There’s No Place Like Home
With the seasonings changing, we all got vacation on our minds. When you have animals and a garden to care for, it can be hard to imagine leaving overnight, let alone for a long vacation.
Here are a few tips to make stepping away a little easier:
Create a system and write things down - Having some type of manual for your homestead ready to go will help reduce your stress levels when prepping to go out of town. It’s also great to have systems in place just in case you have an emergency and someone has to step in unexpectedly.
Breed accordingly - Avoiding having to leave farm babies that may need extra care and attention can make your farm sitters job a lot easier. Although they are cute and snuggly, you will want to be there if something goes wrong. The first few weeks of an animal's life are crucial and may need intervention from you that not everyone may be able to provide.
Don’t tell me if something dies - One major rule I have for farm sitters is not to tell me if something dies. As sad as that may sound, there is NOTHING you can do in that situation from 100’s or even 1000’s of miles away. Make sure they know how to handle that situation before you leave and equip them with the tools to deal with a death if one were to occur.
Be clear on what you consider an emergency - Let your farm sitter know what they should be calling you about and who to contact if they can’t reach you. Someone who knows your property well, like a neighbor or family member can be a great asset. Even if they cannot physically be there, they may be able to talk your sitter through a problem if you are unavailable.
RELAX AND HAVE FUN! You work really hard…all of the time. You’ve taken the leap to trust someone else with your farm or homestead, enjoy your time away and know that home will be waiting when you return.
