Job Description

Title: Garden Assistant

Date: March 2021

Hours of work:

  • The 2021 season is from May 3 to November 19.

  • From May 3 to July 1 we work a 9-10 hour day, five days a week (Monday to Friday), subject to weather conditions. We don’t typically work in rainy weather.

  • From July 5 to November 19, we work an 8-10 hour day, four days a week (Tuesday to Friday), weather permitting.

Pay rates, meals, water and other details:

  • Hourly pay rates for this role range from $15-18.

Clothing, gear, transportation, meals and safety:

  • We supply high-quality cotton shirts (long and/or short-sleeved t-shirts) branded with our logo. Depending on the season, we supply hoodies, rain jackets etc). Employees must provide and wear CSA approved steel toe work boots.

  • We provide all tools required for the job except pruners and garden gloves. Employees supply their own pruners and gloves. We recommend by-pass style pruners from any garden or hardware store (they range from about $15 for a basic pair at Canadian Tire to $80 Felco’s available at Halifax Seed or online at Paulsfinest.com) and nitrile garden gloves available from Halifax Seed or Vesey’s online). You will want to wash your gloves so it’s best to have multiple pairs.

  • Employees should bring lunch and lots of water to work each day. We usually eat outdoors or in an air-conditioned environment like a mall food court mall. Please ensure you have a face mask and protect your skin by having and applying personal sunscreen during the day. We supply hand sanitizers.

  • Employees provide their own transportation to a meet-up location in Bedford arriving each day at 7:30 am. The crew drives to work together in our Jeep Wranglers.

  • Typically, we use the client’s washroom or we drive to public washrooms as required.

Overview

The Garden Assistant contributes to creating and maintaining functional, beautiful residential gardens and lawns while working under supervision on a range of garden landscaping projects.

Key Responsibilities

The Garden Assistant is a key member of the crew responsible to install and maintain ornamental and edible softscapes, hardscapes and raised garden beds. They have the following responsibilities.

·         Identifies and reports workplace safety risks; promotes a safety-conscious workplace culture.

·        Uses on the job training and/or prior experience to perform general garden and lawn maintenance including:

o   Weed and weed control in lawns and gardens

o   Move and install soil, mulch, stone and other bulk materials

o   Dethatch lawns; rake and remove debris

o   Assist in site preparation for installation of stone or other hardscape surfaces

o   Rake, blow or remove leaves and debris from garden beds and lawns; load (and unload) debris into trailers

o   Use and provide care for shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, pruners, garden hand tools

o   Use blowers, pruners, rakes, shovels, mowers

o   Share knowledge with colleagues and clients

·         Participate in planning; contribute to the development of company creative and digital content for web, social media, portfolio development, etc

·         Complete questionnaire for Canada Youth Employment program in late June and/or August (if applicable).

·         Be professional, friendly, helpful and courteous with customers and other employees.

·         Works under supervision to maintain client gardens leading to high levels of customer satisfaction, retention and referrals.

·         Participate in planning; contribute to the development of company creative and digital content for web, social media, portfolio development, etc

·         Maintains and prevents loss or damage to tools and equipment.

·         Contributes knowledge and provides feedback to others to build crew skills and improve outcomes.

·         Holds all company and client information in confidence.

Experience, Skills, Qualifications, Education

Garden Assistants are high energy, action oriented, fit individuals with an interest in landscaping, horticulture or agriculture. Prior experience in a home garden or as part of a landscaping crew is an asset but not required.

Incumbents contribute to a high-performance, supportive and friendly work environment by working at a safe, efficient pace while interacting in a positive, open manner with other members of the crew and clients.

Garden Assistants take personal pride in their work, are reliable and trust-worthy, are effective working as part of a team, have good interpersonal and communication skills, are physically fit, flexible and interested in learning about our industry.

All employees must work in a manner which respects and protects the environment.

Working Conditions

 o   Physical effort: able to lift, pull and push up to 50 lbs on a repeated basis during the course of an 8-10 hour shift

o   Physical attention: regular exposure to weather including inclement conditions, soil, thorns; occasional exposure to construction or power tool noise

o   Sensory attention: visual attention used to inspect, monitor and manipulate materials

o   Mental stress: work hours inherent in the industry can cause lifestyle disruptions