We are looking to hire a Farm Hand to begin March 2026

Required qualifications

  • Dependable and consistent (animals rely on you daily)

  • Comfortable with physical work and outdoor conditions

  • Can follow checklists and standards for cleanliness and safety

  • Observant and proactive communicator (reports issues early)

  • Basic comfort with hand tools; willingness to learn

  • Familiarity with fencing, basic repairs, and routine maintenance

Preferred qualifications

  • Experience with goats and chickens

  • Carpentry

  • Experience with mowing equipment

  • Gardening support experience (weeding, mulching, basic planting help)

  • Ability to transport animals for special events or vet care

Farm hand Role summary

You’ll be responsible for the daily care of chickens and goats, plus weekly upkeep of the barn, coop, and grounds so the farm stays safe, clean, stocked, and functional. This role is hands-on and varies week to week: feed and water, cleaning and composting, purchasing, organizing and stocking supplies, mowing and weeding, fence and gates repair, pest monitoring, and seasonal projects like weatherproofing the coop and preparing the high tunnel for planting.

    • Daily responsibilities (especially animal care)

    • Weekly rhythms (barn maintenance, trash/recycling, mowing, stocking)

    • Occasional seasonal pushes (hay ordering, coop winterizing, high tunnel work)

  • Chickens

    • Assist in collecting and washing eggs

    • Replenish feed and replace water

    • Clean floor; compost droppings

    • Refresh nesting box hay

    • Identify/assist with sick chicken care

    Goats

    • Rinse and replenish water buckets

    • Provide minerals and supplements as directed (vitamin B12, etc.)

    • Check for injuries and parasites; escalate concerns to Elle

    • Provide enrichment (hikes past top gate, treats, handling/socialization)

    • Create a program of goat training and grooming

    • Support scheduled care tasks: vaccinations, hoof clipping, weighing

    • Assist with vet decisions/transport as directed by Elle

    • Regularly check and replenish goat & chicken feed levels

    • Keep minerals/supplements stocked (goat minerals, chicken calcium, electrolytes, B12, etc.)

    • Shop for feed and farm supplies as assigned

    • Keep the feed room clean, organized, and “inventory-ready”

  • Barn maintenance / upkeep (weekly)

    • Keep barn hallway/breezeway clear, open, clean

    • Organize tools, hardware, and supplies; keep storage intentional

    • Clean goat tables and troughs

    • Reduce dust/cobwebs on surfaces, doors, ceilings

    • Keep wood storage orderly

    Chicken coop maintenance (1–2x/week)

    • Clean roosts, nesting boxes, and coop floor

    Site appearance & safety

    • Keep barn, coop, and driveways safe and tidy

    • Remove litter/weeds from driveways and common areas

    • Store materials properly (nothing “lying around”) with labels

    • Take care of the existing fences and gates and build new ones as needed

  • Mowing (weekly or every other week in growing seasons)

    • Keep field grass short

    • Maintain paths: front yard/carport routes, exploratorium area, garden paths, chicken yard

    Weeding support

    • Assist gardener with weeding

    • Remove shiso from grazing areas

    • Monitor for poisonous/nuisance plants and remove safely

    Mulch mission

    • Maintain on-hand mulch supply

    • Create/maintain mulch pile areas

    • Build/maintain contacts for mulch sources

    • Prevent mushroom growth by drying/moving mulch as needed

    • Move mulch to needed areas

  • Chicken coop winterizing (due before first frost; target end of November)

    • Install plastic sheeting across back roof strip and across the front/door

    • Secure with thin wood strips to withstand wind

    High tunnel maintenance (ready to plant by March)

    • Safety restoration and rebuilding when damaged

    • Mulch, weed inside, clear outside, reroute/secure watering tubes (Mar–Apr timeline)

    Fall hay ordering (begin July 15; due Aug 31, 2026, again in December and February-March)

    • Clear hay storage area

    • Coordinate ordering/delivery (vendor contact per farm)

    • Prep supplies to keep hay dry (barn lime, baking soda, tarps, pallets)

    • Monitor and report rats/mice activity; support control plan

    • Watch for insect threats (tomato hornworm, beetles, yellow jackets/wasps)

    • Alert immediately to nests or urgent infestations

    • Bring barn trash to road can

    • Bring recycling down to sort/store

    • Take recycling to centers as needed.

    • Animals first. Safety always.

    • Clean, organized spaces (feed room, breezeway, tools) are part of the job—not “extra.”

    • “See it, solve it (or report it).” No silent failures.