Seasonal Land Steward: Grounds, Trails, and Landscape Care

Season: April-November
Hours: 35-40 hours/week 
Pay: $22-$28/hour depending on experience with landscaping equipment and outdoor land work

Typical schedule: Monday-Friday beginning around 8:00am with some flexibility depending on weather and seasonal priorities. 

Housing is not available. 

Benefits

• Seasonal stipend of $250 for work clothing and personal protective equipment (paid after the first 30 days of employment)
• Five paid days off (after the first 60 days of employment and/or upon approval by supervisor)
• Access to farm facilities including wood shop and exercise room
• Opportunities to learn about ecological land stewardship and land-based systems

About Bramble Hill Farm
Bramble Hill Farm is a 120-acre nonprofit, mixed-use farm landscape in Amherst, Massachusetts dedicated to exploring new models for sustaining working farmland, open space, and land-based learning.

The farm includes open fields, wetlands, woodland edges, educational gardens, and working farm infrastructure. It supports tenant farmers, educational programs, and a variety of land-based projects.

The mission of Bramble Hill Farm is to encourage meaningful relationships between people and productive open land while protecting ecological diversity and exploring creative approaches to land stewardship.

Position Overview
The Seasonal Land Steward supports the care and maintenance of the farm’s landscapes, infrastructure, and educational gardens.

This role involves steady physical outdoor work maintaining fields, trails, gardens, and building surroundings so the land remains safe, accessible, and ecologically healthy.

While the position includes elements of conservation and habitat management, much of the work involves hands-on landscape maintenance such as vegetation management, trail upkeep, garden work, and general property/grounds care.

The steward will work independently most days while coordinating regularly with the Executive Director to set priorities and review progress. This role is best suited to someone who takes direction well, enjoys steady physical work outside, and takes pride in completing practical tasks carefully and efficiently. 

This position is ideal for someone who:

• enjoys physical outdoor work and is comfortable working outdoors in all conditions, especially open, sunny fields
• is comfortable working independently
• has demonstrated experience working with plants or landscapes and landscaping tools (landscaping, horticulture, agriculture, conservation experience, etc.)
• takes satisfaction in caring for land through consistent hands-on work.

Primary Work Areas
The Seasonal Land Steward will work across a range of landscapes including:

• educational vegetable and herb gardens
• building grounds and infrastructure areas
• open grassland fields
• woodland edges and trails
• wetlands and natural areas

Responsibilities 

Grounds and Landscape Stewardship

• Maintain vegetation around buildings, infrastructure, and pathways (planting, weeding, trimming, cutting back bramble and woody plants)
• Maintain vegetation along fence lines, trails, and field edges (cutting, trimming, and mowing)
• Assist with invasive plant management and removal through mechanical methods (mowing/cutting, hand-pulling, digging, mulching, etc.) 
• Maintain woodland trails and perimeter paths (picking up deadfall, mulching, trimming, cutting back encroaching vegetation) 
• Support educational garden maintenance (digging, planting, watering, weeding, mulching, pruning)
• Cut and clear brush and bramble
• Maintain and organize tools and equipment
• Keep the property tidy, wecloming, and safe for visitors (picking up litter and hazards) 

Farm Roads and Access

• Maintain gravel farm roads
• Reclaim/rake gravel along road edges following winter snowplowing
• Fill potholes and maintain safe access routes
• Maintain trails used by visitors

Facilities and Property Support

• Assist with grounds maintenance around barns, residences, and buildings
• Perform minor upkeep and repair tasks
• Report hazards, equipment issues, or maintenance needs
• Cleaning, tidying, and organizing

Seasonal Coordination

• Track progress on seasonal work priorities
• Maintain a simple work log / timesheet
• Communicate regularly with the Executive Director about progress

Equipment Used
Tools and equipment used in this position include:

• electric push mower
• small, gas-powered tools  such as string trimmers
• hand tools
• utility vehicles 

All tools are provided by Bramble Hill Farm. Training is provided, and for the right candidate there may be opportunities to learn tractor operation and brush hog mowing.

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience in landscaping, groundskeeping, horticulture, agriculture, or conservation
• comfort using string trimmers and other landscape equipment
• ability to perform steady physical work outdoors in varying weather conditions
• reliability, attention to detail, and good judgment when working independently
• interest in land stewardship and working landscapes
• comfortable working independently for long stretches (most days will involve working independently outdoors)
• Ability to lift and carry 25-50lbs. 
• plant identification of common native and invasive plant species

A valid driver’s license is strongly preferred.