Position Information

Posted
Mar 14, 2023

Closes
May 1, 2023

Description

Duties:

The primary activity is expected to be invasive species control through manually sawing and shearing grapevines, hack and squirt treatment of nonnative trees, treatment of Asiatic bittersweet and treating various other species as appropriate.

Other activities might include:

• Maintaining a chestnut breeding orchard for The American Chestnut Foundation.
• Follow up on research projects and treatments conducted in prior summers.
• Assisting professional contractors to deal with invasive species.
• Work on wildlife habitat improvement.
• Landscaping activities that may include plantings, grass cutting, mulching, weed whacking, etc.
• For someone skilled with horses, part of the time may be spent working with our 3 horses.
• Enhancement of habitat for various species of fish in the five ponds on the property.
• Assisting the Farm Manager with other matters as needed (e.g. landscaping, special projects, storm cleanup)

However, the expectation should be that most days will be spent in the woods with one or two other summer interns focused on treating grapevines and nonnative invasive species. The Farm Manager will meet with you at times during the day, but will not be present most of the time. The work will occur in varying weather conditions and may involve encounters with all manner of wildlife (e.g. deer, bear, turkeys, grouse, snakes) as well as ticks, chiggers and other pests (though mosquitoes are quite rare here). If you are interested, you can work to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator Certificate.

Requirements: 

• Interested in learning more about invasive plants.
• Self-motivated and able to work to high standards under minimal supervision.
• Willing and able to undertake continuous physical labor on a daily basis.
• Punctuality and keeping your supervisor informed at all times is critical.
• Knowledge of forestry and/or related subjects is a plus.
• Experience working with horses is also a plus.
• You should be comfortable with working in the forest for long stretches.

The work is demanding and the Farm Manager and the Owner have high standards and high expectations. Anyone continuing to do inadequate work, being absent without communicating properly with the Farm Manager, displaying inappropriate attitudes, abusing the equipment or the property, conducting unauthorized activities, or operating in an unsafe fashion will be let go. Having said that, our interest is to make you successful - that creates a win-win for all of us.

How to apply:

Salary
$15/hour

Hours per week
40

Specific hours
7am to 3:30pm with 30 minutes for lunch.

Duration of position
Sometime in May to sometime in August.

Employer Information

Contact
Rod Walker

Phone
434-823-2742

Email
rodswalker@gmail.com

Website
miraclecarwashonline.com

Address
, Harrisonburg, VA, 22801