how to live on a farm for free
The sun was rising over the slightly rolling landscape of the farm, and there I was, pushing a lawnmower, serving as a temporary farm caretaker—a role that I had naively assumed.
“Why not?” I had thought before arriving there. “It’s a very nice place to spend the summer, and I’ll even make some money by being there. I can balance my usual activities with the farm chores.”
However, days went by, and mowing the lawn began to seem like a never-ending task.
This fact worried me because my usual work still beckoned me, and I was concerned because the other tasks of the farm clamored for my attention.
“It would be more worthwhile to pay someone to do this for me,” I had thought. “This would allow me to dedicate more time to my usual work and activities.”
Nevertheless, I pressed on.
And when I was nearing the end of the task, I cast my gaze back upon where I had started—only to find it already beckoning for another round of mowing!
Anyway, while the mower blades continued their work and my arms were pushing the lawnmower without traction through the great sea of grass, my mind went to the clouds, where I stumbled upon the following thought: “Instead of using my own money to hire a lawn care worker, I could use my earnings as a farm caretaker to pay someone else to do my work as a farm caretaker, leaving me with the sole duty of living on the farm and… WAIT A MINUTE, that’s basically living rent-free. It’s free housing!”
I knew I had to document this idea.
Leaving the lawnmower where it stood, I raced home, grabbed my cell phone, and wrote the idea down in a note, which eventually became the post you are reading right now.
“By being a farm caretaker and using the pay to outsource my work, I can live rent-free in a spacious three-story house, surrounded by forest, with a [distant] view of the ocean, clean air, pure spring water, a soccer field, swimming pools, a pool house, another house, colorful birds, streams, and fruit trees everywhere—all without paying anything!”
An Even Bigger Savings
Additionally, the owner of the farm covers the electricity costs, allowing you to eliminate not only the rent but also the electricity costs.
And the water is free and pure, coming straight from the spring, without chlorine or additives. Good, crystalline water. It doesn’t even have a taste.
(Furthermore, the owner of the farm allows the caretaker to plant crops and raise animals for personal use.)
Living without the burden of paying rent can result in substantial savings, especially since a significant portion of many people’s income goes toward housing expenses.
By eliminating this cost in order to live rent-free in a pleasant location, you can experience significant financial relief and allocate those funds toward other priorities, such as buying your own house.
Your Role on the Farm
By implementing this idea to live rent-free, you essentially become a farm manager: you delegate tasks, receive money from the farm owner, and use that payment to pay the employee you hired to do the work in your stead.
You can think of it as hiring a gardener to look after your garden. Essentially, you’ll be doing the same thing, only in your new home.
You’ll live rent-free while your lawn gets mowed and your pool stays sparkling clean, all without costing you anything—not even your time.
Your only duty will be to live [rent-free] on the farm.
Having someone residing there prevents outsiders from occupying the property and ensures everything remains well-maintained and in order.
Farm owners hire farm caretakers to ensure their property isn’t abandoned or subject to unauthorized occupation. They usually live in more urbanized neighborhoods or wealthier cities and keep the farm just as a place to maybe spend a weekend in the summer.
More Money to your Family
You know what could be a much better idea than hiring a lawn care worker?
How about getting your kids involved in some farm chores? HAHAHA
Your children can handle tasks like mowing the lawn and cleaning the pool, all while earning money for their efforts.
Meanwhile, your wife can manage the household and other farm-related tasks.
As for you, you go out to work on more profitable ventures and bring a lot of money to your wife.
Here’s why this approach is better:
- Keeps money within the family: The money that would have gone to someone outside your family stays with your family.
- Instills the value of hard work: Your children will learn the importance of earning money through their efforts.
- Replaces traditional allowance: Instead of giving them allowances, they’ll earn their own money, saving you from providing extra funds.
- Teaches financial stewardship: You can teach them to bring the tithes and offerings to the Lord from their own money (not yours).
- Encourages financial independence: They can buy extra things for themselves with their own money, leading to more savings for you.
In this setup, you can live rent-free in a wonderful place, make a lot of money working somewhere else, and have your children make their own money while learning valuable life lessons.
Since I’ve never been married and don’t have children, my alternative would be to hire someone else for these tasks. But if you’ve got a family, this idea seems like a much better option than hiring someone from outside.
Asking for Permission
It’s very likely that the farm owner would be open to the idea of you calling someone else to assist you with the work at no extra cost to them.
Take it from my own experience.
The farm caretaker asked the owner of the farm if I could fill in for him so that he could go on vacation for a month and a half (accumulated vacation), and she said yes.
This wasn’t the first time such an arrangement had occurred; the previous year, I had filled in for him for a week.
Considering that the farm owner had previously allowed someone else to work and reside there, it’s very likely they would permit you to bring in some assistance at no extra cost to them.
Also, it’s like your house: you live there, go out, and invite friends to visit your home.
In my childhood, the farm caretaker’s son from a neighboring farm often invited me and our friends to camp, swim, use the grill, and enjoy other activities on the farm. If you’re allowed to invite friends for recreational purposes, it becomes even more plausible to bring in someone to help maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of the place!
Personally, I prefer the idea of employing the family. Beyond the other advantages I’ve mentioned, one additional benefit is that you wouldn’t need to ask for permission.
Actually Working As a Farm Caretaker
If your family is large, you and each family member could contribute a few minutes a day to help with the farm work.
This way, everyone can still manage their daily tasks, studies, and pursue more lucrative careers or vocations, all while enjoying the benefits of rent-free living in a very pleasant place.
Think of it as taking care of your house, something you probably already do, only a bit more labor-intensive (but with the added perk of getting paid for it). Here’s how to make this work:
- Divide the Tasks: Break down the farm chores into manageable tasks that each family member can handle. For example, mowing the lawn, tending to the garden, feeding animals, and cleaning the pool can be divided among everyone.
- Daily Contributions: Allocate just a few minutes to each family member per day. With everyone pitching in, the workload becomes light and manageable.
- Automate Processes: Look for ways to automate as many tasks as possible, using the free electricity and gasoline available. Consider using modern farming equipment to ease the workload.
- Maintain a Schedule: Create a schedule that fits around everyone’s daily routines, ensuring that farm tasks don’t interfere with studies, work, or other responsibilities.
Earning Even More Money
Currently, I’m residing and working in a campground (but not as a farm caretaker), as I mentioned in my other post: Coworking Office Space for Free.
Here, a significant part of the workforce consists of volunteers (but I’m not one of them). They are travelers and tourists who exchange their labor for accommodation and other benefits.
This model of work is available in a variety of places, including hostels, farms, permaculture farms, homestays, NGOs, and ecovillages. You can use the labor of volunteers who are willing to work in exchange for free accommodation and other benefits. This way, you get the assistance you need without spending your earnings on hiring someone else.
Not only will you cut your rent costs, but you’ll also earn a salary to live rent-free in a pleasant and expensive location! HAHAHA
In the campground I live in, volunteers work a maximum of 5 hours a day and have two days off per week. In return, they get to live rent-free, receive a daily breakfast, access to the laundry room, and a fully equipped kitchen (plus free hiking trails and excursions).
So, your only expense would basically be the cost of a daily meal—which is much cheaper than hiring a lawn care worker, especially if you adopt my money-saving method for groceries.
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Until next time, God willing.
Take care!
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