Farm Worker — Harvesting
Join KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd in Abbotsford, BC — BC’s Fraser Valley Nursery Offering $21.00/hr for Seasonal Harvest & Plant Handling Work
Company Overview
KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd is a well-established nursery and horticultural operation located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, in the heart of the world-renowned Fraser Valley. Known as Canada’s “Year-Round Playground” for agriculture, the Fraser Valley benefits from a mild coastal climate, fertile alluvial soils, and abundant rainfall — creating ideal conditions for growing ornamental plants, nursery stock, flowers, and landscape greenery.
KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd specializes in producing high-quality nursery plants, ornamental shrubs, flowering perennials, and seasonal bedding plants for wholesale and retail markets across British Columbia and beyond. The nursery operates modern greenhouse facilities, open-field growing areas, and state-of-the-art packing and shipping operations that ensure plants arrive at customers in peak condition.
As a family-owned business with decades of horticultural expertise, KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd takes pride in sustainable growing practices, plant health excellence, and a workplace culture that values teamwork, attention to detail, and respect for the natural environment. The company is committed to providing fair wages, safe working conditions, and meaningful seasonal employment for workers from diverse backgrounds.
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Job Details
Job Title: Farm Worker — Harvesting
Employer: KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
NOC Code: 85101 (Harvesting Labourers)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Seasonal
Hours: 40-50 hours per week (peak season may require extended hours)
Shift: Day, Early Morning, Weekend availability during busy harvest periods
Start Date: As soon as possible / Seasonal alignment
Contract Length: Seasonal (typically 3-5 months depending on crop cycles and market demand)
Salary & Benefits
Competitive Nursery Harvest Wage
Estimated Seasonal Earnings: ~$16,800 – $21,000 (based on 40-50 hrs/week over a 4-month season)
Benefits Package
- Above-Minimum Wage: $21.00/hour exceeds BC’s general minimum wage, reflecting the skilled nature of nursery harvesting work
- Overtime Pay: Paid at 1.5x regular rate ($31.50/hour) after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week (per BC Employment Standards)
- Statutory Holiday Pay: Paid time off for BC statutory holidays or premium pay if required to work
- Seasonal Completion Bonus: Additional bonus for workers who complete their full seasonal contract
- On-the-Job Training: Comprehensive training in plant identification, proper harvesting techniques, and quality grading standards
- Accommodation Support: Assistance finding affordable housing in Abbotsford or nearby communities (Chilliwack, Langley, Mission)
- Transportation: Farm-provided shuttle from designated pickup points or transit-accessible locations where available
- Safety Equipment: All required PPE provided including gloves, knee pads, sun hats, and high-visibility vests
- Workers’ Compensation: Full coverage under WorkSafeBC
- Employment Insurance (EI): Eligible for EI benefits after the season ends if minimum insurable hours are accumulated
- Return Employment: Priority rehiring for subsequent growing seasons; top performers may advance to crew lead or supervisor roles
- Meal & Refreshment Provisions: Access to drinking water, shaded rest areas, and occasional farm-provided meals during peak periods
About Nursery Harvesting Work
Nursery harvesting is specialized agricultural work that requires care, precision, and an eye for quality. Unlike traditional field crop harvesting, nursery work involves handling living plants that must remain healthy and attractive for sale. Every plant is a product that represents the nursery’s reputation.
What Makes Nursery Work Unique?
- Living Products: You are harvesting and handling living plants, not dead grain — every touch affects plant health
- Quality Focus: Visual appeal matters — customers buy plants that look healthy, vibrant, and well-formed
- Variety: Work with dozens of plant species, each with unique handling requirements
- Greenhouse & Field: Split time between climate-controlled greenhouses and open-air field operations
- Year-Round Demand: While seasonal peaks exist, nurseries operate across multiple seasons with different crop cycles
- Skill Building: Learn valuable horticultural skills transferable to landscaping, gardening, and greenhouse management careers
Job Description
KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd is seeking diligent and detail-oriented Farm Workers — Harvesting to join our seasonal team in Abbotsford, BC. This position focuses on the careful harvesting, sorting, grading, and packing of nursery plants, ornamental flowers, and landscape stock for distribution to garden centers, landscapers, and retail customers.
As a Harvesting Farm Worker, you will work in both greenhouse environments and outdoor field settings, performing hands-on tasks that require physical stamina, gentle handling techniques, and consistent attention to quality standards. You will be trained to identify harvest-ready plants, use proper cutting and digging techniques, and ensure every plant meets the nursery’s strict quality criteria before packing.
This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who enjoy working with plants, appreciate outdoor and greenhouse environments, and want to learn valuable skills in the horticulture and nursery industry. No previous nursery experience is required — we provide thorough training for candidates who demonstrate reliability, care for living things, and a commitment to producing top-quality products.
Key Responsibilities
Harvesting Operations
- Plant Selection: Identify and select plants ready for harvest based on size, maturity, flowering stage, and customer specifications; recognize quality indicators such as foliage color, root development, and pest-free condition
- Hand Harvesting: Carefully dig, cut, or pull plants from growing beds, containers, or fields using appropriate hand tools (trowels, pruners, harvest knives); minimize root damage and maintain plant integrity
- Greenhouse Harvesting: Harvest potted plants, hanging baskets, and bedding trays from greenhouse benches; handle delicate flowering plants with extra care to prevent bruising or petal loss
- Field Harvesting: Harvest bare-root trees, shrubs, and perennials from outdoor nursery fields; use spades, forks, and mechanical tree spades as directed
- Root Ball Preparation: Wrap root balls in burlap, secure with twine, or place in containers with appropriate growing media to maintain plant viability during transport
- Cut Flower Harvesting: Harvest cut flowers and floral stems at optimal bud stage using sharp, sanitized tools; place immediately in water to maintain freshness
Sorting, Grading & Quality Control
- Visual Inspection: Examine each harvested plant for signs of disease, insect damage, nutrient deficiency, or physical injury; reject substandard plants according to grading protocols
- Size Grading: Sort plants by height, spread, pot size, caliper (trunk thickness), and overall quality grade (Premium, Grade 1, Grade 2)
- Tagging & Labeling: Attach accurate plant tags, labels, and barcodes identifying species, variety, size, and care instructions
- Inventory Counting: Count and record quantities of harvested plants by species and grade; maintain accurate harvest logs for inventory management
- Quality Reporting: Report recurring quality issues, pest problems, or crop abnormalities to the Harvest Supervisor or Production Manager
Packing & Shipping Preparation
- Protective Packaging: Pack plants into trays, boxes, or shipping containers using protective materials (cardboard sleeves, bubble wrap, wood crates) to prevent damage during transit
- Loading: Carefully load packed plants onto pallets, carts, or delivery trucks; secure loads to prevent shifting and damage
- Order Fulfillment: Pick and assemble plant orders according to customer invoices; verify quantities, varieties, and grades match order specifications
- Shipping Documentation: Assist with preparing shipping labels, phytosanitary certificates, and delivery manifests as required
General Nursery Duties
- Greenhouse Maintenance: Clean greenhouse benches, floors, and walkways; sanitize tools and equipment to prevent disease spread
- Weeding & Bed Maintenance: Remove weeds from growing beds and containers; refresh mulch and growing media as directed
- Irrigation Support: Assist with watering plants, checking irrigation lines, and monitoring soil moisture levels
- Deadheading & Pruning: Remove spent flowers and trim plants to maintain shape and encourage new growth
- Pest Monitoring: Scout for signs of insects, diseases, or weeds; report findings to the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) team
- Safety Compliance: Follow all nursery safety protocols including proper lifting techniques, chemical handling procedures, and heat stress prevention
Qualifications & Skills
Minimum Requirements
- Education: No formal education required; high school diploma or equivalent preferred but not mandatory
- Experience: No prior nursery or farm experience required — comprehensive training provided for all harvesting techniques
- Age: Must be at least 18 years of age
- Language: Basic English proficiency to understand quality standards, safety instructions, and communicate with supervisors
- Physical Fitness: Ability to lift 25-40 lbs regularly, bend, kneel, squat, and stand for extended periods; comfortable working in both hot greenhouses and outdoor weather conditions
- Manual Dexterity: Good hand-eye coordination for delicate plant handling, precise cutting, and detailed sorting work
- Visual Acuity: Ability to distinguish plant colors, spot defects, and read small labels and tags
- Work Schedule: Willingness to work early mornings, weekends, and extended hours during peak harvest and shipping periods
- Weather Tolerance: Comfortable working in sun, heat, humidity (greenhouses), rain, and cool conditions
Preferred Skills & Assets
- Prior experience in nurseries, greenhouses, landscaping, or gardening
- Knowledge of plant species, varieties, and basic horticultural terminology
- Experience using hand tools such as pruners, trowels, harvest knives, and shovels
- Forklift certification or willingness to obtain one for loading operations
- Experience operating tractors, ATVs, or utility vehicles on farm properties
- Attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work
- Ability to work efficiently while maintaining careful handling standards
- Teamwork skills and positive attitude in a diverse, multicultural workplace
- Basic math skills for counting, measuring, and inventory tracking
Job Location
Address: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Region: Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver
Proximity: Located approximately 70 km east of Vancouver, 35 km west of Chilliwack, and 25 km north of the US border; accessible via Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway)
Community: Abbotsford is a vibrant, multicultural city of approximately 150,000 people with a strong agricultural identity, known as the “City in the Country”
Climate: Temperate coastal climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers; the Fraser Valley enjoys one of Canada’s longest growing seasons
Agricultural Zone: Part of BC’s premier agricultural region, producing dairy, poultry, berries, vegetables, nursery plants, and floriculture products
Local Amenities: Full range of urban amenities including shopping centers, restaurants, medical facilities, schools, parks, and recreational facilities; significant South Asian community with diverse cultural offerings
Transportation: Public transit available through BC Transit; Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) provides domestic and international flights; personal vehicle helpful but not essential
How to Apply
KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd is actively recruiting harvesting workers for the current growing season. We welcome applications from candidates across Canada and internationally. Positions fill quickly during peak season — apply as soon as possible to secure your spot.
Application Steps
- Submit Your Application: Click the “Apply Now” button below and complete the online application form at JobBankCanada.us
- Upload Documents: Attach your resume, government-issued ID, and any relevant certificates or references
- Phone Screening: Qualified applicants will be contacted for a brief phone interview to discuss availability, physical capability, and interest in nursery work
- On-Site Interview & Tour: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to tour the nursery, meet the team, and observe harvesting operations firsthand
- Job Offer & Orientation: Selected candidates receive a formal offer, start date, and comprehensive orientation including plant handling training and safety certification
Tip: Even without nursery experience, highlight any work involving attention to detail, careful handling of fragile items, or outdoor physical labor. Experience in food service (plating, presentation), retail (visual merchandising), manufacturing (quality control), or cleaning (detail-oriented work) can translate well to nursery harvesting. Mention your flexibility with early starts and willingness to learn plant care techniques.
Summary
The Farm Worker — Harvesting position at KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd in Abbotsford, BC offers a unique opportunity to work in one of Canada’s most beautiful and productive agricultural regions while earning a competitive wage of $21.00 per hour. This is not ordinary farm work — it is specialized horticultural production that values care, precision, and respect for living plants.
Located in the stunning Fraser Valley with mountain views, mild weather, and a welcoming multicultural community, Abbotsford provides an exceptional quality of life for seasonal workers. The nursery industry offers skills that translate into long-term career opportunities in landscaping, greenhouse management, garden center retail, and horticultural entrepreneurship.
Whether you are a student seeking summer income, a traveler looking for meaningful seasonal work, or someone considering a career change into horticulture, KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd provides the training, environment, and compensation to make your time rewarding. You will leave the season with new skills, new friends, and the satisfaction of knowing your work helped bring beauty and greenery to homes and gardens across British Columbia.
Ready to harvest beautiful plants in BC’s Fraser Valley? Apply today and grow your career with KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What types of plants will I be harvesting?
KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd grows a wide variety of ornamental plants including flowering shrubs (hydrangeas, roses, rhododendrons), evergreen trees and shrubs, perennials, annual bedding plants, hanging baskets, and container-grown specimens. You will receive training to identify each species and learn the specific harvesting requirements for different plant types. The variety keeps the work interesting and builds valuable horticultural knowledge.
2. Is the work mostly indoors or outdoors?
The work is split between climate-controlled greenhouses and outdoor field growing areas. During wet or cold weather, more work shifts to greenhouse harvesting. During warm, dry periods, field harvesting of trees and shrubs increases. The variety of work environments helps prevent monotony and allows you to enjoy BC’s beautiful weather while having shelter during less favorable conditions.
3. How physically demanding is nursery harvesting?
Nursery harvesting is moderately physically demanding. While not as heavy as construction or warehouse work, it requires sustained physical activity including bending, kneeling, lifting 25-40 lb containers, and repetitive hand movements. The work pace is steady rather than rushed, with emphasis on quality over speed. Proper lifting techniques, ergonomic tools, and regular rest breaks help manage physical demands. Workers with reasonable fitness levels adapt well within the first week.
4. Do I need to know plant names and species?
No prior plant knowledge is required. The nursery provides comprehensive training on plant identification, common names, and handling requirements. You will learn to recognize plants by their leaves, flowers, and growth habits over the first few weeks. Many workers find this learning aspect one of the most rewarding parts of the job — you will leave the season with practical horticultural knowledge that lasts a lifetime.
5. What is the typical seasonal timeline?
The nursery harvest season typically runs from late spring through early fall (May to October), with peak demand during spring shipping season (April-May) and fall planting season (September-October). Some workers may start earlier for greenhouse production, while others join specifically for the busy spring or fall rush. Contract lengths vary from 3 to 5 months depending on operational needs and worker availability.
6. Is accommodation available in Abbotsford?
Yes. Abbotsford has a range of housing options from shared apartments to private rentals. KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd assists workers in finding suitable accommodation and may have connections with local landlords who rent to seasonal agricultural workers. The farm may also coordinate shared housing arrangements for multiple workers. Housing costs in Abbotsford are lower than Vancouver but higher than rural interior BC communities.
7. Can international workers apply for this position?
Yes. Harvesting Labourer (NOC 85101) is an eligible occupation under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, particularly through the Agricultural Stream and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) for citizens of participating countries (Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Eastern Caribbean states). International candidates with valid work permits or LMIA support are welcome to apply. The nursery values the diverse perspectives and strong work ethic that international workers bring.
8. What safety concerns should I be aware of?
Nursery work involves standard agricultural hazards including repetitive strain, heat exposure (especially in greenhouses), sharp tools, lifting injuries, and occasional exposure to pesticides or fertilizers. KPB Gills Four Seasons Nursery Ltd prioritizes safety through comprehensive training, provision of PPE, ergonomic workstations, shaded rest areas, and strict adherence to WorkSafeBC regulations. All workers complete safety orientation before beginning harvest work.
9. Will I work independently or as part of a team?
Both. Most harvesting tasks are performed in small teams (2-4 workers) led by a crew lead or supervisor who assigns daily targets and provides guidance. However, individual responsibility is emphasized — each worker is accountable for the quality of plants they harvest. Teamwork is essential during large shipping days when everyone works together to fulfill big orders. The social aspect of team harvesting makes the work enjoyable and builds camaraderie.
10. What should I wear and bring on my first day?
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that can get dirty (long pants recommended for protection), closed-toe shoes with good grip (steel-toed boots preferred but not mandatory), and bring a water bottle, sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), and any necessary personal medications. The nursery provides gloves, knee pads, and other work-specific PPE. Avoid loose jewelry and dangling items that could catch on plants or equipment. A notebook for learning plant names is optional but helpful!