Full-Time Seasonal Land Steward, Fire Island Ecological Restoration
(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities
Start Date: April 13, 2026 Compensation: $20–$25/hour
Gay Gardens is a native landscaping and ecological stewardship business working in Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, NY. We are a devoted landscaping team with a heart for letting the native ecology thrive, and our work supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and the carrying capacity of this fragile coastal ecosystem.
We are seeking full-time seasonal gardeners for work from early spring through late fall. This is a paid, daytime, field-based role for people who actively want physically demanding outdoor work and who are excited by the opportunity to help care for Fire Island through native planting, invasive species management, ecological restoration, and long-term land stewardship.
We are looking for people who are deeply responsible to the work, attentive to the landscape, and ready to contribute to a strong seasonal team.
Responsibilities/Duties
- Plant native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials
- Remove invasive species including phragmites and bamboo
- Support maintenance and restoration projects across multiple properties
- Assist with plant organization, deliveries, and distribution
- Participate in field observation, mapping, and ecological monitoring as needed
Qualifications/Requirements
- Deep interest in native plants, ecological restoration, and landscape stewardship
- Comfortable with physically demanding work, including digging, lifting, carrying, cutting, planting, and extended time on your feet in variable weather
- Reliable, observant, and able to learn through fieldwork, repetition, and close attention
- Comfortable working independently and as part of a small team
- Prior gardening, horticultural, landscaping, or field-based ecological experience is preferred
Additional Information
Gay Gardens is hiring a gardener to support residential and landscape clients on Fire Island.
Limited shared housing may be available. Housing is not guaranteed and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Candidates commuting from nearby towns are welcome, and Gay Gardens will reimburse ferry costs incurred on scheduled workdays as a business expense.
Gay Gardens serves clients within Fire Island’s LGBTQ+ summer community. All team members are expected to engage professionally and respectfully with clients, neighbors, and fellow workers. Gay Gardens is an equal opportunity employer.
Contact Information
Gay Gardens Fire Island
Contact Name: Liam
Email: team@gaygardens.life
Website: Apply Online