Part-time farm hands wanted in Numedal

Part-time farm hands wanted — historic guest farm in Numedal valley, Norway

Sevletunet Gjestegård · Rødberg, Numedal · Start: as soon as possible · 1–2 week trial period

ABOUT THE PLACE

Sevletunet is a sixth-generation family farm from 1640, nestled in the Numedal valley in the heart of Norway. We are a mother-daughter operation running a guesthouse and building a retreat centre rooted in nature, slow living and genuine nourishment. The farm has history, character and a clear direction — and we are looking for the right people to be part of it.

We are not looking for just anyone. We are looking for someone quite specific — and if you are those people, you will recognise yourselves immediately in this listing.

WHERE YOU WILL LIVE

You will have your own off-grid cabin by the river — a simple, beautiful place surrounded by nature, with the sound of running water and the Norwegian valley around you. This is your home for the duration of your stay. You will also have access to your own growing plot on the farm to grow your own vegetables, and use of our mountain cabin with fishing rights for mountain trout and char in nearby alpine lakes.

WHAT THE WORK LOOKS LIKE

No two days are the same. You are comfortable with that — in fact, you prefer it. The work is physical, varied and meaningful. Some days you are in the kitchen preparing nourishing meals for a retreat group. Other days you are mowing meadows, painting a room, fixing something that needs fixing, tending the vegetable garden, re-making beds or cleaning guest rooms. You do what needs doing — without being told twice.

During retreat weekends you work as part of a small team. Outside retreat season the rhythm is quieter and more self-directed. We grow potatoes and hope you enjoy both inside and outside work.

• Room cleaning and re-making

• Serving tables and dishes

• Retreat cooking assistance

• Vegetable garden in the making

• Maintenance and DIY

• Lawn mowing

• General caretaking

• (Pop-up farm café in the planning)

THE KITCHEN

Food matters here. You have real experience in a kitchen — not necessarily professional, but you know what you are doing and you care about it. You are confident preparing both vegetarian and traditional meals, and you are genuinely curious about cooking with local, seasonal ingredients — wild herbs, root vegetables, mountain trout, foraged finds. You are the kind of person who finds satisfaction in a well-prepared meal that feeds people properly.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You are somewhere between 30 and 50. You have lived enough life to know what you value — and right now, what you value is fresh air, physical work, nature and a pace that makes sense. You are done with city tempo, or at least ready for a break from it.

You are hardy, capable and self-directed. You finish what you start. You show up on time and in good shape, even when the weather is bad or the task is unglamorous. You do not need to be managed or followed up — you see what needs doing and you do it.

You feel at home in a wellness and retreat environment without needing it explained. You are drawn to Norway — the landscape, the seasons, the culture, the quiet. Animals are part of life for you, not an afterthought. We have a farm dog who is part of the daily rhythm here.

Chemistry, values and integrity matter more to us than a CV. We are ideally looking for two people — two friends, or a couple — who want to do this together.

• Self-directed

• Physically capable

• Kitchen experience

• Maintenance experience

• Nature-loving

• Reliable and sober

• Driving licence required

• Own car an advantage
  
  We are especially drawn to people who prefer active manual labour and enjoy — or have some experience with — cooking / assisting us in the kitchen with both vegetarian meals and traditional cuisine, and who maybe also are interested in off-grid living, self-sufficiency and homestead building and retreat life. If fishing, outdoor life in nature and rural living speaks to you, you will feel right at home here in the countryside.

WHAT WE OFFER

This is a combination of exchange and pay — terms agreed together with the right people. We are open and fair, and we want this to work for both sides.

• Off-grid river cabin — your home

• Your own growing plot

• Mountain cabin with fishing rights

• Firewood available

• Pay + exchange — agreed together

• Possibility to extend stay

  The farm is not too far away from the big city (2,5 hours from Oslo - 1,5 hours from Kongsberg), and there is only 4 kilometres to the nearest small town Rødberg, where you will find everything you need.

SCHEDULE

This is part-time and periodic — not a full-time position. Active periods are April to June and August to November, with retreat weekends typically running Thursday to Sunday or Friday to Sunday. Outside these periods the pace is slower and more flexible.

IMPORTANT

This is not a soft landing or a social programme. It is a real working farm and we need real working people. We expect you to arrive ready — physically, mentally and practically. There is a 1–2 week mutual trial period from the start, so both sides can be sure the fit is right before committing further.

We will not respond to vague or incomplete enquiries.

An extended stay - throughout the year - could be possible if you have a side project of your own — something you can work on alongside farm life in the less busy parts of the year.

We have a farm dog who is very kind, and is an important part of the family — a love of dogs is therefore a must.

WHAT WE OFFER — IN FULL:

This is a combination of pay and exchange — and we figure out the right balance together, based on what you need and what works for both sides. We are straightforward about this: the more we pay in salary, the less we cover in extras, and vice versa. We are open to finding an arrangement that makes sense for real life.

Accommodation: During summer season you will have your own self-contained off-grid apartment with living room, kitchen, gas stove, gas fridge, wood fired oven, two bed rooms, compost toilet, solar panels, barbecue cabin, wood fired sauna. During the quieter winter season you will have your own modern space with living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, TV, washing machine, heating, internet, terrasse, private entrance, wood fired sauna, barbecue cabin. The off-grid river cabin is available in the warmer months. Internet is available in the main building throughout the year when needed.

Cultural exchange: We do enjoy the occasional outing together — showing you something of the local area, the culture and the landscape around us.

Transport: If you do not have your own car, we can help with access to a vehicle when needed for practical purposes.

Extras that come with the stay:

— Your own growing plot to grow vegetables and food for yourself

— Use of our modern mountain cabin

— Fishing rights for mountain trout and char in nearby alpine lakes — with a boat

— The possibility to join us during elk hunting season

— Firewood available

— A quiet, nature-rich environment where your free time is genuinely your own

Food: Spring, summer and autumn are busy seasons and we move at pace. Winter is quieter, and that is when we tend to share one dinner together a week — when the energy is right and the timing works. During the high season we tend to eat before or after the guests - or join them around the table, depending on how busy things are. In low season we share one or two dinners together per week, when there is time and energy for it. Beyond that, we either stock the fridge for you or give you a food budget — depending on the exchange arrangement we agree on.

How to apply:

Write to us in English. Tell us: who you are, your age and background, your current life situation, why this appeals to you right now, your practical experience (kitchen, maintenance, outdoor work), how you work without supervision, whether you are applying alone or with someone, how long you can realistically commit, and one or two references who can speak to your reliability and work ethic. We look forward to hear from you.