Farm Steward/Couple: $54K–72K/yr + 2BR Private Cottage | Regenerative Homestead

Wild Wonder Farm. Live and work on a 140-acre regenerative homestead in the hills of South Woodstock, Vermont.

Strong solo candidates also considered

About Wild Wonder Farm

Wild Wonder Farm is a 140-acre diversified family homestead nestled in the hills of South Woodstock, Vermont — less than ten minutes from Woodstock village, named by Condé Nast Traveler as "the most beautiful small town in America."

Over the past three years, we've transformed this Vermont hill farm into a working homestead that now provides nearly all of our family's food: 100% of our protein (beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and trout), 100% of our sweetener (maple syrup and honey), and a growing abundance of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

The land itself is a gift — multiple ponds including a stocked trout pond, views across the valley, dark skies brilliant with stars, sunrises over distant mountains, acres of wild berries, a seasonal brook, and miles of trails winding through meadow and forest. Our sugarbush is tapped each spring by a neighbor; our bees are tended by a partner beekeeper. We've planted hundreds of fruit and nut trees and established a perennial food forest that will feed families for generations.

The farm operates on a permaculture paradigm — holistic, regenerative, and rooted in working with natural systems rather than against them.

We're not looking for someone to help us start. We're looking for someone to help us continue — to steward what we've built, carry it forward with care, and put their own stamp on this next chapter.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a dedicated steward couple (or an exceptional solo steward) to operate the farm Monday through Friday as true partners in this work.

This is a live-in position with private housing provided. Our goal is to raise ~80% of our family's calories on-site, with modest surplus shared with friends and community. This is a homestead, not a commercial operation — we want people who see this as a way of life, not just a job.

What success looks like:

• The farm runs independently Monday–Friday without dependency on the family
• Animals are healthy and well-managed; gardens are productive; systems improve over time
• Winter is productive — projects completed, infrastructure improved, spring readiness achieved
• The property feels cared-for and beautiful year-round

The Housing

Your home will be a charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage with hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace, and a private porch. The cottage connects via a tackroom to our four-stall barn (used for storage, brooding, and workshop space) and adjoins a quaint potting shed — your hub for garden work and seed starting.

Utilities are included. Washer and dryer provided.

Baseline Farm Systems

Livestock

• Cattle: maintain herd at 6–7 head (rotational grazing, winter hay/bale management)
• Pigs: 2–6 seasonally
• Meat birds: 100–200/year (1–2 batches)
• Laying hens: 30 (with annual replenishment plan)
• Turkeys: 4–10 (Thanksgiving-focused)

Crops & Perennials

• ½-acre production garden (potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, squash, tomatoes, beans — storage crops and freezer staples)
• Kitchen garden (greens, herbs, continuous harvest)
• Orchards and berry plantings (apples, pears, and an abundance of berries — maintenance and harvest)

Open to expanding (if you bring the interest and skill):

• Rabbits, sheep, or goats
• Mushroom cultivation (log-grown shiitake — winter project)
• Micro-scale dairy (a family cow for milk, butter, cheese)

Already handled externally:

• Maple sugaring (neighbor partnership)
• Bees (partner beekeeper)

Role Structure for Couples

We envision two program owners, but for the right couple a "lead and helper" structure would also be considered. For two program owners, the below represents a potential breakdown of responsibilities:

Program Owner A — Livestock & Infrastructure

• Cattle: rotational grazing, fencing readiness, mineral/water systems, winter feeding (including bale moves with tractor)
• Pigs: seasonal setup, shelter, moves, feed management, processing coordination
• Poultry infrastructure: tractors, shelters, predator-proofing, brooder systems
• Equipment: tractor and UTV readiness, basic maintenance
• Winter access: paths, steps, walkways cleared; occasional tractor bucket snow work

Program Owner B — Grower, Poultry & Preservation

• Crop planning and garden execution (planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest)
• Storage crop systems: curing, root cellaring, freezer/pantry organization
• Egg program: flock health, production, annual replenishment
• Kitchen garden: continuous harvest for family use
• Orchard and berry maintenance: pruning support, mulching, harvest coordination

Landscaping: Routine mowing and trimming (~1 acre around buildings) using provided zero-turn mower and trimmer. Plowing is contracted; steward provides emergency backup only.

Winter Workbank

Winter is lighter on daily chores but rich with project work. Examples:

• Firewood: buck, split, stack (we're exploring wood heat for the cottage)
• Poultry infrastructure: build chicken tractors, improve brooder systems
• Farm repairs: doors, latches, coops, gates, fencing, drainage
• Mushroom program: log inoculation, laying yard construction
• Equipment and tool maintenance
• Planning: seed orders, crop calendars, processing schedules, spring readiness

Schedule & Hours

This is a year-round position with seasonal variation in workload — the natural rhythm of farming.

• Peak season (April–October): Intensive weeks during planting, cultivation, harvest, and processing. Some weeks will exceed 40 hours; the work follows the weather and the crops.
• Shoulder and winter (November–March): Lighter daily chores (~1–2 hours) plus project work. Total weekly hours are significantly reduced, but steady progress on the winter workbank is expected.
• Primary responsibility: Monday–Friday
• Weekends: Family typically handles basic chores when home; clear coverage ladder for travel and emergencies
• Time off: Structured PTO with planned coverage — not "figure it out when you need it"

We compensate for the full year at a steady monthly rate, recognizing that summer intensity is balanced by winter flexibility. This is how diversified farms work — and we want someone who embraces that rhythm rather than watching the clock.

Compensation

Steward Couple

Solo Steward

You'll receive a monthly Total Rewards Statement so the full value of your compensation is visible.

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5+ years hands-on experience in livestock management, vegetable production, or diversified farming
• For couples: ideally one partner strong in livestock systems, one strong in growing/preservation (though "lead + helper" considered)
• For solo: strong in one area, competent in the other
• Comfort with seasonal rhythm: intensive summers, project-focused winters
• Ownership mindset — you see what needs doing and do it without being asked
• Clear communication; ability to plan ahead and flag issues early
• Valid driver's license
• Physical requirements: Able to lift 50+ pounds; able to work in an environment that requires extended periods of walking, standing, bending, kneeling, lifting, and carrying; must be willing to work in all weather conditions

Preferred

• Experience with permaculture, regenerative, or holistic land management practices
• Experience with rotational grazing and pasture management
• Knowledge of food preservation: curing, root storage, freezing
• Basic carpentry and repair skills
• Tractor and farm equipment operation experience

Why This Opportunity

This is a chance to live and work on a beautiful Vermont hill farm with an established, productive homestead — not a startup project.

You'll have:

• A real home (not a bunkhouse or camper)
• Defined responsibilities and fair compensation
• The rhythm of meaningful work tied to the seasons
• A family that's invested in your success and wants a long-term partnership

We're looking for someone who wants to grow with us — not just tend animals and pull weeds, but help shape what this place becomes.

To Apply

Send to wildwonderfarm [at] gmail [dot] com with subject line "Farm Steward Application":

1. A letter introducing yourself (and your partner, if applying as a couple) — your background, your experience, and why this opportunity appeals to you
2. Which "lane" you're strongest in: livestock or growing (for couples, indicate each person's strength)
3. 1–2 photos of past work (gardens, animals, builds — whatever shows your capability)

We look forward to hearing from you.

Ryan & Family
Wild Wonder Farm
South Woodstock, Vermont