Welcome to Permies!
We have been considering the possibility of "renting" some land in and around our orchards to someone who wanted to pasture poultry in season. The right person has adopted Joel Salatin's ideas about fiefdoms and wants to run his/her business overlaid on top of ours. We hadn't really thought about providing housing but as always there is probably a way for willing minds to sort things out.
What we have: 6 acres of pasture being converted into organic/permaculture orchards with loads of space to run birds. The land is in two parcels, about 1/8th mile apart.
Water for animals on site. Some available electricity, space in the unheated hoop house to set up a brooder. A place to hook up an RV (electric, power, blackwater drain, WIFI). A very small farmers market with no one in the poultry space. 150-200 mile drives to several urban areas to access other farmers markets. A
local economy with seasonal part-time jobs, both in agriculture and tourism. Incredible scenery and recreation.
What we want: fertility from the birds, more critters eating to manage the grass/alfalfa mix growing between the
trees. Help 3 days a month to irrigate and other projects that arise. A few birds for our table. NO drama, drugs, late night noise. Occasional trades of animal care so we can leave the farm once in a while (I'd like to go camping again!)
What you bring: your own portable electronetting, your coops, your camper/trailer if you want to stay here. You develop your
marketing plan, slaughter plan (we can be the holder of record for the on-farm slaughter permit or you find a slaughterhouse).
A couple other "rules" we would be pretty strict on: bring in only organic
feed; as far as using our tools-you break it, you replace it; we get along with all our neighbors and expect people here to do so as well (this is a very conservative and religious community-we are neither but we are good neighbors).
Here's the issue that may not work for your timing: it's a short season. Our pastures don't start to green up until mid-March/early April. Irrigation doesn't begin here until the first Saturday in April. The seasonal jobs are slow to start in April, ramp up by Memorial Day, you can work your butt off through the tourist season, then dry up after October.
For anyone else who might read this (since posts are forever), we are not looking for interns or WWOOFers at this time. Anyone who wants to discuss a "rental" has the experience to start their own business and the financial resources to supply their own infrastructure. We would want references from previous internships and to see a basic written plan that shows you've figured out how to make some money at this. We would consider a stable couple, but no kids or dogs.
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