Nursery Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor in order to propagate, cut, divide, pot, cultivate, space, and transplant seedlings and cuttings. Continuously move container field grown plants using hand garden tools and equipment. Operate, repair and maintain nursery equipment, vehicles, machinery and hand tools. Participate in the application of pesticides and fertilizers. Perform weeding, watering, irrigation fertilizing and pruning of nursery stock by hand and utilizing farm equipment. Place and space plants in growing areas, greenhouses, pads and fields. Inspect plants to assess quality and inform supervisors of the presence of insects, disease or quality concerns. Operate, repair, manage, maintain, and perform improvements to the farm property and the structures, irrigation, equipment, vehicles, machinery and hand tools on the farm. Prepare planting areas, greenhouses and fields. Regulate, maintain, repair and perform improvements to greenhouse, plant propagation, and plating areas. Winter protection activities will be performed including moving and uncovering plants. Activities will include the installation and removal of plastic from cold frame structures. Select, prepare, label, pull, and load plants and containers for shipping sales orders. Plants will be located, identified, selected and loaded onto wagons, racks and trucks. Maintain inventory ordering material as required. Workers will be required to work in a safe manner and participate in safety training and practices. Use extreme care while handling plants so no harm is caused to the plants and must always lift by the container. Maintain clean work areas, free of safety hazards and perform nursery sanitation duties including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms and sweeping floors. Clean and maintain equipment and facilities. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a 2 day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the 2 day introductory period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the 2 day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer's recruitment period.

Special Requirements

Three months nursery experience required. Work in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Perform prolonged walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs.