Sustainability Plant Health Care Spring Intern

Ganna Walska Lotusland; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing

Job summary

Ganna Walska Lotusland in Montecito, California, invites applications for a Plant Healthcare Sustainability Spring Intern 2027 in the Gardens & Grounds department, reporting to the Manager of Sustainability. The in-person role runs Feb/Mar 2027 to Apr/May 2027, with a compensation of $17.40/hour plus housing.

Interns gain hands-on experience in ecological soil management, nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers, and plant health monitoring, while learning to design and manage sustainable

Qualifications

• Enrolled in accredited college-level horticulture program or internship.
• Housing provided.
• Start Feb/Mar 2027; ends Apr/May 2027.

Responsibilities

• Assist with applying sustainable horticultural practices.
• Operate garden equipment and assist with maintenance tasks.
• Support soil health monitoring, irrigation and plant health observations.
• Contribute to independent project culminating in article and staff presentation.

Skills

Horticulture

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Horticulture program enrollment

Job description

Title: Plant Healthcare Sustainability Spring Intern 2027

Classification: Spring Internship – Non-Exempt

Department: Gardens & Grounds

Reports To: Manager of Sustainability

Compensation: $17.40/hour, plus housing

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 3:30pm, with occasional weekends and evenings. In person, starts Feb/Mar - ends Apr/May 2027.

About Lotusland:

Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre non‑profit botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,700 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education, and plant conservation.

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to preserve and enhance the distinctive botanical gardens of Madame Ganna Walska. Lotusland educates and inspires visitors with its collections, sustainable horticulture practices and plant conservation.

Position Summary:

Successful applicants will work with Lotusland’s Manager of Sustainability and grounds staff to implement and monitor sustainable management practices across a 37-acre botanical display garden featuring bromeliads, cacti and succulents, cycads, ferns, palms, water gardens, and turf areas. Interns will gain both theoretical and hands‑on experience in all aspects of Lotusland’s horticultural program, preparing them to design and manage similar programs in urban horticultural settings without relying on toxic or environmentally degrading materials. Training includes ecological soil management using compost, compost tea, and mulch; soil fertility through natural nutrient cycling and organic fertilizers; and plant disease management using beneficial microorganisms. Interns will also work with insectaries that support balanced insect ecology and learn to monitor plant health indicators both in the field and in Lotusland’s lab. In addition to these responsibilities, the intern will be expected to design and complete an independent project exploring an aspect of the garden that interests them. This project will culminate in a short article for the garden newsletter and a presentation to staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Equipment Operation

• Power equipment: string trimmer, hedge shears, blowers (gas & battery), compost tea sprayer.
• Maintenance carts (requires valid driver’s license).
• Hand tools: pole saw, hand saw, loppers, pruners, shears.
• Orchard ladders, pullers bear weeders.

Garden Care

• Proper pruning techniques for various plant types (deciduous fruit trees, citrus, palms, shrubs, cacti, ground covers).
• Soil moisture monitoring and watering practices (wells, reservoirs, booster pumps, main lines).
• Irrigation systems: hand watering, drip, sprinklers (rotary, rotor, spray, impact).
• Awareness of garden hazards: plants, heat, animals.
• Preparing gardens for tours and special events.
• Pond and aquatic garden care.
• Safety protocols are integrated into all training.

Curation

• Plant mapping and accessioning.
• Inventory and documentation of plant collections.

Greenhouse & Propagation

• Plant propagation techniques.
• Nursery and greenhouse maintenance.

Plant Healthcare

• Soil Science
• Biological examination
• Nutritional analysis
• Physical tests of soil properties
• Rodent Abatement
• Vertebrae trapping
• Applied Entomology
• Insectary program
• Review various common insect challenges
• Renovating perimeter insectary areas
• Organic Matter Programs
• Mulching program observations
• Composting system and compost application
• Organic Fertilizers
• Application methods
• Discuss and record observations in the field
• Review various types and reasons for choice selection
• Applied micro‑organisms
• Mycorrhizae
• Types, benefits, application methods
• Bacteria
• Types, benefits, application methods
• Compost tea
• Compost tea production method
• Compost tea assay analysis
• Compost tea application methods

Additional Leadership, Skill Development, & Resume Enhancements

• Gain hands‑on experience applying sustainable horticultural practices.
• Build confidence by learning new skills and expanding your knowledge base.
• Strengthening communication and teamwork abilities through collaborative work.
• Learn directly from experienced professionals in a leading botanical institution.
• Demonstrate initiative, reliability, and responsibility in a professional setting.
• Apply classroom concepts in real‑world scenarios, bridging academic and professional experiences.
• Contribute meaningfully to the organization and achieve a sense of accomplishment.

Resume Enhancements

• Acquire valuable experience and achievements to enhance your resume or academic applications.
• Gain a competitive edge in future job or school applications.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Applicant must be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an accredited, college‑level horticultural program or internship. Intern must have his or her own transportation. Housing provided.

Work Environment

• Lotusland’s administrative offices are on a historic 2‑story estate in a 37‑acre garden.
• 90% of the day will be spent outside on the grounds.
• Frequent walking, kneeling, bending, lifting (50 lbs.).
• Will need to drive a cart.
• Breaks and lunch are taking altogether with the team.

The responsibilities and deliverables listed above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the individual in the position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and/or skills. Other tasks will be assigned as needed.

Benefits

• Sick leave.

Additional Information

• Employment background/criminal check is required.

Lotusland Core Values

Accountability: We take ownership of the commitments we make, holding ourselves accountable for our actions and decisions, both to ourselves and those we lead.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Our roles are interdependent, requiring intentional collaboration within teams to consistently achieve our mission.

Communication: Effective communication is crucial for building trust among our staff, board, and the larger community. We strive to share information clearly, consistently, and in a timely manner to foster understanding and commitment across our organization.

Trust: We aim to cultivate mutual respect and open communication throughout the organization. Employees are encouraged to openly share their perspectives and feel secure in taking risks to enhance our effectiveness.

Integrity: Aligned with our guiding principles of honesty, fairness, and decency, we promote a strong ethic of integrity among individuals and leaders.

Lotusland is an equal opportunity employer. We acknowledge that equal employment opportunity for all persons is a fundamental human value. Each employee will be considered based on individual ability and merit, without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or marital status.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE* In your resume please include relevant background, experience, skills and interests. Along with attaching your cover letter: INCLUDE 3 LETTERS OF REFERENCE as one single document

Post closes: December 31st, 2026

No recruiters or agency calls please.