Fine Gardener

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do.

We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non‑profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website,(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Salary/Hourly Rate: $21 - $23

Hours per week: 35

Job Classification:
Limited Term, Non‑exempt

Job Type: Onsite

Duration:
March – October

Location:

Steven's Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover, MA

With a striking variety of garden rooms, every day working at Stevens-Coolidge brings something exciting and different. Your responsibilities as a fine gardener will range from harvesting heirloom vegetables from the potager garden for our local food bank to helping lead our robust volunteer corps through deadheading in the sunken rose garden. You will contribute to the Trustees’ mission by painstakingly caring for this historic, community cornerstone and inspiring its next generation of admirers.

Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens is a historic 91-acre property with gardens including a potager garden, formal cutting garden, Italianate rose garden, perennial garden, orchard, meadow sand the newly created Entry Garden composed of a mix of introduced and native pollinator friendly plantings, greenhouse complex, and nursery. The Trustees are currently focused on sustainability and improving and elevating our public gardens.

This position is limited term, 35 hour per week, non‑exempt opportunity suited to a skilled gardener with an energetic, positive personality and strong work ethic. The position is expected to begin in March and end in late October. The Fine Gardener will be based at Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover and reports to the Horticulturist. The successful candidate will have a high level of horticultural skill, a passion for plants, attention to detail, and a positive, collaborative nature.

They will be able to work independently and as part of a team, will work outdoors in all kinds of weather, and will support all aspects of horticulture at Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens. The Fine Gardener will interact with staff, visitors, volunteers, members, and donors in an open and engaging manner.

• The Fine Gardener will employ their hands‑on skills and technical expertise in routine garden maintenance including planting, pruning, weeding, deadheading, staking, mulching, raking, edging, labeling, watering, and pruning.
• Positively motivate and assist in organizing volunteers.
• Engage with the public in an open and positive manner.
• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.

• Two‑year Associate degree in horticulture or related field of study preferred. Certificate in horticulture accepted with five or more years of proven experience in professional estate or fine gardening.

• Experience supervising staff, interns and/or volunteers.
• Pesticide Applicator’s License preferred.

• Knowledgeable in the cultivation and maintenance of annuals and perennials using sustainable techniques including integrated pest management (IPM) methods.
• Experienced in pruning shrubs and small trees.
• Able to identify weeds and invasive plants.
• Familiar with pests and diseases of common landscape plants.
• Experienced in the use of landscape and gardening equipment including mowers, weed whips, edgers, shovels, pruners.
• Strong…