Looking for someone to help out on our homestead/farm

[Wmahoney]

Hello y’all!
(my apologies if I posted this in the wrong thread)

We are looking for someone to watch/help out on our homestead.
We travel to Vermont 5 times a year to visit family and pick up hay for our animals, and we are looking for someone to help us out when we are gone. We are also open to long term help. We can offer different kinds of pay, such as money or just staying at our homestead and teaching and feeding you.


A little more about us:
We are a family of three, and we have a 100 acre homestead in Roanoke, AL.
We are committed to following Biblical standards in every aspect of our lives, including our approach to farming. We strive to emulate creation in the way we feed and care for our animals.
We also observe the sabbath every Saturday, and on that day, we only do the necessary animal chores.
Our farm is home to Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Kune Kune Pigs, American Guinea Hogs, Guinea Hens, Chickens, Quail, and our two Rat Terriers. All of our animals are fed Organic and raised as naturally as possible.
If you are interested at all, or just want to talk about it, feel free to DM me or text: (mod comment to PM her for the phone number if you need it.)

 

[Cascadian]

I wish you luck. It is hard to find someone or a couple to cover even for a few days.

 

[Wmahoney]

I wish you luck. It is hard to find someone or a couple to cover even for a few days.

Thank you.
Yes, it has been hard to find people. We had a great guy who was really good at taking care of the animals and he stayed with us for a long time, but then he got married and moved to CA.

 

[zoomzoom]

I can't help you on your farm but I do have a question.

We travel to Vermont 5 times a year to visit family and pick up hay for our animals

Why do you get your hay from 1200 miles away?

 

[Wmahoney]

I can't help you on your farm but I do have a question.

Why do you get your hay from 1200 miles away?

So this is a bit complicated.
Vermont hay is high quality and VERY different from Alabama hay (and a lot cheaper). Goats are very picky and seems all of our goats are originally from VT they are used to that hay. For a while we tried to use the hay down here, but all of are (very) stubborn goats refused to eat it and started to starve themselves instead of eating it. And seems we do not feed our goats grain, their hay is the most important part of their diet.
But we just moved from VT a few years ago, and we have close family up there so it works out. Whenever we visit Vermont, we just bring a load of hay back in our 24' enclosed trailer. We have not been able to find hay anywhere near as good of quality down here, and we have tried quite a few different kinds.

 

[SoulSeeker]

I would love to help you but unfortunately it would be a year or better before I could make the move. As I lived in AL in the past I would just get my license back. Stay in touch here and see what the future brings!

 

[Wmahoney]

I would love to help you but unfortunately it would be a year or better before I could make the move. As I lived in AL in the past I would just get my license back. Stay in touch here and see what the future brings!

Definitely keep in touch! I Just followed you.

 

[Snowman]

Can't You Find and Buy some of the Seed for that type of Hay...?!?

I'm a little North of You, on Your loco Map, 431 North to West I-20 close to Oxford and switch North on 431 again near Saks.

Me Baby is Resting in Her backyard(<<<Her Pic) and I Know She is Happy where She is. me being in Me 76 year, not sure how many I have left and I sure wouldn't want to bee found somewhere on 100 acres by the smell(lol)...!!!

I would buy dif seeds and keep trying to get the Right One for Your Critters and You can still make the trips for Visiting with just a Vehicle...

You have been there awhile now, look around where Veterans Hang out, they don't all Drink and Smoke... Bet You could find One Close, who would Really Appreciate a Chance Anew...?!? Good Luck...

 

[Wmahoney]

Can't You Find and Buy some of the Seed for that type of Hay...?!?

Unfortunately it is too hot here for the exact kind of hay we get. I would try to use some other kind of seed like you said, but our property is mostly wooded with not many pastures. So we would have to rent or buy more land.
We might figure something else out in the future, but right now it works pretty well for us (as long as we do not get more goats!).

 

[Snowman]

Isn't down here, just about the Right Time to start growing Hay...?!?

Take a peek at this : https://smallfarmersjournal.com/a-beginners-guide-to-selecting-hay/

 

[Wmahoney]

Isn't down here, just about the Right Time to start growing Hay...?!?

I'm not sure. We honestly do not have much experience with growing hay. I just know that the weather down here is completely different than in VT, and a few people we know have tried to grow good quality hay down here and it did not work all that great.

 

[Snowman]

I would find out for sure when you should start and select small plots to see what happens and what responds well and then expand those plots or even start in dif plots, even around the trees, to see if there might help the growth...?!? Also check the link in Me other post up ^...

 

[Wmahoney]

I would find out for sure when you should start and select small plots to see what happens and what responds well and then expand those plots or even start in dif plots, even around the trees, to see if there might help the growth...?!? Also check the link in Me other post up ^...

I will look at that. Thank you!

 

[Peanut]

Wish you luck in the search. I'd be happy to help but live on the other side of the state. Over a 3hr drive... to far for me to commute, don't know anyone in your area either... But happy hunting!

 

[joel]

I heard that goats are picky eater, but all the goats I have been around, eat anything that grows.
That why I like pigs they can live in the wild, woodland or swamp, they eat reptiles & love mud.
We have had a few want to be Homesteaders, the sun got hot & they could not go on vacation, so they gave the goats, chicken away. Non farm people have no ideal how much hard work there is on a farm/ranch.
Just a orchard & large garden is work. Everybody wants to raise organic & free range, but not bug bitten fruit or perpetrator in the hen house. It is not easy & it cost more than most people make. I had beg to get a few trees thrown, ended up do most of it myself.

 

[Snowman]

https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/alabama-planting-guide-for-forage-grasses/

https://grazingguide.net/pdpforage/...on/VT_Forage_Description_and_Seeding_Rate.pdf

https://www.hardwickagriculture.org/about/case-studies/first-cut-hay-glimpse-early-season-harvest

Again I Suggest You Start with small plots til You find and get what the critters enjoy then figure out the best way to continue on a Larger Scale...

 

[sonya123]

I would gladly help when you go on trips in exchange for help on our farm when we want to go somewhere, but you are too far away. I read Roanoke, and thought, wow, that would be great, but you are not in Virginia. Let me know if you find someone reliable and how you did it
We have goats , sheep, chickens, dogs

 

[Peanut]

I made some calls for you this afternoon. Did business with some folks in roanoake a decade ago. My numbers were no longer good, sorry. One lady (with goats) worked at or was associated with a learning center on main street. Is that place still there? Maybe someone wants to learn how to care for goats? Best I can do...

 

[Wmahoney]

I made some calls for you this afternoon. Did business with some folks in roanoake a decade ago. My numbers were no longer good, sorry. One lady (with goats) worked at or was associated with a learning center on main street. Is that place still there? Maybe someone wants to learn how to care for goats? Best I can do...

Thank you so much for calling some people!
There is no learning center that I have seen/or am aware of. But I might ask around and see, that would be a good idea.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I thought goats ate everything. I'm sure they would learn to eat your local hay eventually, that or starve.

 

[Hardcalibres]

I thought goats ate everything. I'm sure they would learn to eat your local hay eventually, that or starve.

Yep.

In Nigeria, they eat cardboard.

 

[SoulSeeker]

Anything, including humans, will not let themselves starve to death. They will eat whatever and wherever whenever they can find something. Before turning cannable people will eat the leather soles off their shoes, tree bark, termites and other insects. Goats are no different. They have been pampered too long but stop feeding them for a day or two and watch what they are now willing to eat. Don't stick your hands to far in the pen!

 

[UserNameTaken]

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but have you investigated the legal aspects of this with a lawyer? One is the trend for people to claim squatters rights. A guy in Kentucky let some "friends" stay recently, they claimed tenancy rights, filed a restraining order and forced him from his house! It was in the news. He eventually got it back, but OMG.

Also what you are describing is an "employee" to the IRS. Required to be there and do certain jobs at regular times, live on site, using your equipment, etc.. If anyone gets hurt is there workers comp / medical, soc sec,?

And, what are your laws on employee compensation / housing? You can't hire people for room and board alone anymore or with minimal pay, without meeting certain wage requirements (I think federally, but check your state). Also by providing employee housing there's a whole new set of tenancy rules in most cases. You can't just kick them out. Some states are very weak, others you'll have to evict, and housing value as compensation is capped at absurdly low amounts.

I had a guy work for me for ONE day flipping a house. 22 months later (24 mo statute of limitations) he sued me for a "back injury" and failure to pay (one days work). Luckily, we were a licensed company, with insurance, and outside payroll. He never returned for his pay, a check was mailed to his LKA and returned. Payroll still had the check, in the sealed, cancelled envelope in our file and the money still in our payroll account. I had three sets of lawyers on it. My own lawyer, my insurance, and a workers comp guy I hired. The WC lawyer took one look at the guy's lawyers name and laughed. He said, "This guy runs a WC mill, and does this all the time." They wait until just before the SofL expires, then file cases long after people forgot about them. We ultimately proved fraud but the DA would not bring charges and the insurance in the end paid them around $30,000 to go away. These people know this is the game and how to play it, we don't.

Anyway I'd talk to a lawyer(s) first and have some iron clad agreements in place.

 

[Wmahoney]

I don't want to be a buzzkill, but have you investigated the legal aspects of this with a lawyer? One is the trend for people to claim squatters rights. A guy in Kentucky let some "friends" stay recently, they claimed tenancy rights, filed a restraining order and forced him from his house! It was in the news. He eventually got it back, but OMG.

Also what you are describing is an "employee" to the IRS. Required to be there and do certain jobs at regular times, live on site, using your equipment, etc.. If anyone gets hurt is there workers comp / medical, soc sec,?

And, what are your laws on employee compensation / housing? You can't hire people for room and board alone anymore or with minimal pay, without meeting certain wage requirements (I think federally, but check your state). Also by providing employee housing there's a whole new set of tenancy rules in most cases. You can't just kick them out. Some states are very weak, others you'll have to evict, and housing value as compensation is capped at absurdly low amounts.

I had a guy work for me for ONE day flipping a house. 22 months later (24 mo statute of limitations) he sued me for a "back injury" and failure to pay (one days work). Luckily, we were a licensed company, with insurance, and outside payroll. He never returned for his pay, a check was mailed to his LKA and returned. Payroll still had the check, in the sealed, cancelled envelope in our file and the money still in our payroll account. I had three sets of lawyers on it. My own lawyer, my insurance, and a workers comp guy I hired. The WC lawyer took one look at the guy's lawyers name and laughed. He said, "This guy runs a WC mill, and does this all the time." They wait until just before the SofL expires, then file cases long after people forgot about them. We ultimately proved fraud but the DA would not bring charges and the insurance in the end paid them around $30,000 to go away. These people know this is the game and how to play it, we don't.

Anyway I'd talk to a lawyer(s) first and have some iron clad agreements in place.

Wow.
Thank you for letting me know, I will look further into it.

 

[Pearl]

Wow.
Thank you for letting me know, I will look further into it.

It's sad how things are these days!! With the right people it would be the perfect set up! But too many people would post take advantage of it!!

 

[Wmahoney]

It's sad how things are these days!! With the right people it would be the perfect set up! But too many people would post take advantage of it!!

For sure.
I wish I could find the "right people". You just don't know who to trust anymore.

 

[SoulSeeker]

I understand your predicament. As far as trusting don't trust young people anymore. They get a job but when they find out they have to actually do something they cry and moan about it til they quit. Or they have no sense of pride in their work or even a work ethic, could care less. They live at home with mom and dad yet or in grandma's basement not having to do anything to support themselves. It's scary when you think how these kids are the future of our nation.

 

[montanabill]

There are good people out there....Do you have any organization as far as your religious beliefs and practices. It helps to have something in common. We have people who follow similar beliefs to you even out here in montana...
We rent living space to people and have had several long term folks who parked a travel trailer on the property.
My interest in your predicament is more from a standpoint of getting thru the coming hard times like the seven lean years. If anyone responds from the northwest or wants to move to montana be sure to look me up..

 

[Wmahoney]

Do you have any organization as far as your religious beliefs and practices.

Not really, we do our own thing. I'm sure there are people out there that agree with what we are doing, but not a specific community/religion that I am aware of.
We just read the bible and do the best we can to follow what it says. Whenever we joined a specific religion it did not work out that well.

If anyone responds from the northwest or wants to move to montana be sure to look me up.

Will do!

 

[montanabill]

I understand your predicament. As far as trusting don't trust young people anymore. They get a job but when they find out they have to actually do something they cry and moan about it til they quit. Or they have no sense of pride in their work or even a work ethic, could care less. They live at home with mom and dad yet or in grandma's basement not having to do anything to support themselves. It's scary when you think how these kids are the future of our nation.

Sounds like those long haired hippy freaks from the 60's and 70's...
Our currently 20 year old has been a challenge growing up but right now is outside with a friend working via floodlamps to get their tiny houses together in the back yard. Do they have the same goals and asperations I have? Nope, but slowly they are accepting responsibility and forming their own rules.