Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouse Support Volunteer

Smithsonian Gardens (SG) is looking for volunteers to assist with the care and maintenance of plants grown for our gardens, collections, or museum interiors located at our greenhouse facility in Suitland, MD. These positions involve the preparation for, and care of a wide variety plant material as directed by SG’s horticulturists. Many tasks are highly repetitive, but vital to the success of producing high quality plant material for Smithsonian Gardens.

Possible Duties (including but not limited to)

• • Filling flats with pots and soil to prepare for planting.
  • Assisting with plant care duties including potting up, propagation, spacing, reorganizing, pinching back or pruning, and staking of seasonal bedding plant material and display plants.
  • Weeding potted plants.
  • Assisting with the creation of hanging baskets.
  • Scouting for pests inside the greenhouses to record pest populations and notify staff of pest presence. Helping with the release of beneficial insects.
  • Sanitization of greenhouse benches, floors, and supplies, including sweeping greenhouse floors and maintaining clean workspaces, as well as sanitization of tools to prevent spread of viruses and diseases.

Qualifications and Training

Greenhouse Volunteers should be able to follow directions and pay attention to detail when performing assigned tasks. Volunteers must be willing to learn and adapt to specific protocols and procedures. Good communication skills are required.

Volunteers must be able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds, stand for long periods, and work in humid greenhouses with temperatures as high as 85 degrees or more (at times in sunny conditions). They must also be willing and able to perform repetitive tasks to ensure a quality product.

Volunteers must complete periodic trainings focused on greenhouse safety. This is an internal training provided by Smithsonian Gardens.

How to Apply

To apply, applicants must register and submit an application online at Smithsonian's Volunteer Management System (Vsys) at vol.si.edu.

Links to the online application are included in the opportunity's description. Once you create a profile, you will be able to use the same application to apply for multiple opportunities. If you have a Vsys account, please verify that the information in your account is still up to date and correct. You can log in via vol.si.edu (link)

It is mandatory for all Smithsonian Volunteers to be registered in Vsys. When completing your VSYS application/profile all the boxes in yellow are required.