Nursery Worker

Job description

Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers must work at a sustained (continuing for an extended period of time without interruption), vigorous pace (quick and steady) and make bona fide efforts (made in earnest intent) to work efficiently (performing or functions in the best possible manner with the least water of time and effort) and consistently (same way for a long time) that are reasonable under the climatic and other working conditions, Workers may not leave trash, or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles but must dispose of such items in provided receptacles. Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc., may affect worker’s ability to perform the work described herein.

Greenhouse/Nursery: Workers may be required to perform any combination of the following duties (all of which are outside) concerned with preparing soil and growth media, cultivation, and otherwise participating in horticultural activities: haul, spread, dig, rake, and mix media to prepare the growing areas for production; cover and fill cold frames and greenhouses in preparation for planting; haul, plant, spray, weed, water, prune, trim, shape and space products; fertilize with granular or liquid fertilizer; tie, bunch, wrap, and pack trees and shrubs to fill orders and load onto trucks for marketing; work on potting line, in a greenhouse, or in an outdoor production area transplanting seedlings and liners into containers and place in growing area.

Manually plant, cultivate and harvest horticultural specialties and field crops. Use hand tools, such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning, hooks, shears, and knives. Duties may include tilling & mixing soil & applying fertilizers, transplanting, weeding, thinning, or pruning crops, or cleaning, grading, sorting loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farms building or participate in irrigation activates.
Planting: workers will be required to plant trees, shrubs, and other plants. Workers may do this by hand digging a whole into the ground and placing plant in the hole and covering with dirt or soil. Workers may also work as operators of wheel tractors pulling planters and planting wagons as an incidental activity to planting. Workers may be required to work on the ground planting trees and shrubs that are fed through a tractor pulled planter-using shovels.

Pruning: When pruning, it is vital to prune the unwanted branch while protecting the stem or trunk wood of the tree/shrub. While pruning trees and shrubs, workers will receive proper tools for the particular job, i.e. - saw, prunes and had snips. These tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. The cost of the tools destroyed maliciously or lost carelessly will be deducted from the workers’ wages. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern and will demonstrate and communicate this to workers. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune each tree according to the predetermined standard, Workers must remove all resulting material from the trees rendered from performing pruning tasks. When pruning is complete on each tree, each worker is required to rake and scatter the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment rows.

Bare Root Products: Workers will handle a variety of bare root products. Workers will propagate, plant, cultivate, harvest, and prepare products for shipment.

Special Requirements

All applicants must have at least 3 months experience working in a diverse tree and shrub nursery. Workers must possess a valid drivers license or obtain one within thirty days of hire. Workers will operate trucks and other farm equipment both on site and on public roadways. Applicants 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 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.