Strawbale house and organic garden on San Juan Island, USA

Details

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  Description

  We are long-time islanders. Mike & Robin built their small home on their Mt Dallas 10 acres many years ago & daughter Rose, who was born & raised on San Juan Island, has more recently built her own straw bale home next door. We are trying to live in harmony with the Earth, growing food for ourselves and others, recycling what we can and producing a minimum of waste. It is a beautiful life in a beautiful place.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  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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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Rose, Mike, & Robin have traveled in many parts of the world and we have learned so much from our travels. One thing it's taught us is gratitude and that we wish to share our beautiful home with other travelers.
  Rose is a mental health care professional and an herbalist, she has also worked as a Vipassana meditation instructor.
  Robin and Mike, Rose's parents, live next door to Rose. Mike is a cabinet maker & Robin is an antiques dealer and artist. We all have lots of skills, life experience, and love to offer, we are also reasonably conversant in Spanish.

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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 finishing the exterior of Rose's beautiful straw bale house. Conventional and natural building skills are very helpful. That said, if you're just learning you're also welcome, we'll train you but would appreciate a longer commitment. People who can work without supervision would be greatly appreciated as we are also working and can't be around all of the time.
  
  We also care for a big organic raspberry patch and a large garden. Come grow food sustainably with us! Seasonally, much of our meals come from the garden and the forest. We harvest cultivated and wild plants for medicine for ourselves and the community.
  
  Projects for 2023;
  -Seal exterior wall of the staw bale house.
  -Painting projects. Indoor and outdoor.
  -Harvest cherries, apples and plums. Make cider.
  -Build a new fence.
  -Cut up trees that blew down during the winter and pile branches.
  -Cut firewood for next winter.
  -Build a shed
  
  
  Finally, there are all of the hard but enjoyable and satisfying tasks of being good stewards of our land. Pulling invasive species, general weeding, mowing, clearing, fence and building maintenance, trail work, firewood, etc. There are so many ways to get your hands dirty here.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  Would like to learn Italian...
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  Accommodation

  We have a private one-acre field in the back of the property surrounded by trees. Bring your own tent, camper van, and/or car. You will awaken to frog and birdsong every morning! All accommodations are fairly rustic, but also clean and quiet. Suitable for couples, friends, or individuals.
  
  Fresh well water onsite. Outdoor sink and shower with on-demand heater plus a pond. There is an outhouse onsite.
  
  Ample camp kitchen with propane stoves & oven under a circus tent! We will stock the kitchen with basic ingredients plus veggies and fruit from the garden. There is the use of a freezer & refrigerator nearby. Thursday nights are an outdoor family potluck.
  
  There are many farms nearby for buying additional food, as well as a food-coop, weekly farmer's market, and two grocery stores.

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  What else ...

  The San Juan Islands sit in one of the most beautiful corners of the Pacific Northwest. Roughly midway between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., it is a 1 hour ferry ride from the mainland. Hike, swim, lounge on the beaches, ride bikes, kayak, explore! Two National Parks, a State Park, a County Park and other public lands nearby with many trails & beaches to enjoy. Right down the road ¼mi/500m is the Ihiya Biological Reserve which was created by Rose. Mike makes the maps for the local Trails Committee and is happy to share them with you. We also have bikes you can borrow if you'd like to.
  
  During the summer the island has frequent live music venues as well as a lavender festival, an arts festival and outdoor live Shakespeare. Nearby is the wonderful Alchemy Art Center which hosts art classes.
  
  In the past we have taken Workawayers hiking, to concerts, to the county fair, to garage sales, looking for whales, geocaching & to parties. We've hosted their visiting friends & families & shared potluck dinners. We've even had a talent show night around the campfire which was a lot of fun.
  
  We are located about six miles/10km from the small town of Friday Harbor. Just about anything you may need is available there. (if they don't have it do you really need it?)
  
  We try to recycle as much as possible and have recycling bins available. No illegal drugs or cigarettes/vaping onsite, please. Alcohol in moderation.
  
  There is internet available near the main houses. It's pretty slow. Cell service is sketchy, T-mobile is the best (2 bars). For others you may have to go into town.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  plenty of space for tents, campervans and recreational vehicles. Water but no other hook-ups.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Pets that are well-behaved are fine! They have to be able to get along with other pets and farm animals. We'll talk over the details when we are connecting about your visit.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, flexible

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