Programming

Garden Volunteer Hours

The garden has been powered by volunteers and interns for 24+ years, and we are grateful you are here 

Please be sure to check out go/knollhours for our schedule details and the latest daily updates (e.g., cancellations due to Spring Symposium, or re-location of programing to Hillcrest due to foul weather)

For all garden volunteers: Please bring a full water bottle and wear closed-toed shoes and layers suitable for movement in the weather. We begin each session with an opening circle to greet and ground our group; your timely arrival is appreciated. We always offer a variety of activities for participants. All supplies are provided, and there is no cost to participants. Please direct questions to Megan Brakeley, associate director, at mbrakeley@middlebury.edu

Physical Education Credit

Since fall 2020, we have offered physical education credit for attending at least four sessions (8 hours) of Volunteer Garden Hours in one semester

To furrow, to winnow, to hand mow, to harvest, to broadfork, to wheelbarrow, to broadcast, to mulch, to scout, to steward… What goes into gardening at the Knoll, and why? Join us in working outside while we learn about and carry forward the practices of hand work in the learning garden at the Knoll. We will explore a variety of techniques and approaches to caring for soil and understanding cycles of regeneration. All meetings will open with a welcome and a short, guided contemplative practice. No previous experience is required, bring your questions and a willingness to try something new

To receive PE credit participants must attend at least four gardening sessions (2 hours each) in one semester. Check go/knollhours for the latest. There’s no need to sign up in advance; when you arrive in-person, our team will greet you and show you how to sign in for PE credit, which gets tallied at the end of each semester

Self-guided Tours and Activities

For Fall 2020, we are pleased to share some resources for self-guided, physically distant exploration of the Knoll. Check out the digital handout created by Maya Gomez ’20 and a Seek & Find Scavenger Hunt for solo or paired use.

Want to learn more? 

You can read our annual program reports spanning the 24 years of the Knoll’s evolution at go/knollreports, check out the Knoll’s student-run blog at go/knollblog, and follow the Instagram account (@middknoll) to stay up to date with the latest