Vicarious Ranch is a 60 acre ranch in Central Coast California, along the, now dry, bed of the Salinas River. We have a small but growing herd of dairy goats, a handful of hair sheep, rare heritage breed pigs, 75+ pasture raised chickens (layers and meat), a seasonal garden and 100+ fruit tree orchard. To help us manage our herds we have livestock guardian dogs and border collies. Life is busy on the ranch, but we do take time out to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. The ranch sits about 20 minutes from Paso Robles and 45 minutes from coastal towns. The ranch is surrounded by large and small homesteads and cattle ranches. On immediate neighbor runs a seasonal u-pick orchard, another has a small vineyard, and a third is currently planting an olive grove.
An ideal intern candidate is someone who enjoys working outside and has a love for both animals and nature. We are looking for mature, responsible, hard working, problem solvers. While playing with the animals is a nice perk, it is not the crux of the position. Running a farm/ranch requires use of tools, strength and grit. We are looking for a daily commitment and we do ask that you commit to a minimum of 3 months. Preference will be given to those who can commit to a 6 month or longer term. Upon completing an internship, candidates should expect to have a good understanding of what it takes to manage a small farmstead
Intern will be trained in various duties and will have an opportunity to learn gardening, animal husbandry, raising poultry,as well as other important aspects of a sustainable homestead. Duties will change seasonally.
At Vicarious Ranch we raise animals for dairy and for meat. Our animals are raised humanely, yet we do harvest livestock for personal use. We currently raise chickens and ducks for eggs and meat, dairy goats, hair sheep and heritage breed pigs. Further, we have 3 beehives from which we harvest honey each year. Our future projects include; building a certified dairy and creamery, creating a roadside farm stand, bread making in our wood fired oven, and building a wash-house comprising of a composting toilet and solar shower.. Longer term aspirations include; a farm stay program, a cooking school, and an archery range.
Those working on the farm are welcome to its bounty to prepare their daily meals.
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Interns are expected to be ready for work at specified start time (times vary seasonally)
Interns are expected to attend a daily morning meeting
Some experience with animals is helpful, but not necessary.
Work associated with kid/lamb/farrow:
Daily cleaning of barns
Once daily milking
Feeding/Water
Supplements and vaccinations
disbudding
banding and castration
late night/early morning attention
additional duties as assigned
Barn work:
Bottle feeding animals
Manure shoveling
Hay stacking
Associated farm work
Fence building and maintaining
Digging
Lifting
Compost Management
additional duties as assigned
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Garden/Orchard
Watering
Soil ammendment
Tilling
Digging
Troweling
Moving dirt
Seed starting
Harvesting
Greenhouse management
Planting
Water-line laying and maintenance
Inventory control
Succession planting
Building/Maintaining garden boxes
Pest control/management
additional duties as assigned
Chickens/Ducks
Daily tending to chicks
feed/water
keeping chicks clean/warm
keeping brooders clean
additional duties as assigned
Scratch twice a day
Keeping clean and cool water
Keeping feed full
Oyster shell
Feeding kitchen scraps
Collect and inventory eggs
additional duties as assigned
Keep food bins full
Clean pool and make sure access to clean water
Collect and inventory eggs
additional duties as assigned
What you may learn (seasonal)
All aspects of dairy goat and sheep management and care
Good dairy practices, udder prep, hand milking, milk handling, sanitation
Basic cheesemaking
Basic Homesteading
BeeKeeping
Composting
Cooking, canning and bread making
Housing
Tents/Cabins/RV
There is no running water in any of the buildings, but there is a privy, an outdoor shower in the bathhouse
We will assign housing according to which apprentice stays the longest. Shorter season stays might be in more temporary housing.
We will provide 1 set of bedding and basic cooking utensils. We ask that interns provide their own and towels and any specialty cooking equipment we might not have. We have laundry facilities on site. We will assign wash days and ask that you run full loads and use line drying when the weather permits. We have wireless DSL, but ask that live streaming be kept to a minimum as we have restricted capacity.
There is absolutely NO DRUG USE allowed on the Ranch. This is not negotiable. We will also not tolerate underage drinking. Responsible use of alcohol is okay. At this point in time we cannot accommodate family pets
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Work Protocols:
If you do not know how to use a certain farm tool or implement, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification or a tutorial.
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Meals
We like to eat supper together a few times a month. We will provide basic groceries. During summer months, we have no shortage of milk, and eggs…as well as what we can produce in the garden during peak season. We also have meat from the animals we harvest. While we are generous with provisions, we ask that you only utilize what is allotted to you. It is difficult for us to accommodate specific dietary restrictions. We do believe, however that the basic pantry provisions should accommodate a vegetarian or vegan diet. It is important to note that we do not keep specialty items such as soy based or meat substitute products as part of the standard provisions. I don’t intend for it to appear that if you don’t eat meat, we don’t want you. There are many times when our meals are either vegetarian or easily adapted to be so. This is meant to inform that we eat and provide animal protein as a consistent part of the diet on the ranch. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome, but will need to actively participate in their meal preparation.
Food/Drink: We provide food that should take you through 3 meals a day. We do not serve 3 meals a day. We provide a weekly stipend for groceries. It is expected that the interns work together to purchase provisions that will last for the week and that are of nutritional value. The stipend is not enough for pre-packaged and convenience items...but is plenty to put together a nutritional meal. Only items that are purchased with your own personal money may be tagged for your own personal use. The stipend is a group amount. Any misuse or misappropriation will result in the forfeiture of the stipend and monthly groceries of my choice (and budget) without input delivered to the group.
For group dinners or lunches, you are welcome to pitch in on the cooking, or make the meal for everyone. Any specialty items for your personal use should be purchased with your stipend. We do try and keep a tray of snack type items and fruit available for you throughout the day.
We do not provide any alcoholic beverages, nor is the stipend to be used on alcoholic beverages. If you see beer/wine/alcohol in the fridge that you did not buy, it is not for your use. Responsible use of alcohol is okay but we expect interns to supply his/her own preference for everyday consumption. We do not allow for alcohol consumption during the workday. We also expect that you do not return to work (weekdays or weekends) under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
We keep bottle water on hand for guests and events. Bottled water is not to be consumed in lieu of water from the tap. Please fill/refill your personal water bottle from the kitchen tap for drinking. We also keep a refrigerator of soda pop and specialty drinks on hand for guests and group events. If you are an iced tea drinker, we can provide tea bags so you can make large batches of sun tea for consumption.
Generally you will be on your own to prepare most of your own meals.
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Causes for Dismissal
-theft
-trouble with the law
-insubordination
-inability or unwillingness to perform duties as assigned
-unreasonable breakage
-ignoring farm rules
-drug use
-animal abuse
-inability to get along with co-workers
-behavioral issues
-intoxication during work hours
-belligerence
Trial period
-we allow a one week, no fault trial period at the beginning of your stay. If things don’t work out, then we will ask you to leave, or you may want to leave on your own accord.
After the trial period, we ask that you give 2 weeks notice before leaving.
Pay Day
Sunday is pay day. Qualified interns will receive a stipend and full room and board
If we go away for an extended period (3 days or more) we will also pay the intern who is in charge a farmsitter rate.
You will be reimbursed for gas if you use your own vehicle for farm business on a pre-approval basis.
Barn clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and possibly ruined, including barn boots.
Barn clothes are for the barn and clean clothes are for the kitchen/dairy, including separate shoewear.
Work gloves
reusable water bottle
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Flashlight or headlamp
A good pocket knife
A good attitude
Towels, washcloths, etc
Sundries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc)
Specialty cooking gear
A mode of transportation. Please do not depend on using a ranch vehicle for personal use
We encourage a cellphone. We do not have a landline...please do not have family or friends call the ranch unless it is an emergency.
A laptop/ipad/tablet
Dishes: If you use a dish, put it in the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full, then wash, dry and put it away. If you do not know how to load a dishwasher, please ask for a tutorial. We load our dishwasher for maximum load, but do not multi-stack items.
Do not leave dishes stacked in the sink. Do not leave dishes, glasses, mugs outside. We have lots of animals and things get broken easily.
BBQ, Grill: You are welcome to use the outdoor grill anytime. Make sure that the wood you use is replenished and that the grill is cleaned and items put away after use.
Pizza Oven: Please ask for assistance/permission for the pizza oven. We try and fire it up at least once a week in the spring and summer.
Trash: When they are full, bring them down to the dumpster, including household trash
Laundry: assigned days (thursday/saturday) for full loads only and a maximum of 2 loads per person. large items to be taken to the laundromat in san Miguel. Laundry is to be done on your personal time, not during the work day and you must provide your own detergent. Do not leave laundry in
Showers: The shower in the bath house is for everyone’s use. Keep it picked up, clean and sanitary. Please use only your own bath items. Do not “borrow” someone else’s property. If not kept clean on your own accord, it will become an assigned chore.
Composting toilet: Please add a layer peat moss after use. No urinating standing up (sit down only). Both urine and composted mass are to be emptied/cleaned as needed. Do not wait for someone else to do it. If it is full, take care of it. Use water bottle and scrub brush to clean up after yourself. DO NOT rinse scrub brush in the shower.
FAILURE TO KEEP THE COMPOSTING TOILET CLEAN WILL RESULT IN YOU BEING ASSIGNED TO CLEAN IT DAILY.
We ask that you are considerate of other’s privacy while using the toilet/shower facilities. We also ask that those using those facilities consider whomever is bunking in the bathhouse as well. Please communicate with each other and accommodate schedules. Anyone who consistently and/or intentionally violates another’s privacy will be immediately dismissed
Shared Space: Shared space is to be kept clean and free of clutter and detritus. You are welcome to charge items at the main ranch (on the deck or in garage during inclement weather), but it is not a receptacle for things. Please let us know if you need a place to store your items. We will find space for you in the barn or other buildings. We cannot be held responsible for loss, theft, or damage to your possessions.
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Feed Goats twice a day--all hay to go in trough or dry ground. No hay on wet ground
-generally we feed 1 flake per 4 goats at each feeding
-generally we feed 75% forage and 25% alfalfa
-during gestation and post kidding we feed a higher percentage of alfalfa
Grain nursing and gestating does as prescribed
-each goat eats differently
Feed Piglets twice a day--all feed to go in trough or bowls. No food on the ground
-pigs get a ration that is ½ barley and ½ pellet
-when we are finishing the pigs we have seasonal changes in food
When Nursing...make sure Sows have a food in their bin always
-for the first 4 weeks it is pellet only, when the piglets start to eat the food too, we do a 50% pellet/50% barley
Feed Breeder Pigs once daily in evening
Feed sheep twice a day. {seasonal}
-when we are breeding and have separated the sheep we give 1 flake per 4 sheep of forage hay of those we are breeding
-when sheep go out to graze we give them approximately 1 flake per 8 sheep in the morning of forage hay
-when there is plenty to graze, the sheep only get a little bit of hay in the evening to get them to come back in.
Let sheep out to graze
-the sheep have a tendency to test the fences, check with Mike to see where he wants the sheep to graze each day.
-Ruckus and Rizzo go out with the sheep unless you are told otherwise
Chicken scratch
-the chickens in the run and in the “nursery” get scratch in the morning and the evening.
-run chickens get a healthy scoop twice a day
-nursery chickens get a healthy quarter scoop twice a day
Chicken Food/Water
-make sure all chicken feeders are at a minimum ½ full. Make sure all water sources are full. They may need to be refilled multiple times each day, particularly when it is hot. In the mornings, they may have ice on them, crack the ice.
Turkeys
-turkeys are to always have food and water. Make sure they have access and that there is food/water at all times
Ducks
-ducks share the food/water with the chickens. We do a mixture to make sure the protein content doesn’t get too high or low. Make sure there is food in the morning. It does not need to be filled overnight.
-the khaki campbell ducks get locked up at night. If it is very hot, make sure they have access to water overnight. If it is mild or moderate, this is not necessary
Check water for goats/sheep/chickens/ducks/pigs to make sure they have clean water and that it is not frozen in winter or boiling hot in summer
Water garden(s) and orchards as needed
-based on the time of year, we have schedules for watering
Pick any ripe fruits/vegetables
-bring into the house or in the garage refrigerator
Top off all feed bins daily (the large bins, not the feeders)
Feed inside and outside dogs
outside dogs get 2 scoops of dry food (the small red scoop) + and 2 eggs or broth or goat’s milk mixed in. Ask Christy if there is anything to put in the food
inside dogs get dry food (2 scoops for jinx and ¼ scoop for scout and wd) + wet food. Scout and WD share ½ pouch and Jinx gets ½ pouch. Mix fully to coat dry food with wet food.
Feed cat
Cat gets dry food all day in feeder and wet food once a day at night. She gets 1 generous spoonful of wet food
Give dogs their medication
-use a small portion of a treat with a bit of peanut butter to adhere the pill. It doesn’t have to be excessive.
Nella gets thyroid medication 2 times a day
Jinx gets med for valley fever 2 times a day
Give all dogs a treat in the morning
-everyone gets 1 treat
Check water for all animals. If the stock tanks look dirty, then clean out. Goats will not drink from a dirty stock tank and can easily dehydrate in warm weather. All stock tanks get generous glugs of cider vinegar...particularly the bucks. They get at least 1 cup of vinegar in their stock tank at each cleaning.
Collect chicken eggs -see specific instructions regarding eggs
Collect duck eggs and put in separate (from chicken) tray in refrigerator
Administer medications/vaccinations as assigned
Check electric fence and fix any issues that arise
Make sure Livestock Dogs are with their assigned charges
Work on projects as assigned by Mike
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Weekly Chores
We run a 7 day work week. When we are milking, goats get milked every day. While we do not work on projects on the weekends, interns are responsible for morning and evening chores as well as any emergency issues which may come up. Typically the bulk of the weekend is considered “free time”. If you are on-site during the day on a weekend, we will expect that you will pitch in for anything that needs to be done. We will not accept you being present but ignoring a situation that may be occurring (animal medical, fence issue, unloading feed for example)
Monday: Clean out water troughs. Scrub and refill. Add 1 cup of cider vinegar to both the
Female and male goat’s tanks.
Clean out water troughs in Chicken run.
Take female goats on walk --seasonally
clean out and fill duck pool
Turn or water compost pile (as necessary)
Tuesday: Refill goat/sheep minerals
Refill baking soda
Refill chicken oyster shell
Muck out goat housing--put spent hay on compost pile
Wednesday: Top out goat grain bins/make note of anything that we need to replenish/replace
take female goats on walk--seasonally
Top off all feeders
clean and fill duck pool
Progressive seeding for garden --seasonally
Thursday: Brush livestock dogs--collect hair and put on compost pile
Muck out goat housing--put spent hay on compost pile
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Friday: Take female goats on walk --seasonally
clean and fill duck pool
Take feed/hay/supply inventory and advise what needs to be ordered
-feed: duck, goat grain, pigs, chicken, scratch, dog
-hay: alfalfa, forage
-supplies: minerals, baking soda, cider vinegar, kelp, diamond v yeast,
worming medication
Saturday: Feeding Chores AM
Feeding Chores PM
Sunday: Feeding Chores AM
Feeding Chores PM
Monthly Chores:
*Chore schedule and tasks are subject to change.
Vaccination Schedule
GOATS
DAM
3 weeks before kidding: 1 cc per 40lbs Selenium & 2 cc CDT
2 squirts of drench at kidding and continue for first week
KIDS
birth
¼-½ cc Selenium
2 squirts drench
day 2-5 2 squirts of drench
Day 3 Disbudding
1 cc tetanus
3 weeks:
day 1: 2 cc CDT
1 cc per 5 lbs Albon 12.5% (coccidosis treatment) *if needed
day 2-5 1 cc per 10 lbs Albon 12.5% *if needed
6 weeks:
day 1: 2 cc CDT
1 cc per 5 lbs Albon 12.5% (coccidosis treatment) *if needed
day 2-5: 1 cc per 10 lbs Albon 12.5% *if needed
6-8 weeks: Tattoo
½ cc tetanus
9 weeks:
day 1: 2 cc CDT
1 cc per 5 lbs Albon 12.5% (coccidosis treatment) *if needed
day 2-5: 1 cc per 10 lbs Albon 12.5% *if needed
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Goat Gestation and Kidding
The gestation of a goat is between 145 and 155 days. We mark the calendar when we first put a buck and doe together and count the gestation from there. During gestation we do not give the does any medication if it can be avoided.
At 3 weeks prior to kidding we give the does 2cc CDT and 1 cc Selenium. This is given to them at this time, so their kids will receive the benefits through the placenta.
At the same time we also put the does on a “flushing” regimine. At this time we begin to introduce grain into their diet….a little at a time. We progressively increase the grain until they kid...and then we give them a full portion of grain twice a day.
At approximately 5-7 days before scheduled kidding, we put the pregnant doe “up” at night to make sure she has a warm place to kid, if she kids overnight.
We always make sure there is clean water with vinegar or bluelight for all moms.
On the day of kidding we make sure the doe has a safe and warm place to tend to her kids. She gets as much hay as she pleases. We also look for signs of stress and administer a drench of corn syrup/molasses if we see she is having trouble keeping her energy up. She gets 2 squirts of vitamin drench after kidding and every day for 5 days after. Her kids also get drench for 5 days.
We worm the doe on the day after kidding as a precaution. We use Valbazen for this. It is orally administered. We follow a worming protocol of worm +10 days worm +10 days worm +30 days worm.
The kidding/nursery pen is to be cleaned daily to ensure a clean space for the babies.
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If one of the sheep has a lamb, here are the steps to take
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Where to buy Feed/Supplies
Alfalfa CalAg or Premier Ag
Alfalfa Pellet: Tractor Supply or CalAg
Barley: CalAg or Templeton Feed
-Can be rolled or whole for goats/must be rolled for pigs
Chicken Layer Lemos
--freedom layer pellet
Dog Food: CalAg or Atascadero
-Kruse green bag
Duck Pellet Lemos
Forage Hay Premier Ag or Lane
Medical Supplies Santa Cruz
-needles, syringe, antibiotics, salves, sprays, etc
Minerals: Goat- Tractor Supply--need to order
Sheep-Cal Ag
Oats: CalAG/Tractor Supply or Lemos
Pig Pellet Lemos
--freedom livestock
Scratch: Lemos/Cal Ag/Tractor Supply
Sunflower Seeds: Tractor Supply
-black oil in orange bag
Turkey Pellet Lemos
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Egg Collecting
We collect eggs every day and sometimes three times a day (in very hot weather). The ducks tend to lay eggs overnight or early in the morning, so their eggs are picked up during morning feeding.
There are standard areas that the chickens use to lay eggs, however because they are free ranging, they may lay just about anywhere. Do not expect that you will only find eggs in the nesting boxes. Be on the lookout for eggs everywhere.
-If a chicken is clucking loudly in an area, it usually indicates that they have laid an egg nearby or that they want to but another chicken is in their spot
-if there is a dark corner somewhere, or a hidden place, they are most likely laying there
-if you see the dogs rooting away in a spot, there are probably chicken eggs there
-if there is hay stacked anywhere, there will be eggs as well
-if you find a new hiding spot and all of the eggs are the same color, it is probably 1 chicken that has been laying for quite some time. Never collect the eggs (for eating) that you find in a new place for the very first time. Gather those eggs and toss them directly to the chickens. Continue to look in the same spot(s) going forward and collect those eggs for eating after the initial clean out.
-do not assume that the chickens are only laying where you want them to lay...pay attention every day as you are watering or doing chores.
STORING EGGS
-Eggs are to be separated before going into the refrigerator
Cracked eggs are to be tossed directly to the chickens
Eggs that are excessively filthy (chicken eggs only) are to be either tossed directly to the chickens or separated out to feed to the dogs
Eggs that are very small are to be separated out to be fed to the dogs
-Eggs are to go directly into the refrigerator once separated
-Eggs are to be put on flats..and flats should be full. If previous day’s flat isn’t full, fill it with current day’s eggs
-Flats should be marked with the date the eggs were collected. If 2 day’s worth of eggs are on the flat, mark both days.
-Flats should be stacked in first in/first out method. This means that the oldest eggs should be on top and in front, newest eggs should be in back on bottom. FIFO (first in, first out).
-This holds true for duck as well as chicken eggs
-When we run out of space in the fridge and/or eggs are over 1 month old they should be fed to the pigs. The pigs can eat raw eggs in the shell.
-Duck eggs are not to be fed to Indiana Jones
Cleaning out Stock Tanks
Turn off the spigot and remove the float (if necessary).
Check to see if there is a fish in the tank (some stocktanks have fish)
Make a bucket of water from the tank and put fish inside
Dump the water fully. If it is too heavy, use a bucket to empty the water until it is light enough for you to lift.
Scrub the sides and bottom of the stock tank until all gunk is off. Use soap if necessary, but you should be able to use a brush only to get it clean.
Rinse the stock tank to get all the gunk out.
Return the stock tank to its position.
Return the float and make sure it is secure
Turn the water back on
Add 1 cup cider vinegar (except the stock tank by the cars , this does not need vinegar)
Let the water warm a bit to the temperature the fish is swimming in
Return the fish to the stock tank
Make sure there are no leaks and that the tank does not overflow with the new positioning
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Milking procedures
1 part grain
⅓ part sunflower seeds
1 part alfalfa
Generous pinch diamond V yeast
2 vitamin c tablets
Any treats or vegetables
1 calcium chew
Prepping the udder
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Milk Handling
It is important to bring the milk to a cold temperature as soon as possible. The pressure is not as high in cold weather, but the milk should not sit out any longer than is absolutely necessary. Once all of the goats are milked, bring the milk into the house and prepare it for storage
We store our milk in glass bottles when available. We will freeze milk in ziploc bags when necessary.
Glass Bottles
Storing Milk
Cleaning Equipment
Anything that has stored or been in contact with milk has a specific cleaning routine. It must be cleaned out immediately. Milking equipment must be cleaned immediately..do not leave it in the sink for later
Cleaning of Barns
Basic Mucking
Basic mucking is cleaning out any spent hay/straw or poop pellets that are on the floor of the barns. These should be put into a wheelbarrow and transported directly to the compost pile, unless someone has asked you to put it as mulch somewhere.
Do not sweep the barn onto the ground, unless you will be pickin it up from the ground and moving it to the compost pile.
Deep Mucking
When we are kidding or have an issue in the barns they may need to be cleaned more thoroughly. This means cleaning out the hay/straw/poop and putting in the compost pile. This also means cleaning the floors and walls (if necessary) and scrubbing clean. You may need to use water and vinegar or soap or baking soda depending upon the issue.
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Case by Case Basis
Pig Poop and Human Urine
Depending upon the stage of the compost pile, we may or may not put the poop directly on the pile
-do not just throw over fence. go into the run and place it in the middle of the run. It should not be able to be accessed by a dog pushing the bottom of the fence in and grabbing it.
Kitchen Scraps
Chore schedule and tasks are subject to change
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