Ground & HomeGardens · Smallholdings · Farm Education

Ground & Home

Smallholding
sitting

Holiday cover that keeps your animals on their usual routine while you’re away.

See prices and how days are charged
Four donkeys resting in a grassy field, with sheep grazing in the distance

Build your booking

Come home to a job you’re glad is done

Go away knowing your animals are in good hands, and come home to a freshly cut lawn, a shed you can finally get into, or a patio that’s had a proper pressure wash.

While I’m looking after your smallholding, I can tackle some of those jobs you’ve been putting off. Tell me what would make the biggest difference when you get back. I can mow and strim, clear out a shed, cut back an overgrown patch or pressure wash the patio.

Your animals’ routine comes first. Before you go, we’ll agree what I can get done around their care and put it all in one written quote. Then when you get home, there’s one less job waiting for you.

Strimming and clearing

Cut back overgrowth around gates, paths, fences and other areas we agree in advance.

Mucking out

Add a fuller muck-out or bedding change for agreed pens, sheds or shelters.

Pressure washing

Clean suitable yards, paths or hardstanding, where there’s safe access and an appropriate water supply.

We’ll agree the area, equipment and any limits before you book.

How cover works

Your animals. Their usual routine.

Three pigs foraging in a grassy paddock beside a curved shelter

I offer scheduled visits and live-in cover. Before you go, we walk through the holding, agree the jobs and timings, and go over access, emergency contacts and how often you’d like updates.

A house-sitting exchange can work well if you find someone with the right experience. Paid cover can make sense when you have several species, fixed routines or extra duties you want agreed in advance. You’ll know who is looking after the animals, what’s included and what it will cost.

My experience with livestock and growing

I’ve managed a small herd of Boer and Saanen goats and am confident handling, feeding and milking them. I’ve also cared for pigs, donkeys and a range of poultry. I know how much the everyday details matter, from keeping drinking water fresh and checking bedding to making sure the birds are safely locked up at dusk.

I’m also an experienced grower of flowers and vegetables. If you have a veg patch, flower beds or a polytunnel that needs attention while you’re away, I can keep up with watering and pick what’s ready.

Before you go, we’ll walk through your routine together so I know how you like things done, from the morning feed to the evening lock-up.

What I can look after

  • Feeding, fresh water and welfare checks
  • Morning let-out, egg collection and evening lock-up
  • Routine bedding, cleaning and checks agreed at handover
  • Updates while you’re away and an agreed plan if something changes

Indicative prices

Smallholding sitting rates

One scheduled visit

From £35 per visit

For straightforward local feeding and welfare checks.

Morning and evening

From £70 per day

Two scheduled local visits for holdings with morning and evening routines.

Live-in smallholding care

From £100 per calendar day

For a straightforward routine. Mixed holdings and more involved duties are quoted individually.

How calendar days are counted

Live-in cover is charged for each date booked, including arrival and departure dates. A Friday-to-Sunday sit is three calendar days and two nights. At £100 per calendar day, that would be £300 for the sitting.

Your written quote will confirm the handover times and total price, taking account of your postcode, animals, daily workload and any extra jobs.

Start an enquiry

Plan your cover

Smallholding sitting enquiry

Where I work

I’m based in Swansea and welcome smallholding sitting enquiries across South and West Wales, including Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Send me your postcode, dates and a little about the cover you need, and I’ll let you know if I can help.

Fill in the form, review your details and send your enquiry here. If photos would help, we can arrange them after you enquire.

I’ll use your details to respond to your enquiry and arrange any agreed work. Read the privacy notice.

Your details and dates
Animals to look after

Enter the number of each animal you’d like me to look after. Leave the others blank.

Gardening and additional jobs

Choose any jobs you’d like included in the quote.

Get in touch

Tell me what you need and where you’re based.