Elizabeth Fransworth Horticulture Internship
(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities
Start Date: 4/1/25 Compensation: $15/hour
Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. We are based at Garden in the Woods, a renowned native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world. From this flagship property in Framingham, Massachusetts, 28 staff and many of our 1,500 trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs.
Native Plant Trust also operates a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manages six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant Trust is among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents.
Responsibilities/Duties
Interns assist in all aspects of botanic garden operations for Garden in the Woods, including instruction on ecological horticulture practices (such as planting, pruning, weed management, propagation, and seed collection), renovation and construction of new gardens, inventory and plant record keeping, and public education. They will gain hands-on experience identifying and cultivating native plants in a botanical garden. Interns are expected to undertake a 3-month independent study project and present the results to staff and garden members. There will be opportunities to go on field trips and take classes at Native Plant Trust. This is an exceptional learning opportunity aimed at gaining valuable career experience caring for gardens and natural areas, planning and leading projects, and managing volunteers.
Qualifications/Requirements
The ideal candidate is passionate about ecology and eager to learn about ecological horticulture and native plants. Strenuous manual labor, consistent with outdoor work in all types of weather, is expected.
Additional Information
Horticulture interns working at Garden in the Woods can rent a room for the internship in a shared house, a 5-minute walk away from the Garden, for $300/month. This includes all utilities except the internet and phone.
Worker’s compensation covers interns, who will receive paid sick time per Massachusetts law. Native Plant Trust does not provide seasonal interns health insurance or vacation benefits.
Native Plant Trust is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
To apply, please email or mail a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references to:
Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture Native Plant Trust
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701
Applications are due February 1, 2023
Contact Information
Native Plant Trust
Contact Name: Uli Lorimer
Email: ulorimer@nativeplanttrust.org
Phone: 9176766991
Website: Apply Online