From grapes to seeds

1/1/2025

Stephen Volkmer-Jones has worn many hats throughout his life. He continues to wear plenty, but two appear to be his favorites: volunteering and grandparenting.

Volkmer-Jones went to school for architectural design but ended up working in the restaurant and wine business for several years. His original intention of getting into serving was to help pay for school. Well, after more than a decade at Guido’s as the maitre d’, wine distributor, and fine wine manager for Glazer’s distributing, it’s safe to say he enjoyed the career pivot.

“I hadn’t known anything about it till I started, because I was just going to work as a waiter so I could keep going to school, but, as it turned out… it was a wonderful career,” Volkmer-Jones said.

After raising several children, which led to grandchildren, he discovered his enjoyment for bicycling, which prompted his involvement with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF).

“I became very enthusiastic about bicycling, and that’s where I found out about INHF because they were big supporters of bike trails. They were one of the early developers that used abandoned railroads (for them),” Volkmer-Jones said. 

With the pandemic effectively pushing Volkmer-Jones into retirement, it gave him the ability to spend more time with his grandchildren. 

“I wasn’t going to go back to work because I was too old to take the risk with COVID. So, I started doing stuff with them every day. And you don’t want to sit around the house, and they’re active kids. So, we would go on adventures,” Volkmer-Jones said.

One of those adventures took them to Snyder Heritage Farm. While there, Volkmer-Jones and his granddaughters ran into Melanie and Ryan Schmidt, who lived on the property. Melanie is the former volunteer coordinator at INHF and Ryan is the central Iowa land stewardship director.

“Through them, we discovered that they did volunteer programs where you could come and collect seeds, you could come and help them eradicate invasive species and more,” Volkmer-Jones said.

Since that first interaction, Volkmer-Jones has become a seed ambassador for the INHF.

“I’ve gotten to know people in the organization and the restoration work that they’ve done in Iowa. I also garden and have always loved being outdoors. Knowing that so much of Iowa has been transformed from its original state, and that they’re trying to preserve some of that for future generations, really rang true to me that this is something worthwhile,” Volkmer-Jones said.

Last summer, Volkmer-Jones and his granddaughters helped collect samples, photos and data on bees in the area for the Xerces Society.

“They take the state, break it into grids and volunteers go out and catch bumblebees to determine what the population is in the area,” Volkmer-Jones said. 

Through a delicate process, he and his granddaughters would catch bees, move them into vials, and chill them so they were able to be photographed and identified through the marks on their bodies before letting them go. This was the first time Iowa had participated in the study.

“The girls thought, ‘Well, we’re making history.’ And they were so enthusiastic, and they were so good. They were whizzes,” Volkmer-Jones said.

It can be difficult for the younger and older generations to find something to connect on. Volkmer-Jones is more than happy that volunteer work with protecting the environment is how he has connected with his grandchildren.

“It’s a reason to be alive. Truly, it’s something I look forward to, because I see it as it awakens in them, an appreciation and a knowledge of the natural world. And I think that generates a love for it and a reason to go out and expand it, defend it, whatever they need to do. They’re motivated to make sure that these areas don’t go away,” Volkmer-Jones said.

After originally attending school for architectural design, and then working in the restaurant and wine business, did he ever think this is what he would be doing in his retirement?

“I never thought I’d have time for it,” Volkmer-Jones said. “In my job, I mean, working 60 hours a week was nothing. There really was no day that wasn’t a work day. So, no, I didn’t think I’d have the time for it. And now I can’t find enough.”

Volkmer-Jones encourages anyone on the fence to give volunteering for the INHF a shot.

“They make it very easy to do seed collecting. It’s an outing. You’re going to be out in nature. It’s only a commitment of a couple of hours — and you never have to do it again if it’s not what you find that you enjoy. If you find that you enjoy the people who are there, if you find you enjoy the activity, then you have a reason to come back and do something more,” Volkmer-Jones said. ♦

Have a neighbor you think we should feature in an upcoming story? Send suggestions to cyote@dmcityview.com.