Trade Secret Volunteers

Few things announce the presence of spring more than the annual Trade Secrets garden festival held to benefit Project SAGE’s efforts to end relationship violence. Over the past quarter century the fundraiser has raised an impressive $5 million to support the program.

Such results are not achieved without an army of volunteers to help make it happen, however, and this year is no exception. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Project SAGE and especially of Trade Secrets,” said Sarah Gunn, director of development for the support agency.

“We’re really dependent on volunteers to make the event a success,” said Nichole Reyes, event coordinator. “We have 300 volunteer opportunities, and we are still looking for people to help. It’s an amazing group of people who come together to make it happen. Last year, we raised $500,000.”

Trade Secrets is a two-day event, one day dedicated to tours of five elegant gardens and the second to a sale of rare plants and garden antiques. It was started 25 years ago by renowned designer Bunny Williams and one of her gardeners, Naomi Blumenthal. Williams’ Falls Village garden is a mainstay of the annual tours.

The tours change annually to bring fresh interest to the event. “We try to switch it up so people can see a new garden each year,” said Reyes. “And we try always to have a public garden. This year that is Innisfree, last year it was Wethersfield. We have a garden committee that knows all these amazing gardens.”

Day two of the event is staged at Lime Rock Park and brings upscale vendors from along the Eastern Seaboard and as far away as Kentucky.

The two-day event takes a year to organize. Vendors must sign up by the fall and planning takes place over the winter. Now, organizational efforts are gearing up with a call out for volunteers.

Many volunteers return year after year to help with the event which will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 17th and 18th, this year. Volunteers might, for instance, help park cars for the garden tours, or work setting up for or breaking down the vendors booths at Lime Rock Park. They can set up or remove signage, volunteer in the various tents, become a welcome greeter or drive a tram.

“When people come to shop on Sunday and go tent to tent, their purchases can be put aside so they don’t have to carry them with them,” said Reyes. “Some volunteers gather these items and take them to pick-up spots and help getting them into the cars. We have three, three-hour sessions and need 25 volunteers per session to run around and collect things and bring them to the site. That’s our number one need.”

There are benefits for volunteers including tickets to the sale, a complimentary lunch and refreshments and access to available garden tours on Saturday. For student volunteers, the work builds skills provides letters of recommendation for college applications.

“We try to make the experience incredible,” said Reyes. “We even have one staff member who is assigned to make sure things go smoothly.”

So popular is the work that Reyes said some volunteers stayed up until midnight March 1 when the volunteer opportunities opened up. “The majority of people who signed up at midnight were returnees,” said Reyes. “They were coming in droves. People love this event—but to have that commitment to wait up until midnight so they could get the jobs they like best, that’s incredible.”

Reyes said about 100 people have already committed themselves. Volunteers can sign up online and choose the time slot and position they would like to fill.

Trade Secrets goes on, rain or shine, each spring. “People just love it so much, they just wear rain gear and come anyway,” Sarah Gunn said.

Reyes agreed, saying the second Trade Secret was held on a snowy day in May. “It made a core memory for everyone who was there. But we have ordered perfect weather for this year,” she said with a laugh.

For more information about the event or volunteering opportunities, visit tradesecretsct.com or contact the Project SAGE Development Department at sarag@project-sage.org. Tickets for the general public go on sale April 1 and can be purchased here.

Project SAGE uses the funds raised through Trade Secrets to create social change to end relationship violence, Gunn said. “We have a 24/7 hotline that is answered by certified domestic violence counselors. We provide emergency shelter, safety planning, individual support, advocacy and education. Education is very important to teach children and adults how to have healthy relationships.

“Many people have no idea of what the face of domestic violence looks like,” she continued. “It can and does affect everyone—if not you personally, you know someone who had that experience.

She said this year, the group will concentrate on internet safety for young people, teaching them how to be safe online.