Historic Site Gardener

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a leader in historic preservation and manages several museums historic sites and programs that celebrate Prince Georges Countys rich history. Coordinated by the Natural and Historic Resources Division (NHRD) there are 5 M-NCPPC historic house museums open to the public including the Riversdale House Museum.

Riversdale a National Historic Landmark and designated NPS Network to Freedom Site is seeking a Seasonal/Intermittent Historic Site Gardener for the Riversdale House Museum grounds to join our team. Constructed between 1801-1807 Riversdale interprets life in 19th Century Maryland inclusive of the shared history of the Stier Calvert and Plummer families. Rich in primary source material the Museum is undergoing a transformation by expanding its interpretation to be more inclusive of the lives and labor of the enslaved indentured and free black community at this historic site and creating a more descendant driven and visitor centered experience.

The candidate will be responsible for planning managing maintaining and interpreting the Riversdale public display kitchen garden and orchard which represent plantings during the interpretive period of 1801 to 1864 and is inclusive of the African European and Indigenous experience at this historic site. This includes researching historically appropriate crops and developing interpretive signage and maintaining a garden plan.

This job is year-round with up to 30 hours per week.

Garden Maintenance

• Apply organic pesticides and fertilizers.
• Maintain garden through planting watering weeding pruning mulching and other outdoors tasks as necessary.
• Research andcreate plansfor historically appropriate crops.
• Develop and maintain a planting plan to balance considerations of historic interpretation beauty visitor experience ease of maintenance year-round interest and food production.
• Procure an inventory of plant materials supplies and tools.
• Monitor and manage soilhealth and fertility.
• Maintain and repair irrigation systems.
• Operate M-NCPPC equipment and vehicles including a Gator landscape vehicle rototiller flame weeder sprayers and a wide range of manual tools.
• Scout plantings for evidence of insect and disease problems and treat as necessary.
• Coordinate with M-NCPPC ground crews to ensure proper weeding mulching etc.

Supervision and Leadership

• Maintain manage and continue to develop current volunteer program:
  • Schedule train and manage corps of 30 gardening volunteers and garden docents.

Partnership and Collaboration

• Coordinate with and provide seasonal produce to the Riversdale Kitchen Guild a volunteer group who uses garden produce during their public open-hearth cooking demonstrations.
• Act as liaison with the Maryland Master Gardener program.
• Work with other Riversdale staff to develop and run public programming special tours and workshops.
• Manage sales and identify community partners to make donations ofproduce.
• Coordinate with off-site M-NCPPC greenhouse staff to start seedlings for later planting.
• Provide support for the Director Riversdale House Museum and other House Museum staff at the Visitors Center for operations and special events at the House Museum.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Bachelors Degree or higher AND two or more years of relevant experience; OR 6 years of combined education and experience in horticulture agriculture botany plant sciencegardening with in-depth knowledge of plant culture maintenance and identification.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs work outdoors all year round.
• Valid Maryland drivers license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good color vision depth perception and senses of taste and smell.
• Organic vegetable gardening experience highly desired; Fruit tree cultivation experience desired; Good color vision depth perception and senses of taste and smell.
• Organic vegetable gardening experience highly desired.
• Fruit tree cultivation experience desired.

• Experience supervising volunteers or staff.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Candidate will:

• Self-motivate and be able to work independently and organize tasks.
• Learn the basic history of the site.
• Interact with the public and give garden tours/demonstrations.
• Writing occasional articles for newsletters volunteer bulletin and social media.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

May be subject to medical drug and alcohol testing.

• The position is year-round part-time up to 30 hours a week with some evenings and weekends required.
• The position qualifies for sick leave but not other benefits.
• A background investigation will be completed prior to hire.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race color religion sex age national origin sexual orientation marital status disability genetic information gender identity or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.