Urban Farm Horticulturist

Double J Riding Club is seeking an Urban Farm Horticulturist to manage daily operations on a 6-acre educational farm in Countryside, IL. The role involves working with children aged 3 to 15, teaching gardening, and ensuring plant care. Candidates should be energetic, dependable, and passionate about horticulture. Responsibilities include soil preparation, planting, watering, and creating educational activities. A strong background in horticulture is required, along with the ability to work outdoors and interact positively with visitors.
Are you a dynamic and energetic person who is ready to accept the challenge of working at a fun, farm house with lots of plants, children and animals? Come join our team! We are searching for a Farm Horticulturist who will help run the daily operations and plantings of our 6 acre educational farm. Ideal individuals will be over 21, be high energy, dependable, and responsible with a strong passion for gardening.

About Double J Riding Club

Helping children learn and grow in a safe and stimulating environment since 1999, Double J Riding Club has made it our mission to foster an environment in which children gain love and respect for both animals and nature. Our 6 acre farm with over 25 species and 200 plus animals, gardens, barnyards, nature areas and farmhouse provides opportunities for a vast amount of meaningful first hand learning experiences. Whether you are here for one of our 3 hour learning pods, an individual class, or a farm field trip, hands on learning is a mainstay of every program. These may include activities such as planting vegetables, learning about and caring for our farm animals, observing insects, finding art in nature, and making nutritious treats for our animals. The student’s individual growth is stimulated through varied activities such as sensory play, art, music, creative movement, science experiments, practical math and more. We strongly believe that in the outdoors children develop a broader awareness, greater curiosity and a growing sense of wonder regarding their world, their own selves and those around them. Even with a variety of unique learning programs, our philosophy remains consistent – to help children love and respect our world.

Website: www.doublejridingclub.com

Duties

Double J Riding Club’s Nature and Farm School Instructor is responsible for teaching all assigned children's classes. Daily duties include:
• Create a warm and inviting atmosphere for all farm visitors
• Be able to work with children from ages 3 to 15
• Prepare soil in planting beds prior to planting crops and flowers
• Apply fertilizer and pesticides as needed
• Water Plants as needed
• Weed all flower beds as needed
• Transplant, direct seed and divide plant materials as needed
• Harvest crops and prepare them for farm animals and camp/class needs
• Assist as needed with farm educational programs and camps
• Be able to convey knowledge of plants with children as young as 3 and go in depth enough to explain to children up to 15 and adults.
• Serve as a role model with high integrity, and the ability to adapt
• Create and implement daily nature curriculum activities that are age appropriate and designed for the needs and growth of each individual child.
• Create lesson plans and prepare materials for class projects and activities. Submits biweekly supplies requests.
• Uses a range of teaching approaches and adapts instruction to include all children.
• Willingness to work outdoors each day
• Comfortable working around farm animals
• Able to solve problems independently and work unsupervised in most situations
• Ability to communicate and interact with staff in a positive and friendly manner

Qualifications

Strong background in horticulture. Experience working in inclusive informal, educational, or recreational programs a plus. Must be able to lift 30lbs, and be able to work with arms over shoulders, do climbing, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, carrying, and walking. Prolonged standing and walking required.

Compensation:

Salary: $18-20 per hour.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Schedule:
• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person