Culinary Gardener

Carneros Resort and Spa; Napa (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dependent Care FSA

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa, CA is seeking a Culinary Gardener to cultivate, maintain, and harvest produce for the resort’s culinary program. You will manage garden spaces on-site and off-site, uphold sustainable growing practices, and support operational efficiency.

You will work closely with the culinary leadership to align planting with menu needs, transport produce between garden and kitchen, and contribute to guest experiences through garden tours or education when needed.

Qualifications

• Previous gardening or horticulture experience required.
• Knowledge of sustainable growing practices.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between garden and resort locations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, plant, and maintain seasonal crops including vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers.
• Monitor soil health, composting, fertilization, and pest management using sustainable practices where possible.
• Perform routine gardening tasks including watering, pruning, weeding, mulching, and harvesting.
• Maintain greenhouse or nursery operations if applicable.
• Ensure all garden areas are clean, organized, and visually aligned with resort standards.
• Harvest produce at peak freshness based on culinary needs and seasonality.
• Coordinate with culinary leadership to align planting cycles with menu development.
• Prepare harvested goods for kitchen use, including cleaning, sorting, and proper storage.
• Track yields and provide updates on crop availability and upcoming harvests.
• Safely transport produce, tools, and materials between the garden and the resort.
• Maintain organization and cleanliness of transport vehicles and storage areas.
• Assist with receiving and organizing gardening supplies, seeds, and materials.
• Support landscape aesthetics and sustainability initiatives.

Skills

Gardening

Horticulture knowledge

Irrigation systems

Team communication

Driver's license

Tools

Irrigation equipment

Job description

Reports to: Director of Engineering / Grounds Manager

Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Culinary Gardener is responsible for cultivating, maintaining , and harvesting produce, herbs, and edible plants that support the resort’s culinary and guest experience programs. This role ensures that all garden spaces—both on-site and off-site—are maintained to the highest aesthetic and agricultural standards, while supporting sustainable growing practices and operational efficiency.

This position serves as a key liaison between the land and the kitchen, ensuring timely harvesting, proper transport, and alignment with seasonal culinary needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, plant, andmaintainseasonal crops including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and edible flowers.
• Monitor soil health, composting, fertilization, and pest management using sustainable and organic practices where possible.
• Perform routine gardening tasks including watering, pruning, weeding, mulching, and harvesting.
• Maintain greenhouse or nursery operations if applicable.
• Ensure all garden areas are clean, organized, and visually aligned with resort standards.

Harvesting & Culinary Integration

• Harvestproduceat peak freshness based on culinary team needs and seasonal availability.
• Coordinate regularly with culinary leadership to align planting cycles with menu development.
• Prepare harvested goods for kitchen use, including cleaning, sorting, and proper storage.
• Track yields and provide updates on crop availability and upcoming harvests.

Transportation & Logistics

• Safely transport produce, tools, and materials between the garden site(s) and the resort.
• Maintain organization and cleanliness of transport vehicles and storage areas.
• Assistwith receiving andorganizing gardeningsupplies, seeds, and materials.

Grounds Support & Property Integration

• Support overall landscape aesthetics in designated garden areas, ensuring they enhance the guest experience.
• Assist with special projects such as garden expansions, new planting installations, or sustainability initiatives.
• Partner with the Activities or Guest Experience team for garden tours or educational programming, as needed.

Equipment & Safety

• Operate andmaintaingardening tools and equipment (e.g., tillers, irrigation systems, hand tools) safely and effectively.
• Monitor andmaintainirrigation systems to ensure proper water usage and conservation.
• Follow all safety protocols related to equipment, chemical use, and outdoor work.
• Report maintenance issues, hazards, or supply needs promptly.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Previousexperience in gardening, farming, horticulture, or agriculturerequired(culinary or organic gardening preferred).
• Knowledge of seasonal planting cycles, soil health, and sustainable growing practices.
• Familiarity with irrigation systems and basic equipment maintenance.
• Ability to work independently and manage time across multiple locations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with culinary and operations teams.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between garden and resort locations.

WORK SCHEDULE & CONDITIONS

• Full-time with flexible scheduling, including weekends and holidays as needed based on seasonal demands.
• Primarily outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
• Travel required between garden site(s) and resort property.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent bending, kneeling, standing, and walking for extended periods.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments, including heat, cold, and uneven terrain.

TOTAL COMPENSATION

• Base Salary + Incentive
• Health and Dependent Care FSA Options
• Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• Critical Illness, Cancer, Hospital Indemnity and Accident Supplemental Insurance