Volunteer in the Gardens
Grow with a Mission
When you volunteer with Yarducopia, you aren’t just tending to plants—you are part of a statewide movement. As a program of Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), our work in the soil is a direct extension of our mission: to assure the right of all people to a healthy environment.
By joining our staff and fellow neighbors in the garden, you are helping us demonstrate that organic, regenerative, and "toxic-free" food systems are not just possible—they are thriving right here in Anchorage. Every bed we build and every bin we flip reduces our reliance on harmful chemicals and strengthens our community’s food sovereignty.
What's Happening this Summer
2026 is a big year for us! We are expanding our community composting pilots and refining our regenerative techniques to show how Anchorage can turn "waste" into local abundance. Whether you are working alongside Nick, Theresa, or our dedicated seasonal team, you’ll be gaining hands-on skills in permaculture and organic soil building while helping us keep our neighborhoods healthy and pesticide-free.
Volunteer opportunities occur weekly, May through September. Join us in making Anchorage a greener, safer place to live—one garden at a time.
Tuesdays: Midtown Garden Depot and Community Garden
Tuesday 10 am - 12:30 pm
Located at ACAT’s Midtown hub, these sessions are the heartbeat of our urban agriculture efforts. @ 2930 Cheechako Street
10:00 am – 11:00 am | Depot and Community Garden Maintenance and Improvements - Help us keep our resources organized and our "black gold" cooking. Tasks include:
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Compost Management: Performing a quick flip of our community compost bins to keep the microbes happy.
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Resource Sorting: Organizing pots and supplies to keep the depot accessible for all neighborhood gardeners.
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Regenerative Care: Mulching and adding fresh wood chips to paths to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
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Infrastructure Support: Fixing watering systems and building new garden beds to expand our growing capacity.
Wednesdays: Hope Compost Hub
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Spend your evening at our dedicated composting site. This is a great session for those who want to relax in a beautiful space, and co-create a food forest and participate in community-scale composting! We’ll be processing organic materials and managing the piles that fuel our gardens. @ 1847 West Northern Lights - Hope Lutheran Church
Directions: Follow the pavement around the left (west) of the church. You can park in the small parking lot next to the dumpster and walk past the garden to find us. Or continue following the pavement past the Pastor's house and toward the greenhouse and orchard. You'll find us composting in the way way back. Huzzah! You made it!
Have a question or need a hand?
We’re here to help! Whether you're a first-timer or a returning volunteer, feel free to reach out.
Contact Nick Riordan or Theresa Brown, ACAT's Organic Gardening Coordinators:
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Phone: 907-717-4392 (Nick)
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Email: [email protected]