Nursery Worker

Job description

Crops: Ornamental Plants in Containers, Azaleas, Hollies, Crape Myrtle, Hydrangea, Tomatoes, Corn, Squash, Okra

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 waste 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.

Workers may be required to perform any of the following jobs most of which are outside:

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 such as: 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; hauling, planting, spraying, weeding, watering, pruning, trimming, shaping and spacing products. Worker may fertilize with granular or liquid fertilizer; tie, bunch, wrap, and pack trees and/or shrubs to fill orders and load onto trucks for market. Workers may work on the potting line, in a greenhouse, or in an outdoor production area transplanting seedlings and liners into containers and place in designated growing area.

Nursery Work: Workers will be required to start all crops from seed. Seedlings will be grown in 10 x 20 trays filled with sand or dirt and kept in a controlled environment. When seedlings reach approximately 2 inches tall, and per supervisors; instruction, workers will transplant seedlings from tray into peat pots. When seedlings reach appropriate size, approximately 6 to 8 inches tall, workers will be required to transfer from peat pots to carious selling container and transport to prepared fields for transplanting. When produce is ready for marketing workers will load onto trucks to be shipped to purchaser’s locations.

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, applying pesticides or cleaning, grading, sorting loading harvested products. May construct trellises, repair fences and farms building or participate in irrigation activates. Workers will also assist in covering greenhouse, covering and uncovering plants.

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

Planting: Workers may be required to 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. Workers will be required to dig trees and shrubs.

Special Requirements

All applicants must have at least 3 months experience in a nursery or agricultural field work. 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.