Horticulture Specialist

**Location**: Trinity Village Retirement Community, 2711 Kingsway Dr., Kitchener ON

**Position start/end dates**: May 8th to August 25th, 2023

**Position Condition**: This job is partially funded through Canada Summer Jobs 2023 with conditions for employment.

**Job Requirements**:

- Current Vulnerable Sector Police Check (if over 18 years of age)
- TB skin test

**Remuneration**: $16.50-$17.50/hr for a possible 30-40 hours/week and may include a portion of the weekend.

**What you will encounter at Trinity Village Horticulture**
- You jump right in:.it’s the middle of propagation season, where hundreds of seeds and seedlings destined for our garden installations have been sown, transplanted, and are being nurtured along. They need your care. Garden beds are being tidied and prepped to receive the seedlings. Time to get dirt under the nails. Summer programming for our elders is being designed and organized. Insert new ideas and enthusiasm. The apiary is being supported for the spring nectar flow. As soon as you begin there is the gear up for the spring planting and the passion to put the gardens for the explosion of summer growth. Opportunities to help assist elders in their own gardens are balanced with the need to get other crops in the ground. Planting gives way to implementing the garden maintenance program. It’s a grand entrance to summer horticulture at Trinity Village, full of spontaneous interactions, flower bouquets and bountiful harvests for the kitchens. You are here to bring the gardens to life and garden life to the community._

**Position Description**

Together with other team members, under the guidance of the Horticulture Program Manager, you learn to tend and care for our garden beds using sustainable, earth-conscious practices.

Organize and look after garden beds and surrounding areas to create inviting spots to linger and explore.

Take leadership in the physical maintenance of several different garden beds for the duration of employment:

- Learn to identify the plants and seedlings in your garden beds to separate the weeds from good stuff.
- Weed and mulch through the beds.
- Test, repair and maintain irrigation lines and irrigation schedule.

Sow seed, plant seedlings in appropriate locations in each garden bed; tend and harvest a variety of crops.
- Engage with Elders and their families daily.
- Assist the Horticulture Program Manager in providing elder-centred nature and garden programs.
- Harvest, condition and arrange cut flowers for the weekly cut flower subscription program.

Assist in other agricultural and apiculture areas on the property as needed.

Be an important part of the Horticulture team, developing leadership in Horticulture, improving communication skills, and helping each other accomplish project goals.

Discover your strengths and weaknesses as well as those of your team and learn to balance your personality within the team to accomplish common goals.

**Required Skills and Abilities**
- Demonstrated interest in Horticulture or floraculture
- Demonstrated interest in Recreation with Senior Citizens
- Willingness and endurance to accomplish strenuous, repetitive tasks in the heat of summer
- Demonstrated willingness to learn new skill sets
- Patience, flexibility, open mindedness, interpersonal communication skills

**Preferred Skills and Abilities**
- Basic plant knowledge and identification
- Basic gardening skills including planting, weeding, water conservation
- An outgoing, spontaneous personality and an ability to form meaningful relationships
- Experience working with seniors

1. A letter outlining your interest in the position and how your skills and abilities fulfill the position description.
2. A copy of your most recent resume.
3. Two references who have agreed to be contacted to discuss your suitability to the position.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Seasonal
Contract length: 14-16 weeks

**Salary**: $16.50-$17.50 per hour

Schedule:

- Day shift

COVID-19 considerations:
Staff are wearing masks

Work Location: One location

Application deadline: 2023-03-21
Expected start date: 2023-05-08