Tending the Land in a Shared Living Community

CODE: US-SCI L13.1

The Garden Program is part of daily life and community connection. As a volunteer, you will join participants, staff, and other volunteers in caring for the gardens and greenhouses that help sustain our residential and day programs. This role is grounded in shared work, mutual learning, and inclusion. The gardens provide fresh vegetables, flowers, and herbs for our homes, Culinary Program, and Farm Store, while also offering meaningful, hands-on activities for the people we support.

Time commitment: Long-term (between 3 months and 12 months)

Study theme

Sustainable gardening Community Living Supporting Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Work description

1. Role and Responsibilities

Assist with the care and maintenance of greenhouses, garden beds, and production fields
Work alongside program participants in garden activities, adapting tasks to individual interests and abilities
Support harvesting and distribution of produce within the Stanton Home community
Collaborate with staff to maintain daily routines and program schedules
Contribute to an inclusive, respectful environment that encourages active participation
Help ensure continuity of garden projects as needed

2. What to Expect

Volunteers are part of the team. The work is practical and collaborative, and relationships are central to the experience. You do not need to be an expert gardener, but you should be open to learning, working outdoors in varying weather, and engaging with people of different backgrounds and abilities.

This placement offers an opportunity to contribute to a community-based program, gain experience in sustainable gardening, and share in the everyday rhythm of life at Stanton Home.

Accommodation and food

Stanton Home provides both housing and meals for volunteers. Volunteers receive either a private or shared bedroom and share a bathroom, with accommodations located in one of our residential homes, the volunteer house, or at the farm. Volunteers have access to the food provided in the residential home where they live.  Nutritious, locally sourced meals are prepared during volunteer shifts, often using fresh ingredients from the Stanton Home biodynamic farm.

Expectations and Requirements

• Experience and confidence in gardening and plant care preferred, but not required
• Experience working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a plus
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility with scheduling
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Reliability, a positive attitude, and willingness to learn

Every volunteer is an important and valued member of the Stanton Home community. Volunteers are seen as equal, active participants in our shared mission of supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Your personality, culture, and interests bring depth and vibrancy to our community, and you are encouraged to share recipes, photos, music, traditions, games, and meaningful activities from your life.  Stanton Home’s volunteer program is rooted in community, mutual respect, and shared purpose. As a volunteer, you are expected to uphold the following core values:

• Flexibility:  Our work is centered around people, and daily routines and needs may change.
• Communication: Open, respectful communication supports collaboration, learning, and problem-solving. Volunteers are encouraged to ask questions, seek clarification, and actively engage with staff and fellow volunteers.
• Cohesiveness:  Working as a team strengthens the community. Supporting one another, sharing responsibilities, and collaborating respectfully creates a connected and positive volunteer experience.
• Commitment:  Your consistency and reliability provide stability and trust for those we serve. Volunteers are expected to honor their agreed-upon schedules and communicate promptly if challenges or changes arise.

Location and Free time possibilities

Stanton Home is located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in the western most part of the state. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with varying temperatures and weather throughout the year. Great Barrington is a small rural town,  nestled in the Berkshire Mountains.  The area is a popular vacation destination, known for outdoor activities, fall-foliage-viewing, farm-to-table food scene and thriving arts institutions.  Great Barrington is a creative hub with a Main Street and side streets packed with shops, theaters, and restaurants.   Located approximately 140 miles north of New York City and 120 miles west of Boston, Great Barrington and the whole of Berkshire County is known for its natural beauty, importance in American history, and is considered a traditional picturesque New England town.  Public transportation options are very limited in the area, so Stanton Home provides vehicles for volunteers’ personal use, following specific guidelines for use.

Accommodation and food

Stanton Home provides both housing and meals for volunteers. Volunteers receive either a private or shared bedroom and share a bathroom, with accommodations located in one of our residential homes, the volunteer house, or at the farm. Volunteers have access to the food provided in the residential home where they live.  Nutritious, locally sourced meals are prepared during volunteer shifts, often using fresh ingredients from the Stanton Home biodynamic farm.

Pocket money: Up to $ 300 USD

Additional information 

Our Mission: To partner with adults with diverse abilities to actively pursue healthy, self-determined lives.

Our Core Values:

• Every person has the potential to contribute and find joy in productive, meaningful relationships.
• We share our lives with the people we support—and they share theirs with us.
• We are bound together by mutual respect.
• Relationships are central; everything else gives them form and substance.

Since 1986, Stanton Home has supported adults with diverse needs through residential homes and an active Day Program. More than 70 staff partner with over 20 adults who live in homes throughout the Berkshires and come together for weekday programming. Activities include organic gardening, composting, music, yoga, hiking, weaving, culinary arts, and community outings such as swimming, horseback riding, and pottery.

Volunteers are part of both Residential Life and the Day Program. They assist with daily living activities and provide direct support that contributes to the health, safety, and well-being of residents and participants.

Farm & Garden Program: The Farm and Garden Volunteer helps maintain three 2,000-square-foot greenhouses and several acres of production fields. The goal is to actively engage participants in every step of growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Produce is shared with residential homes, used in the Culinary Program, and sold through the Farm Store. Day Program responsibilities emphasize building occupational skills, confidence, and positive social connections.

Volunteer Role & Expectations: Volunteers are expected to take initiative, manage their time responsibly, and contribute to a safe and respectful environment. While you are encouraged to feel at home here, it is also important to remember that Stanton Home is the long-term home of the people we support. Thoughtfulness, flexibility, and consideration for others are essential.

Training & Support: Volunteers receive supervision from program staff and the Volunteer Coordinator, who also serves as a mentor and intercultural liaison. Required trainings include: Orientation and program overview, Policies and protocols (including safety, boundaries, emergency procedures, and mandated reporting), Certifications in First Aid, CPR, and bloodborne pathogens

Schedule & Time Off: Volunteers serve approximately 40 hours per week, receive two days off each week, and accrue two vacation days per month of service (with prior approval).

Important Qualities: Compassion, empathy, reliability, professionalism, teamwork, and a willingness to learn.

Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have intermediate English skills, and hold (or be able to obtain) a valid driver’s license permitting driving in the U.S. Volunteers must maintain a U.S. phone plan and provide proof of personal medical insurance coverage. Travel and personal expenses are the volunteer’s responsibility.

Local English language tutoring is available.

Visa Information

Volunteers must hold a valid Visa for the duration of their volunteer commitment. Stanton Home will provide a letter of invitation as supporting documentation for a volunteers visa application.

Insurance Details

Volunteers must have proof of proper medical and/or health insurance prior to arrival.