quilcene Washington

Homestead Caretaker Opportunity: Your responsibilities will require about 2 hours of work per day, but simply being present on the property with a watchful eye is a key part of the role. While there’s no heavy lifting or mucking involved, it’s important to keep in mind that farm life has its share of potential hazards. That said, we’re in our 50s and handle it all just fine.
Location: Quilcene, WA, on Lake Leland, Olympic Peninsula
Dates: Flexible trip dates between July-October 2025 (yearly, repeat caretakers welcome and we are open to extended stays to make this work for everyone).
Accommodation: Fully furnished, 2023 Elevation Park Model (12′ x 37′, 444 sq ft) with optional use of the 3,000 sq ft main home (you will want to use the porch or soaking tub).

About Frenetic Farmstead
Frenetic Farmstead is an intentionally curated blend of rural living, modern amenities, and creative ingenuity. Nestled on 27 wooded and wetland acres along Lake Leland, our property is rooted in organic, regenerative practices and guided by permaculture principles. While we embrace the beauty of farm life, one of us has a day job to pay the bills, rest assured that life here is anything but rugged. The guest house and main house are designed for comfort, ensuring you’ll enjoy the perks of rural living without sacrificing modern conveniences.

Over the years, we’ve developed our property to accommodate all our pursuits from farming to creative projects to relaxation. We are DIYers by nature, and everything on this farm has been either designed, built, or maintained by us. This lifestyle reflects our love of problem-solving, getting dirty, and creating something meaningful.

The result is a one-of-a-kind private retreat designed for self-sufficiency and inspiration. Creating a caretaker-ready space became part of this vision, allowing us to travel while ensuring the farmstead and its animals are in capable, loving hands.

Nearby Exploration
While the farm feels secluded, it’s well-connected:
Located right off Highway 101 but you will want a car. It is on a peninsula so you can drive around, but guests usually arrive by ferry from Seattle or Edmonds.
6 minutes to Quilcene town center: Essentials like groceries, gas, and a farm stand.
6 minutes to Discovery Bay bus stop: Offers limited service to regional hubs.
20 minutes to Port Townsend: A Victorian seaport with restaurants, hospital, galleries, and unique shops.
2 hours to Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia: Perfect for a taste of the big city.
Minutes from Olympic National Forest trails: Enjoy world-class hiking.
6 minutes to the clamming beach at Quilcene Bay and the Olympic Discovery biking Trail.
30 minutes to Sequim and 45 minutes to Port Angeles: Day trips to explore the Olympic National Park, beaches, local culture, or big box stores.
Lake Leland Amphitheater, is a short paddle to the end of the lake. A large venue for vibrant community events: Northwest Herbal Fair, Departure Fest NW, Quimper Barter Circle Faire and Moonfest.
We have friendly neighbors acres away but you won’t hear or see them. Mail is delivered on the street and we won’t be expecting deliveries.

A Day at Frenetic Farmstead
Start your day waking to the sound of songbirds or the stillness of silence. Enjoy a steaming cup of coffee with a dollop of farm-fresh honey, then head out to greet the animals as they start their day.

Once everyone is in their place, stretch into some morning yoga under the spacious 16x20 canvas tent. Relax in the hot tub afterward, or challenge yourself with a brisk cold plunge in the lake from your private dock. For breakfast, grab fresh veggies from the garden, collect eggs from the coop, and enjoy a true farm-to-table meal.

The rest of the day is yours. You could be a digital nomad or explore the lake year-round with boats and stand-up paddle boards; the lake is stocked with fish, and you’ll join eagles and ospreys on their fishing expeditions. Wander the wetlands to hear owls, find evidence of beaver or otter, forage for native plants, or identify songbirds. Take the dogs for a leashed walk up Snow Creek or work on a wild DIY project using tools and spaces designed for creativity, from cooking and woodworking to art and music. Borrow a book from our collection, or try your hand at ping pong or a game of horseshoes.

Wind down in the evening by stoking the wood-fired cordwood sauna and taking another cold plunge, enjoying a movie in the comfortable media area, reading a book by the fireplace, or savoring the stars on the 400 sq ft porch overlooking the farm.

Your Role as Caretaker
We’ve designed the caretaking experience to be clear and simple, supported by a detailed operations manual. You’ll also have direct phone access to us for any questions or emergencies.

Your responsibilities would require about 2 hours per day, but simply being on the property with a watchful eye is a big part of the job.

Animal Care: Cast of Characters
Let animals out by 8 AM and secure them at dusk. They thrive on routine and quickly get to know and trust you. None of your work involves heavy lifting—we’re in our 50s and manage it ourselves! If you want the full authentic experience, just let us know, and we’ll happily share our chores.

Dogs: Feed (separately) and water once per day.
Tiggy (9-year-old female cattle dog): Tiggy is the friendliest nuzzler but requires her own manual. She barks with purpose and is highly effective at keeping the property safe from predators, typically ravens. While our fences do half her job, if her barking persists, it’s worth checking—her instincts are impressive. She has excellent recall but can get locked into tasks. During chores, put her in the backyard to avoid her “herding” the animals. Water hoses drive her bonkers. At night, she’s always inside, sleeping in her unlocked crate in the main house—but expect her to take over our bed! She’ll spend her days free-ranging when you’re home but should be in the fenced backyard if you leave or go to the lake.

Dandel (7-year-old female livestock guardian dog): Dandel, our sweetest 80lb fluffball, stays outdoors 24/7 to watch over the animals, except during fireworks, when she’ll whimper to come inside. She loves nothing more than a belly rub and a leashed walk; don't ruin your relationship by trying to brush her. She has a deep, calming bark, which she uses only when needed. Chill and loyal, she’s proven safe with all the animals but might join a chase if Tiggy causes chaos—this is preventable.

Cats: Ernie and Bert (2-year-old brothers): Indoor-outdoor cats who enter via a cat/dog door. Fed inside twice daily on the washer/dryer. Excellent mousers, though they sometimes leave “gifts” for cleanup. Expect them to take over every comfortable chair.

Fish: Carrot and Calypso, two senior “from the fair” goldfish that live in our daughter’s bedroom. Feed them once daily.

Goats: Little Ann and Gus Gus (2-year-old Miniature Nubian/Nigerian Dwarf siblings): Calm, sweet and not mischievous, these goats love human companionship. Sit with them, and your serotonin levels will thank you! Feed them alfalfa and hay pellets daily, refill water, sweep poop doodles off their futon, and sprinkle a fresh layer of straw in the barn (no mucking required—we use a layering method to charge biochar).

Poultry: A mix of ages, as all are welcome to enjoy their golden years here (some are 10).
22 Chickens (no roosters): Gather eggs daily. Wash as needed and refrigerate. Feed them grain in the morning, scrape poop off roosts, and sprinkle straw in the coop.

13 Ducks: Gather eggs daily. Wash and refrigerate. Feed grain mixed with water in the morning, and sprinkle straw in the coop. Keep their baby pools full. Ducks and chickens will happily eat veggie scraps or eggshells.

9 Geese: Loud but harmless, they require gentle guidance. Feed grain in the morning. They refuse to use their coop, so there’s no lock-up. Refill their baby pools; they protect their nests, so you will not need to do egg collection.

3 Turkeys: Sweet and harmless with beautiful sounds. They hide their eggs, but you can hunt for them or leave it for us upon return. Feed grain in the morning—no lock-up required as they have chosen to roost -on top of- their coop.

Bees: 5 hives are active, you won’t be tending them, but be mindful of their presence.

Maintenance Tasks
Add chemicals to the hot tub.
Weekly water indoor window sills of little plants.
Seasonal watering in the greenhouse or gardens but my goal is to keep it simple this year.
Collect the mail.
Roll the trash to the street, biweekly on Thursdays.
Keep the houses tidy so it does not become a large task, mainly from our indoor pets.
Double check daily that GFI has not tripped on harvest fridges or freezers in the carports.
Walk the fence lines to check gates are locked, look for a breach or fallen tree limb. No fences will be electrified.

Preparedness for Special Circumstances
Septic Alarm: Has only been triggered by a running toilet (there are 4 bathrooms). Flip a switch to start the manual drain, turn off the alarm and find the culprit.

Well Holding Tank Light: Typically means a hose was left on or an autofill water bowl is leaking; stop the problem. The tank refills continuously, so water will always remain available at the hydrant in an extreme scenario. Avoid large water use until the light goes off within a day.

Generators: Both houses have manual back-up whole-house generators. Power outages are typically from a windstorm, once PUD has power restored, reset any light timers and ensure harvest fridges, freezers, and the motorhome dehumidifier are back on.

Injured Animals: Clean them up, provide food and water, and keep them warm in quarantine. Of course, call us, and we will discuss next steps or the Vet (ER 45 min Poulsbo, local Vets 20 min away, Farm Vet on call).

We will plan trips carefully to avoid winter storms and droughts. We won’t be (humanely) raising any animals for consumption or have vulnerable young animals this year or during your stay but surprises happen. You may need to handle a windy night or curious animals getting into mischief. Please note: there are no firearms, additional animals or tobacco allowed on the property.

Caretaker Perks
We want you to feel at home and inspired during your time at Frenetic Farmstead. Here’s what you’ll enjoy:
Furnished Guest House:
Clean, minimalist interior (no animals have been in the guest house).
Queen bedroom and a loft with futon for lounging or sleeping.
Cook’s kitchen overlooking gardens and lake, equipped with every tool you’ll need or borrow from the 2 kitchens in the main house.
Bathroom with a walk-in shower.
Electric fireplace and propane heat for comfort.
Large couch, smart TV, Wi-Fi, and streaming services.

Main House and Property Amenities:
Spacious, colorful, eclectic and creative spaces.
Covered, outdoor, lounging porch.
Washer/Dryer.
Soaking bathtub.
Level 2 EV car charger and carports.
Hot tub with Russian bucket shower.
Cordwood wood fired sauna with cold plunge.
Recreational fun with ping pong, horseshoes, bikes, frisbee golf and pickleball sets.
Private swim dock with paddle boards, kayaks and more.
16’x20’ canvas tent for yoga+.
Gardens seasonally brimming with veggies and fruit to share.
Adorable animals that provide the ultimate free therapy.

The Right Applicant
We’re looking for someone who:
Understands that animals always come first.
Has experience with animal care and enjoys working with animals.
Thrives in a hands-on, rural environment and appreciates a farm-focused lifestyle.
Is reliable and adaptable to the quirks of managing a diverse homestead.
Capable of following a detailed list without winging it.
With great references.

We believe a couple or duo would be an especially great fit for this opportunity. With two people, tasks are easier to share, the daily rhythm of animal care becomes more enjoyable, and there’s always someone to lend a hand or step in when needed.

Please note that we require a few training sessions with us on the property before entrusting you with the care of our farmstead. Don’t worry—if it turns out not to be a good fit, you’re still welcome to enjoy time in the guest house. Our priority is ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and happy.

If this opportunity excites you, we’d love to hear your suggested scenarios and dates that work for you. Use our guest house as your basecamp after the caretaking gig to explore the Peninsula! We’re staying flexible as we embark on this new (ad)venture to make sure we get it right.

Link to YouTube clip to see footage of the property available on request; additional images are available upon request.