Company description Spruce Ledge is a privately owned property on the beautiful coast of Maine. Our land management plan combines productivity with sustainability. We are passionate about solar, edible crops, composting, reuse, and creating a landscape that is good for the local ecosystem. Job description This position is to assist the land steward, at a 17 acre shorefront property, managing and developing gardens.

The ideal candidate either (1) has experience gardening or farming, but wants to diversify it by working in a sustainably managed landscape, or (2) is passionate about plants. In addition to learning plant species and their maintenance, the assistant will leave with hands-on experience establishing a food-forest, pollinator habitat, and restorative native plantings. This could include other botanical training, if the person is interested.

Our goal is a long-term, ecologically healthy landscape that is also productive. Operations are rooted in permaculture ethics. Resources are reused or sourced from the property whenever possible. The forest is harvested and managed with low-impact principles. Perennial plantings are either edible, medicinally useful, or benefit the ecosystem. Therefore, day to day tasks will be similar to usual gardening tasks, but heavily prioritized toward long-term establishment of the landscape. This could be a unique horticultural learning opportunity for the right person. 

Part time and Full time arrangements are both possible; the most important thing is a candidate who is a good fit, who will commit to a pre-determined arrangement for the entirety of the season. April through Sept/October.


Job Qualifications/Requirements

- Eagerness to learn and experiment.
- Sound experience working with plants in some capacity.
- Ability to lift 50lbs and do manual labor in sometimes inclement weather, with mosquitos.
- Tractor, chainsaw and/or woodshop use is not required, but experience would be useful.
- Willingness to learn and practice IPM techniques.
- Because our business is located in an area without access to reliable public transportation, we only recommend that applicants with access to a vehicle apply

Job Responsibilities/Duties
- Maintain perennial gardens, native tree/shrubs, and small annuals/vegetable plantings: Weeding, mulching in various forms, transplanting, fertilizing, watering.
- Help develop and expand a food forest, a pollinator garden and bog area: Prepping ground, planting, transplanting, dividing, seeding, mulching
- Maintain compost operations: Collecting seaweed, managing worm bins, turning piles with a tractor.
- Help manage pathways and deer fencing Compensation this position is : hourly, varies DOE, $15.00 - $30.00 Application instructions Deadlineno deadline