The Gateway Ranch in Kaleden (located between Keremeos and Penticton), BC is seeking a part-time farmhand!
ABOUT The Gateway Ranch
I have an interesting opportunity for someone looking for a work/live situation…or perhaps a young couple with no kids. Last year I had a couple that stayed her as farmstays and it was awesome! I’m looking for help around my ten acre property in exchange for accommodation starting in June. The person or couple would be responsible for some watering, mowing and small jobs, about two hours of work a day. It is an ideal situation for someone who also works remotely.
I bought the ranch in Sept. of 2019 and then Covid hit….so far there is only a small garden to be tended. I have plans to start a bee colony, a small chicken colony and a herd of sheep as well as add an alpaca to the livestock. There is a chicken coop here that needs a bit of a clean up, but is in great shape. This year I’d like to hatch a few hens to produce some eggs once they mature. My dream is to create and maintain a beautiful and sacred landscape for likeminded people to come to and connect with nature. It backs onto crown land and is the last 10 acre property on the country road before the cattle guard, which connects to 360 acres of cattle range.
DESIRED QUALITIES
The person or couple must be handy, able bodied, quiet, clean, responsible, love dogs (but not bringing one, I have three) and be non-smoking. I run a dog training company and a B&B, so need help with keeping the gardens tidy. The interested person(s) would need to be capable of operating and maintaining the ride on mower, the weed eaters, lawn mowers and hopefully have a basic tool kit. There is very little maintenance in the winter other than small jobs, moving/chopping wood for the wood stoves, and helping with snow removal.
JOB TASKS
About two-four hours of basic chores on a given day:
- Watering and helping with the veggie garden.
- Mowing, including mowing pathways through the ten acres.
- Basic watering and weeding of the two acre garden area.
- Chopping wood and maintaining wood stoves.
- Fixing fences as needed…the deer break through them.
- Two yearly clean-ups and a yard waste burn during burn season.
- Taking care of livestock (when I get chickens and sheep) I am away for the month of August.
- Cleaning eavestroughs and cleaning up leaves in the fall.
JOB DETAILS
Term: The position starts June 1st, 2021 and could lead to a permanent farmstead position if the right person or couple applies. I plan on building the ranch up to be a sanctuary. It will eventually be used for Equine Therapy, yoga retreats and a host of healing practices. I am dedicated to building a team of likeminded people to do this land justice and also to share it with small groups for intimate weddings and nature lovers. There are infinite possibilities here!
Hours per week: The farmstay position is a work live position requiring an average of 14 hours of work per week, but less in the winter. There is very little to do here once the snow fall starts in Oct. The ranch is at 3000 feet and is very quiet during the winter months. Work begins again with a big clean up in April once the snow melts….and another big clean up in the fall.
Wage: $20 an hour. I do have some side jobs that need doing and the right person could earn extra money as well.
Accommodation: The garden shop has been converted into a suite, which is self contained and currently is a B&B rental for $100 per night during the summer. For the farmstay position I am installing a basic, but modern cooking area. In addition there is a private bathroom, open concept living room and bedroom and a walk-in closet, as well as a lovely porch overlooking the mountains. It is a beautiful property and a one of a kind opportunity for the right person(s). Cost is $1000 a month plus 1/4 the utilities for the suite
TO APPLY
Members that might be interested or a responsible and able bodied couple looking to escape the city need only apply with a letter of recommendation from a landlord and a basic resume. I will require a damage deposit for the suite and a septic agreement to be signed, as well as a Covid liability release form to be signed. I’m looking for a person who is the right fit and will love this land as much as I do. The cover letter and personal reference, plus a list of skills that will be a good match for the position is all I require to apply. Send to wwoman@telus.net
Deadline to apply: May 1st, 2021
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
