Ranch Caretaker/Landscaper

(TPR) is seeking a flexible Handy-Person/ Grounds Keeper for Rent / Land exchange. TPR is a family-owned 540 acre ranch in Round Mountain, TX (15 miles from Johnson City / 8 miles from Marble Falls) that also serves as a vacation rental and wellness destination.

The ranch maintains a wildlife exemption valuation instead of an agricultural valuation, so does not graze cattle or other livestock on the property except two horses. TPR’s short-term rentals are managed separately, but there is a regular amount of ranch work and maintenance needed on a weekly basis (described below). We seek to exchange monthly rental of a private RV space for a set amount of monthly work hours (8 hours per week). This is an ideal arrangement for an individual (or couple without children) with landscaping and skilled labor experience who has an RV and a separate primary source of income and a love for nature, wildlife and the outdoors.

Requirements (non negotiable):

• Must be able to work a set number of hours per month with relative weekly consistency
• Must be able to lift at least 70 pounds
• Must own an RV and live on the premises in order to care for the two horses and be available as an emergency contact when guests are on the premises. Please note: the ranch is usually rented on weekends.
• Good people skills, judgment and general trouble-shooting abilities. For example, someone comfortable responding to wildlife issues (like a snake sighting) or handling/escalating a maintenance issue when guests are on the premises as needed when owners are gone.
• Must feel comfortable around horses and like working outdoors.
• Experience with general landscaping (e.g. raking, weed-eating, mowing, trimming, pruning)
• Good working knowledge of fire safety and other hazard safety (e.g. ability to be proactive in minimizing risks of fire and other electrical and weather-related hazards that might arise).
• The ability to work independently

Recurring Weekly Duties (8 hours per week)

• Hauling trash in ranch pickup to the dumpster weekly(~30 min per week)
• Feeding and caring for 2 retired horses when owners are gone (30 minutes per day/average of 4 days a week)
• Landscaping depending on season (chopping and stacking wood, mowing [Zero-Turn or push mower], raking leaves, trimming/weed-eating, watering tree/shrub plantings) (2-4 hours per week)
• Checking troughs/tanks for needed algaecide treatments, filter cleaning, tank cleaning, etc. (~30 min per week)
• Checking/filling wildlife feeders, etc (~30 min per week)
• Bicycle maintenance (checking/airing tires, lubing/greasing, replacing damages tire tube, etc.) (~30 min per week)
• Recurring weekly/biweekly/monthly tasks like Airstream maintenance (airing tires, door greasing, screening, etc.) for rental area, changing HVAC air filters, etc. (~1-2 hours per month)
• Troubleshooting issues with guest spaces that involve performing or escalating urgent repairs (the most frequently arising issues involve blown fuses or circuit breakers, and door handles/locks sticking) (~30 min per week)
• General road and gate maintenance(e.g. moving caliche from a stockpile to fill potholes in the road as needed; ensuring visibility and positioning of reflectors and signage; ensuring gates are operable; ensuring sides of roads and passing areas are mowed) (~1 hour per month)
• Maintaining log/photos of qualifying wildlife management activities as needed (~1 hour per month)

Preferred skills: In addition to being able to complete the non negotiable duties on a consistent weekly basis, the ideal person will also have experience with our preferred skills (below), but not required.

• Basic carpentry and/or woodworking skills (e.g. repairing deck wood, trim, etc.)
• Basic plumbing troubleshooting and repair (e.g. PVC plumbing repair; maintaining water troughs; addressing or escalating septic or water heating/softening issues, etc.)
• Basic electrical troubleshooting and repair (e.g. mending electrical wires, replacing electrical fuses, etc.)
• Fence repair and/or basic ironwork and welding
• Basic small equipment maintenance and repair (e.g., maintaining mowers and trimmers, power tools, and generators; ability to replace filters/carburetors, etc.)
• Basic vehicle maintenance (e.g., batteries, tires, and fluids on ranch truck, Polaris, tractor, golf cart)
• Experience with brush clearing and chain-sawing (hand clearing)
• Basic bicycle maintenance and repair (e.g. ensuring tires are inflated to correct range; cleaning and lubricating chains; repairing/replacing bike tires or inner tubes, etc.)

Potential Duties (as trade hours or paid extra hours):

• Tractor work (shredding/mowing, disking, grating roads)
• Repairing, mending and/or installing fencing
• Operating a skid steer/Bobcat when necessary to clear large cedar, move rocks or materials, dig trenches or holes, etc.
• Helping to maintain fire safety (identifying fire hazards, maintaining firewise building perimeters, etc.)

Salary / Trade Offer:

• We will provide water and electrical hookup (50amp or 35amp RV outlets) on the property in a secluded spot, but you will need to have your own RV and vehicle.
• 8 hours per week of work will be exchanged for monthly rent of the RV space and utilities.
• Additional (paid) hours over the monthly trade will also likely be available and paid hourly based on experience. Anyone with general carpentry, plumbing, and electrical experience will likely be offered additional paid hours on a fairly frequent basis.
• Up to $100/month in electricity charges can be included in the exchange, and there is no charge for water.
• A full-size 4WD ranch pickup is available for use when necessary for ranch work (hauling brush, moving equipment, etc.)

Diversity Statement:

All are welcome at the Three Points Ranch, and on our team. We strive to make people of all walks of life feel welcome here throughout our work culture, values, hospitality, and learning. And expect anyone we partner with to do the same.

Tagged as: Couples, Pay/Wages, Single/Solo