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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
26 Jul 2024
Feedback
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Details
Description
Nestled above the Sierra Nevada foothills in Gold Country halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, our family homestead is the perfect place to experience life on a wood milling farm using our own timber to create a magical place to retreat and relax.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our tree farm on 27 acres provides a homestead experience of felling, hauling, and milling our own timber in order to build decks and add on to our living space. We boast a self-installed solar panel system for our electrical needs and have future plans for a waterwheel. Fire prevention is of utmost importance, so forging trails and creating defensible space is important to us. Our property comes with a year-round natural creek which cascades into waterfalls and pools at the edge of our backyard, all within the hollowed out petrified wood of yesteryear. The delightful sounds invite you to end the day in mindful rest and relaxation. We have a 13-year-old autistic son who brings delight to our living space and loves making new friends. With a few goats, chickens and dogs to tend to, a tractor for hauling, and a wood mill for creating, Brad brings his years of growing up on his grandparents farm and his experience as a contractor to our farm and enjoys the role of teacher. He ensures that you will enjoy watching your newfound expertise in homesteading bring about rewarding results.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are hoping you know how to swing a hammer, are willing to build and stain decking; help with clearing defensive space for fire control; help clear trails on our wooded land; safely man a burn pile; learn new skills with a table saw and a wood mill; dig trenches for irrigation (using machinery) or dig holes for planting; and less often help with dinner especially if you have a favorite meal you'd like to share! If you are looking more for indoor tasks, babysitting our friendly, lovable autistic son provides a unique experience for those with a bent toward studying the human psyche.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
You will stay with us in our 3600 sq. ft. home, with private rooms for individuals or pairs, utilizing a shared bathroom, living room and kitchen. You will be on your own to prepare your own breakfast and lunch, utilizing the food we provide or any you purchase on your own. Our pantry and refrigerator are always stocked! We will prepare dinner 5 nights a week with leftovers available the other 2 nights. Feel free to enjoy the hot tub night or day.
What else ...
We are a nicotine-free, marijuana-free, drug-free property. We need to stress that this is strictly enforced as we recently had this rule violated which caused immense distress for our family and other volunteers who were here.
Our location allows for day trips into California's capital city, Sacramento, enjoying all that a city has to offer. We are a 2-hr. drive to Lake Tahoe, a beautiful gem of a lake not to be missed. The American River is minutes away, allowing for picnicking, taking an afternoon dip, or whitewater rafting. Other nearby mountaintop lakes and parks (our favorite is Loon Lake) provide an excellent place to launch our canoe, or you can rent bicycles or paddleboards for a day of recreation. The nearby Auburn State Recreation area offers hours of beautiful hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, or you can travel a little further away to Emerald Pools for a relaxing afternoon. Numerous wineries are open for sampling a taste of their latest harvest. Nearby Coloma, home to the start of the Gold Rush, will provide a lesson in panning for gold before you try your luck in the nearby rivers!
If you have your own vehicle, please understand that our neighbors appreciate your consideration of people and pets on the road by observing the 15-20 mph speed limit in the neighborhood.
To reiterate, we are a nicotine-free, marijuana-free, drug-free property. We do believe in the benefits of coffee and tea and believe in the right to having your favorite coffee creamer. We are happy to provide this for you!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a strong internet signal which wife Brenda uses for work most days and you will have a suitable space to work using your own personal laptop if you need to keep up with work demands.
Space for parking camper vans
We can accommodate any size camper or camper van.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (21)
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Brenda and Brad made me feel home. Literally. Words can’t describe how generous and kind they were. I enjoyed every conversations we had at dinner. I loved every part of their beautiful property. The greenery, the creek, and the waterfall.… read more
This was our first Workaway experience, and it completely surpassed our expectations. Brad and Brenda are some of the… read more
I didn’t know what Workaway was like as it was a last minute decision, but it was brilliant!!
Brenda and Brad were super welcoming, honestly it was like staying at an AirBnB except you get to muck in! I woke up around 6am and did work for 4/5 hours until midday, took a break and cracked open a root beer… read more
The kind of work is often outdoorsy, so to name a few of what I did, expect to do lots of strimming… read more
Clifton is the epitome of a superstar workaway volunteer. He is organized, timely, hard-working, self-motivated, takes initiative, detail-oriented, swift, sees a job through until it's finished, is willing to do grunt work and willing to learn new skills. Clifton brought a great sense of humor to our… read more
From the moment I arrived, I felt like one of the family.
They are hard-working, loving, kind, open-minded, compassionate, and generous. I felt a strong bond and deep connection with them.
Brenda juggles a full-time job, raising a 13-year-old autistic son, working on a 27-acre tree farm, running a busy household with… read more
Appreciate it for everything 😎
Brad and Brenda
They worked with our schedule and were flexible with us even though they had a lot going on. Their house and property are beautiful. It felt like a retreat after being on the road for a couple of weeks. Brenda took such great care of us as we settled in and made… read more
