Work With Gay Gardens

Seasonal Gardener, Native Planting and Ecological Restoration

Gay Gardens

Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, NY

$20–$25/hour

Gay Gardens is a native landscaping and ecological stewardship business working in Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, NY. We are a devoted landscaping team with a heart for letting the native ecology thrive, and our work supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and the carrying capacity of this fragile coastal ecosystem.

We are seeking full-time seasonal gardeners for work from early spring through late fall. This is a paid, daytime, field-based role for people who actively want physically demanding outdoor work and who are excited by the opportunity to help care for Fire Island through native planting, invasive species management, ecological restoration, and long-term land stewardship. Positions are hired as W-2 seasonal employment. Because this is seasonal employment, workers may be eligible to apply for unemployment insurance when the season ends. We hope to build a team that is deeply responsible to the work and glad to return season after season.

Responsibilities

• Plant native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials
• Remove invasive species including phragmites and bamboo
• Support maintenance and restoration projects across multiple properties
• Assist with plant organization, deliveries, and distribution
• Participate in field observation, mapping, and ecological monitoring as needed
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Qualifications

• Strong interest in native plants, ecological restoration, and landscape stewardship
• Comfortable with physically demanding work, including digging, lifting, carrying, cutting, planting, and extended time on your feet in variable weather
• Reliable, observant, and able to learn through fieldwork, repetition, and close attention
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a small team
• Prior gardening, horticultural, landscaping, or field-based ecological experience is helpful

Transportation and Housing

Because this work takes place on Fire Island, limited shared housing may be available for seasonal hires when needed to make the work possible. Workers from nearby towns are encouraged to commute, and Gay Gardens will cover or reimburse ferry costs on work days. Housing is not guaranteed and pay is not adjusted based on whether housing is used.

Gay Gardens works within a culturally expressive LGBTQ+ summer community. Applicants should be comfortable working in an open, socially active environment. Gay Gardens is an equal opportunity employer.