Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
4
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello, we like to introduce ourselves: We’re Jerry Donoghue, and Aldona Shea, a married couple in their late 50’s and early 60’s doing homesteading on 25 acres in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains 10 minutes from the quaint little town of Burnsville, North Carolina. Besides tending to our homestead, we both work in the healing profession and support people in various ways.
We are experienced gardeners and have extensive organic no-till garden beds where we grow our food. We generally follow biodynamic principles and have been moving towards veganic gardening principles. We also have a new orchard along with a 20 by 40 greenhouse. We have no farm animals, only our pets: a couple of cute dogs and cats.
The property consists of about 20 acres of forest with many rare and medicinal plants and flowers. There are many walking trails, and we have been creating more. We are currently in the planning stages of getting a woodland management plan which would support the overall health of the forest and wildlife. We have a nice bold creek that runs along the edge of the property that is meditative to sit by.
We have separate, private accommodations for a couple to join us this spring and summer to experience an amazing exchange.
We are NOT a business, just a homestead growing lots of food. We do not sell anything to the public.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We're willing to share our knowledge and experience in organic no-till gardening and what it takes to grow your food and preserve enough to support you in the winter. We freeze, dehydrate, ferment, and cold store food. We can share our love of the forest and how we have been cultivating a living web perspective.
Help
We would welcome help with all aspects of gardening: planting, weeding, harvesting, preserving, fermenting. We need help making forest trails, maybe light chainsaw help (if you know how or are willing to learn), and clearing brush. Various farm projects like making hugelculture beds or setting up gutters on the greenhouse for rainwater catchment. General maintenance of gravel roads, clearing invasive species, and weed whacking. We also have some building projects that are not clear yet, but we are always doing something.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a 10 by 16 tiny cabin with a small front porch behind the main house on the edge of the woods. It contains a futon couch that folds out into a full-size bed. There is also a twin bed in a loft. The cabin contains a T.V. with NetFlix, WIFI, a counter with a two-burner hot plate to cook, a coffee maker, a refrigerator, a microwave, a water dispenser with well water, and all the plates and utensils needed.
The food arrangement is we would like the workawayers to be responsible for there own food preparations and meal times. We will share food from the garden (when available) and fermented foods, and the workawayers will be responsible for purchasing their own additional food (grocery 10 minutes away). This food arrangement is reflected in the reduced hours.
There is a table and chairs both on the inside and outside of the cabin. There is a private outdoor shower with hot water and a sink to wash dishes. There is also a new composting outhouse.
What else ...
We’re in a rural setting so having your own transportation is a must. The closest bigger city, Asheville, North Carolina, is 45 minutes away. It is known for its art, craft beer, and music scene. The surrounding area is known for world-class kayaking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, and fishing. Since we work in the helping profession and deal with people all the time, we like our privacy and will extend the same privacy to those that will join us on the land.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The internet connection is a 12mbps DSL connection.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 3-4 hours a day per person, 5 days a week
Feedback (2)
Aldona and Jerry were warm and accommodating hosts. They provided clear instructions on tasks and answered questions so we could do the best job possible. They taught us as much as we were… read more
nevertheless, you can rest assured that if your journey brings you to Burnsville with Jerry & Aldonna.. you’ve landed well.
Their property is gorgeous.. We came from the Arizona desert to an oasis of green; lush… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Aldona and Jerry were warm and accommodating hosts. They provided clear instructions on tasks and answered questions so we could do the best job possible. They taught us as much as we were… read more
nevertheless, you can rest assured that if your journey brings you to Burnsville with Jerry & Aldonna.. you’ve landed well.
Their property is gorgeous.. We came from the Arizona desert to an oasis of green; lush… read more
