From spring through early fall, a small but dedicated group of volunteers gathers on Wednesday mornings at our Aldie Mansion headquarters courtyard. For the next few hours, they will pull weeds, tend to flowerbeds, and care for the grounds of Heritage Conservancy’s historic gardens. Known as the Green Thumb Gardeners, this volunteer group plays a unique role in supporting our mission.

Green Thumbs for Good

Why is gardening at Aldie so important? Aldie Mansion isn’t just a beautiful Tudor Revival; it’s a vital part of how Heritage Conservancy funds its conservation work. The weddings and events held here provide critical revenue that helps us protect land, share history, and connect people with nature. By keeping the gardens looking their best, our volunteers are directly contributing to conservation efforts across our region.

Meet our Volunteers

Recently, our gardeners were busy collecting hydrangea cuttings from Aldie’s towering shrubs. The blooms will be dried and used as decorations for this year’s Christmas at Aldie fundraiser. We spoke with three of our gardeners while they were gathering hydrangeas:

Maddy just started volunteering:
“I was on a walk in Newtown and saw a Heritage Conservancy preserved property sign. I went online to learn more about the organization and found out about the volunteer opportunities at Aldie. I reached out to Kaylyn and got involved.”

Fred has been gardening with us for two months:
“I split my time between New Jersey and Florida. When I’m up north, I miss my garden, so this gives me a chance to get my hands dirty.” He found Heritage Conservancy online while searching for local volunteer opportunities and thought it would be the perfect fit.

Mike has also volunteered for two months:
“I’ve always been a gardener. Now I’m retired, and if I’m outside doing gardening, it doesn’t matter what it is, I’m happy. This is a labor of love. It’s quite a bit of work, but it’s a labor of love.”

Their work is supported by Kaylyn Brindisi, our new Volunteer and Development Events Associate. Though new to the role, Kaylyn has been part of Heritage Conservancy for over four years, leading school programs and community events. Now, she’s bringing her love of nature and community into this new position.

“The Green Thumb gardening group means so much to me,” says Kaylyn. “Not only have we been tending and growing the gardens at Aldie Mansion, but we have been growing our community too. The volunteers in our Green Thumb gardening group bring dedication, hard work, and fun, and I am deeply appreciative of their many hours helping us care for such a beautiful and special place as Aldie Mansion.”

Want to get involved?

The Green Thumb Gardeners meet most Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to noon at Aldie Mansion (85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA). You don’t need to commit to every week; come when you can, for as long as you can. Some gardening knowledge is helpful, but enthusiasm and a willingness to dig in are the most important skills you can bring.

We also have a native plant garden at our Russell-Mandel Preserve in New Hope that hosts a volunteer group of native plant enthusiasts on Thursdays.

By volunteering in Heritage Conservancy’s gardens, you’ll not only help keep our headquarters looking its best, but you’ll also be helping to protect the land, history, and community that make our region so special.

Connect with Kaylyn for more information about volunteer opportunities: kbrindisi@heritageconservancy.org or 215-345-7020 x157.

We are grateful to our Green Thumb Gardeners. Their time, effort, and passion are helping Heritage Conservancy grow.