Come enjoy unforgettable sunsets over lake Michigan and help with a log cabin, organic farm or improv comedy group. USA

Details

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  Description

  My name is Tom. I am an artist and carpenter. I enjoy acting, farming, painting (landscapes) and building and hope to find creative individuals who can help me with various projects. I have various children and grandchildren who come to visit me all the time but are too busy to help much.
  
  I live in a beautiful four bedroom log home right on Lake Michigan with a private beach. Depending on the time of year, I have several accommodation options for my guests. I have a few extra rooms in my lakefront cabin when it is not rented out, as well as a barn behind my cabin or an apartment behind a building I am renovating in downtown South Haven.
  
  I have a 30 acre organic farm adjacent to my home. My son-in-law farms it and there is always extra work to be done there. The farm is a private homestead, not a business. There is also various landscape work and carpentry that could be done (such as building another barn). The farm is 4 miles outside of South Haven, Michigan, a major tourist destination during the summer.
  
  Downtown, I own a historical building that I am converting into a theater for my improvisational theatre group to use for performances. I need help renovating, moving furniture, and organizing. This building has an attached apartment that can be used by my workawayers and is a short walk to the public beach.
  
  I also love to work on my home and could use help with organizing guest and storage spaces, gardening and general home maintenance. I rent it out a few weeks a year as a vacation home, but when it is not rented, I can offer accommodation here as well. I can also offer kayaks, canoes, and bicycles for your free time when the house isn't rented.
  
  Learning more about social media and helping me advertise for my Improv group and workaway projects would be a great help as well. I'm very flexible and have an endless list of projects, so I am certain we can come to an agreeable exchange and ultimately want to host fun and memorable experiences.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I have lived all over the world and I've done all different types of work. I am retired. I have hosted exchange students from Norway and I welcome all kinds of people. I can teach people how to do lots of different things and I am curious to learn from people of different cultures. I should add that having an enjoyable time is high on the priority list.

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  Help

  ***UPDATED 07/23/2021*** This year the farm has really slowed down. There are still some farm projects that could use help. The church renovations may be finished for the year. However, If you're traveling through and would like a place to stay, I would love help with maintaining my cabin, and the landscaping. We can still have improv nights if that's something you're interested in. I love meeting people from all over the world and would love to share my story with you as well.
  
  I need help with anything and everything. I'm transforming the old church into a theater for my acting group, so there is construction tasks needed: sawing, nailing, painting, and gardening. Also if there is an interest in directing an improv theater it could be a lot of fun. I also have a 30 acre organic farm, a private homestead, not a business, where we grow asparagus, hops, salad greens, tomatoes, and herbs.
  This spring we will also be transplanting a thousand trees. Ideally you would be prepared to do what ever it takes to move the farm forward. From plant to harvest, to social media and video documentation. While none of these skills are required, I appreciate individuals with building/construction skills, cooking skills, farming/gardening skills. Creative, educated, and artistic people are welcome.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  German: Beginner
  French: Beginner
  Russian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  I have a full apartment behind the historical building with several bedrooms. When my house is not rented out (I usually only rent for about a month or so), I can also potentially host people in the furnished upstairs of the barn behind my house or in my cabin when family is not visiting.
  
  I am open to feeding my workawayers, but this is something I would like to do with a bigger group and would need help cooking.
  
  I can definitely offer a place to sleep and depending on the situation, I can offer a lot more as well.

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  What else ...

  In your free time, you can cycle around, I have many bicycles available to borrow. There is great swimming (in the summer) at my private beach and walking in and around the quaint city of South Haven. In the past I have hosted exchange students. I have accommodations at my home in the log cabin, in the barn, or at the renovated church in the town. In town, all shops are available by walking.

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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 2-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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