I'm currently dealing with a broken arm and can't tend to my community garden plot. I reached out to a teacher at a local high school who runs a gardening program, and he's willing to see if any students would be interested in helping me out for some extra cash. I need to let him know what hourly rate to offer, especially since the minimum wage in Virginia is $12.40. My garden plot is 10 x 15 feet and will need a lot of work including heavy weeding, clearing out, laying down compost and mulch, setting up trellises, and getting some plants in the ground. I have all the tools necessary and will pay for the compost and mulch as well. How much do you think I should offer? I'm considering this as a weekend project or possibly just one long day depending on how much they can get done.
2 Answers
I’d suggest starting with around $15 per hour. McDonald's pays around that rate, so it sounds fair for some physical work. Plus, an extra couple of bucks can really motivate them.
A fair range would be about $15 to $20 per hour. Since the work is pretty physical and involves a good amount of tasks, you want to make it worth their while! Also, consider reaching out to local junior highs or high schools with gardening clubs—they might be looking for community service opportunities and could be happy to help you out, especially if there are rewards like seeds at the end of it!
Definitely make sure to pay them for their work! It’s a great hands-on learning experience.