tenant?

[mweeks]

Hello,

I wanted to post a question in regards to becoming a tenant on a homestead. Does anyone still take on people to work on their land in return for room/board/meals and minimal pay in return for labor, etc....I am honestly not sure how that works. I know that I am in no way ready to even remotely consider doing this on my own, but I am interested in the homesteading lifestyle, and my labor for knowledge in return is something I was curious about.

Thanks,
Matt

[mweeks]

I am interested in Alaska.

My past work experience includes general carpentry, construction, general labor, masonry, painting, software engineer, telecommunications engineer. Blue collar and desk jockey rolled into one.

Thanks,
Matt

[jcatblum]

When we were building our house I would have been eager to offer room board & pay for extra help on the build & around the farm. But it would only be something that we needed for 6-12 months. I imagine once DH & I are older we would need someone here regularly. Think I would like to do a garage apartment just for that purpose.
My SIL & her husband live in the basement of a family home that is on 10acres. They help out as needed, with the 3 kids, property work, etc. it is their only steady income. Her husband also does home inspections as an independent contractors.

[rambler]

Just to throw it out there, I wonder how the whole health care changes affect such working relationship?

Any more, one is bound by minimum wage and health care rules. There may be ways around that, but one needs to walk a tight rope to get there it seems.

Back when some big companies like mining towns got into supplying housing and company store, and kinda messed all this up, many rules came into place to discourage such arrangements. And rightly so, but makes the small simple life a lot harder to set up.

Likewise, migrant farm labor, ended up being pretty poor housing and conditions. So more rules and regulations, again for good reason.

Don't see much of that living quarters supplied as part of the job any more around here.

[jwal10]

Many larger farms around her still have help that get housing as part of the deal. Some even give a 1/2 a beef. Salary and benefits are all figured out at hiring. So many farms have extra houses when 1 farm takes over another....James

[SFM in KY]

I'm not sure how it works now, but lots of ranchers in MT (and other western states) used to provide housing and meals (and also usually the horses) plus wages. Not sure how that would translate now, with new health care rules and also with smaller farms, etc. I do know that there are professional horse breeders that offer something like this for stable help and also for trainers, but again, not sure how it actually works.

[mweeks]

I wonder if you could get around all the "rules" and insurance issues with a signed document from both parties. Freeing the owner of any liability or repsonsibility.

Jcatblum-that actually be the ideal situation. Something 6-12 months, and if I decided to completely make the transition, I would move on at that point. A temp relationship like that would be ideal. Establish relationships, etc...and not be bound just yet.

Thanks for all the replies. Def something I am interested in pursuing.

[Oakshire_Farm]

It is VERY common around here!!! Look into WOOFF's (Work On Organic Farms for Free)

There is a site you can post what you are offering in the way of living conditions, many people only offer a place to pitch a tent, some have a RV with electricity and water, other people off a spare room in the house. The agreement is no money is to exchange hands. You feed the WOOFF'ers, give them accommodations, they stay and work for you. They are by no means permanent, most only stay for 2 weeks at a time.

I have many friends that have been hosting WOOFF'ers for a few years, they all have had great experiences! They have had people come form all over the world and spend time with them.

There are a few other sites that you can post on as well, but WOOFF'ers is a world wide site.

[Oakshire_Farm]

Sorry it is WWOOF -http://www.wwoof.net/how-it-works/

[mweeks]

Awesome Oashire. Thanks. I will check it out.

[mweeks]

I meant Oakshire...sorry cannot type today