Garden, learn about food preservation and wildlife while helping at our place near Spangle, USA

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Come enjoy our beautiful place in the woods! We have 45 acres of pine and aspen that we are slowly but surely restoring to preserve the native wildlife and habitat. We also raise chickens for eggs and meat, and grow many varieties of fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

    Who is "we"? Myself, my name is Melissa. I am a semi-retired mental health therapist who works virtually from home 3 days a week. Deeply interested and involved in raising and preserving food, as well as in creating space for wildlife, I have chosen to settle in this area for my "third act" in life because of the natural beauty and four-season climate. I have travelled a lot throughout my life, and, as people around the world have shared their homes and culture with me, I look forward to passing that favor on to others.

    "We" also includes my adult children: my son works in the small city of Spokane nearby with an organization whose mission is to end homelessness for families He lives part of the time here in his own cabin, helping out a LOT. Frequent visitors are my daughter and her family, all of whom share my passions and love to spend time here. Included in my family are 4 cats and lots of chickens.

    And the wildlife! So many species of birds make this their home, as well as moose, deer, elk, porcupine, coyotes, butterflies and dragonflies, frogs and more.

    I am a really good cook, love to try new things, speak fair Spanish, can muddle through in French, and speak very expressive native English. I practice yoga a lot, love to kayak, and am generally a fun-loving, interesting, and quiet person to be around.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Life in the country in the western United States is a very different experience than most travelers get - even those from other parts of the US! Cleaner air, open wild spaces, slower pace, a kind of quiet few people experience any more. This is naturally, culturally, and historically a very unique area, and you will have plenty of opportunity to soak it all in.

    Besides becoming a welcome part of my extended family for a time, you might learn more about growing more food in the woods, or how to manage a forest to best benefit the wildlife, cooking and food preservation, or a myriad of other practical skills. I can also help with learning English, with gaining a broader perspective of US or state culture and history, and how to navigate various systems for fun, safe, and more rewarding travel.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    As you can imagine, there are many projects here that you could be involved in. We would be doing tasks together 4 days a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) for about 4-5 hours each morning - starting pretty early, as it gets hot in the sun by early afternoon!

    Like to garden or want to learn? I have a variety of areas that are established or in development - depending on your skills and interests, you could be planting, weeding, building beds, discouraging pests via natural or creative means, protecting from weather, or harvesting in the garden(s). I also have plans drawn for the creation of native plant areas to attract and support wildlife that are just waiting for your help to make reality.

    Like bigger physical projects? Selectively cutting out smaller trees and brush to reduce fire hazard is an important ongoing project here. Downed trees need to be cut up and split for firewood, too.

    Have skills with building, or small engines, or other more mechanical projects? We have those, too, to interest you. My family and i are in process of creating an outdoor kitchen you could be a part of, or you may want to be involved in building a proper new area for composting human and other waste, or shoring up some of the smaller cabins on the land.

    Hands in the dirt not your thing? We have painting projects, indoor cleaning and organizing, and lots of food preservation to do - everything from drying, fermenting or canning produce to making chicken sausage.

    What are your passions? We have the tools, we have the fun and interesting projects, we just need your willing hands to help make a difference!

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    Help me improve my Spanish! and/or my French! And I love the hear and learn other languages, too. In one of my former careers I was an educator and also involved in teaching ESL, so language learning is definitely on the menu.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    This workaway is ideal for a single person, a couple, or a small family. You will have your own casita - a one-bedroom, one bathroom, fully equipped guest house with Wi-Fi, right next to my own home. It can accommodate 1 to 2 people very comfortably, and you will have all you need to make your own meals when you choose. We might also work out a shared meal schedule, depending on our tastes, needs, and wants. I will provide the basics of your food needs, and there is always plenty of fresh eggs and produce in season.

    A small family could stay in the casita if some didn't mind having a bedroll on the floor. Or if some camped or stayed in a campervan.

    If you would prefer to camp, there could be many areas that would lend themselves to low-impact camping on the property, if we made some agreements about that before you arrive. There's also a space for a campervan with water and electrical hookup.

    However, because I already have cats, and in order to not disturb wildlife, we cannot accommodate pets. Sorry.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    You could have later afternoons and evenings, plus three full days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) all to your self to explore, or rest, or play in the city, or whatever you like. There are lakes and rivers close at hand, miles and miles of hiking trails not far, and the city of Spokane is a 30-minute drive from here, for a small city experience of cultural, gastronomic, shopping, and friend-making opportunities. There is a large national wildlife refuge a stone's throw from my place, and renowned climbing, rafting, or mountain biking not far away. I have a canoe and a kayak that you can borrow for water adventures.

    Because this property is rural, it would be best if you had your own transportation to get from place to place. If you don't have your own transportation, please know that we are about 15 minutes' drive from public transportation that would go into the city. We do go into town and could give a ride there occasionally, if the timing worked. And if I am adventuring and we agree, you might join me, too.

  • 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

    Because you will have your own private house with strong and separate WiFi, you could easily do your virtual work from here when not engaged in other projects.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    There is a level space with water hook up (and easy to connect to electricity) for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 4 days a week

Host ref number: 859187468774

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