What is a Volunteer Grower?
A Volunteer Grower raises native seedlings in their backyard over summer, ready for planting by rural landholders & revegetation projects in autumn.
What will I be committing to?
Because you will be growing for a specific landholder or project it is important that you commit to seeing the project through to a successful result. We will give you every help and support we can, but ultimately it is up to you.
How will I be helping to improve the environment?
The seedlings you grow will be planted in areas suffering the affect of too much clearing. They will help stabilise the soil, reduce carbon in the atmosphere and provide food and shelter for native birds and animals.
Do I need a green thumb?
Not at all. But you do need sufficient time and commitment to follow the project through to the end. The growing process is easy if you follow the instructions.
How will I know what to do?
• You’ll receive a step-by-step growers' handbook
• You can attend a free workshop before you start
• You can get a copy of our instructional DVD or download it from our website.
How will I be supported?
Trees For Life supports you by providing:
• Assistance and advice throughout the growing period
• Replacement seed if you require it in the early stages
• Back up plants if you are a few short to fill your landholders order
• An on-line growing diary so you can see what your plants should look like at each stage of growth
What do I get in my grower kit?
We provide you with a complete growing kit with seeds, soil, planting tubes, boxes, fertilizer & a Growers Handbook.
How much time will I need?
Daily attention is required from November to May. Please don’t underestimate the time required to commit at this busy time of year. We estimate:
• 15 mins per day - watering & monitoring; and
• 1 hour per week – maintenance; plus
• The initial set up - this is time consuming. Tube filling takes one hour per box with one person (we recommend you get some friends to help out here).
Do I need a growing bench?
It is critical to keep your boxes off the ground away from slugs, soil-borne diseases, weeds and animals so you will need to set up a growing bench at waist height. Your bench must be sturdy, free draining and allow good airflow.
Who will I be growing for?
TFL will allocate you to either a rural landholder who requires help to improve their land or a large-scale revegetation project seeking community support. You may request to grow for a particular person if you know they have placed an order for seedlings in the same season.
How much sun do they need?
You must be able to provide a space in direct sunlight for a minimum of 8 hours a day. Six boxes take up one square metre. During the early stages of growing you will need to cover your seedlings with a 50% density shadecloth (but still under direct sunlight) and then remove it once the seedlings have germinated.
How many plants should I offer to grow?
New growers usually raise 6 boxes, building to 10 boxes once they have more experience. There are 50 seedlings in each box.
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