Herb Garden Intern

Huntington Public Library•San Marino, CA

2d•$18•Onsite

About The Position

This internship, funded by the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Science Initiative, offers hands-on experience in the Herb Garden. The focus is on propagation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing of medicinal and useful plants. Interns will develop a small-scale production workflow, organize plant material for future use, and document processes to support long-term garden operations. The internship includes a culminating project and presentation, demonstrating how plant production systems can support both horticultural practice and educational programming. This is a 9-week, full-time opportunity from June 1 – July 31. It is ideal for students pursuing careers in plant science, horticulture, or conservation. Interns report to the Assistant to the Curator, Rose Garden and Head Gardener Herb Garden, assisting with daily garden tasks and contributing to the maintenance and development of the collection. The intern will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Requirements

Currently enrolled undergraduate/trade student or recent graduate (within 1 year)
Background or strong interest in horticulture, botany, herbalism, or agriculture
Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions
Ability to lift moderate weight and perform physical garden tasks
Familiarity with hand tools and basic horticultural practices
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong attention to detail and organization
Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students (minimum age 18) whose field of study aligns with the internship opportunity.
This internship is available to Los Angeles area residents.

Nice To Haves

Interest in medicinal plants, plant use, or production systems strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Propagation of herbaceous and woody plants (cuttings, division, seed starting)
Seed collection, cleaning, and storage for future seasonal use
Harvesting of plant material for drying, storage, and educational use
Processing plant material (bundling, drying, labeling, storage organization)
Assisting with greenhouse and apothecary management (irrigation, up-potting, monitoring plant health)
Supporting seasonal planting and garden transitions
General garden maintenance (weeding, mulching, irrigation adjustments, bed care)
Assisting with organization of herb garden systems (storage, plant tracking, workflow improvements)
Supporting occasional educational or public-facing activities as needed
Other duties as assigned