Become a Volunteer Grower

So you're interested in growing seedlings in your backyard for a farmer in Victoria…

TreeProject's largest volunteer activity is our Volunteer Growing Program, part of the Re-Tree Scheme. Through this program, hundreds of volunteers from Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and other areas take home a 'growing kit' to propagate and tend seedlings for farmers and landcare groups across Victoria.

By volunteering to grow seedlings, our volunteers are providing practical assistance to Victorian landholders, who may plant less or no seedlings without this help. It's a simple and fun activity that most people with a bit of a green thumb can do - right in their backyard.   In 2002, our volunteers propagated over 120 000 indigenous seedling that were planted out in rural Victoria!

FAQ's about growing indigenous seedlings

What do I get in  a Growing Kit?

One growing kit is made up of seven foam fruit boxes that contain the materials for growing around 350 seedlings. This includes soil, tubes, fertilizer, gravel, seeds, instructions and a grower report. One growing kit is designed to fit into a car boot.

Growing kits can be collected at one of our depots in Newmarket, Geelong or Bendigo on a distribution day in either November or January.

A grower report is a detailed account of which species you are growing, where the seedlings will be planted and contact details for your landholder, area co-ordinator and other growers. You are also given full grower instructions to cover every aspect of setting up and nurturing your seedlings and can attend a grower induction session prior to picking up your kit..

What do I need?

TreeProject provides all of the materials. Our volunteer growers need to provide a nice sunny spot of about 2 square metres, preferable on a raised bench. Other than time, growers need to provide the water and daily care.

How much time does it take?

The growing season for TreeProject starts in either November or January. You will have your seedlings until the following Autumn or Spring (about 6 months) when they will be ready for planting throughout Victoria.

Initially it takes a couple of hours to set up your growing kit. Native species are hardy and have high germination rates; so your main job is to water them daily, and later to thin them out so that there is one sturdy seedling per tube. You will also need to check your seedlings regularly to ensure that nothing is eating them, and to overcome any problems such as mildew. It is that easy to be green!

'Do I need gardening experience?

Most people can  successfully grow seedlings, even if their horticulture experience is very limited! TreeProject provides all of the materials, runs a series of grower induction sessions, and has area co-ordinators across the region to contact if you have any difficulties. We have made the growing process as easy as possible, and if you follow the instructions carefully  you should produce a happy and healthy bunch of native plants.