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If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
Hello, we like to introduce ourselves: We’re Jerry Donoghue, and Aldona Shea, a married couple in their late 50’s and early 60’s doing homesteading on 25 acres in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains 10 minutes from the quaint little town of Burnsville, North Carolina. Besides tending to our homestead, we both work in the healing profession and support people in various ways.
We are experienced gardeners and have extensive organic no-till garden beds where we grow our own food. We also have a new orchard along with a 20 by 40 greenhouse. We have 8 sheep and 9 ducks, four dogs, two cats.
The property consists of about 26 acres of forest with many rare and medicinal plants and flowers. There are many walking trails, and we have been creating more. We are currently in the planning stages of getting a woodland management plan which would support the overall health of the forest and wildlife. We have a nice bold creek that runs along the edge of the property that is meditative to sit by.
We have separate, private accommodations for a couple to join us this spring and summer to experience an amazing exchange.
We are NOT a business, just a homestead growing lots of food. We do not sell anything to the public.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
We're willing to share our knowledge and experience in organic no-till gardening and what it takes to grow your food and preserve enough to support you in the winter. We freeze, dehydrate, ferment, and cold store food. We can share our love of the forest and how we have been cultivating a living web perspective.
Help
We would welcome help with all aspects of gardening: planting, weeding, harvesting, preserving, fermenting. We need help making forest trails, and clearing brush. Various farm projects like making hugelculture beds or setting up gutters on the greenhouse for rainwater catchment. General maintenance of gravel roads, clearing invasive species, and weed whacking. We also have some building projects that are not clear yet, but we are always doing something.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a 10 by 16 tiny cabin with a small front porch behind the main house on the edge of the woods. It contains a futon couch that folds out into a full-size bed. There is also a twin bed in a loft. The cabin contains a T.V. with NetFlix, WIFI, a counter with a two-burner hot plate to cook, a coffee maker, a refrigerator, a microwave, a water dispenser with well water, and all the plates and utensils needed.
The food arrangement is we would like the workawayers to be responsible for their own food preparations and meal times. We will share food from the garden (when available) and fermented foods, and the workawayers will be responsible for purchasing their own additional food (grocery 10 minutes away).
There is a table and chairs both on the inside and outside of the cabin. There is a private outdoor shower with hot water and a sink to wash dishes. There is also a composting outhouse.
What else ...
We’re in a rural setting so having your own transportation is a must. The closest bigger city, Asheville, North Carolina, is 45 minutes away. It is known for its art, craft beer, and music scene. The surrounding area is known for world-class kayaking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, and fishing. Since we work in the helping profession and deal with people all the time, we like our privacy and will extend the same privacy to those that will join us on the land.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The internet connection is a 12mbps DSL connection.
Our time at Jerry and Aldona's was simply exceptional. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived to the morning we left, and we can't wait to come back.
Aldona and Jerry were warm and accommodating hosts. They provided clear instructions on tasks and answered questions so we could do the best job possible. They taught us as much as we were… read more willing to learn for any given job - we came away with so much about local plants, veganic gardening techniques, and path clearing. Jerry and Aldona clearly figured out systems that work and we were lucky to absorb some of that knowledge. We were able to split hours as needed over the course of the week which gave us opportunities to enjoy the acres of beautiful nature on the property in our free time.
The small cabin is homey with everything we needed. The kitchenware was surprisingly well-stocked. The outdoor shower, sink, and outhouse were well-kept, accessible, and private. The beds were comfortable, and the porch provides a lovely view of the surrounding mountains. We were a 15 minute drive from Burnsville which had all of our shopping needs as well as a great farmer's market on Saturday mornings.On top of all of the awesomeness already listed, the food coming out of their garden is mouth-watering good AND they have three endearing dogs that were a joy to hang out with.
10/10 would highly recommend people check this opportunity out.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent
)
21 Jul 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Alcy)
Alcy and Dylan were great Workaway guests! They're hard workers, they did what we asked and sometimes did a better job than expected. They learn tasks quickly and cheerfully, really nice folks. We had them do gardening, compost making, land clearing, harvesting, and more. We took advantage of Alcy being an amazing Vegan Chef. She took the… read more abundance from the garden and created gourmet meals that she froze. We look forward to having throughout the winter. They respected the space and left it cleaner than they found it. Overall they were the best workaway experience we have had. Highly recommend them and we are hoping they come back next year.
(Excellent
)
29 May 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Hunter & Nova)
Nova and Hunter were great workawayers. Showed up on time and worked the agreed upon times. They treated the land as sacred. They're a very sweet couple and we appreciated their contributions to our farm and land.
(Excellent
)
19 May 2022
Left by Workawayer (Hunter & Nova) for host
This is a special place:.. shout out to all the work-awayers; keep your head up and heart open.. a home is already inside of you..
nevertheless, you can rest assured that if your journey brings you to Burnsville with Jerry & Aldonna.. you’ve landed well.
Their property is gorgeous.. We came from the Arizona desert to an oasis of green; lush… read more streams, starry nights, and exciting birds.
I could go on about the nature. I haven’t before seen so many shades of green. The location is somewhat remote.. although still close enough to town + 45 min away from an exciting city that is Asheville.
but If you’re sensitive to nature, you’ll find friends everywhere here.
A symphony of sounds in the morning that is it’s own music.
My favorite thing is going to the creek and jumping in the water early morning. Whoever comes here should continue that tradition. The creek is perfect for fully submerging underwater.. for all the wim hoff lovers.. it’s getting warmer now that summer is approaching.. but in the early morning.. just before the sun comes up.. you can get blessed with an invigorating bath.
You jump out of the cold water and circle the trails.. you’re certainly in for a delightful morning.
The work is varied, physical.. although always outside.. under the sky with the fresh air, working with the Earth.
Jerry and Aldonna are both wise beyond what you can gather from initial conversations. They grow a lot of different things here.. it seems the longer we’ve been here, the more we discover they have been growing lol.
Jerry and Aldonna are kind hearts. They have a lot of experience in the Being Human business.. not just intellectual knowledge.. but experiential wisdom.
Jerry has profound insight into non-violent communication.. he was gracious to involve us in a 8-week course on non-violent communication- free of charge. The class is nothing short of life changing.. it will no doubt effect the way we communicate with others for the rest of our life.
Aldonna is a gifted astrologer.. and gave zodiac readings to us, also free of charge- that have also been life changing! We’ve never had such detailed and insightful readings into our personality complex. She was also kind enough to gift us medicinal plant tinctures & teas.. such as holy basil.. which has improved our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
They are gentle souls with refreshing generosity.. + have a noticeable care for deeper understanding into the depths of life.
Be ready to introspect here.. you’ll find quiet time and focus.. let the Forrest envelop you with its aliveness. Explore in the early mornings. Explore in the darkness.
You’ll be grateful to have crossed paths with this special place..
With love,
Mamoon & Nova
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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:
(5.0)
22 Jul 2022
Left by Workawayer (Alcy) for host
Our time at Jerry and Aldona's was simply exceptional. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived to the morning we left, and we can't wait to come back.
Aldona and Jerry were warm and accommodating hosts. They provided clear instructions on tasks and answered questions so we could do the best job possible. They taught us as much as we were… read more willing to learn for any given job - we came away with so much about local plants, veganic gardening techniques, and path clearing. Jerry and Aldona clearly figured out systems that work and we were lucky to absorb some of that knowledge. We were able to split hours as needed over the course of the week which gave us opportunities to enjoy the acres of beautiful nature on the property in our free time.
The small cabin is homey with everything we needed. The kitchenware was surprisingly well-stocked. The outdoor shower, sink, and outhouse were well-kept, accessible, and private. The beds were comfortable, and the porch provides a lovely view of the surrounding mountains. We were a 15 minute drive from Burnsville which had all of our shopping needs as well as a great farmer's market on Saturday mornings.On top of all of the awesomeness already listed, the food coming out of their garden is mouth-watering good AND they have three endearing dogs that were a joy to hang out with.
10/10 would highly recommend people check this opportunity out.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
21 Jul 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Alcy)
Alcy and Dylan were great Workaway guests! They're hard workers, they did what we asked and sometimes did a better job than expected. They learn tasks quickly and cheerfully, really nice folks. We had them do gardening, compost making, land clearing, harvesting, and more. We took advantage of Alcy being an amazing Vegan Chef. She took the… read more abundance from the garden and created gourmet meals that she froze. We look forward to having throughout the winter. They respected the space and left it cleaner than they found it. Overall they were the best workaway experience we have had. Highly recommend them and we are hoping they come back next year.
(Excellent)
29 May 2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Hunter & Nova)
Nova and Hunter were great workawayers. Showed up on time and worked the agreed upon times. They treated the land as sacred. They're a very sweet couple and we appreciated their contributions to our farm and land.
(Excellent)
19 May 2022
Left by Workawayer (Hunter & Nova) for host
This is a special place:.. shout out to all the work-awayers; keep your head up and heart open.. a home is already inside of you..
nevertheless, you can rest assured that if your journey brings you to Burnsville with Jerry & Aldonna.. you’ve landed well.
Their property is gorgeous.. We came from the Arizona desert to an oasis of green; lush… read more streams, starry nights, and exciting birds.
I could go on about the nature. I haven’t before seen so many shades of green. The location is somewhat remote.. although still close enough to town + 45 min away from an exciting city that is Asheville.
but If you’re sensitive to nature, you’ll find friends everywhere here.
A symphony of sounds in the morning that is it’s own music.
My favorite thing is going to the creek and jumping in the water early morning. Whoever comes here should continue that tradition. The creek is perfect for fully submerging underwater.. for all the wim hoff lovers.. it’s getting warmer now that summer is approaching.. but in the early morning.. just before the sun comes up.. you can get blessed with an invigorating bath.
You jump out of the cold water and circle the trails.. you’re certainly in for a delightful morning.
The work is varied, physical.. although always outside.. under the sky with the fresh air, working with the Earth.
Jerry and Aldonna are both wise beyond what you can gather from initial conversations. They grow a lot of different things here.. it seems the longer we’ve been here, the more we discover they have been growing lol.
Jerry and Aldonna are kind hearts. They have a lot of experience in the Being Human business.. not just intellectual knowledge.. but experiential wisdom.
Jerry has profound insight into non-violent communication.. he was gracious to involve us in a 8-week course on non-violent communication- free of charge. The class is nothing short of life changing.. it will no doubt effect the way we communicate with others for the rest of our life.
Aldonna is a gifted astrologer.. and gave zodiac readings to us, also free of charge- that have also been life changing! We’ve never had such detailed and insightful readings into our personality complex. She was also kind enough to gift us medicinal plant tinctures & teas.. such as holy basil.. which has improved our physical, mental and emotional well-being.
They are gentle souls with refreshing generosity.. + have a noticeable care for deeper understanding into the depths of life.
Be ready to introspect here.. you’ll find quiet time and focus.. let the Forrest envelop you with its aliveness. Explore in the early mornings. Explore in the darkness.
You’ll be grateful to have crossed paths with this special place..
With love,
Mamoon & Nova
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
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If you are NOT a US CITIZEN and are planning to visit to work, volunteer or study, YOU WILL NEED THE CORRECT VISA. To find out more information you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling. Do NOT attempt to enter the USA without the correct visa!
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
