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Volunteering is a great way to connect with your community, learn more about your city, and get to know the good people and organizations making it a better (and greener) place. But it can be hard to know where to begin; with so many opportunities and areas of need, where should you spend your volunteering capital? Here are a few ideas for residents of Portland, Oregon.
For the Green Thumb
Portland is known as the City of Roses, so get to know your favorite variety of flowering bush by volunteering at the International Rose Test Gardens. With over 10,000 rose plants, and just one full-time employee in the winter -- and only two in the summer -- the International Rose Test Garden relies heavily on a group of volunteers to help maintain the garden. Volunteers primarily do a job known in the rose business as "deadheading" the roses –- cutting off the spent or faded blooms. This helps improve the roses' appearance, prevents the plant from using up its energy in setting seed, and, in repeat-flowering roses, encourages further flushes of good-quality flowers. Help the city's garden grow by grabbing your gloves and learning more. Happy (rose) gardening!
For the Green Geek
Offering technology recycling, computer training, community building, and just a groovy place to hang out, Free Geek has two main volunteer programs. Their Computer Adoption program is designed for those looking to gets their hands on a computer quickly; you'll earn one in exchange for help with tasks like computer disassembly, keyboard and mice testing, data entry and processing donations. After 24 hours of service, a new machine can be yours. Learn more about Computer Adoption and get started today!
The Build Program offers volunteers to build the computers that they give to volunteers and non-profit organizations, as well as the computers sold in the Thrift Store. And, graduates of the Build Program take home the sixth computer they build...volunteering, and computer gear -- a match made in heaven!
For the Green Naturalist
Earth Share of Oregon offers tons of volunteering activities if you just want to give back to Momma Earth. They partner with area non-profits like The Nature Conservancy (whom we're proud to have as one of our NGO Partners and American Rivers to clean up local parks and rivers, and also help find opportunities for folks to learn about the administration of green -- non-profit development, research, community outreach, and so on. Whatever shade of green you are, Earth Share has a volunteering opportunity to match.
For the Bicycle Enthusiast
Portland is a great town for bicycles and bicyclists, so if you're a fan of two-wheeled, human-powered transportation, lend a hand with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). They gather on first Saturday of each month for a laid-back morning of getting the word out to BTA members -- coffee, snacks, and good company provided. If you can't make it then, check out their calendar for riding with elementary and middle school kids in their bike safety education program, or check out their myriad summer volunteering opportunities all around town.
For the Green Greenie
Ready to really get down to it and help Portland go green? The Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) is the place for you. Offering courses in everything from global warming to deep ecology to voluntary simplicity, NWEI relies on a committed group of volunteers to spread the word about taking green from occassional consideration to honest-to-goodness lifestyle. Help them develop their curriculum, present the courses, plan events, and more; get the scoop at NWEI's volunteer page.
More about volunteering from Planet Green
How to Go Green: Volunteerism
Quiz: What's Your Volunteer Type?
Brooklyn's Five Best Volunteer Opportunities
Want to Be a Green Volunteer in New Yorks City's Parks & Gardens
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