Helping hands for Vashon Island farm in Puget Sound, WA, USA

Details

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  Description

  I'm an educated country girl who loves animals and nature. I found my piece of paradise on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. I am a hard worker and like to keep my three acre property looking beautiful, but I am older now and it gets harder to keep it the way I like.
  
  I have many mature nut and fruit trees, a 50 foot greenhouse that is under-utilized, three alpacas in the pasture and a small rescue dog from Korea in the house. The farm is very peaceful and has a wonderful southern exposure so the flowers and vegetables grow.
  
  I love to read, and dance, and exchange ideas. I have great respect for nature and our earth and try to live consciously and simply without waste or excess. I try to eat healthy and clean, but I am not rigid. I do not watch TV, get my videos from the library, do not like to chatter or be constantly stimulated, am liberal and well traveled with a pretty European outlook on things.
  
  I don't have the strength, or the energy to keep up with all the chores and would love some help doing a variety of things none of which are very strenuous or difficult. In the Spring and Summer I need help in the garden keeping things picked up, the weeds out of the paths, the most invasive plants under control in the pasture, some mowing, some weed-eating or fertilizing the garden and watering. I can also use help with various home chores like picking and preserving the fruit raspberries, blueberries, mulberries, plums, apples, figs.
  
  In the fall I need help gathering the nuts and edible chestnuts, mulching the leaves, trimming back dead growth on the blueberries, cleaning out the garage of old and useless tools, taking the truck to the dump with garbage, putting the veggie garden to bed, cutting back the raspberry canes, cleaning up the pine needles, hauling in firewood.....
  
  There's always something to do or fix.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Elderly Companionship

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I am involved as a volunteer for Audubon and a Climate Watch organization. This is a very rural island with many resourceful and innovative people. Vashon has many environmental and political activists, many artists and musicians and people who think outside the box. It has a lot to offer as a model of alternative lifestyles.
  I have a long history of working with animals having had a llama, sheep and chickens in the past. I am also an avid gardener and know a great deal about plants.

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  Help

  Basically, I am looking for help keeping the farm maintained. This could mean mowing the grass, pruning overgrown trees, gathering and drying nuts, distributing alpaca poop, raking up leaves, stacking wood, keeping the paths clean, watering the gardens, dividing the pond plants, potting up vegetable starts, sweeping the breezeway, cleaning the gutters, patching the fence, turning the compost pile, eradicating the thistles, building a trellis for the grapes.....
  
  In the winter things slow down, but there is always work cleaning up inside the house or organizing the greenhouse or garage or shop. And gathering wood around the farm here or at a friend's property to help keep the wood stove fired up.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I've been using Duolingo to learn Spanish and Italian - would love to practice.
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  Accommodation

  I live in a two story farmhouse originally built in 1903 - but it has been upgraded with modern conveniences (WiFi, heating, washer&dryer, but NO TV). I have two extra bedrooms upstairs, one with a very comfortable queen bed, the other with a twin bed, but the bathroom is downstairs. I keep it very clean ! From time to time I have rental guests or friends in a spare room.
  
  I have two tenants on the property who live in outbuildings..

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  What else ...

  Vashon Island is a unique rural community with lots of artists and lots of small organic farmers. It is only reached from the mainland by ferry - Seattle on the north end and Tacoma from the south. The climate in the Pacific Northwest can be rainy and dreary in the winter, but that is why things are so lush and green. There is a strong sense of community and always something going on to get involved in. The pace of life has slowed down on this Island and we have no stop lights!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I have a good and reliable internet connection

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is plenty of room

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  Can possibly accept pets

  conditional - ask me

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  10-12 hrs a week

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