Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Close-to-nature home in foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains
United States, Monroe, Virginia
Pets
- Goat(s)
4 old goats, large but friendly
Dates
- 10 Jul 2025 to 3 Aug 2025 (No sitters have applied for these dates yet. Be the first!)
About this assignment
Looking for a couple of responsible, mature, handy, clean, non-smokers, who are independent, like privacy, and enjoy nature and rural living. Experience with plants a must; experience with goats a plus. We prefer couples because of our remote location, but will consider a solo sitter with the right skill set and experience. Sorry, we can not have housesitters with children or pets.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
Feed, water and keep an eye on 4 very friendly goats; Watering/tending garden areas (as needed). You'll need to operate the generator if there are power outages of significant duration (which happens occasionally in the summer). You will need your own phone and transportation. Our wifi service is unlimited data and good enough for streaming and basic online work, but not fast enough for efficient large file transfer/manipulation. If you need uninterrupted, fast internet for your livelihood, this is not the housesit for you.
What are the good features of the property and location
Close to Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, Appalachian Trail, George Washington National Forest; very quiet and private; hiking, biking, and river sports nearby. House is a spacious, air-conditioned, eclectic 3-bedroom home, with fenced-in yard, 50 acres of forest surrounded by other mainly forested rural properties; small barn and pastures adjacent to house are home to 4 goats. Location is 40 minutes from Lynchburg; 50 minutes from Lexington, 1.25 hrs from Roanoke, and 1.5 hours from Charlottesville--centrally isolated! Vigorous and various plant and animal community, but no human neighbors for at least a mile in any direction. This place is a magical piece of the planet.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
You will feel very much on your own, in terms of human company. Our mailbox is 1.5 miles away, as there are no neighbors within shouting distance. It's 30 minutes to nearest grocery store; 45 minutes to nearest hospital; there's no TV on the premises. You will need to be comfortable living in proximity to wildlife--especially insects. Expect the common rural inconveniences such as short power outages from thunderstorms and delays to wait for a neighbor to saw a fallen tree out of the road, There is no landline, so you'll need your own cell phone (Verizon has decent coverage at our house, other companies not so much). Our wifi can be used for calling if your phone can do that. You will need to be accustomed to the heat and humidity of a Virginia summer to get the most out of your stay here, since the vibrant natural community outside is the biggest perk of being here. Start and end dates may be slightly flexible, and while we will give preference to those wishing to housesit for the entire posted period, we will also consider applicants for shorter periods of time.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
3 May 2025
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Testimonials
Goat sitting adventure
House sitting for Judy was a wonderful and unique experience. The 4 goats were fun, very friendly and easy to take care of. Three females and one male they all have distinct personalities and we enjoyed getting to know them. Judy’s house sets in a large wooded area and we saw an amazing amount of wildlife. Deer are abundant and birds and butterflies plentiful. The hummingbird feeder was a favorite of mine. She has extensive flower gardens and some raised vegetable beds that are easy to take care of. Our living quarters were downstairs and quite comfortable. Even though the property is remote there is lots to do nearby within an hour away. Lynchburg is very nice with shopping and an old downtown section with restaurants and stores. There are several urban walking trails. The Blue ridge parkway is literally 10 miles away and you are surrounded by the George Washington National Forest. A wonderful experience and the type of vacation you could not buy.
Earl, United States, 26 Aug 2024
Virginia is for “Nature” Lovers
This assignment has a very special place in our hearts. The rural location and beautifully crafted home among pastures, untouched Forrest, and well designed gardens, has become a dream of ours’ to create one day. The home owner Judy is a highly intelligent empathetic individual, with well researched procedures and protocols that she shares in conversation and in the HouseSitter packet she created. She is very open minded and also requests a person use their own creative intelligence to solve problems and care best for the land and animals. We really appreciated her style and the education she gave us for our best experience on the farm. Judy is highly “in-tune” with the land and her animals and she was able to impart a portion of that to us, which is a unique and valuable gift. The accommodations are very comfortable and clean, well cared for, and aesthetically pleasing with exceptional art and hand made pottery everywhere. There is an old-world charm to Judy’s farm and those who step out of modern chaos (as much as possible) will enjoy their time most. We didn’t want to leave! There is a routine and a flow to each day on the farm and a house sitter need be very comfortable maintaining very consistent schedules. The beautiful goats and Cat will come to depend on such, and they deserve impeccable care. The care is not difficult, it is routine. The important part is the consistency, and staying in contact daily with the animals. We really loved this part... The goats are unique in personality and a joy to get to know, each one. Yet, relationship building takes time so prepare to immerse yourself in the experience for best results. Patience and trust building over time... Then one day they surround you and let you know, all they want in the world is your gentle touch and kindness. It’s a very cool process. The cat is out of this world in personality. You will want to take him home, but you never would because he is the happiest king in his kingdom (you will see). He, along with the goats, provide entertainment daily. The back porch at dawn is one of the most beautiful places in the US. Enjoy it! The garden brings in all the most incredible species of birds, bees, butterflies, frogs and toads, and is a great pleasure for any nature lover. Judy is exceptional at educating about the garden and giving gentle directions, yet she will not pressure you to garden. If you have a genuine interest to learn more about the eco system of backyard Virginia gardens, she is your mentor. If you have no interest in this type of thing, this assignment is probably not for you. A certain level of physical ability is required, your pace can be slow and steady without pressure or deadlines; a very relaxing past time. There are certain chores that take strength yet nothing a generally healthy individual can not do. If you are lucky enough to spend some time at farm, enjoy it! You will have all the directions you need and the freedom you desire. It’s a place to create-To practice yoga and meditate-To write, to make music, and to quietly walk and listen to the messages of the earth-To really step into peace of mind and solace. If you are lucky enough to go, please tell the goats we miss them, and tell the cat how handsome he is, and let them know if we ever get the chance, we will be back for a visit. All the best, James and Noelle
James, 18 August, 2021