Gardens - Fruitlands

Opportunity Overview:
In 1843, Amos Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane turned a swath of Harvard farmland into a Transcendentalist experiment in subsistence farming and Emersonian self-reliance, named Fruitlands, which ultimately disbanded after only seven months. In 1914, Clara Endicott Sears opened the grounds to the public, establishing a museum in the property’s 1820s farmhouse. Now, the 210-acre landscape encompasses five collections first established by Sears: the original Fruitlands Farmhouse; the Shaker Museum, the first such museum in the country; the Native American Museum, celebrating the history of indigenous peoples; the Art Museum, with a variety of rotating exhibits, contemporary art, and showcasing a combined collection of more than 300 Hudson River School landscape paintings and 19th-century vernacular portraits; and the Wayside Visitor Center, a classroom, education, and exhibition space.
 
Fruitlands currently could use the loving touch of experienced gardeners to help keep her beautiful! The property has several raised beds as well as a large garden area which would benefit from a bit of attention. 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.

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

• Working with staff to assess gardening needs
• Planting and/or transplanting annuals and perennials as well as maintaining existing beds
• Maintaining communication with staff
• Log volunteer hours weekly

Qualifications:

• An eagerness to participate in maintaining Fruitlands
• Ability to use hand tools
• Ability to follow instructions and work in a team
• Dress in appropriate clothes and footwear
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time and ability to bend
• Ability to walk on a variety of surfaces including grass or uneven surfaces
• Observance of Trustees safety and COVID protocols
• 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.

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