VHCB AmeriCorps
Native Plant Nursery Grower
Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District, Poultney, VT
This position is part of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board AmeriCorps (VHCB
AmeriCorps). The VHCB AmeriCorps program supports the innovative dual-goal approach to
creating stable affordable housing opportunities for Vermont residents while preserving the natural and
working landscape. VHCB is a national service program that places AmeriCorps members with nonprofit housing or land and energy conservation organizations around the state.
The Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery is looking for an AmeriCorps member to fill a
service opportunity through the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD).
The nursery was started in 2002 through a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the
Conservation District. The nursery is now located at Green Mountain College and our main work is to
grow native tree and shrub seedlings propagated from locally collected seed for a variety of clients. We
are looking for a motivated individual to be the primary grower at the nursery. The grower, with help
from volunteers and with supervision from the nursery manager, will be responsible for all aspects of
nursery operations.
Essential Functions:
 Overseeing day-to-day operations on a multi-partner Dutch Elm Disease-resistance study with native
American and Slippery Elm trees
 Managing tree and shrub orders for planting projects
 Planting riparian buffers with our native seedlings
 Harvesting and handling bare-root seedlings for plantings
 Re-planting bare-root beds with native stock
 Coordinating, training and overseeing volunteers working at the nursery
 Collecting, cleaning, and processing seed of local native trees and shrubs (and/or overseeing interns
who do such activities)
 Sowing seed and transplanting seedlings
 Engaging in adaptive management to protect seeds and seedlings from rodent damage
 Keeping the nursery propagation log current and carefully labeling seedlings
 Weeding, fertilizing, and organizing nursery stock
 Maintaining the irrigation system
 Monitoring seedling health
 Small construction projects to improve the site
 Engaging with local students and the surrounding community
Desired Qualifications:
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Nursery production experience, including plant propagation
Experience recruiting, training, and overseeing volunteers or student workers
Familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel
Serve. Experience. Lead
VHCB AmeriCorps
Minimum Qualifications:
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Ability to work independently and take initiative
Ability, and a strong desire to learn how to propagate and grow native tree and shrub species
Excellent attention to detail with the ability to perform repetitive tasks
Ability to plant trees in isolated sites with little supervision; general comfort out-of-doors
Ability to work with a diversity of volunteers and community members
Ability and willingness to complete physical labor on a daily basis in an outdoor setting
Ability to lift 40 lbs. bags of potting soil
Applicant must care about the survival of the trees in the nursery and make sure they receive water
twice a day during warm spells
 Be US citizen (or have permanent resident status; call with questions about this);
 Be at least 18 years of age upon entering the Pre-Service Orientation (there is no upper age limit), or
17 years of age with written parental permission that has been verified by phone;
 Be a high school graduate or have a GED certificate, or be willing to work towards their GED as part
of their service-year successful completion requirement. A member cannot have dropped out of high
school to join AmeriCorps. If a member has a documented medical reason/professional opinion why
they cannot finish high school, they might be eligible; call in this case;
 Has not been convicted of murder or sexual assault and is willing to undergo an National Service
Criminal History Check
 Be committed to the VHCB AmeriCorps program, and its ethic of service and personal and
professional development of its participants;
 Have the ability and enthusiasm to drive to, attend, and participate in required trainings and events,
and be prepared to drive up to 2-3 hours each way.
Service Conditions:
This position will be performed primarily outdoors. Indoor shelter is available on-site (though little work
is performed there). Restrooms and the office are a short walk away.
Position begins March 7th, 2017 and ends August 31st, 2017. There is potential for flexibility in the start
date and work hours early in the spring to accommodate college classes.
This position requires 900 hours of service to be completed. Member will receive a living allowance of
$8,640 (pre-tax), and an education award of $2,888 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of service.
Other benefits include health insurance, federal school loan forbearance, and various training
opportunities.
This position does have recurring access to vulnerable populations (youth, persons over 60, individuals
with disabilities).
Application deadline: Recruitment begins immediately and the position will remain open until a
selection is made.
To Apply: http://www.vhcb.org/americorps/menu_events/positions/
Serve. Experience. Lead
VHCB AmeriCorps
For questions about this position or to send additional materials:
Hilary Solomon
PMNRCD
PO Box 209, Poultney, VT 05764
(802) 287-8339 or (802) 558-3515
[email protected]
Additional information on AmeriCorps is available at www.americorps.org.
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) is sponsoring this AmeriCorps position through
their AmeriCorps Program. VHCB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Positions are open to all
applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, gender, gender
identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran’s status, religion or creed.
Serve. Experience. Lead