Volunteers wanted for Farrand Garden at FDR estate

Apr 21

Written By HVNY

Love gardening? Love local history? Get those gloves ready: Volunteers are needed to assist maintaining the garden of America’s first female landscape designer located at FDR’s estate in Hyde Park.

Bellefield, believed to be Farrand’s oldest surviving residential designed garden, is stewarded by a dedicated group of volunteers.

Volunteers will garden alongside site horticulturist on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 9am-11am. Volunteer gardeners can join for as little or as much time as they’d like, from late April through late October.

Volunteers will also act as Garden Greeters on first and third Sundays, welcoming visitors to the garden and answering simple questions about the site and organization, and assist the site Programming Director with garden events, from concerts to art workshops, by helping with minor crowd management, setting up of materials, etc.

Learn more about these opportunities at two upcoming volunteer orientations:

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 10-11am at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, FDR Historic Site. Note: This orientation is for all NPS related volunteering at the FDR/Vanderbilt gardens
Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10 to 11am in the Beatrix Farrand Garden at the FDR Historic Site in Hyde Park *In case of inclement weather, meeting will take place in the room adjacent to the garden's terrace in Bellefield. This orientation is specific to volunteering with the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association.

If you're unable to make these dates and would still like to participate this season, please email hort@bfgahydepark.org