Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Horticulturists
Numerous entry-level agricultural positions exist, from working on farms ("tons of available positions") to participating in programs like WWOOFing, which provides housing and meals in exchange for farm work. Revival Roots, the interviewee's company, values passion and willingness to learn over formal experience for its entry-level garden specialist roles, suggesting that even informal gardening experience, like tending a home garden, can be valuable.
Entry-Level Jobs, Agriculture, Gardening, Volunteer Experience, Passion for Plants
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Reed Newman
CEO/Founder
Revival Roots & Revival Roots Nursery
Cornell University, Class of 2016
NA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Numerous entry-level farm positions are available across the country, offering varying commitment lengths.
2. Wwoofing programs provide work exchange opportunities at farms, covering housing and meals.
3. Relevant experience can be gained through volunteering at community gardens, school gardens, or even tending personal gardens, demonstrating passion for plants to potential employers.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in the agricultural industry might an undergraduate college student consider pursuing?
There are honestly tons of opportunities. Every farm is always looking for help, and that's great. Whether it's a one-month commitment or a three-year commitment, there are tons of available positions at farms across the country.
There's also a program called WWOOFing, where you can trade your work at a farm for housing, meals, and covered expenses. That's a really easy way for anyone to get involved because it's extremely accessible.
You can also volunteer at your local community garden. A lot of schools, especially here in Los Angeles but also across the country, have gardens that are always looking for volunteers.
When we're hiring here at Revival Roots for our entry-level position, Garden Specialist, we want team members who care for our clients. We definitely want candidates with some previous experience dealing with plants. This could be volunteering at a school or community garden, or even taking care of a friend's parents' garden.
It's almost irrelevant to me if it's professional experience or just a passion of yours. We'll train everyone in-house as long as they have that passion or are willing to learn. Anywhere plants are grown professionally, there are always opportunities for entry-level work.
Working at your local nursery or greenhouse is another great option. I even have friends and colleagues who source rare seeds offline, grow them at home, and sell them on Instagram. It might take about $25 in startup costs, and creating an Instagram account is free.
Some people trade and sell rare cacti, while others grow vegetable and herb crops. You can experiment and have fun with it. Whether it's professional or more amateur, you can gain that experience.
Advizer Personal Links
revivalroots.com & revivalrootsnursery.com