Learn, build, and grow in our off-grid community in Oregon, USA

Details

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  Description

  Hello friends!
  
  We are a community of sweet, simple, nature-loving folks living off-grid on 400+ acres nestled in the woods, surrounded by tens of thousands of wild and protected wilderness.
  
  We have a (usually) year-round creek that cuts through the land along with a year-round spring that feeds directly into our underground water storage. The sound of the flowing water, the trees dancing in the wind, giggling children and the creatures of the forest are the only sounds that you can hear. You can climb up the hills to get spectacular views or take shelter in the valley by the water's edge. We have thick woods and open meadows with trails going in so many different directions. The land is so very beautiful and diverse. We are totally secluded and private yet still only 25 minutes to a "big" happening town - Ashland.
  
  We are 20 adults and 11 kids -- ranging from 2 to 13. We have a 6 year-old boy and 4 year-old girl. We also have ducks, and a sweet huge livestock guardian dog.
  
  There are currently 12 different structures that are inhabited by our community (ranging from a couple cabins, hobbit cottages, strawbale studio, cob cabin, yurts, treehouse, tiny homes and a studio). We also have a couple of tipis and bell tents and many amazing and private camping sites spread throughout the land along with a few composting toilets, couple outdoor showers, an indoor community kitchen/hang-out zone and a hot tub and sauna that we use Oct-May.
  
  A few of these buildings are used for darkness retreats. Folks travel from all over the States to come do dark retreat here.
  
  Come join us in the woods! There is space for people with many different backgrounds and skills.
  
  There are many families on the land with a wide variety of interests. We love to share our passions with others when we have the time. While you are here you will likely have the opportunity to learn some primitive skills including things like wild crafting, deer processing, and fire making. You could get into meditation, growing organic food, playing late night games, having dance parties. You might build something with hand tools, build something with power tools, use a chainsaw, chop wood, make fire, carry water, climb a tree, draw a picture, sing a song, drop in a hole in the ground and scream, jump in the creek, bathe in the sun, sweat in the sauna, collect flowers, shovel compost, grow some real muscle, cook a meal, read a book, or take a nap. You most certainly will be playing with kids, hiking through the nearby wilderness, playing volleyball with the crew, and enjoying community gatherings…
  
  We work hard, cherish the land we live on, and love the people we have surrounded ourselves with. Come join us!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We all have so much to teach and share with each other. We highly value diversity and culture and look forward to creating and sharing in a melting pot of different ideas and ways of living and being. From sharing songs, stories, dance, and music, to natural building, natural dyeing techniques, wild-harvesting, gardening and meditation... nature is abundant with resources here - the sky is not the limits!

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  Help

  We are looking for people who can commit to staying for at least 2-4 weeks during the months April-September.
  
  You will be asked to work 5 hrs/day 5 days a week.
  
  Depending on your skills and interest you may be involved in some or all of these tasks:
  
  Gardening & land tending:
  - Weeding, prepping beds, uppotting, pruning, harvesting, watering…
  - Working in the fruit orchard
  - Removing invasive species
  - Brush burning
  - Forest tending
  - Mulching pathways
  - Harvesting firewood/chopping wood
  
  We would LOVE to host workawayers who know their way around the garden, who are willing to do some hard work get their hands dirty. Every year the garden takes a different shape depending on who in the community is inspired to get their hands dirty. This year we have big garden plans- expanding our growing area, growing staple crops, and a large diversity of other culinary veggies. We do always grow veggies- lots of lettuce, tomatoes, kale, peppers, melons, corn and squash…. We have perennial flower beds, a young fruit tree orchard, and a 2000 sq ft. greenhouse. If you don’t have any gardening experience, no worries! We can always use more helping hands and would love to share what we know.
  
  We LOVE hosting workawayers with building know-how. If you have experience we are open to you leading some self guided projects. Workawayers in years past have helped to build a beautiful treehouse, a roundwood shed, our lovely sauna, and a community strawbale music room. Some builders on the land strictly use hand tools and others use power tools - there is room here for all types!
  
  We are in an ongoing process of developing and cultivating this land into a sanctuary that deeply nourishes all who are here and all to come. There is so much to do! We will surely love your company and your help. We look forward to hearing from you!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We have an inside communal kitchen/common space and plenty of beautiful and private campsites with tents scattered throughout the land. Come here ready for tent camping!
  
  Facilites:
  - Indoor & outdoor common space (and kitchen) with electricity and spring/well water on tap.
  - Indoor & outdoor showers and composting toilets (we do not have any flushing toilets for workawayers)
  - Cedar-wood-burning hot tub and sauna (around mid-June there is a fire-ban, so we can enjoy it up until this point)
  - Swimming/dunking hole in the cold creek
  - Clean and delicious spring water for drinking
  - Fresh, as good as it gets, organic veggies from the abundant gardens! (late spring/summer/fall)
  
  We provide bulk grains, beans, seeds, flour, eggs, veggies and basic cooking supplies.

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  What else ...

  Ashland, which is 25 minutes away is an amazing conscious and creative southern Oregon hub. It is home to the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival which people from all over the states travel to see and attracts both a lot of tourists and travels alike.
  
  Ashland is also a hub for dance and arts. There are several ecstatic dance and contact improv jams that happen throughout the week, as well as West African dance classes, to name a few.
  
  Jackson Wellsprings is a hot springs and spa located in Ashland that also hosts music and dance events.
  
  We head into town a few times a week and are happy to take people back and forth with us.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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