Property Manager - Soggy Bottom Farm

Soggy Bottom Farm is a small private family estate nestled in the tranquil countryside between Lititz and Leola,

Pennsylvania, and seeks a versatile and experienced Property Manager to oversee our private residence and

offsite rental properties.

This role is crucial for ensuring seamless farm operations, immaculate property conditions, optimal care of our

animals, and maintenance of off-site rental properties. The ideal candidate will be deeply passionate about

native ecosystems, committed to sustainability, has experience with animal husbandry and possess a

hands-on approach to property and mechanical maintenance.

We have horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and aquatic species. In addition, there are gardens and landscaping

that decorate our home and feed our family. The job is 1/3 Animal and pasture care, 1/3 Yard and Garden

Maintenance, and 1/3 new ventures like landscaping and farm improvement.

The Property Manager at Soggy Bottom Farm is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day

operations of the estate. This role includes maintaining the physical landscape, buildings, and infrastructure

and planning and executing various projects to ensure the property's smooth functioning and aesthetic appeal.

The role also includes managing a few offsite rental and development properties.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Animals

Oversee the health and welfare of farm animals, ensuring their needs are met with utmost care.

Maintain the farm's aesthetic by regular landscaping, gardening, and outdoor area upkeep.

2. Landscaping and Facilities

Supervision and execution of landscape maintenance buildings and infrastructure, including repairs and upgrades.

Conduct general maintenance tasks, including repairs and cleaning, to keep the property presentable.

Handle improvement projects, including trail maintenance and construction of pathways, enhancing the farm's natural beauty.

Use carpentry and mechanical skills to repair and maintain farm equipment and property structures.

Manage and maintain farm equipment and structures, ensuring they are in optimal condition.

3. Management

Management of seasonal projects related to agriculture, horticulture, and livestock (if applicable).

Coordination with contractors and suppliers for various property needs.

Regular inspection and upkeep of property to ensure safety and compliance with standards.

Financial management, including budgeting and expense tracking for property maintenance.

Communication with property owners to report on progress and issues.

Deposit Rent Income Checks and Pay Bills Associated with Rental Properties

4. Rental Properties

Responsible for maintaining and managing off-site rental properties, ensuring tenant satisfaction and property upkeep.

Coordination with Off-Site Contractors for Renovations, Improvements and Repairs

Required Skills and Qualifications:

1. Personal Aptitude

Ability to work independently and solve problems effectively.

Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and tasks.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Microsoft or Google Docs, Email, and Spreadsheets

Organized and Clean, leave things better than you found them.

2. Animal and Pasture Care: Handling and caring for various farm animals, including horses, goats, sheep, and chickens. This includes feeding, watering, health monitoring, and maintaining living areas.

3. Yard and Garden Maintenance: Skills in landscaping, gardening, and maintaining outdoor areas. This includes planting, pruning, mowing, edging, fertilizing, and mulching—knowledge of agricultural practices, landscape, general outdoor, and building maintenance.

4. Landscaping and Farm Improvement: Developing and executing improvement projects around the property, such as constructing pathways, trail maintenance, and light electrical work.

5. General Maintenance and Upkeep: Ensuring the overall property maintenance, including fence repairs, trash removal, window cleaning, and power washing. Mechanical Aptitude: Skilled in mechanical maintenance of farm equipment and property structures. Carpentry and mechanical aptitude for repair and maintenance tasks.

6. Operational Efficiency: Organizing and improving tool and equipment storage systems and maintaining neat and ready-to-use facilities. Strong organizational skills for operational efficiency and leadership abilities with small teams and vendors.

7. Physical Fitness and Endurance: Ability to undertake manual and heavy work, be on foot for long hours, and lift heavy loads.

Benefits:

Full-time job with flexible hours

Working in a picturesque, natural environment.

Being part of a community dedicated to sustainability and animal welfare.

Fulfillment from contributing to the maintenance and improvement of a valued family property.

Opportunities for Growth and Development including any potential for professional development or advancement within the farm's structures, offsite learning, and coursework relevant to the farm mission. The expectation is 80 hours a year on continued growth.

Beliefs

Leave things better than you found them.

Shoot for cleanliness.

Go Native / Go Natural

If it is broken, let’s fix it

Open communication – Radical Candor

When in doubt, Ask.

Safety, safety, safety

Quality – craftsmanship is more important than speed and cost. Shooting for Excellence

Do it once, and do it right!

We are learning together, making mistakes, and celebrating them.

Detailed Outcomes

Daily Tasks:

Check and maintain animal health and welfare, including feeding and watering.

o Feed Animals (Horses, Goats, Chickens).

o Clean horse stalls, check stall doors, and water bowls.

o Daily assessment of animal care – Notify owners of any issues.

Check for open gates, broken boards, and limbs on the fence and pasture.

o Check and repair the electric fence as needed.

Auto Waterers – check, clean, adjust, and repair as needed.

Inspect the property for immediate maintenance needs.

Manage daily financial transactions and record-keeping.

Coordinate with staff and contractors for ongoing projects.

Manage daily financial transactions and record-keeping.

Weekly Tasks:

Oversee landscaping maintenance, including mowing, weeding, and pruning.

o Inspect and perform necessary upkeep of outdoor areas and garden.

o Mow lawn (property - riding field by creek, new tree area, etc.).

o Weed whacking, weeding all garden beds, and fertilizing.

o Monitor and adjust irrigation systems as needed.

o Blowout garages, walkways, decks, and leaves in the backyard

o Drag riding ring.

Check and maintain all building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical).

o Clean barn and Utility building.

o Trash collection (Wednesday).

Report progress and updates to property owners including submit weekly time tracker

Conduct thorough property inspections for general maintenance needs.

Monthly Tasks:

Plan and execute monthly projects such as planting, harvesting, or infrastructure improvements.

Conduct a comprehensive property inspection and address any issues.

Review and manage the monthly budget and expenses.

Check all gutters for leaves, especially at the cottage, garage, and front entrance.

Empty the Central Vacuum in the basement.

Review the Equipment Maintenance Log and tie off any Maintenance items for Vehicles, Tools, Equipment, and Facilities.

Clear any debris on the property by the road.

Execute minor improvement projects and maintenance of pathways and trails.

Perform detailed checks and maintenance of all farm equipment.

Inspect and maintain off-site rental properties for tenant satisfaction.

Meet with next-door neighbor about adjacent property maintenance.

Quarterly Tasks:

Change Water Filters and Add Salt to Softener

Change Air Filters in HVAC (Every 6- months)

Pressure wash stone walkways & decks

Wash and Detail all Vehicles and Machinery

Check and replace all inside and outside light bulbs.

Dusting of Barns and Outbuildings

Seasonal Tasks:

Spring:

o Spring Prep (remove driveway markers, remove snowplow from tractor, etc.).

o Equipment – Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance.

o Coordination of planting schedules.

o Clean out garden beds and rototill gardens, purchase, and plant herb garden.

o Oversee planting of trees and underbrush, prepare meadows and pastures for overseeding, and initiate landscaping and garden projects.

o Plant annual flowers and fertilize perennials and annuals.

o Irrigation System Start-Up (Lancaster Irrigation).

o Late Spring Lawn Application (Immaculate Landscape).

o Mulching and edging beds

o Coordinate with Land Studies on Annual maintenance and planting program

o Overseeding the meadows and pastures

o Organize Window Cleaning Service for all dwellings

o Deploy and Plan all outside flower pots

o Monitor and Treat Ponds

o Early Spring lawn application

Summer:

o Fill holes and washouts on trails and pastures (Early June).

o Manage irrigation and pest control, oversee the maintenance of outdoor recreational areas,

o Conduct the mid-year financial review.

o Hay Management (Ordered once a year by Tracey).

o Summer Lawn Application (preventative grub control, Immaculate Landscape).

o Spray and remove invasives (poison Hemlock, Bradford Pear, Poison Ivy et)

o Monitor and Treat Ponds

Fall:

o Purchase firewood for winter (Late October).

o Cleaned and stored kayaks, outdoor furniture, and trampoline (Early November).

o Window Washers (Early November, Outsource to Windows by Dave).

o Winterize Utility Room sink and outdoor bathroom (Early November).

o Put snowplow on the tractor (Late November).

o Prepare for winterizing the property, manage harvest-related activities, and conduct end-of-season repairs and maintenance.

o Put deer bags on magnolias,

o Have Ressler Matter service the HVAC systems

o Clean Gutters

Winter:

o Restock firewood as needed.

o Plow, shovel, and salt driveways and walkways as needed.

o Maintain farm equipment – prepare for Spring maintenance.

o Oversee property during inclement weather, plan for the upcoming year, and conduct indoor maintenance and renovation projects.

o Trim back the orchard and tie up loose branches.

o Winter cleanup of Planted Beds

o Winterization of Plumbing and waterers

o Winter Blow-out of irrigation system (Lancaster Irrigation).

o Clean Gutters

o Review and update operational efficiency systems for tool and equipment storage.

o Check inspection and registration of all Vehicles

o Coordinate with Tree Programs for Spring Planting

o Removal of Invasive Trees and Brush (Tree of Heaven, Multi Flora Rose, Poison Ivy, Brad Ford Pear, etc)

o Deploy outside service to clean all dryer vents.

o Grease, sharpen, and service all tractors and mowers.

o Move all flowerpots inside for winter.

Tasks As Needed Actions:

1. Animals

Oversee seasonal animal care adjustments (e.g., shearing, seasonal feeding changes).

Shuttle animals to local vets

2. Landscaping and Facilities

Implement large-scale landscaping and property improvement projects.

Conduct seasonal equipment maintenance and preparations (e.g., winterizing and spring setups).

Water new trees and plants during dry spells (use a tractor & water tank).

Pest and Bee Control (Akita Pest Control).

Roof Repair (Sensenig Co.).

Chimney sweeping (Richard’s Chimney Service).

Clear debris around ponds

Drive to local and regional nurseries and supply stores for goods

Perform comprehensive maintenance of all structures and mechanical systems.

3. Management

Review and update property and animal care strategies for efficiency and sustainability.

Make appointments for repairs in-house (appliances, plumbing, carpentry, etc.).

Purchase cleaning supplies for cleaning staff.

Maintain all equipment, purchase and stock parts, schedule repairs, sell/trade, dispose of equipment no longer needed, and purchase new equipment following research and pricing.

4. Rental Properties

Work offsite renovating Rental Properties

5. Miscellaneous

Run Local Errands relating to farm and family.

Deliver Goods / Pick up goods to Annapolis, MD

Other personal assistance and family assistance items, as requested