At Real Food CT, our mission is simple and powerful: connect locally grown food with neighbors in need. Through partnerships with local farms, hands-on gleaning, and the care of our own two community farms, we grow, harvest, and share fresh, nutritious food with our food pantry partners across three counties. None of this would be possible without volunteers, and we’re excited to share ways to get involved during the 2026 farm season.
New for 2026: Group Volunteering Calendar
This upcoming season, we’re launching a new, detailed group volunteer calendar designed to make it easier than ever for groups to plan a meaningful morning on the farm.
Who is this for?
- Corporate teams
- School groups (high school and college)
- Church groups
- Civic organizations
- Local businesses
- Community teams
- And more!
How it works:
- Volunteer mornings will take place on select Fridays, typically 2–3 Fridays per month, from spring through fall.
- Dates are first come, first served.
- Groups can review a tentative schedule of farm tasks tied to each date, giving you a clearer picture of what your volunteer experience may include.
Depending on the time of year, your group might help with:
- Early spring cleanup and infrastructure
- Preparing garden beds
- Seeding and transplanting crops
- Planting
- Fertilizing and mulching
- Weeding and general garden care
- Farm Projects
- Harvesting—yes, including favorites like digging potatoes!
- Fall cleanup and winter prep
Maybe your group loves the excitement of early spring garden prep or the quiet focus of seed planting. Maybe nothing beats the joy of harvesting together. With tasks changing throughout the season, there truly is something for everyone.
Please note: While we do our best to plan ahead, farm tasks are not guaranteed and will always depend on Mother Nature and current field conditions.
To receive the group volunteer calendar and sign up for a date, email Communications Director, Jessi Ruotolo, at jessi@realfooodct.org to get started.
