Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Feedback
-
Email verified
Details
Description
We have a 22 acre farm in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. We have a family permaculture homestead with gardens, chickens, bees and goats, as well as a stand of basketry willow that we tend as a willow sanctuary for visitors and a source of willow for our handmade woven green burial caskets. I (Sarah) have lived in several countries and enjoyed time as a WWOOF volunteer in New Zealand and my partner Leo is from Switzerland and has lived in the US for about 6 years.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are surrounded by lots of traditional Appalachian farming culture, and both have experience with culture exchange in various countries and enjoy lively discussion. Sarah has taught and tutored ESL and speaks English and Romanian, with a smattering of other languages, and Leo is bilingual English/French and has a unique perspective as a newer resident in America.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for help with all aspects of life on the farm, from vegetable gardening, feeding chickens and collecting eggs, helping with the goats, to clearing trails in the forest. There are also opportunities for farm building projects like fencing and barn repairs, as well as help with a schoolie build, outdoor kitchen and bath house build, and renovation of a camper on the land. We used to run a cut flower farm, and have perennial beds that can be tended and harvested for fun, or for donation to our small community non-profit, and the willow sanctuary has opportunities for tending the willow, working on living structures and establishing memorial gardens.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Romanian: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We love languages and are always interested in learning. In addition to speaking English/French (Leo) and English/Romanian (Sarah) in the past we have taken lessons in Italian, German, Moroccan Arabic, Hungarian and Spanish, and are interested in more!
Accommodation
We have a school bus that has been renovated as a tiny home, complete with small kitchen, composting toilet, heating and air conditioning, and a queen-size bed. Currently guests use the shower in our house, but we soon hope to have a shower in the bus as well as an outdoor bathhouse. We have plenty of space for camping or those who wish to bring their own camper, RV, or bus. We also have a tree house for adventurous sleepers.
What else ...
We are about 45 minutes from Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is no public transport to the farm, but we do travel to and from Asheville once a week and can provide rides on those trips.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have Starlink internet available on most areas of the farm.
Space for parking camper vans
We have basic water and electric hook ups at the house and can host smaller campers and vans if parked close to the house
Can possibly accept pets
We have free roaming chickens, barn cats and outdoor livestock guardian dogs, so pets are welcome as long as they will not be allowed to chase or torment any of our animals.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
