Position Overview

Prepare soil and growth media, cultivate, and participate in horticultural activities under supervision on acreage, in nursery, or in an environmentally controlled structure such as a greenhouse or shed by performing the following duties.

Job Duties

Crops/Commodities: nursery trees, plants, shade and ornamental trees. Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Includes some or all of the following. Other duties may be assigned. Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peatmoss, and other materials. Dig, rake and screen soil, and fill cold frames and hot beds to prepare for planting. Fill water and other tanks. Plant, spray, weed and water plants, shrubs, and trees. Sow grass seed and plant plugs of sod and cut, roll, and stack sod. Prepare scion and tie buds to assist worker. Trap and poison pests such as moles, gophers and mice. Plant shrubs and plant in containers. Tie, bunch, wrap and pack flowers, plants, shrubs and trees to fill orders. Move containerized shrubs and trees. Dig up shrubs and trees and wrap their roots with burlap. Fold and staple corrugated forms to make boxes used for packing horticultural products. Follow all company policies, procedures and work rules. React appropriately in an emergency situation. Perform all duties as required. Report timely and accurately to supervisor.
Prepare fields/soil for planting. Remove cull stock, debris, tree stumps, brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock and/or bedding plants in condition for shipping and sale to customers. Pot seedlings or ‘liners' by hand or mechanical planter. Propagate plants from cuttings. Perform general plant maintenance. Prune, trim, space, transplant and cull plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Irrigate and apply fertilizer. Pack, label, tag, pull, and store plants by variety. Count, grade, and inventory plants. Prepare plants for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Dig plants. Drum lacing and quarter lacing. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples. Crimp wire baskets. Must understand nursery quality control standards and have working knowledge of production procedures.
Must harvest crops according to specific standards. Must select and harvest crops pursuant to customer needs. Products must be handled carefully to prevent damage. Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required infields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers maybe required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Workers should be able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Grade, size, and sort product according to color, shape, size, appearance, feel, and/or quality, in accordance with supervisor's instructions and employer standards. Inspect products for damage/defects and discard inferior products and foreign matter. Place product in bins/trays and other containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Weigh products and record weight and/or grade. Handle product carefully to prevent damage. Operate equipment safely, with or without direction. Must follow quality control standards and production procedures.
Clean/sanitize work station and equipment. Must have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Must be able to differentiate colors, textures, and other attributes of product to distinguish varieties and identify defects.
Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required.

Qualifications

Basic Job Requirements:
Criminal background check
Drug Screen
Lifting requirements
Exposure to extreme temperatures
Extensive pushing or pulling
Extensive sitting or walking
Frequent stooping or bending over
Repetitive movements

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural experience working in a nursery handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing required. Criminal background check required.

Wage Information

This seasonal position working March 1st through December 15th, 2023. The position pays $15.89 per hour, paid weekly.

DEDUCTIONS. Employer makes all deductions required by law (e.g., FICA, federal/state tax withholdings, court-ordered child support, etc.). Workers must pre-authorize voluntary deductions, which may include payment of wage advances and/or loans, health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, and/or third-party payments or wage assignments for products or services furnished for the worker’s benefit or convenience. All deductions comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act(FLSA) and applicable state law. Employer may deduct reasonable repair costs if the worker is found to be responsible for damage to housing beyond normal wear and tear. Employer may charge worker for reasonable cost of damages to property and/or replacement of tools and/or equipment if such damage is found to have been the result of worker's willful misconduct or gross negligence.

Additional Information

Housing provided only to non-local workers (i.e. permanent residence outside normal commuting distance).Only workers may occupy housing. Employer provides separate sleeping and bathroom facilities for each gender. Employer possesses and controls premises at all times. Workers must vacate housing promptly at end of contract period or upon termination, in accordance with state law.

HOUSING FOR WORKERS:
Employer agrees to provide for or secure housing for H-2A workers and those workers in corresponding employment who are not reasonably able to return to their residence at the end of the work day. That housing complies with the applicable local, State, or Federal standards and is sufficient to house the specified number of workers requested through the clearance system. The employer will provide the housing without charge to the worker. Any charges for rental housing will be paid directly by the employer to the owner or operator of the housing. If public accommodations are provided to workers, the employer agrees to pay all housing-related charges directly to the housing's management. The employer agrees that charges in the form of deposits for bedding or other similar incidentals related to housing (e.g., utilities) must not be levied upon workers. However, the employer may require workers to reimburse them for damage caused to housing by the individual worker(s) found to have been responsible for damage which is not the result of normal wear and tear related to habitation. When it is the prevailing practice in the area of intended employment and the occupation to provide family housing, the employer agrees to provide family housing at no cost to workers with families who request it. 20 CFR 655.122(d),653.501(c)(3)(vi).

Employer does not provide meals. Employer-provided housing includes free and convenient kitchen facilities with appropriate equipment, appliances, cooking accessories, and dishwashing facilities for meal preparation. For workers residing in employer-provided housing, employer also provides free transportation once per week to/from closest town or city for personal errands (e.g., groceries, banking services). Dining, kitchen/cooking facilities and other common areas are shared by all workers. In the event that kitchen facilities become unavailable during the contract period, employer will provide three daily meals in accordance with 20 CFR 655.122(g). In such circumstances, employer will deduct the cost of such meals up to the maximum allowable amount published in the Federal Register, or as otherwise approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Job Location

• 5509 Congress Rd, Wooster OH 44691
• Daily transportation to and from the worksite from a centralized designated pick-up place will be offered to workers at no charge. The use of this transportation is voluntary. Employer provides incidental transport between job sites.

Company Overview

Invest in your future. Join one of the largest Employee Owned companies in the nation. Davey has a unique culture that focuses on the open exchanging of ideas, community partnership, a commitment to safety, and delivering unrivaled client service while acting as industry leaders in horticultural and environmental services.

We are currently looking to add a dynamic Nursery Laborer to our passionate team of landscape professionals. Your office is outdoors, and you get a new view every day!

Divisional Overview