Head of Horticulture & Landscaping Menla Retreat Center
- Date Posted April 13, 2024
- Location Phoenicia, NY
- Category Agriculture / Nonprofit
- Job type Full-Time
Named after the Tibetan Medicine Buddha, Menla was founded by Tibet House US to establish an upstate retreat and spa dedicated to bringing authentic Tibetan mind-body healing arts and sciences to the West. Our vision is to draw from Tibetan wisdom sciences to reinforce the new wave of holistic integrative medicine now emerging in Western societies. The Dalai Lama has expressed his enthusiasm for Menla, as he believes Tibetan medicine is one of the greatest contributions of Tibetan Buddhist culture. In 2006 the Dalai Lama visited Menla for a Health & Longevity Conference and to bless the land. He believes that Menla, which was given to him and the Tibetan people as a gift, will continue to become a thriving resource for health, healing, and spiritual evolution for many years to come.
Toward this end, Menla offers numerous individual and group retreats, featuring a variety of classes, yoga, meditation, wellness and fitness programs, nature experiences, as well as Buddhist teachings on a wide range of subjects. Our Dewa Spa specializes in rare Tibetan therapies, as well as offering a full menu of Eastern and Western massage therapies and services, including Ayurvedic treatments, herbal baths, and saunas and steam rooms. Our eco-friendly guest rooms are decorated with Tibetan accents and provide a restful atmosphere for your stay during residential programs.
Daily meals are served with sustainable, locally-sourced healing foods, including bounty from our organic garden and pure drinking water throughout the property directly from our mountain springs. Menla’s incredible unspoiled natural surroundings nurture inner growth and provide an ideal environment for healing, rejuvenation, and personal transformation—a spacious yet intimate place to be physically nourished and spiritually inspired, where meaningful connections are forged.
Job descriptionMenla is known for its beautiful organic gardens, providing healthy food to our kitchen and guests. We are on a 330 acre site in a secluded valley, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Our campus is 70 acres with 24 buildings. We have .75 acres producing vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, flowers, berries, and a wide variety of both cultivated and wild and medicinal plants. Our gardens and grounds are one of the faces of Menla, and their beauty and care is an important part of our culture and tribute to the land. We are looking for a “Zen Gardener” who brings a sense of spirituality to the work at hand.
This position is full time April 1 - Nov 1, possible PT work through the winter months for the right candidate.
Essential Attributes & Skills :
- 5 - 10 years of Landscaping & growing diversified organic production
- Integrated pest management knowledge
- Strong aesthetic, tidy
- Able to work in difficult climate conditions (rain, cold, heat, humidity)
- Able to lift 50lbs, bend, kneel, twist, reach
- Able to drive a large truck
- Flexible and resilient
- Friendly, enjoys engaging with a wide range of visitors into the gardens
- Basic hand tool skills, fence repair and small repairs as needed
- Able to organize volunteer projects and instruct volunteers with little skill and no experience
- Self-motivated and responsible, able to work independently
- Strong observation skills, ability to assess needs of a particular project, and solve in a sustainable manner
- A desire to continually learn and ability to research specific issues around horticulture and ecology as needed
- Understanding of the Catskills ecosystems and floral design is a plus
Responsible for :
- Maintaining and improving landscape beds throughout the property, using deer resistant plants
- Floral arrangements for use in the reception area and dining areas
- Indoor plant care
- Seasonal container flower plantings
- Assisting head gardener with high yield production 3/4 acre of vegetable/flower/culinary herbs/berry gardens for use in the kitchen from seed starting to harvesting to putting the garden to sleep
- Continued ecological restoration work, removal of invasive species and maintaining areas which have been cleared
- Interacting with guests who enjoy the gardens and grounds, including garden tours when appropriate
- Working with the maintenance and kitchen team to ensure a robust compost system stays strong
- Clearly communicating budget needs
Resources:
- A 600 SF glass greenhouse
- Two small sheds and plenty of tools
- A garden truck
- You will be part of maintenance team, and we have a wood/metal shop, onsite mechanic and heavy equipment operator
This is not a 9-5 job. 32-40 hours/week required. We understand that there needs to be flexibility built in to the position to work with weather and available assistance (for example when there is a work/study crew or volunteers)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 - $23.00 per hour
Expected hours: 32 – 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Experience:
- Gardening: 5 years (Required)
- Landscape ecology: 5 years (Preferred)
- Landscaping: 5 years (Required)
If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free! DeadlineJune 01, 2024