Gardener Job in Wilton, Connecticut US

Gardener

DUTIES: The incumbent serves as a Gardener at Weir Farm National Historic Site located in Wilton, CT. The incumbent will care for and maintain plants native to New England; will water, fertilize, plant, thin, cultivate, trim and prune. Select locations for best plant growth and development considering soil conditions, hardiness of plants, foliage at various stages of growth, flowering periods, and the overall landscape plan. Gardener will recommend plants for particular purposes, such as, shade, boundary lines, ground cover, erosion control, or pleasing appearance and determine proper quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer, and other materials needed for specific areas. The incumbent will design, plant, and maintain large and/or small tree-covered areas, such as orchards; use knowledge of trade theory and up-to-date trade practices, including Integrated Pest Management, Plant Health Care, and Tree Risk Management Ability; use pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides; perform turf maintenance including mowing; and use and maintain a variety of garden tools, including rakes, pruners, edgers,and hedge trimmers as well as farm tractors, mowers, plows, and tillers. Incumbent will use computers for research and to update and create documents and databases. Incumbent will follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean work environment. Incumbent will maintain historic appearance of grounds according to the park's Cultural Landscape Report Treatment Plan and Preservation Maintenance Plan. Incumbent will be required to be familiar with Master Gardener program or be willing to take Master Gardening courses. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending, and stooping. Incumbent will occasionally climb ladders to prune or trim vegetation and lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily done outside and occasionally in a greenhouse. In working outside, the gardener is subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and sometimes in chilly or rainy weather. On a regular basis the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being applied to trees and shrubs. Incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as normal safety items such as gloves, boots, glasses, etc. Because of the duties performed there is a chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes. AREA INFORMATION/HOUSING INFORMATION: Weir Farm National Historic Site, the only National Park Service site dedicated to American painting, is one of the nation's finest remaining landscapes of American art. The 60-acre park includes the historic Weir House, Weir and Young Studios, barns, gardens, and Weir Pond. The park is located in Wilton and Ridgefield, Connecticut approximately 60 miles north of New York City and 50 miles west of Hartford. The site is located in a residential area off a very narrow hilly neighborhood road. Parking is very limited. Amenities are typical of urban/suburban areas and include a variety of educational and cultural opportunities, as well as professional, commercial, and health services. The climate is cold in the winter and hot, humid, and rainy in summer. Traveling is especially treacherous in snowy and icy winter weather. No public transportation is available. Additional information about Weir Farm National Historic Site can be found on the park's website http://www.nps.gov/wefa and information about the Fairfield County area can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfield_County