MSU Horticulture Gardens' Annual Trial Garden Internship

Hiring Organization: The MSU Horticulture Gardens
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: East Lansing, MI
Application Due Date: March 5, 2023

2023 Trial Garden Internship

Sponsored by: Western Michigan Greenhouse Association and the Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association

Internship Description:

The MSU Horticulture Gardens at Michigan State University are seeking a hardworking, innovative student to assist with many tasks at the 2-acre Amien A. and Florence M. Carter Annual Trial Garden. The Trial Garden showcases more than 400 cultivars of annuals, perennials, and vegetables from breeders from all over the world.

The intern will gain practical, hands-on experience in public gardening. Daedre McGrath, our Trial Garden Manager, will provide learning opportunities for the intern through the evaluation of annuals, perennials, and vegetables. The intern will be educated in the entire trialing process including growing and maintaining plants in the landscape, data collection and summarization, and communication of the results to growers and gardeners. The intern will have opportunities to network with horticulture professionals during industry events like the Michigan Garden Plant Tour.

Schedule and Hours:

  • May 8th, 2023 through late-August (spring semester work hours also available prior to internship start date)
  • 40 hours per week, Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 m.
  • Occasional Saturday and Sunday hours (included in the 40-hour work week)
  • We may be able to accommodate your summer class schedule (if applicable) with a reduced number of hours per week, upon

 

Position Requirements:

Candidate must be available to work May through August. They must currently be enrolled at MSU studying horticulture or a closely related field with an interest in public gardens. The ideal candidate will be able to work in a fast-paced outdoor environment, possess good communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, and have a positive attitude!

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist with the installation and maintenance of garden areas including edging, rototilling, planting, weeding, watering, dead-heading, fertilizing, spreading compost and mulch, removing debris, and
  • Assist with labelling, organizing, and inventorying all plant material in the greenhouse and
  • Assist in gathering and summarizing plant data for the trial brochure and

 

Perks:

  • Real-world experience growing and maintaining greenhouse and garden plants
  • Design a flower bed and multiple mixed containers on display in the annual garden
  • Field Trips to other gardens on- and off-campus
  • Attend the Michigan Garden Plant Tour, 30th Anniversary Garden Showcase, and biweekly workshops given by our staff throughout the summer
  • Help propagate houseplants for our fall Houseplant and Succulent Sale
  • Get to know other student and volunteer plant geeks

 

Wage: $14.00/hour

 

Interested?

Please send your resume and a cover letter to Daedre McGrath at dmcgrath@msu.edu

 

Applications due by Friday, March 3rd, 2023