• The work to be done requires a minimum of 15 hours per week and could also be 40 hours depending on skills and level of involvement.

• 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.