Join our local community and help at our guesthouse in Talkeetna, USA

Details

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  Description

  We have been in operation for nearly 80 years, offering rooms and meals to travelers, and I've been 'Lady of the House' for 28 of those years. Before the pandemic it was a crowded breakfast spot and bakery, public laundry and showers, in addition to hosting overnight guests. The last few pandemic years have reshaped the business somewhat. We now focus on our overnight guests and the bakery with the busiest season being the end of May (Memorial Day) through the first part of September (Labor Day). In addition to cleaning rooms, bathrooms, assisting with guest breakfast and bakery prep (baking lots of cookies) and sales, there is always a 'fix it/paint it' project. The 'sister' property is down a few blocks at the location of the participant housing and offers two cabins and two cottages for overnight rental. Assistance with those - and the gardens that each location has - is also needed. Gardens consist of vegetables as well as maintaining and designing/building up existing and future perennial gardens. There is also firewood to split and stack. In winter we shovel quite a bit of snow.
  
  To be part of crew participants need to be able to legally work in the United States. For those who are not from the United States a J1 Visa is an option and we've worked in the past with Intrax, CIEE, Interexchange. At this time we are not able to assist with other professional Visas. For those who may not be able to legally work, we can host with full room and board for 20 hours exchange of work down at our residential property where summer gardens and winter show projects are.
  
  
  
  ***New For Summer 2024 *** Volunteer for general maintenance, landscape work and property clean up for the Gardens (non business side of the property)
  
  Ideal for single or couple who have their own RV/Camper/tent. Dogs allowed. All food provided, a 'picnic support' kitchen with fridge and freezer is available to use. There is running water on property for filling jugs/supply tanks. There is an Outhouse. The two bathrooms with showers in the Mobile Home are available and are s short walk through the property. Must be handy with use of tools and general maintenance of tools as related to upkeep and the occasional malfunction.
  
  ***

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is a small, walkable town with an active arts council, local radio station and busy small plane airport. We are unincorporated which means that volunteer organizations have popped up to handle just about every need and one does not have to look too far to get involved in a community activity. I'm a volunteer news reader at our local radio station and I've had staff in the past volunteer to host their own music radio shows. I've also lived in this community for 29 years and have been involved at times with various organizations and have always considered myself a 'connector.' Tell me your interest and I'll find out how to connect you!
  
  
  
  Being located in the heart of downtown - population 1,000 - allows travelers the chance to become involved in the community.
  
  Denali Arts Council. Three blocks from us in the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. The Hangar hosts concerts, films, art openings, staged performances. In the summer, specifically, they host the Green Light Circus summer camp for kids and the Summer Fine Arts Camp. Both programs rely heavily on volunteers. Any community member that would like to be involved, either by being a volunteer or by being an artist that brings their talent to the Hangar, is encouraged.
  
  KTNA 88.9fm. Our local public radio station is just two blocks away and is welcoming to new volunteers. From hosting your own radio show to help reading the news or assistance with administrative tasks, there is usually a spot for new folks.
  
  Food and Music. Main Street is just up the road about four blocks and has a small but lively food and music scene. Summer crowds can often make Main Street feel like the midway at a state fair. It's fun to have access to more food options and hear live music. The beauty of the Gardens location is that it is close, but it is a quiet paradise just a few minutes walk away from the party.
  
  Aviation. The Gardens property sits alongside the south end of the Village Airstrip. And, there is still a help-pad (used on occasion) directly on the front part of the property. Our State Airport is just behind us about a half mile. This is the air base for flights that take sightseers around Denali as well as mountain climbers, during climbing season. There is at least one operation that provides flight instruction at the State Airport. For anyone that is interested in aviation and flying, this is a good place to land (sorry, pun unavoidable!)
  
  ***Specific to the Garden Volunteers: Garden and General Maintenance. Some of the gardens are already established and others need to be envisioned and created. Workawayers will discover what sorts of flowers and vegetables grow in Alaska, how to care for the plants through the summer and fall months. Cleaning the property of useable or recyclable 'junk' will be a good way to experience how Alaskans make the most use out of our resources. Viewing the property cleanup through the lens of an artistic eye will allow folks to be both productive and creative.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

  Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.

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  Help

  Winter: Currently not open this winter. Help is needed to shovel snow and perform light maintenance and cleaning at both the volunteering location and the housing location. In this situation we would accept WorkAway folks as volunteers. There is a three week minimum. For 20 hours per week of volunteer work we would provide full room and board at our 'sister' property, located about four blocks from the place. Any hours that were to be approved over 20 hours in the week would be paid out at $15 per hour.
  
  
  Summer: Cleaning of overnight rooms, associated laundry, common space cleaning and light maintenance, garbage/recycling removal, yard work. Kitchen and Bakery work would include using the commercial dishwasher, being a Cashier at the bakery counter, performing food preparation tasks in support of bakery operations. Rooms are available nightly and bakery is open up to five days a week. Earliest bakery shift begins at 3am with support shifts joining at 6am and later. A good fit would be someone who loves to clean and to move efficiently and doesn't mind managing a couple tasks at a time. For instance, cleaning rooms and processing laundry as well as baking cookies and associated kitchen cleanup. Each day is a bit of a different roster of work as it is dependent on what rooms are in/out.
  Full time work would be 32-40 at a pay rate of $10 per hour. If terms of employment are fulfilled there is a $5+ per hour bonus issued upon completion of the summer season. Full room and board provided over 32 hours a week.
  
  ***New for Summer 2024***Volunteer for general maintenance, landscape work and property clean up for the Gardens (non business side of the property)
  
  Projects/chores specific to the Gardens:
  
  -perform lawn maintenance: riding lawnmower, weedwhacker, leaf blower
  -perform garden maintenance: planting established beds; preparing new and developing garden beds
  -fell dead trees
  -buck/stack trees already down
  -spearhead arrangements to have junk cars/machinery removed from property
  -complete a wood and metal fence, partially started
  -manage compost pile - full turn and realignment of bins needed this summer
  -manage garbage and recycling removal
  -be creative at times with garden art. (We are cleaning up a piece of property formerly owned by an old timer gold miner... a wealth of metal, pipe, chains, old camp supplies etc. Lots of metal sculpture art opportunity)
  -rebuild supports for chicken coop yard roof
  -build Adirondack style chairs out of willow branches
  
  ***

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: 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.
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  Accommodation

  There are two private rooms in the Mobile Home down at our 'sister' property that is about four blocks away from the location. The Mobile Home is where the laundry facility for our 'sister' property overnight rentals is located. There is a full kitchen in the Mobile Home and two bathrooms with shower. A washer and dryer is available for use. Wifi. Property is a couple blocks from the small Main Street and the rivers/trails of downtown (with views of the Alaska Range, Denali). Kitchen is stocked with food staples and at the outset the participant can provide a shopping list of preferred groceries, which are stocked weekly/as needed.
  
  
  
  ***New for Summer 2024 - ***Volunteer for general maintenance, landscape work and property clean up for the Gardens (non business side of the property)
  
  Property has amble space for an RV or camper. Tent camping is also available. Electricity and an outhouse on site. Water available to fill containers/supply located on another portion of the property. There is also a mobile home a short walk through the property that has two bathrooms with showers.
  
  There is a small one room home on this part of the property that is currently empty and in disrepair. It does, however, have a kitchen space that can be made into a picnic/support kitchen. Part of the first WorkAway-er's stay will be getting that space useable for the cooking needs anyone may have (there is a refrigerator/freezer that needs to be brought in).
  
  All food and space for camper/tent is fully hosted. Meal preparation is the responsibility of the Workawayer. There may be times. that group meals are arranged, or the occasional invite to head out to have a meal.

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  What else ...

  Talkeetna is quite literally a basecamp for all sorts of Denali adventures. There is a transit bus that runs the length of the Talkeetna Spur Road that makes it easy to access the Talkeetna Lakes Park just a couple miles from downtown. Biking, hiking, fishing (three glacial, salmon filled rivers converge on downtown), flying... or learning how to fly!... hosting a radio show, participating in art programs with Denali Arts Council, MAKING art with all the reclaimed items found on the property (recently acquired adjoining property that has accumulated years and years of mining equipment). Also, gardening late into the 'midnight sun' evening since the sun doesn't really set.
  
  
  We ask that our WorkAwayers - like us - are COVID conscious (vaccinated, willing to mask when necessary).
  
  No drugs or hard alcohol. Marijuana is legal here, but it is not part of our program. No judgement, just not for us as our experience has not been good. We will enjoy a glass of wine or beer at the end of the day, but would rather not invite parties or hard alcohol onto the property. It's WorkAway, not PartyAway.
  
  
  
  How to get to Talkeetna:
  
  Train. Alaska Railroad. The train runs daily in the summer. In winter, on Saturdays and first Thursdays. During the busy late winter/Spring Break season there are additional mid-week trains. Typically, one would arrive into Anchorage the day+ before then catch the 8:30am train to Talkeetna on a scheduled train day. The depot stop in Talkeetna is only a few blocks from our WorkAway housing, but we will pick you up and give a quick tour of town on the way to your housing. If taking the train we will purchase the tickets on your behalf.
  
  Bus. The Parks Highway Connection offers daily service in the summer and departs Anchorage from the Dena'ina Civic Center at either 6:30am or 3pm. It arrives at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, just a couple miles above town. We will pick you up and give a quick tour of town on the way to your housing.
  
  Bus. Valley Mover and Sunshine Transit. This is a bit more of a puzzle, but is possible to get from Anchorage to Talkeetna year round. You can reference their respective schedules online.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  WiFi is available in all spaces.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Yes, there is an ample driveway that still allows use of mobile home. With some work there could be a more secluded space to park, but electric and water would have to be managed as a first project.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Talkeetna is a dog town. Pets would need to be friendly, quiet and picked up after.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Flexible. Typically, 7am start

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