Profile information
Host rating
55 %
Last replied
17 Jan 2024
Reply rate
66.7 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
1
Email verified
Host offers payment
Details
Description
Our 31 acre and 75 ac polyculture farms are set just outside the town of Friday Harbor, WA, on spectacular San Juan Island, in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on education and restorative agriculture, including: mixed vegetable production, flowers, orchards, sheep, poultry, cattle, goats and pigs; greenhouse growing year around. We also produce value-added products, teach agricultural business plan development and host farm-stays. The owner has over 4 decades of agricultural experience in all operations (and starting farming on Lopez Island in the 70's) and currently produces, inspires, and educates (travels thru the year) in other parts of the US, as well as lives on the land and oversees activities. She is a well known artist, designer, farmer, and educator, and is an integral part of the daily routine and education, and is partially retiring.
Come and learn about different types of rotational grazing and fencing, multi-species grazing, our purebred, registered Boer goats, and Katahdin sheep, Berkshire pigs, and Wagyu and Angus cattle, as well at Scottish Highland-we love to creatively prepare our own and locally grown first source food and hope you do too.
We look forward to meeting you!
We are a sustainable, working farm that takes our important role seriously, with passion, creativity, and fun. We are an integral part of the San Juan Island farming community, and as an island we are a unit of knowledge and interaction-please understand where you are coming to by reading the following resources:
We work hard, and schedule most all things days in advance; we typically start work anywhere from 530 thru 8/9am until 4/5/6 pm depending on the day or time of year, or weather, or all of the above, with Saturday and Sundays off, that is, if there is every any ""off"" on a farm! Most rise and take care of personal practices and breakfast between 430-730 am. WE will not let a workaday work more than 40 hrs!
Sometimes lunch is 30 min, sometimes its 3 hrs depending on the time of year and all that needs to be done.. an There is a refrigerator and freezer with locally grown first source food when in season for your personal or our shared consumption. Most working guests have a personal diet they provide for themselves. We are not a commune, we do not equivocate and process personal dramas, and Lori Ann, owner and farmer, does have the final say in group decision-making. You must provide your current drivers license, proof of current personal health insurance, consent to a background check, and provide health history and pre-existing medical or health conditions. Basic requirements are that you can lift/move bales of hay (65-110 lbs) safely and by your self/with a dolly, and work 2-4 hours at a time, different times of day, in a sustained manner. Learning and education is the basis of why you are here, and we provide much instruction with each task, and many tasks you will be on your own, or with one other person. We have FUN and work hard.
Accommodations are basic in the small studio or guesthouse. These are lovely, sacred, clean, tidy and quiet places of personal time (sleeping, reading, study) and quiet. All cleaning and house/farm chores, cooking (if that is what is happening, or on your own) are shared, by agreement. No shoes inside any eating or living or sleeping places except art studios and farm office..We take bio-security and cleanliness seriously. Laundry facilities/shared provided. Please provide your own biodegradable choice of soap/cleaners you like-everyone is different-we are on a well and septic so we go easy and conservatively. No pets, or smoking, or excessive/and or use of anything that isn't legal. There are 2 sweet barn cats too.
Please provide your own transportation, and anything else that relates to your own personal health, specialty food needs or other personal insurances. Safety is first here, as is self-responsibility. If you have health concerns or special needs, please research what is available here; we have it all from alternative health (acupuncture, massage etc) to an incredible hospital and EMT/paramedic service (Peace Health.org)
here are a few things we live by:
Be impeccable with your word
Don't take anything personally
Don't make assumptions
Always do your best
Listen and watch in stillness....nature knows everything......
Ho' Oponopono (look it up)
thank you and many blessings
We look forward to meeting you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are a larger scale polyculture farm working with various types of livestock in pastured/rotational grazing methods, all organic. We grow produce all year in greenhouses, and in fields, as well as orchards, berries, flowers, herbs and value added products. We have a farm store on site. You will learn everything you want to and more own/run/work at or with a farm-it is truly an immersion experience!
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.
Help
see above-diverse farm work; working soil, weeding, planting, transplanting, harvesting, packaging; livestock care and maintenance; general farm care and maintenance; agricultural business practices...and more! We are direct, pragmatic, task/time/goal oriented to achieve and succeed at what we do-we are not a commune, therapy center or drama support/emotional need facility. YES a lot of health/healing happens here, but leave your personal baggage at home. We are not equipped to handle personal/emotional dramas. We care, we are compassionate, empathetic, but not able to be your therapists.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
private room, shared kitchen and bathrooms in guesthouse, or yurt (sleeping only), share kitchen and facilities with guesthouse
What else ...
We are best set up for individuals; if you want to come with a partner, both individuals need to be committed to the farm work away; you will be working together at times, and separate at times with our team/s. Please understand that it takes us a few days to respond as we do not check this everyday! If you want or need to reach us immediately please call the cell listed above. Thank you!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
35-40/week average, varies
