Help at our small homestead outside Asheville, NC, USA

Details

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  Description

  We are a family with three children living on a modern homestead 25 minutes NW of Asheville, North Carolina. We have 10 mostly wooded acres with about 1 cultivated acre of vegetables, berry patches and fruit trees. We grow organic and with each passing year we are able to become more sustainable. Lots to learn about here if you are interested in independent living.
  
  During the growing season we are looking for help in our home and in the vegetable plots. No experience necessary. Just looking for people with a "can do" attitude and good work ethic. In exchange you'll get delicious meals, a room with private bath and a welcoming, inclusive family.
  
  Asheville is a great little town. Lots of good restaurants, almost 2 dozen breweries, tons of festivals, great bluegrass music and lots of artists. There is a joke on the radio here: A hippie, a redneck and a businessman all walk into a bar....that's just a regular night in Asheville! All types of people mix here. 45 minutes from the Appalachian Trail, mountain biking, kayaking, white water rafting and lots of great hiking.
  
  We've been on hiatus the last two and a half years but have 10 years of hosting experience. Here are a few of our reviews:
  
  "I visited this wonderful farm for a month in June 2014, and it was an amazing experience. This was my first time, and I am so glad to have been blessed with such a great family. Firstly, Nick and Thea are kind, caring, and overall great people. Their kids are a joy to be around, and it was fun for me to watch them grow, even through the short time I was there. In terms of the farming experience, I was very pleased. I came in with no previous experience, and Nick trained me up in a couple days and the whole month was very enjoyable. I was inspired by some of their permaculture designs(as I usually am), as it resonated with my love of sustainability. If you are thinking of visiting, I would say, without a doubt, do it. One thing I would advise is to bring things to occupy your time. For me, coming from a pretty fast-paced world, it was such a big breath of fresh air that I didn't know what to do with myself for a lot of the time. But Nick and Thea are great about including their guests into their family life while giving them plenty of solitude. Bring a few books, and maybe some hiking equipment, and you'll have yourself an amazing time.”
  KENNY
  
  “I had an amazing experience working here. Not my first time on a farm, but the first time through the program. Couldn't ask for a better way to start. Located in the beautiful western Carolina hills not far from Asheville. Nick and Thea quickly accepted me right into their family, making me truly feel at home. The work was very rewarding: working with the animals (chickens, goats, and eventually a cow!), chores in the gardens, clearing pasture, chopping wood, and whatever other projects needed to be done. Meals were phenomenal as well. It'll be a while before I get that treatment again. They taught me a lot about homesteading and organic practices; knowledge I'll be using down the road in my own life. I definitely recommend this farm.”
  STEVE
  
  I had the privilege of farming with Nick and Thea for about a month this past Oct-Nov 2011. My experience was everything and more of what I could have hoped for; and wished I could have stayed longer. I feel that I lucked out having Nick and Thea as my first host. They are inviting, knowledgeable, inspiring, and all around great people (and their children are as sweet as can be). I learned a variety of farm tasks involving animal care, building (goat shed, and fence), harvesting, planting, making apple sauce and much more. This variety always kept me busy, and I enjoyed learning and working larger projects with Nick on weekends. Leisure time was well spend thanks to their recommendations of places to eat and to visit (Asheville and Folk Art Center were great, and there are nice trails along Blue Ridge Pkwy for running/exploring). Their land is peaceful and beautiful. It made a good place for afternoon strolls, reading, journaling, jumping on the trampoline, and enjoying time with the family. Plus the dinners were fantastic! Thea is a phenomenal cook (got some great recipes from her). My stay on this farm has excited me about my future farming endeavors. I hope the best for this family and their wonderful farm (and what looks like a couple of newborn kid additionns!). Hopefully I will I be as fortunate at the next farm I visit. Thank you for such a wonderful stay! ”
  CHRISTINE

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Learn about living more sustainably by producing some of your own food, reducing energy consumption, and reducing waste streams.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We are looking for someone to help with home maintenance, household chores, yard work, animal care, and working in the vegetable plots.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We offer a spare room in our home with private bath or tent space for the more adventurous.

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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?

  Two

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