Groundskeeper · Property Caretaker · Millbrook, New York
Available now for a full-time role
Twenty years of hands-on grounds and property care, done quietly, to a standard you can see, and by organic, non-toxic conviction.
The essentials, in one read.
01 · About
My work began in 2004, at fourteen, alongside my father.
In the twenty years since it has included ten years running my own landscaping business and five years on the grounds team of a 700-acre private estate in Millbrook, with its formal gardens, woodland trails, and Mediterranean-style landscapes.
My practice is organic and non-toxic by conviction, not marketing; it’s how I keep grounds and how I live. If you’re looking for someone to care for your property the way you would yourself, I’d welcome the conversation.
Read the full résumé02 · Experience
Hands-on grounds and property work since 2004, with a part-time business alongside since 2017. Select a line to read the details.
Urbin Landscaping Co. · Poughkeepsie, NY
Founded and ran a solo landscaping business serving residential clients throughout the Hudson Valley for ten years: comprehensive lawn care, seasonal maintenance, and property services using exclusively organic and non-toxic practices, with all scheduling, client communication, equipment, and finances managed independently.
Barron Industries · Poughkeepsie, NY
Grounds and property maintenance on bank- and real-estate-owned residential properties over six years, using my own truck, trailer, and equipment. Projects delivered on time and within scope, coordinating directly with the owner to prioritize work orders across multiple properties.
Altamont Estate · Millbrook, NY
Five years on the grounds team of a 700+ acre private estate: formal gardens, woodland trails, and Mediterranean-style landscapes. Cared for several distinct garden styles at once, helped with seasonal plantings of 500+ annuals and perennials, and worked on one or two capital landscape projects a year alongside outside contractors, to estate-level standards year-round.
Various employers · Hudson Valley, NY
Started in the trade at fourteen, working for my father’s landscaping business, then for several employers across the Hudson Valley. The stretch that built my foundation: lawn and turf care, planting, seasonal cleanups, and learning to operate the equipment a property runs on.
Self-employed · Hudson Valley, NY
A small independent business in the natural supplements space, run entirely on my own at part-time hours, from sourcing and product research to fulfillment, shipping, marketing, and customer service. In 2026 I also built and launched checkthepanel.com, a free site that explains the ingredient labels on pet foods and supplies in plain English. Neither affects my availability for full-time work, and I am now looking to return to hands-on grounds and property work with an employer who shares my commitment to organic, non-toxic practices.
03 · Skills
Everything a private property asks of the person who keeps it, organic and non-toxic throughout, safe for children, pets, and wildlife.
Diverse landscapes on properties up to 700+ acres: formal and Mediterranean-style gardens, meadows and native plantings, marsh and pond edges, woodland and trails, plus the lawns, beds, and full-property groundskeeping that tie them together.
Planting, pruning, health management, and seasonal care across garden types, all with non-toxic methods.
Tractors, skid steers, zero-turns and ride-on mowers, chainsaws, trimmers and blowers, log splitters, and the snow blowers and plows winter calls for, operated and kept up in-house with basic servicing, oil changes, and minor repairs.
A basic, practical handle on HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, enough for minor fixes and troubleshooting, plus water filtration upkeep, painting, and power washing; tech-savvy problem-solving on the small jobs, and knowing when to call a pro.
Extensive TriState driving including LGA, JFK, EWR, HPN, and ALB, with a clean record. Comfortable with daily pet care, walking, feeding, and grooming for dogs and cats of all sizes, with experienced veterinary guidance a phone call away.
Comfortable working on my own or alongside other staff and outside contractors, as I did on the estate grounds team in Millbrook. Clear communication, professional relationships.
The seasonal turnover
Waking the property up.
Keeping it at its best.
Putting it to bed.
Holding it steady.
Organic fertilizers and compost over synthetics, manual and mechanical weeding, and careful soil and water stewardship.
Low- and no-VOC paints and plant-based, fragrance-free cleaners wherever a job allows, chosen to keep the air and surfaces of a home clean.
Grounds that stay safe for children, pets, and wildlife. A commitment I hold personally, not just professionally.
Beautiful landscapes and healthy environments go hand in hand. I work with nature rather than against it, without pesticides or herbicides, keeping outdoor spaces safe for families, pets, and wildlife. This isn’t just a professional philosophy; it’s how I live.
04 · Particulars
Seeking an employer who shares my commitment to organic and non-toxic grounds maintenance practices.
Benefits matter to me; positions without health coverage may be considered where salary is commensurate.
From Millbrook, New York
Within about an hour of Millbrook for a live-off position. A move south is planned in the near term, toward Putnam or northern Westchester, which brings lower Westchester and Greenwich into daily range.
For a live-on role, distance is not a limiting factor. Relocation elsewhere on the East Coast may be considered.
Millbrook is Dutchess horse and estate country, with Rhinebeck, Amenia, Pawling and Hopewell Junction all close to hand. From there the Taconic, I-84 and I-684 open up Columbia County, the northwestern Connecticut corner around Sharon and Salisbury, and Westchester from Katonah and Bedford down through the Rivertowns.
05 · Beyond the work
Outside of work I’m in the mountains: the Catskill High Peaks are done and the Adirondack 46ers are underway. Or I am fishing Rondout Reservoir with my father, camping and road-tripping with family, or unwinding at the family lake house cooking homemade meals with Marly and our English Golden, Lincoln. I’m also a tech enthusiast; I build PCs, tinker with software, and built this site myself with the help of AI tools.
Correspondence
Write through the contact page and I’ll reply within the day. References from past employers are available on request.
