WE TAKE CARE
OF WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT
YOUR HELPING HAND ON THE FARM, RANCH, HOMESTEAD, OR AROUND THE HOUSE
The work I'm good at and actually enjoy.
Homestead & Animal Check-Ins
Your next trip awaits — and everything back home stays fed, watered, and looked after 'til you're back. Feedings, water, wellness checks, mail and packages, plant-watering, coop-closing — whatever your "while we're gone" list looks like. Daily or scheduled visits. I've sat for pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, alpacas, chickens, horses, cats, dogs — if it eats and needs checking on, I've probably already met and petted one.
Dog Walking & Dog Running
Some dogs need a walk. Some dogs need a run. I offer both — including for the high-energy breeds that need real miles, the Vizslas and heelers and dogs that look at you like you've personally wronged them if they don't get to sprint. Whether it's tied to a check-in visit or just a standing weekly walk because your schedule's packed, your dog's covered.
Garden Help & Light Farmhand Work
Planting, pruning, harvesting, seasonal clean-up, a hand with fence or barn painting here and there — the stuff that keeps a small place looking cared for. This is also where my microfarm work lives — if you've got 4x4 feet of dirt, I can help you turn it into something that feeds you.
4ft x 4ft & Larger Raised Beds
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Simple Drip Irrigation Setup
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Urban Garden Planning
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So Many Friggin' Tomatoes
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No-Till Farming
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DIY & Delicious!
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4ft x 4ft & Larger Raised Beds • Simple Drip Irrigation Setup • Urban Garden Planning • So Many Friggin' Tomatoes • No-Till Farming • DIY & Delicious! •
You Can Have A Farm
You don't need to own your home or have acres of land to harvest an abundance of fresh food, flowers, and herbs each season.
This Pays For Itself In One Season
From no-till and native soil gardening to raised beds of all shapes and sizes, together we can make a plan and set you up for success. Do you like tomatoes? If you answer yes, you'd better really like tomatoes, because this fun way to farm will deliver an absurd amount. Same for lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, peas, carrots, berries, and more.
Want to grow flowers, too? Companion planting with flowers that attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and butterflies adds to the symbiosis you'll be part of every time you spend time working on your own little farm.
- Planning your microfarm — How much space do you have? What do you want to grow? Do you REALLY like tomatoes this much? These are just some of the questions we might cover.
- Raised bed or "right in the ground"? — I can build you a simple raised bed sized to fit your space, or set up a sustainable, no-till plot right on your existing soil. Nothing fancy — just done right.
- Basic garden fencing, trellis work for climbing plants like tomatoes and cucumbers, small hoop houses, and simple drip irrigation can be added in.
- Year-to-year guidance — charting, re-planting, re-powering your garden, scheduled recurring check-ins through the growing season, and help with harvest.
Do you have 4’ by 4’ of space in your yard?
YOU CAN HAVE A FARM!
Jack Riordan, aka Oregon Farm Hand, with Sky the rescue dog
Who Is Oregon Farm Hand?
Hi, friends! My name is Jack Riordan. I'm 48, a happily married husband of 26 years, and a proud dad — one of my kids just graduated from the University of Oregon with a double major, double minor, and straight As the whole way through, and the other is working toward lofty goals of his own. I spent close to 30 years in the family house painting business — decades of building relationships with homeowners one job at a time. I semi-retired in 2018 and launched a grassroots marketing company helping friends build their businesses. These days I enjoy meeting cool people and helping them grow and maintain their own little homestead — that's what I find fulfilling now, after all those years of relationship-building in a very different trade.
I've always been an avid outdoorsman — fishing, hiking, camping, you name it. West Oregon is my playground. I love animals of all types and keep two dogs, two cats, and a tortoise of our own here in South Eugene.
I've been farm and ranch sitting for friends for years, and realized there was real need for the kind of reliability I bring. So Oregon Farm Hand was born. I show up on time, I don't quit 'til the job's done, and I just seem to have a way of connecting with animals of all kinds, and making friends with them too!
Contact us
Contact us
* Rates vary by location and scope of the project - contact us today to discuss details or to set up a free in-person consultation at your place.
Testimonials
Honest, reliable, hard-working, friendly, independently motivated, and a great team player.
You don’t have to take my word for it—here are some things people have to say about Oregon Farm Hand.
Jack has been one of the most important resources for Mountain In The Mist over the past four years. From weekend getaways to month-long trips, we always trust our homestead in his hands. His high level of competence puts our minds at ease when we are away from home. Jack takes outstanding care of ALL of the animals, plants, and property, just as instructed. Furthermore, he has responded to multiple emergencies (escaped animals, sick animals, water leaks, etc.) in expert fashion and keeps us informed with great communication. Our homestead would not be the same without Jack, and we are incredibly grateful for his services. We cannot recommend him enough for you and your farm!
— Drake & Emily D.
Mountain In The Mist
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Jack Riordan is more than a OFH - he is also a Jack Of All Trades! His work is always just what is needed, done in a timely fashion, the animals all love him and so do we - Jack is a dream come true for anyone with a ranch.
— Nikki L.
Turtle Creek Ranch
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Jack Riordan has been a much-needed “extra hand” around our new and continually evolving farm. He has helped with small construction projects (ie. drywall and painting), to helping establish the new infrastructure of the farm (ie. cleaning, fencing, and garden help). I always feel as though I had a great day’s work when Jack has come to help.
— David Y.
Mile 1 Farm
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“We can’t thank you enough for taking such incredible care of our fur and feather babies. We didn’t worry once and it was such a relief to know you were there giving them love and attention. Thank you, thank you thank you!
— Andy & Kay
(and Benny and Jetty, and B & Minion!)
Eugene, OR
“
You've Got Questions, Together We've Got Answers
Where are you located, and do you service all of Oregon?
I'm based in South Eugene, and I primarily serve Lane County and north Douglas County.
What do you charge per hour?
Rates vary by location and scope. A free, easy consultation at your place can nail that down fast.
Do you stay overnight for farm or ranch sitting?
Not as a rule — I keep my visits scheduled rather than staying on-site. For the right situation (a special property, a longer trip, something unusual) I'll consider it case-by-case. Ask me.
Do you do fencing or yard clean-up?
I'll handle light fence or barn painting and basic seasonal garden clean-up, but I'm not taking on new fence line builds or full land clean-up projects anymore. Happy to point you toward someone who specializes in that if you need it.
What safety measures are in place?
Safety first, always. I'm alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free, and I use basic protective gear and common sense to avoid injuries or property damage.
Can you administer medicine to animals?
Yes — basic medication administration is something I've done for past clients and I'm comfortable with it.
Do you work weekends and holidays?
I sure do.
Do you care for house pets too?
Of course. Daily visits, walks, runs, feedings, meds, and lovins — that's the job.
Who built your website?
I did. Happy to help you with that too.
Farm / Ranch / Homestead Sitting
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Land / Yard Clean-Up
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Livestock & Pet Care
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Dog Walking & Dog Running Services
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Garden Motivation
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Farm / Ranch / Homestead Sitting 〰️ Land / Yard Clean-Up 〰️ Livestock & Pet Care 〰️ Dog Walking & Dog Running Services 〰️ Garden Motivation 〰️
