Fordhook Farm Internship (Seasonal)

Job Description

Job Description

Seasonal Fordhook Farm Internship:

This is a special year at Fordhook Farm as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. Join the nation’s leading home gardening brand for a hands-on, immersive internship experience. Interns will support special 150th anniversary open-house events and related experiences, contributing directly to this historic milestone for the Company.

In addition to $18 per hour, earn up to a $1,700 Scholarship! More details below.

About Burpee:

Located in Doylestown, PA, Fordhook Farm is a 61-acre historic farm and garden estate with historic buildings established by Burpee Seed founder, W. Atlee Burpee in 1876. Passionate about quality, innovation and making home gardening a successful experience, Burpee is the most trusted brand in home gardening for millions of people nationwide.

Fordhook Farm continues to be a working site for trialing new Burpee vegetable and flower seeds and plants in outdoor gardens.

Other gardens on the estate include:

• Extensive perennial gardens for sun and shade
• Large Kitchen Garden for annual vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers
• Stream and Creek Gardens
• Stumpery Garden
• Veranda Garden
• Conifer and Deciduous tree collections

Learning opportunities - In addition to gaining horticultural experience, interns will participate in workshops; field trips to area public and private gardens; visit the Burpee Company; and help with two ‘Fordhook Open’ days in spring and summer when the grounds are open for the public to tour.

Location - Fordhook Farm, Doylestown PA. Monday-Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm with rotating weekends, as needed.

Daily Responsibilities:

• Support the planting, watering, and maintenance of display gardens, greenhouses, perennial gardens, and research gardens.
• Assist with irrigation installation in display, trial, and perennial gardens.
• Work with the Field Research Coordinator to plant, water, harvest, and maintain research trials, and support other research needs.
• Assist with data collection, recording, labeling, and database maintenance for research trials.
• Help maintain and clean research trials, display gardens, perennial gardens, and farm buildings.
• Provide support to the photography team and product managers and assist with public and private events.
• Operate hand tools such as pruners, saws, rakes, shovels, leaf blowers, and other equipment as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Able to work outdoors in the summer weather.
• Able to work 40+ hours per week during busy season, with rotating weekends for watering.
• Ability and willingness to communicate with supervisors, product managers and farm guests.
• Capable of working independently as well as part of a team.
• Able and willing to lift 50 lbs.
• Valid driver's license required
• Plant and weed identification abilities preferred.
• The desire to work, learn, and be a part of Burpee seed innovations!
• Prior experience preferred, but can be candidates with an interest in learning horticultural skills.

Scholarship – How to qualify for our $1,700 scholarship:

To qualify, the selected intern must be enrolled in a four-year or graduate-level horticultural/agricultural/plant science program. A minimum of four months is required for the scholarship opportunity of $1,700 for qualified applicants. Interns who complete a minimum of three months may qualify for a $1,200 scholarship.

Off-season employment may also be available at the Burpee corporate office for interns (who are not currently in school) when they complete their seasonal gardening internship.