Orchard Volunteer | Spring 2025 | 3-month

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This volunteer position has a term-of-service from March 3, 2025 - May 31, 2025 (3 months).

Description

This volunteer position will assist with upkeep and maintenance of a historic orchard, located in the Lonely Dell Ranch, within the Lees Ferry District at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Lonely Dell Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and protects a historic ranch and homestead landscape, so that visitors to the park can experience the beauty and hardship of frontier life along the Colorado River.

The current orchard includes nearly 250 trees, which are maintained using historic care techniques to contribute to the historic landscape. Fruit in the orchard is available for visitors to pick in the summer months.

Orchard work in the spring will primarily consist of helping to water the orchard using a gravity-fed irrigation canal, weeding and mowing, and helping to plant new trees. Additional work may include pruning dead branches, cleaning out irrigation ditches, maintain fencing, and maintaining waterlines, as well as occasionally helping with trash and grounds clean-up. The volunteer will also provide informal information to visitors to the Lonely Dell Ranch.

An RV parking space is available in the Lees Ferry Campground, for a volunteer willing to work a minimum of 32 hours/week. Amenities include water, electrical, and septic hook-ups. Laundry is not available. Lees Ferry does not contain Wi-Fi. Cell signal in Lees Ferry is present, but somewhat limited.

Duties

· Planting new trees, including digging, installing fencing, and watering

· Maintaining orchard irrigation systems through cleaning out of silt, leaves, and weeds using shovels, rakes, hoes, and other hand tools to clean irrigation ditches, and minor digging.

· Pruning orchard fruit trees using hand tools, trimmers, pruners, and saws

· Assisting with orchard grounds maintenance, including weeding using a gas-powered weeder and mowing using a riding or push mower

· Interacting with visitors to discuss the historic orchard and the historic Lonely Dell Ranch

Qualifications

The volunteer must be comfortable working outside, including potentially in inclement weather and during spring heat and wind. Duties are moderately strenuous, and may include bending, stooping, kneeling, lifting, climbing, reaching, standing for extended periods of time, loading and unloading materials.

· Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

· Ability to use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, rakes, pruners, trimmers, saws, post-pounders, and similar.

· Must be able to climb and work on an 8-foot ladder

· Some familiarity with tree care, horticulture, or gardening

· Ability to use hand powered tools including a leaf blower and a gas-powered weed trimmer

· Able to use a riding lawn mower and/or a push mower

· Able to maintain a positive attitude and be courteous and polite to visitors

· Volunteer must be able to lift/carry up to 30 lbs.

· Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle safely

· Volunteer must provide their own RV or camper

· Volunteer must pass a Department of the Interior background check

Work Environment

Work will take place primarily out of doors at the Lonely Dell Ranch, located in Lees Ferry, at Marble Canyon, AZ. Spring in Lees Ferry is cool to moderately warm, with regular sun, and periodic rain, and can regularly include high winds. Late spring sees increasingly higher temperatures and drier air. Lees Ferry is located approximately 50 miles from Page, Arizona, the nearest amenities, including grocery stores, restaurants, laundromats, and visitor services.

Start Date - 2025-03-03

End Date - 2025-05-31