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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Sep 2025
Reply rate
96.3 %
Usually responds within 6 days
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Details
Description
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I'm currently looking for a person or couples interested in 1+ month stays, focused on gardening, harvesting and processing.
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I'm living out my dream of a more sustainable lifestyle, constantly learning, and putting into practice what I have learned from my own experiences volunteering. I traveled in similar programs, and will again in the future, so I know what it's like to be a volunteer. I try to make the volunteer experience how I would have liked it. I try to give rides into town when I can, and you can share in some of my own adventures including hiking, camping, snorkeling, going to the beach.
I have hosted many great volunteers who have done amazing things to improve the homestead. Together, we have planted hundreds of trees, planted countless vegetables, created many raised beds from existing or recycled materials, cleared tons of brush and invasive species, raised and cared for many animals, built and managed composting toilets and chickens coupes, painted murals, made chocolate from raw cacao, made ice cream from avocados and bananas, and much more!
To volunteer, you will need to sign a volunteer waiver of liability, agree to property rules, complete a background check, and confirm valid health insurance, and possibly purchase travel insurance.
If you're interested in volunteering please send a message that explains your relevant experience. If it's a potential fit, we'll schedule a call :)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Technology
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Van life
Self development
Movies & TV
Farming
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Books
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Architecture
Carpentry
Yoga / Wellness
Team sports
Nature
Camping
Winter sports
Sailing / Boating
Mountain
Beach
Water sports
Hiking
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be able to pick and enjoy seasonal foods including bananas, avocado, star fruit, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, coconut, guava, loquat, mangosteen, passion fruit, jaboticaba, surinam cherries, cocoa pods and many more. You will experience living more sustainably, using off grid systems. I will do my best to expose you to local culture and values, but you are strongly encourage to learn about Hawaii, it's history, and where it's heading.
I grow several year round staple crops (aka canoe crops), including Taro, tongan spinach, coconuts, and sweet potato. As my exchange is only 25 hours for housing and staple food items, you can learn and will be encouraged to harvest and prepare these crops on your own to offset your food budget. I also provide sugar, flour, and rice to compliment the food growing on the property. Animal products including eggs, duck, pig and chicken are occasionally available. I will show you what to look for in harvesting and I can share basic recipes. If you are not interested in learning to grow and prepare your own food, please look for a different position.
Help
My farm is finally fenced in, and in full swing converting invasive jungle to a food forest, and planting all the necessary layers for a self-feeding food system. You can come here and learn to plant, process and grow many different foods using organic methods..
This means there is a lot of:
- growing (from seed, air-layering, and cuttings), watering, fertilizing and plantings
- weeding and spreading comfrey, perennial peanut, and sweet potato, mexican sunflower
- building raised beds from recycled materials
Other ongoing volunteer responsibilities will include:
* feeding and caring for ducks, chickens, goats, and dogs
* lawn care
* composting
* harvesting
* processing
* experimenting with making value added products
* making organic fertilizers (knf/jadam)
Longer term volunteers that prove proficient with following instructions and working safely could learn and help with:
- creating a black soldier fly composting and harvesting system to feed the chickens more sustainably
- creating an activity space
Please tell me about your relevant skills and experience! I organize projects/todo list on a daily basis. I primarily work side by side with volunteers providing instruction and knowledge, but if you are proficient then we can divide and conquer, and I may split off to other tasks. However, I will check in regularly and will always be readily available to answer questions.
***THINGS TO NOTE***
You should be prepared to help in the rain. BRING GOOD BOOTS AND A RAINCOAT. We are often blessed with daily mauka showers (light rain rolling out from the mountains), that usually clear up mid morning. March, November, and the surrounding months are considered the rainy season.
This homestead is located in the jungle. Hawaii is blessed with NO snakes but there are geckos, rats, roaches, mosquitos and wild pigs out there. The accommodations are built to keep rats out, but geckos will likely find their way in your space. They are curious, but harmless.
Nighttime is a symphony of natures sounds. Coqui frogs begin their mating call as the sun goes down. Some love it, and others will prefer to sleep in earplugs.
** THINGS TO BRING ****
- Good work boots (rubber recommended if you don't like wet feet, but good hiking boots can do double duty)
- work clothes (pants and long sleeves recommended, 2 pairs if you don't like to put wet clothes on)
- a full brim hat for working in the sun
- slippers/sandals (something to slip into/out of easily)
- light sweater / hoodie (mornings can be a chili 65 degrees)
- good raincoat/pants if you don't like getting wet
- bug spray
- REEF SAFE sunscreen (this is available on island)
- earplugs for nighttime if you like it really quite
- headphones/earbuds - music, phone calls, and videos should be private during quiet hours
- dry case for electronics
- cell phone battery (charge this during the day, so you can charge your phone at night)
- water bottle
- headlamp & flashlight
- Camping gear (if you want to camp/backpack while you are here. I don't have gear for you)
- Surf gear (if you plan to surf). Wetsuit top/rash guard. Surf booties/water shoes (sharp reef)
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
You are provided with dry comfy sleeping accommodations, access to a communal kitchen including a stove/oven, fridge space, GOOD wifi access (NO ILLEGAL DOWNLOADING!), hot showers, and composting toilet. The sleeping accommodations provide privacy but you must be prepared and able to share common areas in a clean and peaceful way. There is zero tolerance for those that cannot.
What else ...
*Transportation*
The bus can drop you off 4 miles from the property. I can pick you up there. If flying into the Kona side you will need to arrange travel to the Hilo side. The bus only runs across island 2-3x a day, check the schedule in advance. Be prepared to improvise if it doesn't work out. There are very limited taxi's like uber & lyft, and they rarely run late at night. The bus also doesn't run every route after 8pm.
* Google maps has finally been updated with the local bus routes! This makes navigating public transportation much easier *
Occasionally I can give you a lift when headed into town, but I'm not a taxi.
There are two bikes for helper use. Within 2 miles there is a general store, bar, cafe, and daily farmers market. You can bike or walk to both.
* The area *
Pahoa is a 15 minute drive away and is a charming hippy village. Lots of great music, bars (affordably priced!) and an open air market. Its a fantastic place to dance to local bands, shop local wears, and really get a feel for the vibe of the area.
Hilo is 20 minutes away and is great for night life, shopping, surfing (more advanced).
Ha'ena (shipmans) beach is a 10 minutes drive, followed by a 90 minute hike. It's a fairly secluded beautiful black sand beach and honu (sea turtle) sanctuary. You have a good chance of seeing the majestic creature anytime you make the hike.
Kahena Beach is a stunning black sand beach. The Drum circle on Sundays is popular there.
* Paid positions*
We are not profiting from produce sold from this farmstead, so we can't provide any paid volunteer positions, or reimbursements for travel.
* Property rules *
This is a quiet property, where we respect our communities quiet hours. 8pm (weekday) and 10pm (weekend). If you are hoping to party, this is not the exchange for you. This is a cigarette free property. Alcohol is allowed for responsible consumption by legal adults, there is zero tolerance for disruptive intoxication.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The wifi is fast. However, this is not a good exchange for a full-time remote worker, or someone that doesn't have complete scheduling flexibility. Our exchange hours are relatively fixed M-Th morning until mid afternoon.
Space for parking camper vans
There is room for helpers to park their own car.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Goat
Chickens and Ducks
Dog
Cats
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (29)
They showed up on time to start everyday, with tackling the feeding of animals and fertilizing. We tackled all the projects they mentioned, including: planting, transplanting, making fertilizer, wood chipping, mini-electric chainsawing, jackhammering, rotary drilling fence… read more
This was… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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:
(4.9)
They showed up on time to start everyday, with tackling the feeding of animals and fertilizing. We tackled all the projects they mentioned, including: planting, transplanting, making fertilizer, wood chipping, mini-electric chainsawing, jackhammering, rotary drilling fence… read more
This was… read more
These three tackled so many projects around the farm I don't think I can… read more
We had previously worked on another project from which we had to leave due to a rather bad experience. We were looking for a new project and found the farm at the last moment.
The work on Patrick's farm is hard but very rewarding. He was fair with work hours, always ensured that we… read more
My only wish was for them to stay longer! I hope ur future travels are excellent!
This farm is a teamwork environment. Communication plays a huge part in knowing what to do and how Pat would like it done. Don't be scared to ask him questions either!
Overall I love my experience here, I decided to stay on… read more
What can I say, I had the best time of my life and Pat was the person who made it possible. He took me in and let me help out on his farm even though I didn't have any crazy experience or skills except for the willingness to get my hands dirty and shovel some rocks haha!
I spent 2 months on Pats farm and felt like… read more
Pat's experience traveling and working really shows in the way that he hosts. His hours are fare, he works alongside his volunteers, he's happy to share knowledge and explain new things and trusts his volunteers to… read more
Jeff and I stayed for 3 months and quickly became very close friends with Pat and Jody. We had plenty of privacy in our cabin and the work was fair, enjoyable, and fulfilling. Pat and Jody went out of their way to take us on multiple hikes and adventures every week. They even brought us along on… read more
* clearing fence line (chainsaw and reciprocating saw)
* spreading cinders/gravel for the driveway and trailmaking
*… read more
This was my first work trade opportunity. These generous, free-spirited, kind, intelligent beings provided me with (IMO) upscale living conditions, tons of memorable excursions around the island, accurate knowledge about diverse Hawaiian topics, and great energy.
I miss them and will… read more
Jody was always cooking a delicious meal, and there was plenty of food to snack on any… read more
