Our constantly innovating super-volunteer since 2009.

By Elizabeth Villaseñor, Education & Engagement Coordinator, Petaluma Bounty

Petaluma Bounty is supported by many volunteers and we can’t do what we do without them. While everyone and every minute are appreciated, there are a handful of volunteers who have become fixtures at the farm and deserve special recognition. Steve is one such volunteer. 

Steve found Petaluma Bounty when he had less work, more time for himself, and was looking for a volunteer opportunity in town. The library was looking for volunteers but that opportunity didn’t quite fit Steve. By chance, a friend mentioned Petaluma Bounty and it was a match made in cultivation. At the Bounty Farm, Steve quickly found friendly people and a place of belonging while the Bounty found a super-volunteer of ten years and counting. 

Since nearly the inception of the Petaluma Bounty Farm, Steve has helped in any way he could — from harvesting and weeding to greenhouse repairs and even adding doors to our hoop house! He says his main motivation for volunteering is just wanting the farm to succeed.

With his expertise in carpentry, Steve keeps the farm updated and safe. He has built doors onto our hoop house and repaired the greenhouse windows and tables. He constantly repairs farm tools and brings new ways for the farm to grow. But Steve is more than simply a helping hand at the farm, but a treasure. He would find artifacts at the farm and share his knowledge with anyone who volunteers alongside him. 

And in turn, the Bounty Farm gives Steve more than just a place to put his skills to good (well, great) use. It gives him a place to connect with others and keep smiles alive. When the pandemic began and most public spaces shut down, the Bounty Farm was one of the few places with a safe outdoor environment where volunteering and interactions could continue. 

Steve says it was nice to be able to socialize with others outdoors while getting exercise at the same time while most other places were closed. Steve shows up to the farm every week ready for anything the farm may bring.