Participate in daily life in our Florida forest home, near Gainesville, USA

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  Participate in daily life in our Florida Forest Home
  
  About Us
  
  We’re Joseph and Deborah, living in a large, older home on ten wooded acres surrounded by lakes and protected wilderness near Gainesville, Florida.
  
  Joseph is a retired professional photographer, and Deborah is a voice teacher who has worked both at the University of Florida and in her private studio. We’re well-traveled, enjoy thoughtful conversation, and genuinely like meeting people from different backgrounds.
  
  Our home was originally designed as a hunting and fishing lodge and has evolved into a comfortable, lived-in space with plenty of character. The property includes a small pond, abundant wildlife, and a quiet, peaceful setting with very little light or noise pollution. Nights here are especially beautiful.
  
  We value a calm, respectful household and a sense of shared responsibility. If you enjoy a slower pace, nature, and meaningful cultural exchange, you’ll likely feel at home here.

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie

  Hausarbeiten

  Handwerkliche Arbeiten
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  Interessengebiete

  

  Wassersport

  

  Leben im Camper-Van

  

  Sprachen

  

  Gärtnern

  

  Gartenarbeiten

  

  Natur

  

  Segeln / Boote
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  UNO-Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung, die dieser Gastgeber verfolgt

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  Was ist das?
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Cultural Exchange & Free Time
  
  Nearby attractions include:
  
  -Historic village of Micanopy
  -University of Florida
  -Florida Museum of Natural History featuring a Butterfly Rainforest exhibit
  -Harn Museum of Art
  -Theater and music at the Phillips Center and Hippodrome and other venues
  -Hiking, boating, fishing, birdwatching, photography
  -Crystal‑clear springs for kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddleboarding
  -Historic St. Augustine
  -A canopy zipline adventure

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  Arbeit

  Please Read Before Reaching Out
  
  To help ensure a good fit, a few important points:
  
  * We are not a working farm
  * We are currently hosting short stays only (about one week to start)
  * The help is primarily:
  * housework
  * cooking
  * light gardening
  * occasional simple maintenance
  * organizing/maintaining projects in the workshop
  
  When you write, please:
  
  * Address us by name (Joseph & Deborah)
  * Tell us specifically about your experience with cooking and household tasks
  
  We tend to respond to thoughtful messages that show you’ve read our profile.
  
  What We Need Help With
  
  This is not farm work. Think of it as helping keep a large home and property running smoothly.
  
  Typical help includes:
  
  * Keeping shared spaces clean and organized
  * Preparing simple, healthy meals (we eat a protein-focused, mostly low-carb/keto style diet — beef, poultry, fish, some vegetables)
  * Light gardening and outdoor tidying
  * Occasional small projects around the house or on a boat we’re preparing for future travel
  
  We’re not looking for perfection — just someone who notices what needs to be done and takes initiative.
  
  We usually aim for about 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, leaving you with plenty of free time to relax, explore, or take short trips into nearby Gainesville.
  
  ⸻
  
  What We Offer
  
  In exchange, we provide:
  
  * A comfortable, private space in our home
  * A peaceful, natural setting with lots of privacy
  * Shared meals (focused on high-quality, protein-rich foods like grass-fed beef, poultry, and fish)
  * A relaxed, respectful environment with flexible routines
  * Opportunities to experience both quiet, country living and nearby cultural activities
  
  We try to keep things informal and collaborative — more like working together than a strict work arrangement.
  
  ⸻
  
  Length of Stay
  
  We start with a short stay (about one week) to make sure it’s a good fit for everyone.
  
  If things go well, we’re sometimes open to extending — but we don’t commit to longer stays upfront.
  
  ⸻
  Good Fit
  
  You’re Likely a Good Fit If You
  
  * Are comfortable contributing to a home environment (not just outdoor labor)
  * Can cook simple, healthy meals
  * Take initiative and don’t need constant direction
  * Communicate clearly and follow through
  * Are traveling as a couple, with a friend, or independently with a clear purpose or plan (for example, a gap year or transition period)
  
  This Is Probably Not a Fit If You
  
  * Are looking for farm work or heavy construction projects
  * Prefer to arrange long stays right away
  * Need detailed supervision for basic tasks
  * Are sending the same message to many hosts
  
  Living Here
  
  You’ll have your own comfortable private space. We aim for a balance between shared time and personal independence.
  
  Our setting is quiet and rural, but we’re within reach of Gainesville, which offers museums, music, and university life. We’re happy to help you explore the area if that’s of interest.
  
  We enjoy good conversation, but we also respect downtime — the atmosphere here is easygoing rather than structured or busy.
  
  THE HELP
  
  No skill required, we just need more hands.
  
  Outdoor:
  Living a bit on the wild side, our garden can often use some general weed-pulling, raking, and flower planting.
  
  Indoor:
  We use a professional cleaning service in the house, but we often get involved with projects like tidying, sorting and organizing in the house and workshop.
  
  And of course, help with meal preparation and cooking are especially appreciated!!!
  
  Hours: 20 hours per week (averaging about four hours per day on weekdays). Weekends free.
  
  We value curiosity and those who are highly organized, fit, adventurous, and open-minded.

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  Sprachen

  Gesprochene Sprachen
  Englisch: Fließend
  Spanisch: Grundkenntnisse
  Französisch: Grundkenntnisse

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Sprachaustausch an
  Languages We speak English fluently and are beginners in French and Spanish. We’re happy to help you practice English and would love help improving our French or Spanish.
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  Unterkunft

  Workawayers may stay in a private room or our self-contained motorhome, depending on what is available.
  
  We can also provide a site with electricity and water, where volunteers can park their own R.V.
  
  We currently have two private guest bedrooms with Queen-sized beds in our home and a shared bathroom down the hall. You are also welcome to use the laundry services and kitchen during the day.
  
  🤝 What We Provide / What You Provide
  
  What We Provide
  Private guest room or motorhome (whichever is available)
  
  Simple meals on volunteer days
  
  Laundry and kitchen access
  
  Peaceful wilderness setting
  
  Local recommendations and cultural exchange
  
  What You Provide
  
  20 hours of help per week
  
  Respect for the home and wildlife
  
  Your own toiletries and personal items
  
  Your own transportation or Uber budget
  
  Specialty foods or meals eaten out
  
  Cleaning up after yourself & your area, including your bathroom, is required. The area is to be left clean when you leave.
  We expect you to be self-sufficient financially and with your own personal maintenance and hygiene products.
  
  🏡
  
  House Rules / Expectations
  
  We aim to keep a relaxed, respectful, and drama-free environment. A few basic guidelines help everything run smoothly:
  
  Communication
  We value clear, open communication. If something isn’t working or you have a question, just let us know — we’re approachable and prefer to address things early.
  
  Work Ethic & Reliability
  We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect consistency. Showing up on time, putting in a solid effort, and taking pride in your work go a long way.
  
  Independence
  We’re not a structured “program.” You should be comfortable managing your time, staying on task, and working independently once given direction.
  
  Cleanliness & Shared Spaces
  Please keep your personal space tidy and be respectful of shared areas. This is a lived-in home, not a hotel, and we all contribute to keeping it comfortable.
  
  Lifestyle & Environment
  We live in a quiet, rural setting. This is a good fit for someone who enjoys nature and a slower pace.
  Late-night noise, parties, or disruptive behavior wouldn’t be a good match here.
  
  Substances
  Moderation and good judgment are expected. No illegal drugs, and excessive drinking isn’t a fit for our environment.
  
  Phones & Distractions
  We’re flexible, but during work hours we ask that you stay focused and limit phone use unless needed.
  
  Flexibility
  Our schedule can shift slightly depending on weather, projects, or Deborah’s recovery. We appreciate a flexible, easygoing mindset.
  
  ⸻
  
  A Note on Fit
  
  We’ve found the best experiences happen when there’s mutual respect, good communication, and a shared sense of purpose.
  If that sounds like you, we’ll likely get along very well.
  
  Important Requirement
  To confirm your stay, we require ID verification through Workaway or a copy of your ID (passport or driver’s license) for safety and identity verification as recommended by Workaway.

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  Was noch ...

  A Final Note
  
  We’ve found that the best experiences come from clear expectations and mutual respect.
  
  If this sounds like a place where you’d feel comfortable contributing and spending some time, we’d be glad to hear from you.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen

  Starlink internet is dependable and has reasonable speed and WiFi is available throughout most of the ten acres.

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  We can host people with campervans/motorhomes and travel trailers. We have 30 amp electric and water hookups and there is a dump station nearby.

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  mehr als zwei

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  Meine Tiere/Haustiere

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