Plant Health Care Summer Intern

Title:                            Sustainable Plant Health Care Internship 
Classification:             Full-Time, 40-Hour Work Week, Non-Exempt                       
Report to:                   Sustainability Manager
Compensation:          $16.50
Schedule:                    Monday – Friday, occasional evening and weekend hours needed
                                  Flexible three-month period June – September 
Apply by:                    Apply by March 31, 2025 

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 and estate of Madame Ganna Walska. Lotusland educates and inspires visitors with its collections, sustainable horticulture practices, and plant conservation.  

Position Description 
Successful applicants will work with Lotusland’s Manager of Sustainability and grounds staff implementing and monitoring sustainable management practices for a 37-acre botanical display garden emphasizing bromeliads, cacti and succulents, cycads, ferns, palms, water gardens as well as turf areas. 
The intern will experience all aspects of Lotusland’s horticultural program. They will gain theoretical as well as hands on experience that will equip them for designing and managing a similar program in any urban horticultural setting without using toxic or environmentally degrading materials. Applicants will become familiar with ecological soil management practices using compost, compost tea, and mulch, as well as soil fertility management using natural nutrient cycling by soil food web organisms and through applying organic fertilizers. They will also help manage plant diseases by the use of beneficial microorganisms and experience the insectaries responsible for the balanced insect ecology of the garden. Finally, they will become familiar with plant health indicators and how to monitor them both in the field and in Lotusland’s lab. 
Applicant must be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an accredited, college-level horticultural program or internship. Intern must have his or her own transportation. Free housing provided. 
 
Leadership and Skill Development 

• Supplementing classroom education with hands on training using sustainable practices 
• Learn new skills and add to your knowledge base while gaining confidence in yourabilities 
• Opportunity to practice communication and teamwork skills 
• Gain industry knowledge firsthand from an organization and professionals 

• Provide evidence that you have initiative, are reliable, and have a sense of responsibility
• Apply some of the ideas learned in school and provide a bridge between school and the professional world 
• Achieve a sense of accomplishment by contributing to an organization 

• Gain valuable experience and accomplishments to add to your resume and/or enhance your application to an undergraduate school 
• Create an advantage over other job or undergraduate school applicants 

• Power equipment 
  • String line trimmer 
  • Hedge shears 
    • Gas 
    • Battery  
  • Blower 
    • Gas  
    • Battery  
  • Compost tea sprayer 
  • Maintenance carts (valid driver’s license) 
    • Gas 
    • Battery  
• Hand tools 

• Tool identification  
• Pole saw 
• Hand saw 
• Loppers 
• Hand pruners 
• Hand shears  
• Orchard Ladders    
• Pullerbear/weeders   

• Garden maintenance  
  • Proper pruning practices 
    • Depending on the time of year. Deciduous fruit tree. Citrus tree. Palm. Shrubs. Cacti. Ground covers  
  • Soil moisture  
    • Watering practices. wells, reservoir, booster pumps, main line 
    • Water conveyance. Hand, drip, sprinklers (rotary, rotor, sprays, impact)     
    • Types of irrigation   
  • Garden hazards  
    • Plants 
    • Heat 
    • Animals  
  • Preparing the gardens for tours and special events  
  • Pond/aquatics care    
• SAFETY PROGRAM INCORPORATED IN EACH TRAINING   

• Mapping 
• Accessioning of plants   
• Inventory of collections   

• Plant propagation 
• Nursery maintenance 

• Soil science 
  • Biological examination 
  • Nutritional analysis 
  • Physical tests of soil properties 
• Rodent Abatement 
  • Gopher trapping 
  • Rat trapping 
  • Rabbit trapping 
• Applied Entomology 
  • Insectary garden program 
  • Review various common insect challenges 
  • Renovating perimeter insectary areas 
• Organic Matter Programs 
  • Mulching program observations 
  • Composting system and compost application 
• Organic Fertilizers 
  • Application methods 
  • Discuss and record observations in the field 
  • Review various types and reasons for choice selection 
• Applied micro-organisms 
  • Mycorrhizae 
    • Types, benefits, application methods 
  • Bacteria 
    • Types, benefits, application methods 
• Compost tea 
  • Compost tea production method 
  • Compost tea assay analysis 
  • Compost tea application methods 

• Plant Installation and Maintenance 
• Plant Identification 
• Greenhouse Management 
• Landscape and Turf Management 
• Orchard Program 
• Pruning Techniques 
• Plant Propagation 
• Applied Entomology 
• Ponds Maintenance 

• Must be enrolled in a horticulture program or related field at a college/university or recently graduated within one year 
• Basic knowledge of plant Identification and gardening 
• Ability to communicate respectfully to ensure a productive and harmonious work environment
• Motivated and willing to perform physically demanding work 
• Ability to operate horticultural hand tools 
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and tolerate exposure to inclement weather 

• 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. 

• Internship Stipend: $16.50/hour
• Free housing 
  Please note: Because of Lotusland’s location, intern will need a vehicle for offsite transportation (no public transportation close by). 

• Sick leave.    

• 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.   

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, application, and three letters of reference to Chris Ziliotto, Manager of Sustainability, Ganna Walska Lotusland, by March 31, 2025. 
To learn more, visit us at www.lotusland.org  

No recruiters or agency calls please.