Nursery Worker

Job description

Nursery Worker. Perform a variety of complex tasks related to growing, harvesting and winter protection of field and container-grown plants, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation. Load topsoil. Load, unload, and stack hay and straw. Cultivate and hand-harvest sweet corn, pumpkins and gourds. Pull weeds/chop: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift and carry 75 lbs. repetitively throughout the workday. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment. The job offered is for a skilled nursery worker and requires 3 months verifiable nursery work experience (Horticultural Worker I). Must commit to work the entire contract period.

Workers will perform heavy mechanized field work using power equipment. Prepare trees and shrubs for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; dig; wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and securing with twine and/or staples; crimping wire baskets; move or load supplies, including wire baskets. Perform heavy manual labor including but not limited to planting, propagating, cultivating, watering, spacing, standing upright (from wind or rain), pruning, shearing, applying fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides, loading and unloading plant material. Duties include potting, mixing soil, unload plants during potting, move lists, pick orders in sales, tag plants for sales, identify and tag plant material, recognize and control plant diseases, tie, bunch and wrap roots, pack plant material to fill orders, and load/unload trucks as needed. Must clean and maintain neat work area. May operate and perform minor repairs and maintenance on farm tractors, equipment, and vehicles. May repair greenhouses and other farm buildings and structures, and put on or remove greenhouse covers (poly or shade cloth) as needed. Prepare fields for planting by clearing cull stock, brush and debris; plant seedlings or 'liners' by hand (including riding and inserting liners in a mechanical planter); straighten, tie, prune and shear trees and shrubs; mow weeds or grass; and move or repair irrigation equipment. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Operate farm vehicles to haul crops and drive other farmworkers from place to place around the farm properties (including on public roads to reach farmer’s fields) during the workday. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Workers are expected to perform any of the listed duties and work on any crop as assigned by the employer and/or worker’s supervisor.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift and carry 75 lbs. repetitively throughout the workday. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment. The job offered is for a skilled nursery worker and requires 3 months verifiable nursery work experience (Horticultural Worker I).