Historic Garden Volunteer - Brinegar Cabin - Doughton Park- Blue Ridge Parkway

Description

The National Park Service is seeking volunteer gardeners to work at the Brinegar Cabin garden; located at Doughton Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 238.5. The volunteers will be responsible for planting and maintaining a small vegetable garden.

Doughton Park is named after Robert L. Doughton who served in congress for over four decades and played an integral role in building the Blue Ridge Parkway. Before the development of the Parkway, Brinegar Cabin was home to Martin and Caroline Brinegar. Built around 1889, the cabin is a testament to the people who lived and worked in middle Appalachia near the turn of the century. On site there is a cabin, granary, springhouse, and a garden that all serve to educate the public about late 19th and early 20th century mountain farm life. Doughton Park is also home to the Bluffs Restaurant, a gift shop, trails, campground, and many picturesque overlooks. Doughton Park encompasses approximately 6,000 acres and is one of the many gems on the Parkway.

Major Duties

• Plant and manage Parkway gardens within the scope and scale of approved plans, policies, and regulations of the National Park Service.

• Work with other volunteers and park staff in performing basic gardening work such as planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, mulching, harvesting, raking, and pruning, as well as collecting and disposing of trash and the debris resulting from garden work.

• Use basic gardening tools and perform tasks according to level of training and comfort.

• Answer visitor questions and give informal interpretive talks while working in the garden.

• Educate Parkway visitors about the National Park Service Mission including how and why to protect Parkway resources.

• Attend volunteer briefings and training sessions.

• Communicate with NPS staff about needs, issues, successes, and hazards related to volunteer activities.

• Ensure and provide for a safe environment for themselves, others, and Parkway resources at all times.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of tasks associated with growing a vegetable garden

• Ability to walk on uneven terrain

• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions

• Ability to lift loads of up to 20 pounds

• Ability to interact with the public in a polite and professional manner

• Knowledge of historic farming practices of the Southern Appalachian Mountains is preferred but not required

Time Commitment

Volunteer will serve up to 10 hours per week.