Please fill out the Volunteer Request Form on our website. Once it is received, you will then be sent a link and directions to complete a background check for Baltimore County Recreation and Parks.  This process takes up to 2-3 weeks to go through.  You are able to check the results online.  We will offer training/orientation sessions when needed.   You will be contacted with dates and time for the orientation.

We are located in Cromwell Valley Park Sherwood entrance.  TALMAR is the first left once you enter the park.  Drive all the way to the end until you see the large white barns. Parking is located in the grass next to the large white barn on the left.

Volunteer work days start at 8am and run until 11am for volunteers working with veterans.  Field volunteers work 9am-11am. Special times will be assigned for those working with weekly groups.

Please plan to stay and contribute for the entire time.  

Not necessarily.  Depending on the season, the projected weather, and what work needs to be done, volunteer hours might be cancelled due to inclement weather.  A message will be sent out to volunteers and posted on Instagram as soon as the decision is made.  If you’re unsure if the volunteer hours will be cancelled, feel free to contact TALMAR at volunteering@talmar.org or call 410-825-2020. 

Of course!  TALMAR works hard to ensure that each volunteer is placed with a project that is  best suited to his or her skill level.  Additionally, the staff and experienced volunteers will work with newer and less-experienced volunteers in order to successfully accomplish a task. All volunteers are encouraged to work at their strength level and take breaks when needed.

With a group, you should contact TALMAR at least a month before the date you want to volunteer.  It would be beneficial to schedule a date well in advance: the farm manager reserves the right to decline a group volunteering if there are already groups scheduled for the chosen date. 

We cannot appropriately plan on an exact number of volunteers.  However, in order to control our numbers, we do not typically accept more than 3 volunteers per session.  For HT group sessions, one person is the limit.

Ideally, no.  If you do bring your child under 16 to our volunteer hours, a parent or guardian must be with the young person at all times.  The farm is a dynamic environment, and young people under 16 can both get hurt and hurt others (people and plants alike) if not appropriately supervised.  

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring work or garden gloves if you have them, and dress according to the weather. A hat with shade is really useful in warm months. In cooler months, wear layers as you tend to warm up while working and will want to take something off. Also, bring a water bottle, any snacks you need, and sunscreen or insect repellent as needed.

Yes, we have on-farm beehives. We will inform volunteers of the location of our bees. Most bees will not sting if left alone. Bee stings can cause a medical emergency if one is allergic to them. Volunteer groups should be aware of any one in their group who may have this problem and be prepared to respond appropriately.