We hire one Head Gardener and two Assistant Gardeners each growing season. Ideally, one or all will stay on for a succeeding season or two or three. We need folks who are eager to help create a beautiful vegetable garden, including flowers, herbs, ornamental gardens, and fruits. The ideal people will have experience, love hard work, long hours, and enjoy working with children as well as adults. Over the years we have had many gardeners who have done exceptional work, and continued the traditions begun a century ago…. evolving all the while, and bringing new and innovative ideas and ideals to the farm.
Emandal’s organic garden is about an acre and a half of annual vegetable and flower production. In addition we have fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, and persimmons), brambles (blackberries, red raspberries, and golden raspberries), and other fruits, herbs and veggies as part of the edible (and also ornamental) landscaping. The garden plays an important role in Family Camp for not only the production of food, but also for educational purposes and property beautification.
The Head Gardener must have farm, garden and staff management/supervision experience. In addition, it is desired that s/he will have experience in crop planning, greenhouse management, planting and garden maintenance, harvesting and post-harvest needs, irrigation set up and repair, and composting. Also helpful is knowledge of pruning, perennials, lawn and garden equipment, food preservation, flower arrangement, working with school groups, as well as individuals.
Main Responsibility: Manage and work with staff to see that all the garden, lawn and orchard areas of Emandal are planted, pruned, watered, cared for, harvested…. kept up appropriately….. in a timely, efficient and beautiful manner. Bottom line: make Tam, the Keeper of the Farm, happy!
Responsibilities and Duties
- Plan overall garden, including but not limited to: amounts, when planted, transplanted, watered, weeded, composted, mulched, harvested, pulled, re-planted.
- Assist in hiring of staff with owner’s input
- Manage garden staff; lead, guide, and/or train staff in applicable procedures and techniques.
- Maintain all areas of the garden and utilize garden staff appropriately
- Organize and delegate tasks, explain clearly and effectively to others
- Plant, transplant, fertilize, water, prune, and weed flower beds and plant areas.
- Maintain flowers, bushes, trees, and shrubs, including pruning.
- Recognize disease and insect problems of woody and herbaceous plants, and implement controls to alleviate such problems.
- Plant and propagate bedding plants and perennials
- Maintain and repair irrigation
- Maintain records as needed; including a written garden plan
- Safely operate motor vehicles to transport materials and equipment
- Ensure proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies; promote continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices
- Irrigate, mow, rake, and trim lawns
- Work comfortably outside in all weather
- Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned
- Work quickly and carefully with good time management skills and a love for working with plants
Qualifications and Skills
- Knowledge of horticulture methods and materials, landscaping and cultivation of trees and woody plants.
- Ability
to understand and follow specific instructions and procedures. - Ability to drive motor vehicles; must have a clean driving record.
- Valid drivers license
- Ability to use hand and power tools applicable to trade.
- Ability to perform grounds maintenance tasks.
- Knowledge of fertilizer/compost/mulch applications.
- Ability to lead and train staff.
- Ability to read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures.
- Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
- Computer skills to include working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
Compensation
- $375/week, plus room and board. Tips during Family Camp/Groups.
Work Schedule
- 40 hours a week; 5 or 5.5 days per week depending upon business needs. Holidays and weekends required. Please note we generally cannot approve extended vacation time (i.e. more than your usual days off) for our staff during the program season due to the demands of our business as well as our staffing levels.We do not allow overtime for financial reasons, but more importantly, because we want our staff to enjoy the farm amenities and its surroundings to the fullest extent when not working. Our goal is to ensure that working at Emandal is more than just a job – we want each of our staff to have an adventure.
2020 Dates of Employment: (1) Full Season: March 1, 2020 – October 12, 2020 (or later)
End date in particular may be flexible dependent on needs of the business and staff member. Please check with us prior to applying.
All 2020 Emandal staff will be required to attend our 2 week staff training. Training topics will include guest relations policies and techniques; kitchen, facilities and housekeeping foundation skills; Emandal history, policies and procedures; animal feeding and basic care; garden harvesting procedures, etc. Applicants who cannot attend this training in its entirety will not be considered.
Hiring Dates and Application
We will accept applications beginning December 26, 2019. We hire on a rolling basis, so the sooner you return your COMPLETE application package (see below) to us, the better your chances for being considered.
Head Gardener Application (online form)
If you are interested in being considered for this position, please complete the online application, and be sure to attach your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications and reasons for wanting to work in this position at Emandal.
After reading all that’s on the website and if you would like more specific information, please email us at emandalemployment@gmail.com