Summary

The Natural Garden designs and installs living landscapes and restores natural habitats in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. In our landscapes we work primarily with native plants to feed the pollinators and support the greater food web, adding edible, herbal, and medicinal plants to nourish both human and wild inhabitants. Old-world stonework is incorporated into our ecological landscape designs to visually anchor the garden with timeless beauty. Just beyond these outdoor living rooms we set the course for ecological stability to emerge where we restore meadows, savannas, streams and woodland. With over 25 years experience, The Natural Garden is the Shenandoah Valley’s source for creating healthy natural outdoor living spaces and for restoring streams, meadows, and woodlands to habitats of increasing biodiversity and natural beauty.

Job Type:

• Full-time Pay
• $16.00 - $20.00 per hour depending on experience. Benefits

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Option to earn semi-annual bonus

Job Responsibilities:

Show up with a positive and uplifting work ethic and collaborates well with team members.

• Assist conservation landscaping team with hand grading, hardscape work, planting, and maintenance.
• Assist habitat restoration team with invasive exotic plant treatment and clearing, planting, and management.
• Safely operate skid loaders and mini-excavators.
• Safely operate chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers, and similar equipment.
• Actively develop understanding of native plant communities through on-the-
• job learning and other professional development opportunities.
• Assist with, and actively develop skills for, dry set and dry stack stone work.

Other Duties

The Natural Garden promotes cross-training: You may be asked to help with the nursery or perform other duties as needs arise, and occasional seasonal weekend work to help with the Farmer's Market.

Required Experience and Knowledge

• Landscape or Habitat Restoration installation : 1 year (Preferred)
• Able to lift and carry at least 40 lbs. and be able to perform a variety of physical duties for 8+ hours daily with frequent bending, lifting and carrying.
• Able to work outdoors for extended periods of time in a wide range of weather.
• Strong desire to actively engage with the land to promote native biodiversity.
• Preference for those who have 1-2 years of work experience in ecological restoration, landscaping, stone work, farming, horticulture, arboriculture, forestry.
• Familiarity with core equipment such as chain saw, brush saw, string, trimmer and backpack sprayer, or desire to learn their use.

Desired Experience and Knowledge

• Experience with the native plants of the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont of Virginia or the Mid-Atlantic Region at least.
• Experience operating mini-excavators and skid loaders.
• Experience driving manual transmission trucks.
• Experience pulling loaded trailers (two to seven tons).

Education background including an Associates or Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, environmental science, ecology, wildlife conservation, conservation management, native plant botany/studies is preferred, but related training and program certificates will certainly be considered.

Plus

• Herbicide-Pesticide Applicators license or Commercial License. 
• This position reports to the Site Supervisors. 

License/Certification

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Schedule

• In person 
• Monday to Friday 
• Overtime
• Seasonal weekend work possible

Harrisonburg, VA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Interested candidate must email HR Department:  Anna@thenaturalgarden.net. 

Include Cover letter, resume, and three professional references (must include email addresses).

To learn more about The Natural Garden, go to thenaturalgarden.net.

Individuals from out of the area are encouraged to apply. While we cannot help you move here, we think you’ll love it when you do! Harrisonburg, VA has much to offer for arts, culture, food, and more. It gets even better! We are within easy reach of numerous natural resource destinations, an abundance of farm-to-table food and craft beverage options, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities, historical and architectural destinations, and world class cultural amenities. Find out more about Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah region.