Salary: $48,000 – $50,000

The Nursery Developer and Greenhouse Assistant has three primary areas of responsibility and focus as related to the Groundwork Workforce Development Program and Appalachian Sustainable Development as a whole.

Area 1: Infrastructure development of the Nursery system (Alley cropping demonstration site, air prune box walkway, willows, etc). (40% estimated FTE). Responsibilities include: 

• Physically manage and maintain the alleycropping demonstration site including the alleyways, rows, grown herbs, grown flowers, willow patch and irrigation system on ASD’s Singingwood Campus in Bristol, VA
• Fill planting gaps, make and carry out expansion plans for the alley cropping site as-needed
• Create and implement cover cropping plan for alleyways
• Develop and carry out maintenance and management plan for associated areas
• Build/Install air prune beds and other infrastructure in shaded walkways to supplement nursery growth Instead: Build, install, and maintain air pruning beds in existing outdoor nursery for production of 1 yr. bareroot tree and shrub seedlings
• Build, install and maintain hardwood cuttings boxes in outdoor nursery
• Collect and procure nursery seed, including Groundwork participants in the process  when possible
• Operate relevant machinery and equipment, including but not limited to: Hand tools, knives, pruners, weedeaters, zero turn mower, and walk-behind tractor with mower and tiller implements.
• Initiate regular meetings with Emilie Tweardy in the early development of ASD’s nursery system (Bi weekly) 
• Initiate regular meeting with the Director of Workforce Development on nursery progress (bi weekly)
• Initiate regular meetings with the Economic and Community Development Analyst regarding species, sales, marketing, and business development for the ASD Nursery (bi weekly)
• Provide nursery-based skills training to Groundwork participants as part of the Groundwork program, including plant propagation of various types, seed and stock plant identification and management, weeding and in-ground plant management, irrigation systems and workflow/maintenance cycles for nursery work
• Develop/Update strategic plan for the Agroforestry Nursery with associated team

Area 2: Infrastructure development for the ASD Singingwood Greenhouse, the mobile flower market, and associated educational raised beds on ASD’s Singingwood Campus (40% estimated FTE). Responsibilities include:

• Plan and oversee the greenhouse infrastructure installation from fall of 2026 to winter 2027 to get the Singingwood Greenhouse operational year-round
• Collect bids on installation, contracting, and maintenance of the greenhouse 
• Manage, maintain, clean, and tend the greenhouse on site at the Singingwood property every day
• Manage supply orders and delivery for greenhouse products, shelving, supplies, and other needs
• Manage budget needs for the Singingwood greenhouse
• Provide direct support for the ASD Late Bloomers spring plant sale on site through direct customer interaction and plant management 
• Plan and oversee the mobile market flower wagon installation from winter of 27 to summer of 27 to prepare for summer flowers sales
• Develop a year round sale plan for items out of the Singingwood greenhouse such as autumnal flowers, spring plants, tulips, etc
• Coordinate with campus visitors to the greenhouse to showcase programming and site development 
• Tend raised garden and plant beds around the Singingwood Greenhouse for presentability 
• Maintain greenhouse and raised bed site area for cleanliness, safety, and presentability

Area 3: Participate and engage as part of the larger team of Appalachian Sustainable Development. (20% estimated FTE). Responsibilities include:

• Attend bi-weekly ASD Team Meetings 
• Participate on (1) ASD major event (retreat, summit, etc) planning committee every 24 months
• Work and attend at least (2) general ASD outreach and fundraising events in each 12 month period outside of regular working hours
• Attend and participate in all major ASD mandatory events (retreats, summits, planning day
• Communicate time out of office via Google Calendar
• Participate and support ASD events related to fundraising and marketing
• Respond to requests from management and other program employees as needed

Contact Chelsea Lee for more details:
Phone: (276) 431-3385
Email: clee@asdevelop.org

We need more Appalachian Harvest Drivers!

ASD’s Appalachian Harvest Food Hub in Duffield, VA provides support, training, aggregation and distribution support to markets for regional farmers.  Since 2000, farmers have sold more than $36 million dollars of fruits and vegetables to wholesale retailers. 

All drivers must have:

• 2 years over the road experience
• Hold a Class A CDL
• Ability to pass required drug screen
• A good driving record

Contact Chelsea Lee for more details:
Phone: (276) 431-3385
Email: clee@asdevelop.org

ASD’s Groundwork workforce development program provides paid, on-the-job training combined with wraparound services that support personal and career growth. It provides empowerment, education, and career development to help participants transition with confidence into the next phase of their lives. This is a 6-month training position located at ASD’s Appalachian Harvest Food Hub in Duffield, VA. One of the oldest rural food hubs in the U.S., Appalachian Harvest provides training, aggregation and distribution for regional farmers.  Since 2000. Appalachian Harvest has sold more than $40 million dollars in local beef, produce, and value-added goods on behalf of SWVA farmers and producers.

Duration: 6 months

Pay: $15 hour

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day work responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Loading and unloading products from trailers and the coolers
• Shrink wrapping loaded pallets to be shipped
• Fulfilling food box and value-added orders 
• Distributing Food Boxes to individuals and organizations (customer service)
• Labeling pallets and boxes for accurate distribution
• Warehouse cleaning and light maintenance 
• Helping track all incoming and outgoing inventory
• Assisting herb producers with unloading, checking in and processing their roots and herbs
• Helping with the cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, drying racks and all herb processing and drying areas
• Checking on progress of drying herbs throughout process and taking actions as necessary
• Maintaining equipment as needed. 
• Assist with social enterprises as needed.

Associates will earn their Forklift Safety certification and OSHA 10-Hour Safety certification. 

Training on food safety and strict adherence to all food safety rules is required.

All Warehouse Associates must wash their hands before handling products, must wear gloves while handling products, must have hair pulled completely back away from face and off the shoulders or wear a hat while packing products.

Questions? Contact Chelsea Lee at clee@asdevelop.org.