Nursery Worker

Job description

Jim Puffer Landscape requires temporary workers to operate a fifteen-acre tree farm ("Nursery") during the spring, summer, and early fall months during the annual business cycle customary to the tree- and shrubbery-growing industry in Utah. Nursery workers will assist in planting and growing a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and perennials, in addition to peach, apple, and pair trees.

Beginning in April, Nursery workers will engage in clean-up, preparation of planting areas, and mulching. Once the ground is no longer frozen, Nursery workers will prepare the ground for tree and shrub planting. Throughout the spring and summer months, Nursery workers will trim, plant, spray, weed, fertilize, and maintain the trees and shrubs. Workers will also assist in the harvesting, packaging, transportation, and sale of trees and shrubs throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. In the early fall, Nursery workers will winterize shrubs, trees, and plants in anticipation of the dormant season. These operations continue until the late fall and winter months, when it is no longer possible to continue agricultural activities due to the low winter temperatures (average 25 degrees Fahrenheit) in Utah.

On a daily basis, employees will be expected to plant, spray, weed, fertilize, and water plants, shrubs, and trees using hand tools and gardening tools; clean work areas around the nursery; till the ground between plating rows, and maintain the nursery grounds. Specifically, employees will tend to Jim Puffer Landscape's imported nursery stock and care for the existing growing nursery stock. Employees will also be required to regularly maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems. In the spring and early fall months, employees will be required to harvest trees and plant materials.

Employees will be expected to perform a variety of the following tasks during their employment: cut, roll, and stack sod; dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.; maintain inventory and ordering materials; inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality; trap and destroy pests, sch as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides; move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, wrap their roots, an pack them into boxes to fill orders; haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels; and feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.

Prospective employees must be able to handle mowers, edgers, and weed eaters and must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds and generally perform manual tasks requiring physical strength.

Jim Puffer Landscape will provide workers at no charge all tools, supplies, and equipment required to perform the job. Transportation to and from the nursery worksite will be provided in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

A single workweek is used as the standard for computing wages due. Paychecks are issued every two weeks. Jim Puffer Landscape makes all deductions from the worker's paycheck as required by law. The employer guarantees to offer work for hours equal to at least three-fourths of the workdays in each 12-week period of the total employment period. Overtime pay will be provided for any hours worked over 40 hours in a single workweek at the rate of 1.5 times the hourly rate. H2A workers will be reimbursed in the first workweek for all visa, visa processing, border crossing, and other related fees, including those mandated by the government (excluding passport fees).

See additional details in Addendum C.

Special Requirements

None.