Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - How would you like to get out of Puerto Vallarta for a day trip into the beautiful farm country just outside of Mezcales, Nayarit? All adults who love gardening are invited to enjoy a day of farm work, food and fun every Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30 am until early afternoon.

Tropical America, a 50 acre working palm and tropical plant ranch just outside of Mezcales, needs volunteers to do numerous tasks around the farm. They are spiffying up the property for the visit next year of the International Palm Society, whose Board of directors has chosen this palm tree collection as the destination for the 2017 meeting of their members.

The palm grove estate is now open to receive volunteers five days per week! Your choice of days to volunteer from Tuesday to Saturday mornings in Mezcales in the shade of 500 varieties of palm trees. It's five degrees or more cooler trimming palms, trees and plants in the shade of the palm jungle in that oxygen-rich fresh air. There are many tasks, both big and small, that you can sign up for when you get there.

A complimentary (mostly) vegetarian lunch is served at 2 pm (or you may bring your own lunch). Last week, after transplanting hundreds of plantlets (in the shade!) we enjoyed homemade chicken enchiladas, a cream cheese, date and lemon curd crumb pie with chopped walnut and cream topping, and drank an agua made with organic mangoes from the ranch.

A short presentation of the farm's mission and a tour of the palm groves are given after lunch, so you can admire the luxuriant tropical growth around you and take photographs - you will want to remember the breathtaking beauty of your surroundings and share your memories with friends.

Volunteering at this 30-hectare organic palm grove has even more advantages than breathtaking natural botanical views at every turn - it offers you all the benefits of gentle exercise in the oxygen-saturated shade of palm, exotic tree and tropical plant forests.

Volunteers are asked to wear old clothes: long-sleeved T-shirts and long pants, a sun hat, comfortable flat shoes. Be sure to bring sunscreen, insect repellant, gardening gloves, and a water bottle (the Palm Ranch can supply filtered drinking water). Car pooling can be arranged from Mezcales for those who don't drive.

If you would like to participate, need more information, directions or to confirm your day at the farm, please send an email to palmranchvolunteers(at)gmail.com, by 6:00 pm the previous evening, so we'll know how many will be coming for lunch.