Position Overview

The Seasonal Nursery Worker is responsible for loading, delivering, and maintaining nursery merchandise, grounds, and fields using equipment including, but not limited to, loaders, bobcats, and forklifts. 

Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.
Job opportunity is Skill Level I. All primary duties are entry-level and require close supervision and/or a short demonstration of the task by a more experienced worker.

Pay rate is $14.38 for the seasonal work. 

Job Duties

Crops/Commodities: nursery trees, plants, shade and ornamental trees
Primary Job Duties (performed on majority of workdays in contract period):

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Includes some or all of the following. Other duties may be assigned. Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials. Dig, rake and screen soil, and fill cold frames and hot beds to prepare for planting. Fill water and other tanks. Plant, spray, weed and water plants, shrubs, and trees. Sow grass seed and plant plugs of sod and cut, roll, and stack sod. Prepare scion and tie buds to assist worker. Trap and poison pests such as moles, gophers and mice. Plant shrubs and plant in containers. Tie, bunch, wrap and pack flowers, plants, shrubs and trees to fill orders. Move containerized shrubs and trees. Dig up shrubs and trees and wrap their roots with burlap. Fold and staple corrugated forms to make boxes used for packing horticultural products. Follow all company policies, procedures and work rules. React appropriately in an emergency situation. Perform all duties as required. Report timely and accurately to supervisor.

Prepare fields/soil for planting. Remove cull stock, debris, tree stumps, brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock and/or bedding plants in condition for shipping and sale to customers. Pot seedlings or ‘liners’ by hand or mechanical planter. Propagate plants from cuttings. Perform general plant maintenance. Prune, trim, space, transplant and cull plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Irrigate and apply fertilizer. Pack, label, tag, pull, and store plants by variety. Count, grade, and inventory plants. Prepare plants for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Dig plants. Drum lacing and quarter lacing. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples. Crimp wire baskets. Must understand nursery quality control standards and have working knowledge of production procedures. Must harvest crops according to specific standards. Must select and harvest crops pursuant to customer needs. Products must be handled carefully to prevent damage.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job. Workers should be able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Duties Continued

Grade, size, and sort product according to color, shape, size, appearance, feel, and/or quality, in accordance with supervisor's instructions and employer standards. Inspect products for damage/defects and discard inferior products and foreign matter. Place product in bins/trays and other containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Weigh products and record weight and/or grade. Handle product carefully to prevent damage. Operate equipment safely, with or without direction. Must follow quality control standards and production procedures. Clean/sanitize work station and equipment.

Must have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Must be able to differentiate colors, textures, and other attributes of product to distinguish varieties and identify defects.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Shorts, bathing suits or other casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Employer requires all newly hired employees to take and pass an employer-paid background check. All background checks are conducted uniformly after an initial job offer has been extended and accepted by the new hire. Applicants found to have felony convictions (including, but not limited to assault, child molestation, sex or drug-related convictions) will be immediately terminated out of concern for general public safety, and paid for all hours worked between the first date of employment and the date of termination, if any. In the case of a foreign worker who is terminated for cause resulting from findings of the background check, the employer will arrange least-cost transportation to the worker's place of recruitment, at the worker's expense.

Employer requires all newly-hired employees to take and pass an employer-paid drug test before starting work. Drug test not required for prospective applicants prior to hiring decision. All testing is conducted uniformly after an initial job offer has been extended and accepted by the new hire. Workers testing positive will be
immediately terminated and paid for all hours worked between the first date of employment and the date of termination, if any. In the case of a non-local or foreign worker who is terminated for failure to pass a drug test, the employer will arrange least-cost transportation to the worker's place of recruitment, at the worker's expense. The employer will also test after a worker has an accident at work.

Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles on the farm. Workers with appropriate licenses and a valid doctor's certificate may be asked to drive other workers.

Company Overview

Divisional Overview