Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping (www.terranovalandscaping.com) seeks an upbeat, energetic, reliable, bicycle-friendly Garden Maintenance Assistant to join our Tread Lightly team.
Terra Nova has won 'Best Landscaper' in Good Times in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024! We provide high quality service to customers without the use of toxic chemicals, and we do not use blowers. We practice organic and ecological methods.
THE POSITION
The Bicycle Gardener will perform landscape maintenance, traveling between clients by bicycle using a trailer in Santa Cruz neighborhoods like Seabright and Westside. You will work with a lead gardener or the maintenance manager as a team. We also have truck routes in Aptos, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Felton and Boulder Creek.
This is a fast-moving position where you may visit 5 or more clients in a day on a route. Work includes but is not limited to general garden upkeep (weeding, raking, etc.), and plant care (fertilizing, pruning, deadheading, etc.). You may also assist with making repairs to irrigation systems. A few clients have lawns, but lawn care is not a main emphasis. There are sometimes special projects like fruit tree pruning, planting, etc.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Flexible, easy-going and able to pivot
Love working outdoors with plants
Love bike riding or bike touring
Proactive, can-do attitude
Cooperative, flexible and patient with co-workers and clients
Neat appearance
REQUIRED ABILITIES & EXPERIENCE:
1 year garden maintenance experience
Physically able to ride a bicycle with a trailer with tools
Punctual, with good time management skills
Detail-oriented, and able to follow directions
Must have a smartphone, pruning shears, and gloves
Can lift 50 lbs.
Must be able to use apps for timekeeping (we'll train), and must be able to receive and send texts and occasional emails.
DESIRED ABILITIES & EXPERIENCE:
1 year horticulture, gardening, landscaping or nursery experience
Horticultural education or landscaping certification
Drip irrigation experience
General pruning experience
Knowledge of California plants for the landscape
Knowledge of gardening for drought tolerant landscapes
DESIRED PERSONAL QUALITIES
Creative and solution based thinker
Can establish and maintain cordial, cooperative relationships with co-workers
Is personally accountable and self-supervises
Communicates personal issues that may affect performance in advance
DAYS/ HOURS: Two-three weekdays per week, 8:30am-4:30pm, with paid lunch and breaks. If you want to work full time, we have other gardening, irrigation and installation work. We are looking for someone who can work Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
COMPENSATION: $18-24/hour DOE
BENEFITS
One week vacation
One week paid time off
Paid holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Labor Day, July 4th, Memorial Day & Indigenous Peoples Day
Up to 48 hours paid sick leave per year
To apply, respond with an email explaining why you are a good fit, and include a resume, plus three work references. Include your cell phone number and personal email address.
Thanks! We look forward to working with you!