Looking for farm caretaker

[madness]

My family farm is operated under some odd circumstances and we need an onsite caretaker to make the system work. First, let me make sure what we are offering and asking for is reasonable.

The farm is just less than an hour SE of Austin. Lockhart, a smaller town but with all the essentials is only 15 minutes away.

Rent (living in a separate 700 sq ft house) and utilities (water, electric, internet, phone) are free in exchange for 5 days a week of animal care. We will provide vacation time as well. We have 7 dairy goats (5 in milk), 5 sheep and about 20 chickens. It takes me about 2 hours a day (hour in the AM, hour in the PM) to do the chores though there are times when something happens - injury, etc - that takes longer. Even for a very slow worker, I can't imagine it taking over 3 hours on a normal day. Also up for grabs are eggs and milk from the animals.

Working for the onsite CSA would pay $8-$10/hr and we would require a minimum of 20 hours a week. We run the CSA year round. Veggies from the garden are also available to the caretaker.

So how does this sound? I've found it hard to compare our offered job to others since I can't find anything too similar. I think we've come up with a reasonable plan but I'm not entirely sure.

Any ideas how to go about finding the right person(s) for such a position? We tried this summer and it was a miserable failure (apparently farming sounds like a lot more "fun" than it actually is...). What sorts of things do you ask a person when interviewing? Any tips on anything like this? For some reason, I feel like I'm going to get blasted for something in this post...

[VALENT]

That sounds like a pretty fair offer to me. You seem to be offering quite a bit in my opinion. I do agree that farming in theory is often more fun than swinging a hoe or picking beans for hours. But, I would expect that people responding to your type of offer should know about that. As far as picking the right person, about all I can suggest is making it crystal clear that "work is required."

[MoonRiver]

Is there some way you could set this up as an Internship? Someone that wants to get into homesteading but first needs to learn how to plant and grow stuff and care for animals. Someone could do this for 6 months to a year, learn a lot, and walk away at least even money wise (and maybe even a little ahead).

[CamM]

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships/

I think you can advertize there. I'd do it but I'm stuck going to college till May.

[madness]

Moonriver, that's basically how we've advertised in the past - 'come learn skills to live off your own land'. We don't expect the find somebody who knows how to milk goats, how to shear sheep, how to run a CSA, etc. We taught everyone this summer these things. But in the end, they decided homesteading wasn't their cup of tea!

Valent, good advice! We've had a few interviewees come for work days and we've scared off a couple because they had no idea what to expect (and we don't work sun up to sun down - there's plenty of goofing off time in there!). We are making it clear this time that "work is required"!

CamM - thanks for the link!

[FarmersDaughter]

Is it possible to advertise this as written OR the possibility of 2 separate positions?

For the CSA position: There might be someone local who enjoys gardening who would be looking for a part-time job, but doesn't need a home and doesn't want the animal caretaking duties. The pay and veggies would be appealing.

For the rental house in exchange for animal care: You might find someone who would like the free rent, works from home (or in the area), wouldn't mind the couple extra hours each day, but can't leave their "day job" to work 20 hours at the CSA.

Just a thought.

[madness]

You know, it's not a bad idea to advertise the two jobs. We would have to fill both positions though come spring. But the animal caretaker one is the immediate requirement. I just fear we might get stuck if we only fill the animal position because we haven't found much in the way of skilled gardeners in the area looking for work. I think we are stuck in the mindset that if we get a simple hourly worker it would be a lot of up front training with no security on a return - unlike having a 3-6 month requirement for living and working there. But perhaps it's better than not having any garden worker!

Thanks for the idea, I'll have to give it some thought.

[mamaof3peas]

so basically, this house would only fit a single person, not a family, correct? i know there has been many a conversation in this house of moving to texas, and the job my dh currently has has plants in texas, so it is always an option. but we have 3 children and im sure you wouldnt want to provide utilites for that many people. i think it is a good deal though. how skilled are you looking for in the animal and garden area? we homeschool, so im home all day, and we have tried our hand at gardens, but may need some guidance, and he is an outdoorsy type, but not sure if he could milk a goat without the training, lol.

[madness]

mama, we don't have any hard rules on whether it's a single person, couple or family as long as they know what they are in for. We had a family (one 2 year old) living in a 250 sq ft travel trailer this summer! It worked for them since they were planning on moving to a 300 sq ft cabin on their own land. But I would certainly say that the cabin seems more appropriate for singles or couples as it's only one bedroom, though I'm sure something creative could be done with the living room.

The reason utilities are included is that the barn and shop (which includes freezers and an AC) are on the same service as the cabin. Too hard to figure out who owes what so figured that it should just be included and paid for with animal chores. But if the utilities seemed really uneven, we could split somehow - maybe charge a flat fee. Or require an additional animal chore that currently isn't required (hoof trimming, mixing grain or something).

Every one we have had out so far has never even seen a goat in person. So we are certainly willing to train for the animal care! As far as the garden, I've been a bit pickier. I've not been too excited about the people who have literally never gotten their hands dirty. I don't care if you are a master gardener or a beginner, but basic knowledge of the mechanics of how to plant and care for things is required. Every place someone gardens is going to be so different that there is no way for me to expect someone to come in and not need any guidance here. The worst gardener for the CSA we had was a VERY skilled woman but whose only experience was in Maine. Instead of having to learn things, she had to UNlearn things and it didn't go very well! The best CSA workers we've had have been beginners that take instruction well.

[stockdogtta]

How long is this for, as far as long term...just a couple of years or enough for someone to pull up roots and re-settle for 20yrs. Mentioned a minimum of 20 hrs work at the CSA..what is the maximum hrs. What about pets, is there a consideration of allowing well behaved pets.

[jil101ca]

If you were in Canada, I would jump at that arrangement.I have been looking for a rent in exchange for farm work for a long time.

[mamaof3peas]

i have the same ? about how long term is this going to be? it is definately something we could consider, but since we do have a family, we woudl have to keep them in consideration. you said 700 sq ft house. so that is a bedroom, frontroom, kitchen and bath? anything else? we could make it work, bc we are alreaady a minimalist family. we homeschool our children, and they would be home all day with us. well, i know basic gardening, and so does my dh. and we have been around farm animals, just never had to care for them on a daily basis. so if you are paying $10/hr and 20 hr per week minimum, the deal is basically, $800/month for the gardening part, and then the rent/utilities/ for the animal care which is 2-3 hours daily. i believe that sounds very fair. i wonder what we could do about health insurance for our children? that would be a consideration. so do you live on site as well? do you have children? are you a christian family? not trying to be nosey, or rude, just curious, bc we would consider this if it is the LOrds will, but would not want to move somewhere that is a big party house type atmosphere. (im not saying that you are, please understand) i just am being careful with my family,

[GoldenCityMuse]

OK, I'm stumped, what do you mean by CSA?

CSA around here is community supported agriculture, folks put up money in winter to get a set amount of veggies , every week, or two weeks during the growing season

[GoldenCityMuse]

Ah, ok, was not familiar with the term before.

[mamaof3peas]

ok, i just saw the pagan siggie, that might not be what we could involve ourselves in?? what is that about?

[fishhead]

Sounds like a great deal for someone. Maybe try contacting your university ag department to see if you could post the job there.

[beowoulf90]

Originally Posted by mamaof3peas

ok, i just saw the pagan siggie, that might not be what we could involve ourselves in?? what is that about?

It is a religon/religious forum...
I will assume that you are a christian and that pagan religions/beliefs may/might offend you..

Please dont' take what I said in the wrong way, it is not meant to be demeening or any such thing. It was just a statement of what I see as truth, with the assuption that you are a christian..
This is not to say you wouldn't be welcome there, because I have no idea how they run their forum, it is just that you might not feel comfortable there.

It would be like me as a pagan joining a bible study group or joining the Promise Keepers (I think that is the name of the group). While they may welcome me to the group for discussions, I might feel uncomfortable being subjected to their religious beliefs all the time..

I hope I've explained it well enough..

[mamaof3peas]

yes, you are right!

[mamaof3peas]

thank you for the honesty!