Company description

On a coastal hillside overlooking Mendocino Bay and the resort’s historic farm, the Stanford Inn & Resort is a haven for reconnecting with nature, creativity, and joyfulness. Pet-friendly and rooted in sustainability, the resort’s Ravens Restaurant and certified organic gardens work together to provide nationally acclaimed gourmet plant-based cuisine. Guests also enjoy yoga, nutrition, outdoor, and educational programs that reflect our ethic of sustainability and mindfulness.

Our gardens span a variety of microclimates and soil types across the property, with a half-acre under biointensive hand cultivation by a small team of dedicated gardeners. Using the biointensive method—a low-input agricultural technique practiced worldwide—we grow food and flowers while building soil health sustainably. We also produce our own plant-based compost, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes our ecological footprint. Sustainability is at the heart of our gardening principles, which we honor through mindful practices such as minimizing plastic use, reducing tillage, planting cover crops, avoiding pesticides and herbicides, and cultivating a diverse array of vegetables and flowers.

Job description

Gardener Position

The Stanford Inn & Resort is seeking a gardener to join our team. Working alongside the Garden Manager and fellow gardeners, this position helps grow food for the restaurant and staff, flowers for the Inn and bouquet orders, and maintain beautiful gardens for our guests. In addition to these core responsibilities, the gardens include areas for research projects and crop trials focused on seed adaptation, soil fertility and management, and calorie-dense staple crops such as grains and seeds. The position also offers opportunities to teach biointensive gardening classes to guests once fully trained in biointensive agriculture.

The ideal candidate is seeking a long-term position, has an interest in biointensive or plant-based agriculture, and is open to training in these methods. This position requires a willingness to learn, strong communication skills, the ability to follow direction, and the capacity to work independently when needed. We provide training for all aspects of the job from planting to flower arranging.

Key Responsibilities

• Bed preparation, digging, planting, composting, watering, weeding.
• Harvesting and making flower arrangements.
• Seed and plant propagation.
• Maintain records and collect data related to garden production.
• Seed saving, cleaning and germination testing.
• Assist with garden planning, data and organization.
• Care for greenhouse plants and indoor houseplants.
• Support the beauty and functionality of guest-facing gardens.
• Occasionally teach or assist with gardening classes for guests.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Comfortable with physically demanding tasks such as digging, bending, lifting, and working outdoors in varied weather conditions.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 50 lbs of garden supplies (soil, tools, plants).

We’re Looking For

• Self-motivated, solutions-oriented, and collaborative team players.
• Individuals with a passion for interacting with guests and the public.
• Candidates with a strong interest in sustainable agriculture and plant-based or vegan food systems.
• Candidates with experience in agriculture and teaching, though we are willing to train the right person.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

September 03, 2025