Volunteer
be a part of transforming our region through gardens
Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s mission is to create more vibrant and beautiful communities by sharing gardens.
It takes a lot of volunteers to plan, coordinate, publicize, organize, and staff the many events Gardens Buffalo Niagara produces. If you are interested in meeting and working toward the region’s renaissance – and want to help make Buffalo Niagara a premier garden destination – please consider volunteering for Gardens Buffalo Niagara in some capacity. Please contact us any time by emailing Volunteers@GardensBuffaloNiagara.com.
We could use your help with the following upcoming events:
Garden Art Sale
Help make the Garden Art Sale at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens a success by volunteering to assist with setup and teardown, support vendors, answer visitor questions, help with raffles, and sell merchandise!
East Side Garden Walk
Tasks include handing out maps, answering visitor questions, and selling merchandise. Volunteers will also set up the headquarters location and tear down on Sunday afternoon. The headquarters will be at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park—close to Fillmore and North Parade.
Garden Walk Buffalo
America’s Largest Garden tour needs some extra hands! Volunteer tasks include handing out maps, answering visitors questions, and selling merchandise. Volunteers will also set up the headquarters locations and tear down on Sunday afternoon. This year’s headquarters are at Canisius High School, the Martin House, and West Side Community Services.
-
Plantasia – check back in 2027!
East Side Garden Walk at Juneteenth – sign up now!
Garden Art Sale – sign up now!
Conservation Day at Bidwell Park – email us.
East Side Garden Walk HQ at MLK Park – sign up now!
Garden Walk Buffalo – sign up now!
Urban Farm Day – email us.
-
WHAT: Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) is the 501(c)3 not for profit organization responsible for planning and promoting garden-oriented beautification and tourism events in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
WHEN: The GBN Board meets on the third Thursday each month, excluding December. Everyone is welcome to attend.
WHERE: Mission Room, Trinity Center, 371 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Zoom attendance accommodated.
-
WHAT: Garden Walk Buffalo is America’s largest garden tour with hundreds of free gardens to visit. It is held the last full weekend of July each year. Garden Walk Buffalo started in 1995.
We need:
Committee members - to plan the event.
Weekend of the event volunteers – at our three headquarters on the last full weekend in July.
WHEN: Meetings are first Monday of each month, January through September at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE : Mission Room, Trinity Center, 371 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo.
WEBSITE -
WHAT: The East Side Garden Walk is a free two-day garden tour of Buffalo’s East Side. There are over 100 gardens to see. It is held the weekend before Garden Walk Buffalo each year. The East Side Garden Walk started in 2018.
We need:
Committee members - to plan the event.
Weekend of the event volunteers – at our East Side headquarters on the weekend before Garden Walk Buffalo in July.
WHEN: Email us for the date and time of our next meeting. Most meetings are online.
WEBSITE -
WHAT: Tours of juried gardens throughout the Buffalo Niagara region. Gardens are open on Thursdays and/or Fridays in July. There is a $15 fee to obtain an Open Gardens Guide.
We need Committee members to:
Plan the event
Review gardens that apply
Obtain and coordinate information for the Guide
Proofread and information check the Guide
Distribute the Guide to local nurseries
WHEN: Meetings are held as needed. Gardens are vetted in the summer. Information collection and development of the Guide is completed in the fall and early winter.
WEBSITE -
WHAT: The Garden Art Sale offers over 50 vendors selling garden themed merchandise. It is held the last full weekend in June on the grounds of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
We need:
Committee members - to plan the event.
Weekend of the event volunteers – to set up, take down, and ensure the event goes smoothly.
WHEN: Meetings held the second Tuesday of each month, January through September, at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Meetings are usually held at India Gate Restaurant on Elmwood Avenue.
WEBSITE -
WHAT: Grants are given to block clubs and community groups for garden beautification projects throughout the city of Buffalo. More than $170,000 in grants have been awarded since 2004. The grants are named after Garden Walk Buffalo founder Marvin Lunenfeld (1934-2012).
We need:
Committee members to review applications
Mentors to assist award winners.
WHEN: Grants are awarded in the spring. The Committee meets as needed. Email us to attend!
WEBSITE -
WHAT: A free tour of more than 15 urban farms mostly in Buffalo. The day also includes education and shopping. Urban Farm Day is held the third Thursday in August each year.
We need:
Committee members to plan the event.
WHEN: Meetings are held as needed.
WEBSITE -
WHAT: The Development/Sponsorship Committee is responsible for fundraising and sponsorship solicitation.
We need:
Committee members to contact potential sponsors. Committee members also ensure that sponsors are thanked for their support.
WHEN: The Committee meets as needed.
-
WHAT: The VolunteerCoordination Committee informs volunteers of GBN’s events and tabling needs and ensures that there are sufficient volunteers to manage events. They also stage events to thank gardeners and volunteers for all the work they do.
WHEN: The Committee meets on the second Thursday of most months upstairs at Dash’s Market on Hertel.Email us here with questions or to check the next meeting date!