Garden Team - Old Manse

Opportunity Overview:
To visit the Old Manse — a handsome Georgian clapboard built on the banks of the Concord River in 1770 — is to re-experience pivotal moments in our nation’s early history. Constructed for patriot minister William Emerson, the upstairs overlooks North Bridge, where the famous battle of April 19, 1775, took place. Later, some of New England’s most esteemed minds found inspiration inside its walls. In the 19th century, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both called the Manse home for a time: Emerson drafted his influential essay “Nature” in an upstairs study. Meanwhile, Hawthorne and his wife, Sophia, started their married life here; the recreated heirloom vegetable garden was originally planted by Henry David Thoreau in honor of the Hawthornes’ wedding.
 
The Old Manse, in particular Thoreau's Garden, currently could use the loving touch of experienced gardeners to help keep her beautiful! If your passion is gardening, and you have a few hours a week to spare, we would enjoy sharing this amazing property with you!  This position would be perfect for a creative individual who has a flexible schedule, enjoys the outdoors, and has a basic knowledge of gardening and garden design. Our stewardship staff will work with the volunteer to determine gardening needs and priorities. The ideal candidate should be equally at home working independently as well as on a team.

Reports to: Stewardship Staff

Responsibilities (may include but are not limited to the following):

• Assisting in the general care of the garden
• Assisting in efforts to maintain and improve the perennial flower beds
• Repetitive garden tasks such as watering, weeding, mulching, and pruning
• Maintaining clean edge on existing garden
• Noting and reporting any plant, tree, shrub, or area that needs special attention
• Interacting with Old Manse visitors in a friendly manner
• Representing the Trustees in a professional, friendly and inviting manner
• Communicating with Trustees stewardship staff effectively
• Adhere to The Trustees safety and COVID-19 protocols
• Log volunteer hours

Qualifications:

• Enthusiastic about plants and gardening
• Interested in learning about the Old Manse and the garden
• Interest in performing general gardening practices, including repetitive tasks such as weeding and watering and pruning
• Able to identify plants and trees is a plus
• Ability to work with Trustees staff and other volunteers
• Ability to work independently
• Able to interact with visitors in a friendly manner
• Able to use garden tools, including wheelbarrows, edger, trowels, shovels, pruners
• Able to work outdoors in varying seasonal weather conditions
• Able to bend, stoop, dig, lift over 15lbs
• Flexible schedule, allowing for consistent volunteering at the property
• Please note: A background check may be required for this role

Time Commitment Needed:
Flexible schedule could be year-round depending on availability. Prefer a commitment of 3 months.

For more information
Contact the Volunteer Services Team at volunteer@thetrustees.org

To explore other volunteer opportunities, visit our volunteer page at http://volunteer.thetrustees.org/
 
More about The Trustees
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 116 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.
 
Inclusive Spaces for All
We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for all. Together, alongside our partners and volunteers we are creating inclusive spaces of community for people of all backgrounds to enjoy and preserving these open spaces for everyone, forever. We are committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability, and experience.
 
The Trustees is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, military service, application for military service, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. The Trustees makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Covid-19 Volunteer Safety:
The health and safety of Trustees’ volunteers, staff and visitors is our top priority.

• If you are not feeling well, please stay home
• If you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19 or someone displaying symptoms of Covid-19, please stay home
• For our most current Covid-19 updates, please visit our main Trustees site