Our Volunteers
Volunteer Cultivators: Nurturing Growth and Community
SGGN thrives on the invaluable contributions of our dedicated volunteers. Their passion and commitment form the very roots of our success, nurturing our projects from seed to fruition. With every task they undertake, our volunteers cultivate a sense of belonging and purpose within our community. Join us in celebrating their unwavering dedication and the flourishing gardens they help to cultivate.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more about the many opportunities below.
SGGN's Steering Commitee
The committee ensures our planned work aligns with our mission and streamlines project and program structures for practical implementation, ensuring they benefit volunteer gardeners.
Jennifer Maciejewski
SGGN Coodinator (Internal Communications), Steering Committee Member
Jennifer focuses on coordinating with SGGN volunteers; arranging online and in person meetings; faciliates communications between Steering Committee and SGGN volunteers; ensures projects and annual goals stay on track. Jennifer is a member of our Steering Committee.
Kit Hitchcock
Sprouts Lead- Ballard, Steering Committee Member
Kit has dedicated several years to the Ballard Sprouts program, where she coordinates and schedules volunteers for greenhouse seed-to-start initiatives, our largest project at SGGN.
Michael Hagan
Greenhouse Manager for Sprouts, Steering Committee Member
Committed over 10 years to operating Ballard Sprouts Program. Michael is a member of Steering Committee.
Ava Clennon
SGGN Coordinator (External Communications), Fundraising Team Lead, Steering Committee Member
Ava led the creation of the 2023 Giving Gardeners Handbook and is developing a 2024 internship program focusing on location-based Giving Gardens and social media. She oversees the Donations Program and manages half of Picardo Farm P-Patch,while pursuing studies in applied soil microbiology and permaculture.
Mara
Sprouts Lead-Herons Nest, Steering Committee Member
Mara coordinates and schedules volunteers in the growing from seed to start in a greenhouse. This is our biggest project at SGGN. Mara also created one of our most popular resources, "Growing For Giving- Donation locations by area", to help gardeners learn where to donate. Mara is a member of our Steering Committee.
Rob Williamson
Annual Event Lead, Seed Procurement Team - Wholesale, Steering Committee Member
Rob coordinates the donation of seed packets for volunteer gardeners at our annual gathering, contributing to its organization. He also plays a role in crafting our Newsletter and the Giving Gardener Handbook. Rob is a member of our Steering Committee.
Peggy Murphy
Small Grants Team, Seeds Procurement Team - Lead, Steering Committee Member
Peggy is a leader in optimizing our Small Grants program, driving consistent improvement annually. She efficiently manages incoming requests year-round and oversees our Seeds program, coordinating volunteer efforts and packet donations for our annual gathering. Peggy is a member of our Steering Committee.
Volunteers
Sheri Finn
Seed Procurement Team, Sprouts Volunteer
Sheri gathers seed packet donations & picks them up to be offered to volunteer gardeners at our annual seed gathering. Gardener at large- Sprouts & P Patch
Tasia Baldwin
Annual Event Lead, Seed Procurement Team - Wholesale
Tasia spearheads our largest annual event, The Giving Gardeners Gathering, which distributes seed packets, fosters connections among participants, and provides valuable resources. She also coordinates the solicitation and collection of seed packet donations for distribution to volunteer gardeners.
Cynthia Whitaker
Small Grants Team and Sprouts Volunteer
Cynthia has played a pivotal role in structuring and enhancing our Small Grants program, which continues to expand each year under her guidance. She manages and facilitates requests throughout the year. Additionally, Cynthia volunteers her time at the Ballard Sprouts.
Gail Phlilips
Annual Event Lead
Gail organizes our largest annual event, The Giving Gardeners Gathering. This event distributes Seed packets, fosters connection and offers resources. Gail also volunteers at our Sprouts program in Ballard.
Katie
Web Developer
Katie is our versatile web developer, content strategist, and graphic designer. She revitalized our outdated 2014 website, introducing a fresh theme, logo, and enhanced information structure. Passionate about community gardening, Katie enjoys sharing her favorite Indigo Rose tomatoes.