KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Seasonal Gardener works with the Zone Horticulturist and the Horticultural Supervisor to care for and maintain the gardens and landscapes on Governors Island. The Seasonal Gardener cares for planted areas through horticultural tasks such as planting, weeding, mulching and watering, and uses equipment such as mowers, hedge trimmers and weed whips. This position is ideal for someone new to the horticulture field who has a demonstrated interest in native plants and ornamental gardening.
The Trust’s horticulture team is led by the firm belief that anyone can develop meaningful connections to the natural world in an urban setting, understand our shared ecological responsibility, and help combat biodiversity loss. Our team employs a wide range of innovative, experimental methods to cultivate native habitats with a goal of mitigating the harmful effects of habitat destruction and climate change.
Responsibilities include:
· Maintain Island horticultural assets in assigned zone including planting beds, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines and bulbs.
· Perform work including planting, damage/corrective/structural tree and shrub pruning, cabling and staking, weeding, deadheading, thinning, cutback, hand-watering, raking, mulching, transplanting, composting and soil mixing.
· Monitor irrigation systems in assigned zone.
· Maintain horticulture back-of-house, including care of plants in nursery and maintenance of tools and equipment.
· Manage individual and corporate volunteers in horticultural tasks.
· Interact with park patrons in a professional manner as a representative of Governors Island.
· Remove trash and debris from beds and report any unsafe conditions.
· Other duties, as assigned.