Seasonal Gardener

We’re looking for seasonal gardeners to join our small, dedicated garden team based at our 13-acre gardens in Shipley. In our extensive gardens we grow over 50 medicinal plants. They range from trees like Birch and Thuja, shrubs and hedgerow bushes like Blackthorn and Hawthorn, field crops of Calendula, Oats and Chamomile, plus smaller quantities of herbs, wildflowers, vegetables and weeds

Initial cultivation for the field crops is done mechanically; everything else is done by hand. Some plants are grown in beds, others are grown extensively in meadows or in our woodland edges. We are completely organic, using Biodynamic methods with Demeter certification.

As well as sowing, planting, weeding and making compost, the garden team also do the harvesting and making of fresh plant tinctures, following strict Good Manufacturing Practice. Harvested amounts can vary from 1 - 200kg per day

The hours of work will be 37.5 hours per week, 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday along with weekend watering through the growing season. The duration of the position is approximately seven months, commencing 3rd April 2023 until 27th October 2023.

We are looking for individuals with gardening or growing experience, but enthusiasm and interest in Biodynamics and medicinal herbs is equally as important. We work outdoors in all weathers and duties of this role will include:

- To grow medicinal plants to Demeter standard, under the guidance of the garden manager. This includes sowing, transplanting, crop maintenance, irrigation, weeding and harvesting.
- To make tinctures and dry plants to Ph. Eur. and pharmacopeia standards, within the context of GMP and following SOP procedures, under the direction of the Garden Manager.
- To develop and maintain the Field (and occasionally the HQ site gardens), meeting the needs of production, marketing and staff welfare, under the guidance of the Garden Manager. This includes making compost, hedge cutting, pruning, coppicing and wood chipping
- To ensure that the garden environment and all equipment is kept safe and tidy. To comply with all Health and Safety.
- To contribute to all staff events hosted by the garden team.