Not surprisingly, there are new challenges every year. In 2011, all three rooms in the basement were filled, almost floor to ceiling, with donated books and the sorters had to literally inch their way around the sorting table.

When she's not stick-handling her book-sorting duties, Brenda helps in the Shelterbelt, is a regular member of the set-up/take-down team for Friends' events, and, one of her favourite duties, hosts the spring garden lecture series.

While Brenda enjoys the jobs she does, she is quick to add that "it's mostly because of the people - I work with great teams" that spurs her commitment to the Friends of the Farm.

Eva recalls her first glimpse of the perennial gardens, which, more than a decade ago, were overgrown with weeds and in desperate need of TLC. She was "shocked" at the sight, she says, because "in England [where Eva was raised] we are much more aware of our gardens and their upkeep."

Re-organized out of her job as a demonstrator in the physics department at Carleton University and recently a widow, Eva was on the lookout for meaningful volunteer work to fill a few gaps in her life when she chanced upon a display at the Farm promoting the Friends' Donor Tree Program in 2000. Her late husband was a woodworker and a gardener so she was delighted to donate a tree. It was then that Eva learned about the Friends of the Farm and because she "spent a lot of time gardening alone" in the huge yard of the family home, was partial to perennials, and welcomed the chance "to work outdoors," she joined the perennial team.

"It's been a good group to work with," says Eva, "we are all doing something we're interested in and enjoy. And there is satisfaction from helping to improve the looks of the perennial beds that so many visitors now enjoy."

She joined the Friends in March 2005 when her community newspaper, the Hogs Back News, closed and she was left without volunteer work. Ottawa-born, and now living close to the Farm - "Such a beautiful place, I drive through it almost every day" - Carole decided to follow up on an ad for volunteers she had seen in the Hogs Back News. She was initially recruited as an office volunteer, and works Wednesday mornings photocopying, faxing, answering the phone, stuffing envelopes, organizing material for special events - "doing whatever has to be done. I am willing to try anything." She also helps at special events, baking for the craft and bake sales, washing dishes at the Victorian Tea, and helping at the book sale.

Six years after signing up, Carole considers the Friends "one of the best volunteer organizations in Ottawa." She's a tremendous advocate for the Friends and its work. "I'm amazed by the tireless volunteers who keep the gardens in such beautiful condition. It's a chance to meet people who do interesting things and to learn about their life adventures. And it is really important to maintain and protect the Farm. It is, indeed, the 'lungs of the city.'"

"I had to do something to keep my hand in gardening," Kevin explains, "so I took over the gardens at our condo." While Kevin was familiar with the Central Experimental Farm - "I went by it every day on the way to high school" - he knew nothing about the Friends of the Farm until he saw an ad in his community paper. "I thought it [the Friends] would be good for me," he says, adding another outlet to satisfy his garden yearning.

A decade later the relationship has been mutually beneficial. Kevin has found his niche with the Arboretum team but also turns out regularly to help set up and take down at special events.

But "being outside and working with the dirt, the sun shining through" is the biggest draw of volunteering at the Farm. There is also "tremendous satisfaction" from turning up to face "a horrible mess" and a few hours later "seeing it all tidied up." The other benefit, adds Kevin, is that "many of the people on the team still have gardens, and it keeps me in the loop of what's new and what's going on in the gardening world."

Given her proximity to and love of the Farm, it is no surprise that, upon retirement from teaching in 2000, Marilyn signed up as a Friend of the Farm. “I wanted to give back for all the pleasure that the Farm gives me,” she explains.

The first five years as a Friends’ volunteer were spent on the garden teams, but when she moved and “got a little busy” with her own garden, Marilyn switched from gardening at the Farm to helping at fundraising events.

She’s a familiar sight at the June book sale, Victorian Tea, and Art on the Farm, and has helped several times at the Strawberry Social, always ready to accept any “job” she’s assigned. One of Marilyn’s favourite events is Art on the Farm: “I am so impressed with the talent of the artists,” she says.

Of her more than a decade of volunteering with the Friends, much of Marilyn’s enjoyment “comes from working with a wonderful group of people. We have lots of laughs.” But her real motivation remains the opportunity to “give back to something that has been so important in my life.”

But she persevered and in 2001 was invited to join the fledgling Lilac Team. A decade later, she remains one of the four steadfast volunteers – Joan Speirs, Audrey Pullan and Jean Currie – who form the nucleus of the team.

Maura initially knew little about lilacs but says that her lack of knowledge has made the experience “so much more interesting. It has been a fascinating experience,” and she credits much of her enjoyment to the “marvelous leadership” of Joan Speirs. The variety of the work is also a big draw – “we prune, deadhead, weed, keep records, and have even started propagating lilacs. We see them through the whole cycle.” The team works almost year round, maintaining the lilac data base, which Maura originally created, through most of the winter.

Maura also helps out at Friends’ events when she can, but the lilacs give her the greatest pleasure. “It has been so satisfying. They (the lilacs) aren’t at all like they were a decade ago – we have been able to do so much and bringing them back has been a labour of love.

Nicki has achieved her goal of “finding something to do” in retirement. Her life is full and centres on community service. She volunteers at Ottawa West Community Support, working with seniors twice weekly in the summer and once a week come winter when curling becomes the focus of her life.

Several years before retirement, Nicki blithely offered to start a flower garden at her condo. When nothing came of it, she put it out of her mind. So it was somewhat of a surprise when she found herself the recipient of a substantial garden plot when she retired. With knowledge gained on the Friends’ Green Thumb teams, Nicki has created an eclectic mix of colour and form. Listening to her talk, it is clear that she loves gardening, especially at the Farm. “I just enjoy the experience,” she explains. “It is wonderful to work in the fresh air with such great people. How can you not enjoy it – it’s a very pleasant way to spend a morning.”

Ali has worked on the book sale for the past three years – first setting up the tables in preparation for the sale, and for the last two winters, sorting books in the “dungeon” of Building 72.

Ali signed on as a Friends’ volunteer in 2005 after she was discouraged from volunteering at the National Capital Commission (NCC) because of language requirements. Born and raised in the United States, she had never studied French. The NCC’s loss is definitely our gain. Physically strong – she’s a runner, kayaker and cyclist – and generous with her time, Ali is a familiar face at Friends’ events. In fact, she has helped at nearly every event – from being a marshal at the 10K race through the Arboretum to serving tables at the Victoria Tea to lugging heavy screens around for artists to hang their work on at Art on the Farm.

Ali is a rarity among Friends ‘volunteers – emigrating from the United States, she has no historical “connection” to the Farm. When she first volunteered and told people what she was doing, Ali was surprised “when they always had a story to tell about the Farm.” Now after six years of doing her part to support the CEF, she has her own fond memories to share.

Audrey laughs as she recounts her first job on the Tree Team trying to set a sector marker in a rock bed at the bottom of Prince of Wales Drive as part of the team’s efforts to remap the trees on the Farm. “I didn’t think I’d like it,” she says of the tedious chore, but when she began to think of mapping as “detective work,” it grew on her. The Tree Team gradually dwindled and in 2001 Audrey found herself “out of work.” But not for long. The lilac rows were in dire need of tender loving care and Audrey teamed up with Joan Speirs (a recent Friends’ recruit who was asked to form the Lilac Team), and the rest is history.

2011 marks Audrey’s 20th year as a volunteer. She remains an integral part of the Lilac Team and during the winter works on the lilac data bank. She also helps at the Victorian Tea and contributes homemade goodies to the Friends’ bake sales. Not surprisingly, Audrey has developed an affection for gardening, but the real object of her affection is the people she has met and the lasting friendships she has formed as a volunteer.

Peter’s students got to practice their skills, and the Friends were the benefactors of a sturdy, handsome storage shed.

Peter doesn’t recall what his first task was as a Friends’ volunteer, but he clearly remembers what brought him to the Farm. It’s a familiar story in many households – wife (long-time Friends’ volunteer Diana Dakers) asks husband (Peter) to lend a helping hand. Husband obliges, another task follows, application is completed, and Peter is signed up as a volunteer.

The story is told with great affection – and a big smile. Peter, a retired fireman, is one of the Friends’ “go to” volunteers. If you need something done, Peter is usually available – setting up before and taking down after fundraising events, sharpening and cleaning the garden tools in the fall, donning a tux to help host the Vernissage for “The Love of the Farm” fine arts show and sale, and “doing anything else to help out.” A self-admitted “people person” Peter enjoys the interaction with the other volunteers. “You meet a lot of interesting people,” he says, “not just the other volunteers but the visitors who support our events.”

Fast forward many moves and several decades later. Sally, her husband and four sons finally settle in Ottawa. In the early 1990s, while working part time at Carleton University, a friend mentioned the Friends of the Farm in casual conversation. Given Sally’s love of gardening, her childhood trips to the Farm, and that she has always done volunteer work, she thought it would be a good fit.

And it was. Sally signed on as a gardener and was assigned to the Perennial Team. More than 15 years later, she is the team’s longest standing member. Sally served as team leader for several years, and still faithfully appears every Tuesday to help groom the perennial beds. “It’s a wonderful group to work with; there is a great team spirit. If you like to garden, there is nothing like it. It’s relaxing, extremely satisfying, and stress free. When I tell people what I do, they are often in awe. So many people enjoy the Ornamental Gardens, and it is satisfying to play a small part in their enjoyment.”

Allison is one of the Friends’ original volunteers. In 1988, having recently moved from Bermuda to Ottawa, she “terribly missed” her volunteer work at Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens. A neighbour who worked at Agriculture Canada suggested she contact Peter Elliott, who was organizing a new group called the Friends of the Farm.

Allison has fond memories of those exciting first years. Peter tapped into her volunteer experience in Bermuda and asked her to“do a review of the Farm to make it more people friendly.” The result? More signage placed strategically around the Farm to enhance the public’s enjoyment and appreciation of the historical site. Allison also fondly recalls the group of ladies who met regularly in the basement of Building 72 to make dried flower pictures, which were then sold in the Agriculture Museum shop.

After 23 years, Allison is still an active volunteer – helping out wherever she can. The passage of time may have reduced her energy level, but it certainly hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for the Friends of the Farm.

A Friends volunteer since 1999, Anne was recruited by George Vorauer, former leader of the Friend’ peony team. Anne and George were introduced through a chance encounter at a craft show in Cornwall. Their common denominator was peonies – “When I told George I had heritage peonies on the farm where I lived and that he could come and dig them up, he was quick to accept the offer.”

George discovered that Anne was moving to Ottawa and seized the opportunity to recruit a new Friend. It was quite an introduction – George convinced Anne to lead the perennial team. Although taken aback because of her lack of credentials – “I’m a loosey goosey kind of gardener,” Anne laughs – she accepted the challenge and led the team for nearly six years until the work became too tiring.

Although Anne no longer toils in the perennial beds, she remains a dedicated Friend. She hulls strawberries for the July 1 Strawberry Social, lends a helping hand at the spring and fall craft shows, and works on the food assembly line at the Victorian Tea. Anne is thankful for the many Friends she has encountered over the last 12 years: “They’re a nice bunch and I always have a lot of fun helping out.”

Part of the Wednesday office team, Deepak has been a volunteer since 2002 and joined the Friends because the Farm holds a special place in his heart. He tobogganed in the Arboretum as a teenager, and regularly walks through the Farm. In the summer, you may well find him under one of the arbours in the rose garden. Given his love of the Farm and the outdoors, becoming a Friends’ volunteer upon retirement seemed “a natural fit.”

Deepak began in the Donor Tree Program, putting the donor plaques on the trees and returning those that went astray to their rightful place. He also sorted books during the winter for the Friends’ first book sale. When the Donor Tree Program was put on hold, Deepak moved indoors where the electronic engineer puts his organizational and problem-solving skills to good use – inputting data in the computer, faxing, adding up volunteer time sheets, helping with mailings, organizing packages for Art on the Farm and other Friends’ events.

Of his commitment and dedication over the past eight years, Deepak says simply: “I get the satisfaction of giving back to something [the Farm] that I have enjoyed for so long.”

Joseph is part of a group of volunteers who generally labour behind the scenes. He began his volunteer service with the garden teams, but gradually moved indoors and branched out. Joseph is an integral part of the set-up/take-down team at fundraising events, has sorted books in the basement of Building 72 over the past four winters for the spring book sale, lugs books to the basement for sorting, and ferries equipment, signs, tables, and just about anything that needs transporting, to Friends’ events at the CEF in his own truck. And if the Friends’ office is in need of some minor repair, Joseph arrives with a smile on his face and tools in hand.

In 2011, Joseph marks 10 years as a Friends volunteer. And even after nearly a decade, his enthusiasm and commitment still run deep. Of his volunteer service, says Joseph, there are many rewards. “I like meeting and working with the other volunteers, and enjoy the variety of the work.” But more importantly, he adds, “comes the satisfaction of knowing that I’m helping out.”