Seasonal Gardens & Grounds Intern

Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts invites applications for a Gardens & Grounds Intern in residence. To apply for this position, please complete our online employment application here

A nonprofit school of arts and crafts founded in 2004 by local artists and community members, Shake Rag Alley’s 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, is a national destination for participants of adult workshops, a robust summer youth program, and a host of annual special community events. In addition, Shake Rag Alley offers on-site lodging and custom facility rentals for meetings, events, and celebrations. For more information, see www.ShakeRagAlley.org.

Position Title: Gardens & Grounds Intern

Status: Part-time seasonal, hourly

Schedule: Up to 20 hours/week April-October

Compensation: $7.25/hour plus housing, paid holidays, 15% workshop discount

Position Summary

If you’ve got a green thumb and enjoy cultivating a welcoming atmosphere in a magical outdoor setting, this seasonal position at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is for you.

Reporting to the Executive Director and Buildings and Grounds Committee, and working collaboratively with Shake Rag Alley staff and volunteers, the Gardens & Grounds Intern will participate in the opening and closing of our 20 garden beds and seasonal garden and grounds maintenance while serving as a steward of our historic campus while in residence.  

In return, you’ll gain valuable gardening, groundskeeping, and leadership experience, receive a biweekly stipend and housing in a fully furnished historic Cornish cottage (amenities include a full kitchen, laundry facilities, and high-speed WiFi), and have access to our full campus including classrooms and studios when not in use for workshops, events, or rentals and the creative community of Mineral Point. 

Primary Responsibilities

  • Using general gardening knowledge and proper techniques, safely performs a variety of gardening work including planting, grooming, weeding, transplanting, and deadheading plants on our 2.5-acre campus in the historic heart of Mineral Point.
  • Hand waters and maintains proper irrigation especially in times of drought.
  • Fertilizes and applies herbicide to floral and foliage plants when needed and inspects plants for insects and/or diseases.
  • Mows and edges lawns, using power mower and edger, and cares for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, feeding, and trimming and edging around flower beds, walks, and walls.
  • Maintains diverse plantings of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.
  • Helps to maintain grounds including paths, streambed, patios, and outdoor Alley Stage ampitheater.
  • Uses a wide array of hand tools including but not limited to pruning shears, rakes, shovels, irrigation hoses, and watering nozzles.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • A combination of education and experience relevant to the position; related certifications or degree and two years’ related experience in a nonprofit and/or historic setting preferred.
  • Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc., and safely use and maintain basic landscape management tools.
  • Ability and willingness to work outside in all kinds of weather in suitable clothing.
  • Ability to report to work in a timely manner, adhere to work schedule, understand and follow written and verbal instructions, and safely adhere to policies and procedures.
  • Ability to determine the proper tools and equipment needed to safely perform a job correctly.
  • Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative environment, excellent communication and customer service skills, and the ability to interact with a diverse group of individuals.
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, superior attention to detail and accuracy, and ability to respect the confidentiality of organizational information.
  • Appreciation for Shake Rag Alley’s mission and ability to demonstrate flexibility, friendliness, and patience in all situations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

  • Physical Demands: While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and consistently talk or hear; and rarely taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift up to 50 pounds and regularly carry 15-20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
  • Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran or uniformed service member status or any other characteristic protected by law.