Summer Volunteer Opportunities in the UIC Nutrition Teaching Garden
Introduction
The UIC Nutrition Teaching Garden is offering a series of hands-on volunteer opportunities throughout the summer, led by Chef Renea Lyles, Nutrition Teaching Garden Manager and Nutrition-Focused Culinary Instructor in the Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition.
These informal sessions are open to all UIC students, faculty, and staff—no gardening experience required. Volunteers will help with planting, watering, compost maintenance, harvesting, herb drying, and preparing produce for food pantry donations. Participants are welcome to take home a small bag of harvested produce.
Summer Volunteer Dates
- Wednesday 5/13: 10am-noon, Transplanting seedlings from the UIC greenhouse
- Tuesday 6/9: 10am-noon, Watering, weeding, compost maintenance, planting seeds
- Tuesday 6/16: 10am-noon, Watering, weeding, compost maintenance, foliar feeds
- Tuesday 6/23: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting, herb drying, foliar feeds
- Tuesday 6/30: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting, weeding, foliar feeds
- Tuesday 7/7: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting for food pantry donation, foliar feeds, herb drying
- Tuesday 7/14: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting for food pantry donation, foliar feeds
- Tuesday 7/21: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting for food pantry donation, foliar feeds, plant fall crops
- Tuesday 7/28: 10am-noon, Watering, compost maintenance, harvesting for food pantry donation, foliar feeds, herb drying
Volunteers are encouraged to wear sun protection, comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather, and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Gardening gloves will be provided. Volunteers may harvest a bag of produce from the garden to take home. No garden experience is needed. Simply bring your curiosity and be ready to get your hands dirty. Feel free to invite a friend! These sessions are open to all UIC students, faculty, and staff. No need to RSVP.
Location
UIC Nutrition Teaching Garden Backyard of the AHSB (1919 W. Taylor Street) Use the intercom to enter the building, walk down the long hallway past the elevators and vending machines, and exit through the double glass doors to the garden.
Questions or Accommodations
Contact Chef Renea Lyles at rlyles4@uic.edu.