Having back up caretakers for your animals and property is an excellent idea - even if it's just one dog or one cat. At least half a dozen of my clients are the result of 'Plan A' falling through and their need for someone to do on-site critter care.

The closest I've come to a homestead situation was a place involving chickens, but the concept applies across the board as @papa-pepper notes.

Excellent tip!

(For the record, the chickens were a nice change of pace and they kept up egg production, so that was good. So were the eggs!)