Crew Members – Ecological Landscape Construction

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: April 1, 2023  Compensation: $20 - $23 per hour to start

We are a small, ecologically-minded landscape firm which offers a complete landscape design-and-build experience, from start to finish. Our specialties include native gardens, Japanese influenced design, eco-ponds, and natural swimming pools. We seek to create long-lasting relationships with our clients and are especially interested in finding employees who enjoy working together as a team and want to
develop a long-term stake in our growing enterprise.

We are located in the Hudson Valley at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Besides having access to wide swaths of wilderness for hiking, biking, rafting, canoeing, skiing and rock climbing, our proximity to NYC means that about half of the population are weekenders who bring the culture of NY to our area. We have a good music and arts scene, and Hudson Valley is also a hot spot of the farm-to-table movement with many small organic farms providing food to local restaurants as well as the city. A local community of organic growers has regular meetings and dinner parties open to anyone and is a good resource for finding housing, learning about events, and meeting interesting people.

You will be working independently, but also have access to guidance from the company owner and designer as needed, so expertise in all fields is not an absolute requirement. We have a varied project agenda, and this should be considered an opportunity to expand your landscape skills and work-scope. If there are specialties that you are particularly passionate about and/or skilled in, we will make efforts to accommodate more of those projects in our schedule, and afford you opportunities to develop your interests whenever possible.

Responsibilities/Duties

Continue your on-the-job training and develop a specialty. Learn ecological gardening principles including choice and use of mostly-native plants in specific habitats including wild meadows, shade gardens, dry alpine gardens, bog gardens, and ponds. Learn about edible landscapes. Learn landscape construction techniques including building stone walls, patios, and stairs, building decks and retaining walls, and installing proper drainage, plumbing, and electrical conduit. Work with our pond and natural swimming pool crew to learn to construct and maintain a groundwater pond or natural swimming pool. Learn garden maintenance including weed identification, proper planting technique, and design principles. Choose a specialty for additional training. We support our workers in pursuing specific interests and offer some opportunity for them, as they progress, to tailor a position to their specific interests and talents, whether it is designing and interacting with clients, building ponds, installing gardens, driving an excavator, managing logistics, or becoming a partner.

Receive training in the skills needed to run their own installation and construction crew. Applicants that successfully complete 1-3 years of on-the-job training will be encouraged to apply for a crew leader position.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • An interest in a career in ecological landscaping and landscape construction.
  • A good work ethic and ability to perform demanding physical labor.
  • Some background in landscaping, horticulture, carpentry, or construction.
  • Reliable vehicle and smart phone.
  • Successful completion of Apprenticeship position or equivalent experience working in the landscape construction field.

Additional Information

Season

  • For non-students the season begins April 1 and goes through Thanksgiving. Part time work available off-season.
  • For current students the season begins with the end of school and ends with the beginning of school. Opportunity for part time work during school.

Compensation

  • $20-23/hr DOE with regular pay raises with good job review
  • $500 end-of-season bonus or scholarship.
  • 1 week paid-time-off

Contact Information

Ferncreek Design & Build
Contact Name: Alicia Tyree
Email: the-office@ferncreekdb.com
Phone: 8456571905
Website: Apply Online