Vacancy expired!
Our company, Theia Flora LLC, a family-owned-and-operated flower farm that has begun to focus on wreath production, is looking to immediately fill a wreath designer/assistant grower position in our cut flower production department.
To paint a picture, we are located on 27 acres right off of the McKenzie River, between Eugene and Coburg, which is not only an idyllic farm setting right outside of Eugene, but also provides all the fertile soil, clean water, and the symbiotic relationship to nature that we need to create a beautiful and bountiful production of flowers and much more. With our focus spanning annual and perennial flowers, herbs, trees, and woody ornamentals, grown both outdoors according to season, and, on the far edges of our seasons, in sustainably minded low-impact greenhouses.
As we are an evolving third year company, our goals have largely been building out our infrastructure to accommodate our production, as we also begin to grow into the farm, and grow our brand, and, all the while, producing continuous harvests of flowers for drying, storage, and eventual assembly into beautiful wreaths that can last for many years and brighten up spaces in countless homes.
For the passionate hobbyist or experienced horticulturist this is an incredibly unique and rare opportunity to begin to work on the ground level with a floral company that aims to be a local institution in years to come.
What we are prepared to offer to the right applicant is a paid real-world experience and training in our methods of floriculture— from planning and planting; to working with a vast variety of plants, herbs, and trees; organic fertilization and pest management practices; plant maintenance and harvesting; and floral drying and preservation practices. It is our hope is that through the process we find a hire who will become invaluable member of our team, and who will grow alongside our company for many years to come.
In times when growing is not the primary focus, such as winter months, we aim to focus energies on manufacturing of wreaths, so we hope to teach the craft in its entirety, from creating a frame out of apple, willow, or grape boughs, to full floral assembly, to the unique shipping methods required to get these creations to their homes. We have a distinct vision to train and retain folks for the long haul, hopefully for many years to come, as employees, and a part of a family-like manufacturing team, but also as artists. We are willing to train and guide the creative process, but encourage those with a vision to bring their creative abilities to blossom as well!
In turn, what we are looking for from an applicant is someone who is distinctly passionate about the floral and floriculture industry, who has the drive, fortitude, and physical ability to work a uniquely demanding job where extremes of weather, occasional long hours, and where physically strenuous demands are often very real. While the rewards are great in flower farming, we can’t take the 'farming' out of the job description! We also hope that this person has the ability to work well within a team setting, however, also has an equal capacity to work alone and self-directed for stretches of time and has the flexibility to fill the many positions that a farm often requires on a given day.
The position, at first, will begin with a part time introductory period of 24 hours per week, with the hours ramping up to full time after two weeks.
A few requirements for this position that are crucial to consider: Being physically able to lift 50 pounds; being physically and mentally capable of enduring weather extremes, both heat of summer and chill of winter ((although the studio spaces are heated/AC’d)); and being physically able to work at a swift pace such as you would experience working in a busy restaurant kitchen. Due to our proximity to Eugene/Springfield we expect applicants to have access to have a driver’s license and their own reliable transportation. The farm is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from both Eugene and Springfield downtowns, depending on traffic.
While previous experience in commercial horticulture is valued, we also recognize the intrinsic value in an equally passionate gardener who is ready to begin a career in our industry and has a willingness to work hard and has a desire to learn, so, even though this position is not for the faint, we encourage anybody who has their heart set on working with flowers or assembling wreaths to apply. If all of this is calling your name, and you believe you could be a wonderful addition to our team, our farm, and the company, please provide us with a resume, including references, and write a description of why you believe you would be a good fit for the position.
Thank you very much, and we look forward to meeting you
