Head Gardener @ Lavender Farm

Start Date is flexible.

The Head Gardener designs and maintains gardens for an Agri-tourism business consisting primarily of lavender beds but also includes a variety of flowers and fruit trees. The Head Gardener is also responsible to oversee and provide direction and training to the Associate Gardener.
- Designs, prepares, and maintains lavender beds and planters, including selecting flowers/shrubs, fertilizer, and developing a program of care.
- Plants, cultivates, prunes, fertilizes, weeds, removes leaf, debris and litter, applies mulch.
- Professionally interacts with visitors to the farm, providing customer service and leading occasional information sessions.
- Maintains plants within the gardens; checks for damage/disease, potential hazards and risks, improvements in aesthetics, and provides general health management.
- Performs required maintenance to keep plants healthy. Diagnoses flower, shrub, and turf problems and treats as needed.
- Safely operates and maintains power equipment for landscape maintenance which may include blowers, string trimmer brush chipper, water and spraying equipment and hand tools.
- Inspects garden facilities/fixtures on an on-going basis to identify required repairs and ensure public safety. Repairs, assembles garden facilities, i.e., constructs or repairs planters, beds, fencing, signs, pathways, etc. Works with property owners to identify required or recommended work and potential safety issues.
- Inspect and maintain irrigation systems throughout the gardens.
- Adheres to Integrated Pest Management practices to control and eliminate pests, adapting and implementing methods as required.
- Prepare stock requirements and provides input with regard to recommended suppliers.
- Keeps abreast of industry trends and practices, researching new plants, equipment, materials, and methods.
- Works in most weather conditions.
- Fulfils administrative duties as required; documenting procedures, inspections, preparing weekly planners, logging activities.
- Performs additional similar and related duties as assigned.

**SELECTION CRITERIA**:

- **HEAD GARDENER**: Over two (2) years in a horticulture, greens keeping or gardening environment. Formal education in Landscape Technology, Horticulture Science, or equivalent.
- Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to perform physical tasks with repeated movements.
- Steel Toe Boots required.
- Ability to follow all outlined health and safety requirements.
- Reliable transportation and driver's license required.
- Individual must be responsible, reliable, self-directed and able to work independently.
- Working outdoors, exposure to weather elements (heat, rain).
- Lifting and carrying - up to 30 lbs.

**Job Type**: Seasonal
Contract length: 7 months

**Salary**: $19.00-$20.00 per hour

Flexible Language Requirement:

- French not required

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Aylmer, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2023-04-07
Expected start date: 2023-04-24