Volunteer Spotlight: Northeastern University’s iGEM Club

Northeastern University’s iGEM Club has been doing amazing work taking care of our gardens this summer at the David Ellis and Rafael Hernández Schools! We are so grateful for our summer volunteers who keep our school gardens flourishing during the summer months.

How does it feel knowing your work is helping support outdoor education in Boston schools?

The work we’re doing with CitySprouts feels both impactful and meaningful. Knowing that our efforts help maintain school gardens and by extension, outdoor learning opportunities for students adds a sense of purpose to what we’re doing. Overall, volunteering with CitySprouts has helped us feel more connected to the community and shown us the value of hands-on education through gardening.

What drew you to volunteer (with CitySprouts)?

As a team, we were initially drawn to CitySprouts because of its strong focus on hands-on, garden-based learning for students. We were curious about what goes into maintaining a garden in an urban setting, but what really inspired us was the idea that our contributions could directly support educational spaces for a younger generation.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering with a community-based org like CitySprouts?

Gardening requires consistency and teamwork. The garden needs regular care, so it’s important to be reliable and committed to showing up. Even small tasks make a big difference when done consistently, and working together as a team helps keep everything running smoothly.

How has this experience shaped the way you think about community or education?

This experience has shown us the power of collective effort, when everyone comes together with a shared goal, like creating and maintaining a beautiful garden, it builds a sense of community. It’s been inspiring to see how small contributions from many people have helped in the maintenance and growth of the garden. It’s also deepened our appreciation for hands-on education. Coming into the garden each week has given us the chance to learn about different plants, pests, and the rhythms of garden life. The most memorable learning happens through experience, and it’s so important that students have a space like the garden where they can explore, observe, and learn through doing.

What has been your favorite part of volunteering so far?

One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering has been seeing the garden evolve week by week. We have also really enjoyed learning about the different crops and being able to harvest and eat some of the fruits and vegetables. Here’s what some of the iGEM team said:

“Learning about the different garden systems” – Kristina

“Seeing the plants grow” – Ankee

“Coming in each week and seeing how things have changed and grown” – Jade

iGEM Club’s Favorites

What’s your dream garden crop (real or imaginary)?

The team’s dream garden crop would be watermelon or strawberries.

Favorite thing to eat fresh from a garden?

We have really enjoyed eating the blueberries, husk cherries, and different varieties of kale.