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The image depicts a person standing beside a circular structure with a stone foundation, holding a yellow bucket, in a dirt area with scattered rocks and debris.
The image shows a room with a wooden floor and a large window, featuring a table and chairs in the center, surrounded by a white wall and a gray floor. The room is empty and lacks any decorative elements.
The image shows a room with a table and chairs, featuring a large window on the left side and a door on the right side, with a white wall and a gray floor.
The image depicts the interior of a wooden structure, featuring a roof with exposed beams and rafters, showcasing a rustic and natural aesthetic.
The image depicts two men working together in a large tub, surrounded by straw and mud, with their hands submerged in the mixture, likely engaged in a craft or art project.
The image depicts a circular structure under construction, featuring stacked hay bales and a wooden frame, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a house under construction, featuring a wooden roof and walls, with two windows and a ladder, situated on a hillside surrounded by trees and foliage.
The image features a yellow and brown orchid with green leaves, set against a blurred background of a forest floor with twigs and leaves.
The image depicts two men constructing a wooden structure on a black tarp, with a camper and a car visible in the background.
The image shows a large piece of construction equipment, likely a backhoe or excavator, parked in a field with a pile of dirt and debris scattered around it. The equipment is yellow and black in color.
The image depicts a section of a stone wall, comprising a row of stones, with a gap between them, set against a backdrop of a grassy area. The wall is situated in a rural setting.
The image depicts a greenhouse with a white plastic exterior, featuring rows of soil and plants, a wooden beam, and a stone pathway leading to an open door.
The image depicts a large hole in the ground, likely a mine shaft, with a pile of rocks and dirt surrounding it, and a wooden structure in the background.
The image depicts a serene lake scene with a rocky shoreline, surrounded by lush trees and greenery, featuring a tranquil atmosphere and clear water.
The image shows a man and woman holding mushrooms in front of a car with luggage on the roof, posing for a selfie in a wooded area.

Natural building, clay plastering and large scale hugelkultur in the Missouri Ozarks, USA

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    80 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    1 Oct 2024

  • feedbacks

    Feedback

    34

  • Email verified

    Email verified

Badges (3)

Email verified
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Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a couple from two different continents (Europe,North America) who managed to find each other on a third continent, South America. Four years later we have found ourselves in the beautiful Ozark hills. With raw wooded hills we managed to clear a building site, very large garden and orchard area. Spring 2023 we are welcoming any volunteers for help with completing a straw bale house. You will learn about clay plastering, building with cob, a living/green roof and have the confidence to do it yourself! This area of the US provides with plenty of natural materials for building with. Our experience as a builder, organic farmer and linguist have allowed us to travel around to different continents while exploring different cultures and adopting new ways of construction.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    The rural life is quite beautiful. The landscape, friendly people, and unusual wildlife might be something you have never experienced. We are very easy going open minded and not really defined by any culture. We are non judgmental and allow people to be who they are. We will share with you our home and spaces. Our ways of cooking and living. New ideas about life, knowledge of building materials, construction techniques, growing food, and food storage. We can help you to improve your English, German, or Spanish.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We are building many natural structures. Mostly including cob, straw, light straw clay, roundwood timbers, and dry stacked stone foundations. We need the help of others for many tasks. Most of the projects around here are infrastructure oriented. Some help in the garden, land clearing, harvesting stones, digging, compacting soils, erecting dry stone foundations are some of the daily works that take place. There will always be something to do. All help here is very basic. Keeping it simple and enjoying the surroundings.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have a one room cabin that can sleep up to 5 people and tent camping. Composting toilet. Hot showers. All basic food provided. We can accommodate most diets with no problem. We will be cooking most the time, but you are encouraged to cook for everyone as well. We like to have fun too!!! We are still young and enjoy some drinks and a good bonfire.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There are a lot of things to do in our surrounding areas. Bennett Spring State Park with trout hatchery, trout fishing, hiking trails and a gorgeous Spring leading into the Niangua river is 5 minutes away. Floating, canoeing, kayaking in the crystal clear Niangua river only minutes away. Lead Mine Conservation area is 10 minutes away and includes over 10 miles of hiking trails. We have a high Amish and Mennonite population in the area. You can go visit their stores or eat at their restaurant. We buy 90% of our food from them. We are happy to arrange transportation to the river, the spring, any hiking trails, and would be happy to join when possible. The nearby town of Lebanon is located on historic Route 66 with a museum in town. The Lake of the Ozarks, and Springfield, MO are reachable within a one hour drive. St. Louis and Kansas City are about 2.5 hours away from here. Keywords: Natural Building, Roundwood, Timber Frame,Cob, Light Straw Clay, Straw bale, Strawbale, Roundwood, Lime Mortar, Lime Plaster, Cave, Permaculture.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have great internet connection for anyone who needs to work on their own time.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have electric hookups for campers and RVs. We also have water hookups. We do not have black water hookup. Grey water is ok to let into grey water plant area.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Yes we allow pets. Just remember we have plants that dogs can run over and dig up. Also this is the countryside so we have ticks and other insects that like dogs.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 487744919617

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Photos

The image shows a room with a wooden floor and a large window, featuring a table and chairs in the center, surrounded by a white wall and a gray floor. The room is empty and lacks any decorative elements.
The image shows a room with a table and chairs, featuring a large window on the left side and a door on the right side, with a white wall and a gray floor.
The image depicts the interior of a wooden structure, featuring a roof with exposed beams and rafters, showcasing a rustic and natural aesthetic.
The image depicts two men working together in a large tub, surrounded by straw and mud, with their hands submerged in the mixture, likely engaged in a craft or art project.
The image depicts a circular structure under construction, featuring stacked hay bales and a wooden frame, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.
The image depicts a house under construction, featuring a wooden roof and walls, with two windows and a ladder, situated on a hillside surrounded by trees and foliage.
The image features a yellow and brown orchid with green leaves, set against a blurred background of a forest floor with twigs and leaves.
The image depicts two men constructing a wooden structure on a black tarp, with a camper and a car visible in the background.
 Show all photos
The image shows a large piece of construction equipment, likely a backhoe or excavator, parked in a field with a pile of dirt and debris scattered around it. The equipment is yellow and black in color.
The image depicts a person standing beside a circular structure with a stone foundation, holding a yellow bucket, in a dirt area with scattered rocks and debris.
The image depicts a section of a stone wall, comprising a row of stones, with a gap between them, set against a backdrop of a grassy area. The wall is situated in a rural setting.
The image depicts a greenhouse with a white plastic exterior, featuring rows of soil and plants, a wooden beam, and a stone pathway leading to an open door.
The image depicts a large hole in the ground, likely a mine shaft, with a pile of rocks and dirt surrounding it, and a wooden structure in the background.
The image depicts a serene lake scene with a rocky shoreline, surrounded by lush trees and greenery, featuring a tranquil atmosphere and clear water.
The image shows a man and woman holding mushrooms in front of a car with luggage on the roof, posing for a selfie in a wooded area.

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)

Cultural exchange:
(4.9)

Communication:
(4.7)

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