Garden Laborer

Title: Grounds Laborer 1  
Classification: Full-time (40-hour work week), non-exempt 
Department: Grounds & Facilities 
Reports To: Grounds Supervisor 
Compensation: $20.00 - $23.00 
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 3:30pm, with occasional weekends and evenings.  

About Lotusland: 
Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,000 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education, and plant conservation.  

Mission Statement:  
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the distinctive botanical gardens of Madame Ganna Walska. Lotusland educates and inspires visitors with its collections, sustainable horticulture practices and plant conservation. 

Position Summary:   
Work with an experienced horticultural staff responsible for the care and maintenance of a 37-acre botanical display garden. Plant collections include bromeliads, cacti, and other succulents, cycads, palm, ferns, and water plants. Must be capable of strenuous physical work and working in inclement weather (50 lb. lifting requirement). 

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with general maintenance of grounds
• Provide general plant care.  
• Operate non-mechanical tools. 
• Learn to operate mechanical power tools. 
• Assist in the installation, maintenance, and operation and repairs of irrigation system and waters by hand. 
• Proactively participate in teamwork with coworkers and work independently. 
• Will be assigned to perform the following: 

Care for garden section(s) in the absence of horticulture staff.  

• Train volunteers in safe and effective gardening tasks. 
• Assist event set up when facilities need help or are unavailable. 
• Maintains curatorial and display labels and reports lost or damaged labels to the Section Gardener. 

Knowledge and Abilities: 

• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with all staff, volunteers, and visitors. Assist visitors in answering questions and wayfinding as needed to ensure positive customer experience. 
• Demonstrate a strong work and personal ethic and care of horticultural and facilities tools and supplies, the care of personal safety during horticultural practices in accordance with the Lotusland’s safety procedures and trainings. 
• Follow Lotusland’s Plant Healthcare Guidelines and Best Management Practices as they apply to cultural requirements throughout the garden. 
• Must be able to lift heavy objects, i.e., equipment, fertilizer, potted plants, etc. (50 lb. minimum lifting requirement)  
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license 

Work Environment:   

• Lotusland’s administrative offices are on a historic 2-story estate in a 37-acre garden.    
• 90% of the day will be spent outside on the grounds. 
• Frequent walking, kneeling, bending, lifting (50 lbs.). 
• Will need to drive a cart. 
• Breaks and lunch are taking altogether with the team.                                                              

The responsibilities and deliverables listed above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the individual in the position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and/or skills. Other tasks will be assigned as needed.

Benefits  

• Health, dental, vision and life insurance.   
• 403(b) Retirement plans.   
• Paid vacation and sick leave.   
• Paid holidays.  

 Additional Information  

• Employment background/criminal check is required. 

Lotusland Core Values: 
Accountability: We take ownership of the commitments we make, holding ourselves accountable for our actions and decisions, both to ourselves and those we lead. 
Teamwork and Collaboration: Our roles are interdependent, requiring intentional collaboration within teams to consistently achieve our mission. 
Communication: Effective communication is crucial for building trust among our staff, board, and the larger community. We strive to share information clearly, consistently, and in a timely manner to foster understanding and commitment across our organization. 
Trust: We aim to cultivate mutual respect and open communication throughout the organization. Employees are encouraged to openly share their perspectives and feel secure in taking risks to enhance our effectiveness.
Integrity: Aligned with our guiding principles of honesty, fairness, and decency, we promote a strong ethic of integrity among individuals and leaders. 

Lotusland is an equal opportunity employer. We acknowledge that equal employment opportunity for all persons is a fundamental human value. Each employee will be considered based on individual ability and merit, without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or marital status.  

For more information visit www.lotusland.org
 

No recruiters or agency calls please.