Garden Internship + Retreat Host - OCCIDENTAL ARTS & ECOLOGY CENTER : Job Details

Explore the world of organic gardening through OAEC's annual Garden Internship in our over 50-year-old biointensive gardensa rich setting for experiential learning. Work closely with our Garden Manager, engaging in all aspects of gardening. We are seeking passionate individuals excited about small-scale food production and curating beautiful and bountiful gardens for our retreat guests and community. Many of our past interns have achieved leadership roles in farming and gardening. Join us for a transformative experience!

Typical tasks include:

• Garden bed turnover and planting
• Plant propagation and greenhouse work
• Compost pile building and food waste management
• Assisting with irrigation
• Gopher trapping
• Weed management
• Harvesting
• General garden maintenance
• Facilitating group activities with weekly volunteers
• OAEC Nursery and Plant Sale assistance

Qualifications:

• Physical stamina is a must! We work outside rain or shine doing lots of manual labor and repetitive tasks.
• An excitement and desire to learn gardening through hands-on experience is essential.
• Prior garden or farming experience is helpful but not necessary.
• We are looking for motivated, self-starting people who can be comfortable occasionally working alone.
• Garden Interns work closely with Garden Volunteers. A strong interest to develop management skills by facilitating group work activities is essential.
• We encourage garden internship applicants to attend a Garden Volunteer Day at OAEC. This is a great way to meet us, see the gardens, and get a feel for the work, especially if you've never been here before. On the RSVP page, please indicate that you are applying to the garden internship.

Retreat Host

The Retreat Host is a key residential position at OAEC which helps to make our guests feel at home when they come here to do meaningful work towards social change. For the Retreat Host part of this hybrid position, you will work 10 hours/week for a salary of $13,500 annually. This portion of the position is supervised by the Retreats Program Director and works alongside the Facilities Intern + Retreat Assistant and other hourly Retreat Hosts to ensure a comfortable stay for all retreat guests.

Compensation and schedule:

• Salary of $13,500 annually for 10 hrs/week (in addition to the $750/month intern stipend) plus 56 hrs of paid time off and 20 hrs of paid sick time.
• Frequency of retreats fluctuates throughout the year.
• When retreats are on site, shifts are primarily on Mondays, Fridays, weekends and after 5pm on weekdays.

Retreat Host typical tasks include:

• Serve as host and point person for groups staying at OAEC.
• Complete standard hosting tasks including, but not limited to; greeting guests, orienting groups to the guest housing and the land, tidying spaces used by retreat groups, making coffee, cleaning the meeting hall, restocking the kitchenette, setting up the fire circle, etc.
• Engage with the groups in a professional, service-oriented manner, being mindful and respectful of the needs of the group and the work they are doing.
• Attend to Retreat Group's emergent needs and any changes in the plan.
• Answer questions about OAEC policy that a group may ask.
• Deal with emergencies/safety issues.
• Work closely with the Retreats Program Director, Retreat Assistant, and other Retreat Hosts to ensure the hosting calendar and shifts are filled.

Retreat Host qualifications:

• For this position, we are searching for a responsible candidate who can independently handle a wide range of problem-solving for both the facilities and our guests.
• Experience in hospitality or customer service is a plus, but proven reliability, professionalism, and courtesy are paramount.
• Ability to work well alone and as part of a team.
• Ability to be flexible with hours and work assignments.
• A valid driver's license & clean driving record.
• Comfortable with responding to emergencies/safety issues.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills; ability to respond calmly and appropriately to unexpected situations and conflict.
• Enthusiasm for working with a wide range of groups, especially those advancing racial, social, and environmental justice, and the ability to navigate cultural differences with humility and respect.

Applications for 2026 internships open on August 1st, 2025 and close at 5pm on October 15th, 2025. We look forward to receiving your submission!