Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
8
Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Greetings potential Workaway candidates:
My wife and I have a 5 acre property on the Little Susitna river near Hatcher Pass, Alaska. Our hosting options include a 30 foot motor home with water, electricity, propane, outside hot water shower, use of laundry, internet and an outhouse. Besides ongoing jobs of removing "Spruce Beatle damaged trees" the main focus will be on completing a 320 square foot basement with plumbing, sheetrock, trim, heated concrete floor, paint and kitchen cabinets. Additionally, if our working duo is compatible, adding 100 square feet to the upper cabin is an additional goal.
Our family is welcoming of self motivated, healthy, socially mature, curious, and work focused individuals who are
interested in learning more about the construction trades and the value of kindness and respect in building wholesome relationships.
My working background includes 30 years in general building trades: carpentry, plumbing, concrete, novice electrical savvy and welding as well as 16 years as a special education teacher... mostly in Alaska. My wife owns and runs a
successful sign company in Napa, CA. featuring architecturally inspired 'high end' signs.
In exchange for 5 - 7 hours of work for 4 - 5 days per week, motivated worker will receive between $11.00 - $22.00 per hour depending on skill level, motivation, work ethic and attention to detail. The fee will be determined after the first week of working together.
Additionally, after a rapport is established, use of my 2001 Rav4 or 1999 Ford Explorer is available free for occasional use or for moderate fee for extended use of 2 - 4 days.
Interested applicants are invited to send an accurate bio of their intentions, working background, particular likes and limitations, and any other issues which will promote transparency and rapport. Additionally two relevant job related references are encouraged.
Last summer we successfully hosted two young men ages 25 and 34 for 6 weeks for a win-win experience that encourages us to discover what synchronicity may offer for work between July 1 and September 30.
Thank you for your time, reflections, and consideration for entering a win - win adventure.
Respectfully,
Johnny
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
My wife and I are elderly recently retired and soon to retire workers with noteworthy experience in multiple phases of construction, 16 years experience as Special Education teacher, work as manager of construction business, owner of architectural sign company in Napa Co. California for 33 years. As such, we have a broad understanding of the challenges and skills necessary to : compromise, listen, practice patience, and promote clear and transparent communication with kindness.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
Assistance with ongoing tree cutting, forest clearing, gardening, construction working on plumbing, carpentry, concrete work, rock walls, paneling, kitchen instillation, electrical, and laboring work requiring above average physical strength. Please include your construction skill level and any details that will assist in evaluating your compatibility with our needs. Also, feel encouraged to share specifics of your needs, likes, and any relevant incompatibilities you may be comfortable to share.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I am interesting in furthering my basic Spanish skills.
Accommodation
30 feet Winnebago with queen bed, complete kitchen, high speed internet, outside hot shower, and outhouse. Additionally, there are numerous tent sights as well as an 8' X 8' level plywood platform with waterproof shell that is next to the Little Susitna river. Also, use of bicycles, 4 wheeler, and a Toyota Rav4 and Explorer van is available for local use with nominal fee for fuel. Longer trips are available for reasonable fee after trustworthiness is establlished.
What else ...
Our property is located at the base of road to Hatcher Pass recreational park with numerous hiking trails and camping. We are 7 miles from Palmer, Ak. and 9 miles from Wasilla, Ak. Anchorage, Ak. is 35 miles south and is reachable via bus on all weekdays. Talkeetna is 1.5 hours north and Denali National Park is 3.5 hours north. The Kenai peninsula which offers glacier hiking, kayaking, whale watching tours, and fishing are 3 hours south.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
Level parking space with water, propane, outhouse, and internet are available.
Can possibly accept pets
one pet that is trained and unobtrusive is welcomed.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (5)
We stayed for 20 days in mid august.
Our home was the rv for those days, which is very comfortable and has everything you need.
Toilet was an outhouse as well as the shower which was very hot (very important for Alaska temperatures).
The job was varied, there’s a lot of hard work to do.
We did a… read more
Woody is a mostly non-barking English Setter dog
From the time they arrived until they departed, they worked on the projects we presented with
excellent… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We stayed for 20 days in mid august.
Our home was the rv for those days, which is very comfortable and has everything you need.
Toilet was an outhouse as well as the shower which was very hot (very important for Alaska temperatures).
The job was varied, there’s a lot of hard work to do.
We did a… read more
Woody is a mostly non-barking English Setter dog
From the time they arrived until they departed, they worked on the projects we presented with
excellent… read more
two WORK AWAY participants from Hamberg, Germany. The curious reason
that my recommendation for Ronja and Timo has been delayed is because
I wanted to allow time to promote a more seasoned reflection on the adventure of:
living and working with our first Work Away guests.… read more
It was super fun staying with you for three weeks, be it the work, like building a roof for the Winnebago, doing all the little finishing jobs with some fun time in between… read more
two WORK AWAY participants from Hamberg, Germany. The curious reason
that my recommendation for Ronja and Timo has been delayed is because
I wanted to allow time to promote a more seasoned reflection on the adventure of:
living and working with our first Work Away… read more
