Sod And Nursery Workers

Job description

Sod and Nursery Worker: Plants, waters, sprays, weeds sod. Prepares soil and growth medium, hauls and spreads topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, lime and other soil conditions on sod grass and turf areas. Digs, rakes, screens soil. Fills tanks with water. Weeds, water, sows grass seed and plants plugs of sod. Operates mowers and sod cutters. Cuts, rolls and stacks sod by hand or machine. Operate harvesters and forklifts to load and unload pallets of turf. May operate a truck with GVWR rating of less than 13 tons to deliver sod or plants grown on the farm (in its unmanufactured state) to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market. May install sod produced on the farm. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Mow grass and operate trimmer around farm buildings. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. May operate and perform minor maintenance on farm tractors, vehicles or equipment. 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. Perform a variety of complex tasks related to growing, harvesting and winter protection of field and container-grown plants, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation. 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. Install or remove greenhouse covers (poly or shade cloth), screen topsoil. 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.

Work is to be done in the field for long periods of time. 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. Workers may assist in loading of trucks by lifting 75 pounds to a height of 5 feet or more repetitively. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. 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 be 18 years old. Requires one month verifiable farmworker experience as a sod or nursery worker. Must commit to work entire contract period.

Special Requirements

Work is to be done in the field for long periods of time. 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. Workers may assist in loading of trucks by lifting 75 pounds to a height of 5 feet or more repetitively. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. 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. Cont'd