Prepare for a Successful Farm-Sitting Experience

Some housesitters look for new and exciting adventures when they travel, and farm-sitting can provide one such adventure. Jacqueline and Glenn Lamb share their farm sitting experience and how they enjoyed the variety of activities involved. Read on to learn more about how you can make your farm sit a great and successful experience.

How to Prepare for a Successful Farm-Sitting Experience

Photo by Anna Storsul

Around 2.6 million or 1.2 percent of U.S. employment is farm work. Why? Because farms are a lot of work! Farm-sitting is a fantastic rural escape. A great way to get a dose of fresh air, wide-open spaces, and the kind of peace that city life just can’t offer, but it also comes with work!

Farm life has responsibilities that go beyond just feeding a couple of animals, it’s a crash course in rural living and if you’re new to the gig, there’s a fair bit to get your head around. The key to success is preparation. We recommend a long chat with the owner to discuss everything and ask questions, flag any concerns, and make sure you’re up for the challenge before you find yourself knee-deep in hay with a goat giving you side-eye!

Understand the best way to feed hay to cattle

Taking care of some cows will more than likely be high on your farm-sitting to-do list. The owner of the property will more than likely want to avoid hay wastage, and our four-legged friends are notorious for pulling hay out of feeders and making a mess.

Nobody wants to waste hay, so understanding how to use a cattle feeder is helpful. There are lots of ways to feed cattle, but a raised feeder is often the most common as it keeps the hay off the ground, preventing cattle from spreading it around.

Pro tip: While throwing out large amounts of hay at a time might seem easier, this can lead to overconsumption or waste. Offering smaller amounts of hay more frequently encourages cattle to eat more efficiently, ensuring they consume more of what you put out. 

Get to know your new housemates

Photo by Glenn Lamb

Animals are cool. We all love them. Farm-sitting is like pet-sitting, just with more and different pets. Getting to know the animals on a farm and gaining a basic understanding of their behavior, care routines, and individual quirks can keep things running smoothly.

Animals are exactly like us; they have their own needs and routines for feeding, exercise, and care. Learning about all of this in advance ensures that you’re prepared and confident when you are the one in charge.

Some basic personality understandings make it easier to anticipate their needs and avoid any stress while being observant – keeping an eye out for anything unusual or out of the ordinary, like changes in behavior or health. Plus, and above all, this is a super fun requirement. Who doesn’t want to hang out and get to know some furry friends, after all?

Remember you are in a rural or remote location

Before the homeowner heads off, be sure to ask about emergency contacts – the nearest neighbors, vets, and local authorities. It’s unlikely that everything you need is down the road, so you’ll want to have an idea of how far away these things are in case something goes wrong.

Familiarize yourself with the farm’s first aid kits (for you and the animals) and learn how to handle minor injuries. If something unexpected happens, which likely will happen on a farm, you’ll know what to do (and sleep easier at night as a result).

Things to keep in mind after you arrive

Maintaining regular communication with the farm owner will likely be much appreciated. You can do this with daily or regular updates on how things are going to reassure them that everything’s under control. 

This has a benefit for you as well, as it keeps you accountable while providing a skilled set of eyes to catch any issues that might arise. Flick a quick text or email update with pictures of the animals and an update on how things are tracking. Regular contact ensures there are no surprises when the owner returns, making your exit easier as well.

Take steps to score even more farm sits

Photo by Jacqueline Lamb

If you like the idea of farm-sitting and want to do more of it, volunteering is a fantastic way to get more hands-on experience. This is even a great thing to do before you dive into farm-sitting. Many smaller farms always need extra help but might not have the budget to hire someone full-time.

Offering your time as a volunteer could be a win-win for both you and the farmer. You’ll gain valuable experience in animal care, learn how different farms operate, and even get a taste of what a typical day on the farm is like.

To do this, look for seasonal, family-run farms, as they can always use an extra set of hands. Farmer’s markets are also great places to connect with local farmers face-to-face and offer your help directly. The goal is to learn practical farming skills in a real-life environment and build relationships with farmers who might need your help in the future. You never know when they may need farm-sitting, and you’ll certainly be first on their list

FAQ

Want to try your hand at farm-sitting?

HouseSit Match has international farm and house-sitting opportunities, including short and long-term assignments. Just search our directory, use the search filters and find the house or farm-sitting that suits you best.

FURTHER READING FOR A FARM-SITTER, A HOMEOWNER AND HOBBY FARMER

At Housesit Match we like to offer useful and practical articles on topics for our readers. In this selection we offer you a number of suitable pieces from our own blog on managing a home, garden and pets with the help of house sitters and garden sitters.

Keep a garden in top shape – Here’s how

Create a pet friendly garden – Top Tips

Pet friendly homes – What to look for

Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

The Affordable Alternative to Dog Kennels

What is House Sitting?