Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Crops: Ornamental grasses, perennial young plants

PRODUCTION:
Work occurs with close daily supervision. Team members participate in both grass and perennial production. Grass production includes dividing grasses into smaller pieces and planting them into new trays. Stock plants may be grown by ECG or imported from outside sources. Some grasses are planted as small plugs instead of divisions. Dividing is primarily conducted inside a warehouse. Grasses—especially those harvested from our stock fields—may be washed prior to dividing. Divisions are made by hand using small tools such as scissors or clippers and then carried into the greenhouses for planting.

Perennial production includes planting perennial cuttings, tissue culture, seeds, or small plugs into new trays. Stock plants may be maintained onsite or imported. Team members are trained how to properly and efficiently take cuttings from stock plants. Cuttings are taken by hand using small clippers or scissors and planted into new trays. Most production tasks occur in greenhouses.

Production efficiency is measured by units per hour. To meet objectives, team members must maintain an efficiency of 150 units per hour and typically work approximately 35 hours per week.

SOIL DEPARTMENT:
Work occurs with close daily supervision. The soil department operates in a warehouse and is responsible for filling trays with soil for new production. Empty trays run through machines that fill them with soil, fertilizer, and other materials. Full trays are removed from the conveyor and stacked into cages or onto pallets for delivery into the greenhouses. Team members then carry new trays into the greenhouses and lay them out on tables for production teams.

EQUIPMENT OPERATORS:
Some team members are trained by the employer to safely operate skid loaders, pallet jacks, tractors, UTVs, lawn mowers, weed eaters, and hedge trimmers. No prior experience is required to begin employment.

PLANT CARE:
Work occurs with close daily supervision. Plant care includes trimming plants with scissors or hedge trimmers, hand-weeding, consolidating plants, and moving trays to keep crops organized in the greenhouses. Team members also clean greenhouse floors and tables.

Additional responsibilities include landscaping ECG property, such as mowing, weed eating, planting and maintaining flower beds, and laying sod.

Some team members are trained to properly irrigate or water plants by hand with hoses or to operate automatic irrigation controllers. Others may be trained to open or close greenhouse curtains to regulate temperatures.

This team also applies shade paint and installs shade cloth on greenhouses. These tasks require safe work on greenhouse structures. Team members use safety harnesses in man-baskets attached to and lifted by a skid loader or may use ladders. The same process is used when replacing, repairing, or cleaning greenhouse poly sheeting due to storm damage or age. Some team members may be trained to perform minor facility maintenance, including the use of hand tools such as hammers, drills, saws, and screwdrivers. Tasks may include repairing greenhouse doors, curtains, end walls, ground cloth, greenhouse tables, irrigation piping, and other facility components. They may also assist the project team in constructing new greenhouses. These same team members may also be trained to build wooden racks for the shipping facility using saws and nail or staple guns.

Job Duties continued on Addendum C.

Special Requirements

Two (2) months experience as a farmworker. On-the-job training is available for certain tasks. Must be able to furnish affirmative job references
from recent employers operating comparable operations establishing acceptable previous experience. Must be physically able to
meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order. Must be able to work efficiently both independently and within a team. Available and willing to work extra hours during spring or in times of need. Must have manual dexterity. Must be able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Workers are subject to random drug testing at no cost to the employee. All drug testing will occur after the worker begins his
or her employment and is not a part of the interview process. Failing or refusing a drug test will result in immediate termination.