Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
23 Apr 2024
Reply rate
84.6 %
Usually responds within 17 days
Feedback
14
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Greetings,
My name is Joel and I am a Colorado native, music aficionado, Spanish (and kinda German) speaker, and active/adventurous bon-vivant. The only label I've found that actually might fit me is 'multipotentialite' as I have had a long and varied career involving the Medical Field, Tech Startups, Ships, Antarctic Research, Renewable Energy, Homebuiliding, and probably another half-dozen things. I love to travel - with all 7 continents on my passport - and meet and get to know folks from different cultures all over the world. The whole pandemic has actually shifted my focus lately more toward finishing up projects at home and realizing a creative vision for a green, sustainable house in my adopted hometown of Boulder.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Involvement can be just lending a hand on various tasks or it could go much deeper with learning more about any of these trades/skills listed above (or perhaps even teaching me depending on YOUR experience!). Additionally, Boulder is a cultural, educational, spiritual, and adventure mecca. I'm always game to try and improve my Spanish skills and/or try to pick up a new language (including music, as it were).
Help
The work projects are really varied (depending on your abilities/aspirations as well as the seasonal logistics), though all fit within the framework of making things more sustainable, eco-friendly, and self-sufficient. The work schedule can be quite flexible as well, though on the order of 15-20 hours in a given week and will include:
Installing PV Solar Panels
Building a Greenhouse
Gardening
Carpentry
Building a Climbing Wall
Hydro/Aquaponics
Landscaping/Xeriscaping
A Chicken Coop(??)
Many other building trades (electrical, plumbing, framing, welding)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I'm not formally learning/teaching any languages now, though always game to give it a try and expand my knowledge.
Accommodation
The living situation will be in a new above-garage loft that’s being built out, so it’s separate from, but connected to the main house. It’s a work in progress, though it has the most spectacular mountain views in the house and even it’s own sunny balcony w/spiral stairs! The basic creature comforts are there - private, partitioned, isolated area with window, bed, dresser, mirror…and part of the work can go toward finishing it out more, if desired. It can be totally self-contained with a mini-fridge, microwave, water kettle (and toilet/sink coming soon), yet right off the bat it may be more realistic to just utilize the main house facilities. I would be living up there myself, except my doggo is slowing down a bit with age and doesn’t dig the stairs so much. In the main house there is myself an awesome dog + kitty, and a couple housemates with interesting careers and interests (GIS, Particle Physics, Martial Arts, Sushi Chef, Guitar/Uke/Bass).
What else ...
Some of the many fun and interesting things to check out in the immediate vicinity include:
Mountain/Road Biking
Climbing/Hiking
Skiing/Snowboarding (yes!…prob. into June/July still)
Kayaking/Tubing/Swimming on the Creek
Culinary School
Cafes/Brewpubs/Trivia
The Startup Business Scene
Education and Science (NREL, NIST, NOAA, U of Colorado)
Music/Arts Scene
...and chances are that I (or my friends and local co-ops, etc.) have some gear and recommendations to share on all this or other pursuits
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Decent bandwidth internet at the house and I myself pop off to some of the cafes, etc. for some work (actually, it's where I am right now!)
Space for parking camper vans
Street parking is def available and can happen for a shorter stay (sans direct hookups, and per local ordinances etc. would still prob have to be sleeping in the house). For something longer, I actually have a space in my oversized garage (yes, it can fit) with hookups that could be a win-win for a more comfortable space that you're used to. That might be a slightly upgraded scenario than the one posted, but probably workable, so let's talk!
Can possibly accept pets
I have a dog and a cat already (both friendly) so any additional pets will have to be compatible and well mannered/behaved.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
3-4 hours/day...or 15-20 hours/week w/flexibility on exact schedule (and more hours for pay possible)
Feedback (7)
As it was my first Workaway, I was shy and a little nervous - to be staying at someone's home, and to be working alongside them on something I had very little knowledge of.… read more
Wanderer, explorer and a sailor who set his anchor currently in beautiful Boulder. I had a pleasure to have many talks with him, to hear many stories from his adventures and to meet his roommates and couple of… read more
She was ever eager to lend a hand in the garden or dive right into the wide variety of other different building and improvement projects at the homestead. Even when there was no game plan she always found some clever organizing or other useful tasks, making it one of the most… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
As it was my first Workaway, I was shy and a little nervous - to be staying at someone's home, and to be working alongside them on something I had very little knowledge of.… read more
Wanderer, explorer and a sailor who set his anchor currently in beautiful Boulder. I had a pleasure to have many talks with him, to hear many stories from his adventures and to meet his roommates and couple of… read more
She was ever eager to lend a hand in the garden or dive right into the wide variety of other different building and improvement projects at the homestead. Even when there was no game plan she always found some clever organizing or other useful tasks, making it one of the most… read more
We kind of missed each other on the first go-round due to different schedules, though things lined up where she was able to stay for an impromptu, alternative set of a few days instead. She's got a really cool background and skillset and was willing and able to jump into a variety of odds-and-ends tasks in the yard and around the… read more
