Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
17 May 2023
Feedback
16
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We are a small family farm. We have chickens, pigs, goats and gardens. We are situated in a beautiful small valley in Northern California, Mendocino County.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You could learn about basic small family farm practices, relating to both animal care and raising vegetables. We, freeze, can preserves and dehydrate food. We butcher our own chickens and pigs. We press apple, pear and grape juice from our garden. We raise most of the food we eat, and make a point of preparing things ourselves. There are generally 3 of us in the main house and our daughter and son in law in the small house. We have all lived in other countries and welcome opportunities to interact with interesting people.
Help
We are retired school teachers in our 70ties, and could use help on our 5-acre property and with caring for gardens and animals. We use organic practices and are conscious of how we use the land and water.
Spring is a rush with everything bursting out in new growth, including blackberries trying to get a foothold. There is planting, weeding, pruning and general cleaning up.
Summer is hot and lazy necessitating early starts and some evening work, with time in the afternoon to laze on the river, read, play games, or take a siesta.
August through October there are fruits and vegetables to care for, harvest and cook, can, freeze or sell.
We have a flock of about 60 laying hens, and you might help with their daily care, collecting, cleaning, and boxing eggs. Also there are tasks to clean, trim and remove weeds (blackberries) on the property, feed pigs, sheep, ducks and generally help out.
I always appreciate anyone who is an organizer and cleaner, as I would rather be outdoors. I love to cook and make good food, and love to see how others cook and am ready to appreciate the results.
We’re trying to get a fence building project under way. More heads and hands would be a big help.
My husband is a potter and has a pottery studio that might interest you.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
My husband learned Spainish while in the Peace Corps in Bolivia in his twenties. In addition, we as a family spent two years teaching in Santa Cruz Bolivia. Then we spent nine years teaching in Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Thailand. We always appreciated the opportunity to learn new customs and languages and the many local people’s help and patience while we learned.
Accommodation
We have a large bedroom with a personal bathroom. We eat wholesomely, and as much as possible, what we raise.
What else ...
Potter Valley is 15 minutes from Ukiah, CA and 2 hours north of San Francisco. There is no local public transportation in Potter Valley. Ukiah, 20 minutes away has public transit north and south.
We are in a beautiful rural setting and close to many camping and hiking places. We are surrounded by vineyards and mountains, and the Russian River runs through the valley. There are nearby places to hike, and swim. And the Pacific Coastline is a beautiful hour and a half drive away.
Some Workaway guests have been able to avail themselves of paid work in their off hours.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are rural and the internet here is basic. It is generally dependable, but isn’t extremely fast, although we have no issues with streaming videos and zooming. Others have successfully worked digitally from here.
Space for parking camper vans
Camper-vans are fine, but we don’t have space or hookups for an RV.
Can possibly accept pets
We have a Jack Russell Terrier, an American Leopard Hound, and two young cats. Four ducks and chickens wander the yards. If your pet will get along, we’d would welcome it.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum about 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, with flexibility to accommodate side work, travel and exploration.
Feedback (10)
The property is full of life - fruits, vegetables, flowers, a range of trees big and small, ducks,… read more
Photos
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
The property is full of life - fruits, vegetables, flowers, a range of trees big and small, ducks,… read more
It's a beautiful little family farm in a beautiful area. A little paradise in Northern California.
Halle is wonderful, she (and also her Family) gave me the feeling of being home and not a guest from the very beginning. I never felt like a stranger but rather accepted in the family… read more
Halle is a really awesome cook! She and the family have lived all over the world… read more
I had the opportunity to help care for (feed, milk, clean stalls) a plethora of animals - chickens, goats, sheep, pigs (piglets too!), turkeys and… read more
She is a so nice and sweet person. She opened us the doors for her house and her heart from the first day. She trusted us for help you in all the works on the farm. We learned so much from her. She is a excellent teacher!
We live three months in the farm, we shared many… read more
I enjoyed her bright cheerful attitude every day. She was an eager and speedy learner and willing to try new things. She took on responsibilities readily and was consistent in maintaining them.
She was always… read more
