Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
7
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
This is a small farm on the outskirts of the cash economy (food produced here is for eating, not to sell) with 6 goats, and a few dozen chickens, guineas and ducks. The animals are organic and have access to free-range 50+ acres. I consider them more as partners than livestock and as such I don't cull, but take care of my "retirees" as my part for the time they have spent providing milk or eggs for me. A number of the animals here are rescues.
There is plenty of garden and field space and long-term workawayers are definitely welcome to do their own garden projects.
Another thing that makes this place unique is that it was built almost entirely with hand tools. There are a few power tools here if you are inclined to do any carpentry projects and aren't into the idea of hand tools, but those are available too. I’m hoping to find someone with carpentry skills this coming summer!
There are woods to walk in, a stream big enough for a swim, hayfields and apple trees.
I like to experiment with foods I get in quantity (I work part-time in organic food distribution), like the year I learned to do winemaking. Other times I do dehydration or canning. And a lot of the time, the food gets sent directly to the critters!
My important focus is being environmentally friendly as well as humane, and try to see all my projects here through that lens.
BIPOC, LGBTQ welcoming. Progressive attitude here and hoping for the same from you.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I can teach you how to milk goats, do basic animal care, and cheesemaking (this is of course dependent upon whether this is the winter the goats stop milking - I won’t know until late spring). I can show you egg based meals and yummy, eggy desserts (like flan!). I can help with English learning (any level if you speak Spanish, as I can get by in that, or if you know enough English to get by on a basic level it wouldn't matter the primary language). I can bring you to capoeira class, even though culturally it is Brazilian. If you play music there are lots of musical instruments here, and there are several contra dances in the area. There are plenty of really good hiking opportunities in Maine, and I get out there regularly. There are plenty of places for kayaking (I have 3 kayaks here), canoeing or windsurfing, and swimming, all of which I do in the warmer seasons.
Help
- The ideal workawayer(s) would be interested in milking goats if they don’t already know how. Priority is for those who want a longer stay so the animals have time to get comfortable with you.
- Barn mucking is an important task this time of year!
- Bringing food to the animals and refreshing their water is important
- There are a few carpentry projects that my husband and/or I could use a hand with
- I need help with some repairs on the mobile home and a bit of organizing there, so there can be additional useful space for future workawayers
- you are welcome to have your own gardens here if you are long term
- I can always use help from someone who can see what needs doing because I often don't!
- basic cleaning help is always welcomed
- I certainly don't expect any one person to be into doing all of these, just a few! Help with the animals is the top priority!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I speak a little bit of Spanish in part from my time living in Costa Rica. I am trying to learn Brazilian Portuguese because of capoeira. My husband speaks Chinese fluently.
Accommodation
There is a mobile home that we lived in while building our house. The available private bedroom is simple but comfortable, with a really nice queen bed, and there is a largely private bathroom next to the bedroom but not directly connected. There is a washing machine that is the one that I use (shared) and I use the kitchen occasionally for the oven and fridge, but it is mostly a private space. If a group of friends wants to stay, there is also a couch in the living room and a fold-out queen size couch bed in the other bedroom (the bed here is less comfortable, but there is a bathroom directly attached to the bedroom). I am also happy to accommodate tenters or RVers. There is limited fridge space as we have lots of milk and goodies from work (which I imagine you will want to help eat!) and farmers cheese in the freezer. Food is basically vegetarian and organic, but not vegan due to quantity of eggs and milk (although not a deal breaker if you do a lot of cooking - rice and beans are a good base for a meal!). I tend to be a coffee-for-breakfast type (I love good coffee!), but there are plenty of eggs (seasonally), and I can get cereal/oats/whatever if you are so inclined. Plenty of local, organic flour if you like baking, including gluten-free as I need to be. Dinner is the more creative cooking time for me, and am happy to cook together/share cooking ideas, and have fun with it. I can accommodate families with well behaved kids old enough to not need child-proofing.
What else ...
The central Maine area has plenty of interesting social activities from contra dances to capoeira (both of which have enthusiasts in this house at least some of the time, and therefore rides), and there is a wonderful food coop in nearby Belfast. There are hiking trails nearby. Car possibly available if you have a good driving record.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Workawayers get their own private room, so if you need peace and quiet, there’s plenty of that!
Space for parking camper vans
Plenty of space for any size camper, although if you need electricity you would need to park near the house or mobile home to plug in.
Can possibly accept pets
Well behaved pets only.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
20 - 25 hours a week for short-term stay, 10-20 for long-termers, flexible. More if you want to, of course.
Feedback (3)
We did some fun events from capoeira to some antiquing. We wind surfed and spent a great deal of time at the lake. She took me on some great hikes. Very… 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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We did some fun events from capoeira to some antiquing. We wind surfed and spent a great deal of time at the lake. She took me on some great hikes. Very… read more
