, taking care of fruit trees and berry bushes, therapy/sensory garden, childrens garden, plant a row for the hungry.
Times: Thursday mornings during the growing season (some Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursdays), Junior MG class June 15-19th
Have a project in mind? Reach out to John!
Project Leader
John Bick,
Community Garden Program Manager
john.bick@gwrymca.org