A couple to run the garden, grounds and retreats

Job opportunity in the Black Mountains, South Wales for a couple to manage a unique Retreat Centre, with organic garden – accommodation included.

We are seeking a couple to live in, develop and run an ecologically friendly retreat centre and 19-acre farm in the Black Mountains of Wales. The farm is owned by Patrick Holford, a nutrition expert, and Gaby Holford, who currently handles all bookings.

The overall intention is to create and support an ecologically rich environment for people to attend retreats (and some holiday lets), selling as much organic food grown on the farm as possible, both to ‘retreaters’ and locally, and providing an opportunity for visitors to ‘connect’ with nature, themselves. There are sheep (managed by local farmer), alpacas and chickens for eggs.

The property is a 19-acre farm in Forest Coalpit in the Black Mountains of Wales, within the National Park near Abergavenny with stunning views, walks in each direction There is a 17th century farmhouse, two conjoined barns which is the main retreat space area, and outhouse with a bedroom, bathroom and laundry, a cabin (where the owners live part time) an ecopod, two shepherd huts, two gyspy caravans and a treehouse (see fforestbarn.co.uk).

The goal is to find a couple to take on the management of the land and buildings, assist with retreat handovers and checks, care for animals and run the market garden.  The main areas of responsibility are therefore retreat management, land and ground maintenance, property repairs and infrastructure upkeep and running the organic market garden. Accommodation is provided in the farmhouse as part of the package with a reasonable wage and potential for profit share as the business and opportunities develop. The farmhouse provides a private bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen for the couple. There is an extra room that can be used for an office and/or spare room.

We are looking for a self-motivated couple with both the necessary skills and initiative, looking for a long-term position.

There are three major skill sets that need to be covered between the couple. Separating tasks between individuals will be done at own discretion based on individual skill sets.

GROWING AND ANIMALS

There is a 0.6-acre market garden growing mixed vegetables and cut flowers, a large soft fruit area and a young fruit orchard. The garden is currently certified organic and we want people who have a passion for ‘beyond’ organic farming methods (Dan Kittredge of the BioNutrient Institute, is our mentor).  Applicants should have experience of commercial organic market gardening (ideally at least 1 full season) and will be required to manage all aspects of the growing and sales with the intention of growing the business. 

Sales are currently to retreat chefs and visitors staying at Fforest Barn, a small local veg box scheme and to a few local chefs. The applicant will liaise with retreat leaders, visitors and customers to manage produce availability and sales. The veg box scheme hopes to be expanded from 12 to 20 boxes a week and new additional sales outlets to be investigated. In addition, there are plans to create a farm shop and desires to develop a range of farm products. 

Basic bookkeeping and invoicing using Quick books and Sum Up for sales will be required. In additional there will be occasional volunteer oversight and management.

The farm has a small flock of laying hens and 4 (soon to be 5) Alpacas that require daily care and management. There is interest in possibly adding Indian runner ducks for eating slugs in the future.

PROPERTY AND LAND MAINTENANCE

Multi-skilled for ‘maintenance’ to ensure retreat property is fully functional, well maintained, promptly attending to repairs. Assist with project oversight for building and development projects and liaise with contractors when required. Some building experience and rudimentary DIY plumbing/electric is a plus. For example, we wish to create a natural water pool for wild swimming and a path around the whole property.

Managing and maintaining the land including topping fields, driving the tractor and trailer, mowing the lawns, cutting hedges, trimming trees, generating burnable wood and weeding flower beds.

Maintaining farm equipment and tools(tractor, ride on mower).

Managing centre’s fuel reserves oil and wood and ensuring service and routine maintenance and servicing schedule is followed.

RETREAT MANAGEMENT

The retreat rental is the major underpinning income for the farm, thus maintaining high standards for the rentable property is essential.  Focussed on guest and housekeepers (cleaning/laundry) liaison, working with Gaby who currently deals with all bookings. Responsible for the overall standard of the retreat centre and all glamping units, supervising cleaners and laundry staff, ensuring kitchen facilities are in order, the standard of cleanliness is maintained and systems set up for reporting breakages and repair.  This job does require some housekeeping duties, for example stepping in where necessary for holiday cover and to maintain standards.

Oversee the house-keeper duties using check list at the end of each change over including some housekeeping duties. 

Responsible for the bedroom list for each retreat and sharing with the cleaners.

Greeting new guests/retreat leaders at the start of their retreat and delivering produce. 

Clear communication to how they contact you if they need help during retreats and being on call when visitors are staying to resolve any issues that might arise.

Showing the space to prospect retreat leaders. 

The retreat business is the major source of income and is therefore a prime priority.

The owners (Patrick & Gaby) currently take charge of all retreat bookings (Gaby) and oversee the internal (Gaby) and external maintenance and building development (Patrick) including an extension to the farmhouse to create self-contained two rooms with a shared bathroom planned for completion by the Spring, as well as developing the lake, building a natural water pool and expanding ‘spa’ type facilities.

Their ethos is about connecting with nature and spirit, optimum nutrition, facilitating transformation, as well as serving as a model for sustainable living. This 9 minute film shows you what we are doing here and shows you parts of the farm. Please see fforestbarn.co.uk for further details on the retreat centre.

SALARY AND RENT

The combined salary is £58,000 per annum (£28,000 for the grower and £30,000 for the retreat manager/maintenance including grounds role). The rent for the cottage is £14,500, including all utilities (oil, electric, water). The 17th century cottage includes a bedroom, a study/spare bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and shower plus laundry facilities. This gives £43,500 pa, or £3,625 a month.
The rent excludes internet, phone and council tax (currently £240 a month, £2880pa band E). In addition to the salary, after one year employment and breakeven achieved on the market garden, a profit share scheme will be introduced in addition to the salary.

STARTING DATE & APPLICATION PROCESS

The ideal starting date for this job is 1st of December, 2025. Applications with close on 10th October. Initial zoom interviews will mainly happen between 13th and 19th of September. Visits will primarily be in the weeks starting September 20th and 27th. For the ideal couple there could be flexibility in the starting date, to be discussed. Please let us know your circumstances in your introductory letter. There will be a need to spend some days with the current couple, who leave at the beginning of December.

TO APPLY:

Complete this questionnaire regarding your skills.The questionnaire relates to your combined skills but do please let us know both your names, emails and a phone number for arranging interviews in your introductory letter.

Once done, please send your introductory letter as to why you’d like the job, your availability and any other points of useful information not covered in (1) or your CV.

Include your CV or CVs and send to gaby@patrickholford.com.

For those short-listed in this initial stage, we will then invite you to a zoom interview, followed by a farm visit.

SPECIFIC AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DELIVERABLES

Management of Fforest Barn Retreats

The management needed is in two areas:

  • Maintenance, as is fixing things that break, seasonal pack down, set up of outdoor spaces for the season, general maintenance as in annual checks (e.g. oil, MHVR, electrics, sewage), re-painting (as needed).  We have a good team of technicians – plumber, electrician, painter etc. The measurable goal is everything works. [named ‘external’]
  • Checking the space is ready for guests/retreats [named ‘internal’]. This requires
  • managing the cleaners and ensuring quality control standards are maintained.
  • managing the laundry person and the laundry inventory
  • maintaining quality control procedures
  • keeping stock of all necessary products (from fire lighters to loo rolls)
  • Open the store at specific times during retreats to maximise sales
  • Being available during retreats to deal with any issues that occur

The measurable goal is

Management of the gardens, land, animals and ‘Food Fforest’ vegetable and flower garden

Animal management

Volunteers

Explore and develop ways of getting volunteers involved in various projects and manage and accommodate them. We have run three volunteer weeks – next on Nov 4-12th.

Application Process

Please now complete the questionnaire check list here and submit along with your introductory letter and CV, sent to gaby@patrickholford.com. The questionnaire relates to your combined skills but do please let us know both your names, emails and a phone number for arranging interviews in your introductory letter. Once received, for those shortlisted in this inital stage, we will then invite you to an interview, then a farm visit.

Essential and Desirable skill sets

GROWING AND ANIMALS

Essential skills

Desirable skills

PROPERTY AND LAND MAINTENANCE

Essential skills

Desirable skills

RETREAT MANAGEMENT

Essential skills