Does anyone know how to work the lift?

There are quite a few threads discussing how to use the lift, or you could just look at the spoilers in the VV3 Guides section for a quick answer.

You have to use it durring a certain weather condition.

The lift is useful only to get one fruit and to plant it in the orchard or to put it in the food bin if you already have 3 trees!

As soon as it begins to rain, quickly put a villager on the platform of the lift. When he's up a fruit will fall, then drop the villager on it. He will plant it in the orchard.

That's all!