I maintain formal quads, annual and perennial beds, an herb garden, fruit trees, and a grape arbor in keeping with 1820's plant varieties and standards. Much of my winters entail research and tracking down obscure heirloom varieties, planning a budget for the coming season, and printing and filling seed packets. During the season I am, of course, deep into garden maintenance - pruning, weeding, spraying, planting and watering. I recruit and work with incoming garden volunteers. Occasionally I will serve as a costumed interpreter or bring a chicken to work as part of the educational program. I participated in the Kentucky hemp pilot project (through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture) in both 2015 and 2016, growing, harvesting and processing a test plot at Locust Grove. In conjunction with this, I helped host a hemp festival at Locust Grove both years.

Maintained multiple residential gardens around the city. Duties included mowing and leaf removal, planting, pruning, spectacular shrub shearing, watering, tree care and other aspects of residential gardens and grounds maintenance. I continued one property for a couple of years as I eased into my current job.

Prepped greenware for the kiln, cast coffee mugs and other dishware, and glazed ornaments. Answered the phone, made cash register sales, took phone orders and packed orders for shipping, and general cleaning and maintenance as needed.