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Join us at our eco-homestead and forest near Oregon City, USA

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    The world is sharing a dream, a dream of a renewed connection to the earth, and to fellow humans, where laughter, love, and pleasure are mixed with hard work, ethical principles, and meaningful contributions. We're aiming to bring that dream to reality on our 41-acre eco-farm and forest. We enjoy hosting volunteers as a way of exchanging ideas and values and planting the seeds for a better future. Volunteers learn about our version of community living, how to farm, and live closer to the land and we get to meet people from all over the world who bring their own unique energy and skill sets. We like to practice other languages and love connecting with travelers over food, and what new recipes they can teach us.

    We need clear minds, strong bodies, and big hearts. Our primary need is for assistance on our beautiful farm. We usually want 2 workawayers at a time. A great fit would be for people who want to do homesteading-related work in their free time (because they think it's fun and rewarding) and can self-direct on tasks they see need to be done. This could include actual farmwork, food preservation, land clearing, chopping wood, caring for animals, building or fixing farm-related structures (windmills, water retention, greywater systems, anything related to farming/homesteading.)

    Sorry, no dogs: our livestock guardian dogs don't accept other canines on the property.

    We have many wonderful individuals who live on this property, ranging in age from their early 20s to their mid-60s. There are also 3 young children who are here for 1-2 days a week. The number of individuals here fluctuates between 10 to 20 at a time. We're also five dogs, three cats, thirty chickens, 5 ducks, 4 goats, and 5 pigs, and we all take care of each other.

    Among those who call this space home are:

    Gabriella is a sexuality educator who founded what is now an international organization focused on sex-positivity, (needless to say, we're friendly to all people of all persuasions, orientations, faiths, and nationalities). Gabriella speaks French, Italian, some Spanish, and some Dutch. She is down-to-earth, intellectual, and sultry. She loves growing food, feeding people, and creating a "permacommunity". Gabriella believes that everyone everywhere should have access to affordable, clean, healthy, whole food grown in healthy soil. She calls this food justice and is studying ways to create regenerative food systems in this country and around the world. Gabriella is married to John.

    John is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and is the father of two boys, nineteen and twenty-one, who are with us on school breaks. John is a deep thinker. A former pastor and youth minister whose relationship with God transitioned from a Christian framework to connecting more with nature as source. He's a great listener, empathetic, and has a wry sense of humor.

    Levi is our farmer in charge of growing delicious food. He is quiet and contemplative, but when he engages, it's a treat.

    Jonathan is an ecological landscaper, a musician, and an all-around helpful man. You will find him organizing our music nights or simply playing a beautiful piece.

    Jo is passionate about DOGS and other animals, and is our resident birthday organizer.

  • 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
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
  • Interests

    Interests

    Yoga / Wellness
    Nature
    Fitness
    Camping
    Hiking
    Outdoor activities
    LGBTQ
    Sustainability
    Farming
    Plant care
    Cooking & food
    Gardening
    Animals
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We hope to learn from you as much as you learn from us. Especially if you have knowledge or skills related to farming, forestry, community building, computer skills, but we're also interested in ideas, worldview, and solutions to the world's problems.

    Gabriella grew up in Europe and has traveled extensively. John has also traveled quite a bit. We're very interested in learning more about other countries, traditions, myths, and faiths. We want to learn what gives people meaning and purpose. We would also prefer to discuss politics rationally without prejudice.

  • Help

    Help

    25 hrs/week, including 1-2 hours a week of house cleaning, and then if you really are interested in doing so, you can cook dinner for everyone or take part in animal chores. Ultimately we only want people cooking and taking care of the animals if they are super stoked about doing so, otherwise, we have plenty of people that want to do that.

    Farm work is physically demanding, it can include repetitive physical tasks for hours at a time, working in cold and wet weather, standing for a long time, crouching over garden beds while maintaining your balance on a 12 inch wide path, and moving wheel barrow loads of soil. Please accurately self-assess whether you are able to do these tasks.

    In general, tasks we might need help with include:

    • Organic gardening
    • Forest maintenance, including planting and invasive weed removal
    • Animal husbandry
    • Cleaning stalls
    • Food preparation, canning, preserving
    • Chopping wood

  • Languages spoken

    Spanish: Intermediate
    French: Intermediate
    Italian: Intermediate
    Dutch: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Our gorgeous 7600ft home is a lodge built with logs felled right here on the property. We have eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a chef's kitchen, a dining porch, a sleeping porch, and a loft area for yoga, reading, or lounging. And we have a hot tub. There is lots of room for you to enjoy! You will be at liberty to decide how much privacy you want versus how much communal time. There is also a river that runs through our property for swimming and floating.

    Our accommodations are either camping (on platform with all equipment and comfortable bed provided) or shared dorm room with 1-2 other people. Also potentially an RV once we finish remodeling it. All the beds and bedding are super comfortable. Please let us know what your needs and wants are. At this time we cannot accept large buses on the property, but camper vans or a small trailer would be ok.

    All meals will be provided, much of it will come from the land! We will take turns cooking (don't worry if you can't cook, we love to feed people!) Your dietary restrictions will be respected and provided for. Please know though that we're omnivores who try to eat locally and organically as much as possible.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Since we're only 30 minutes outside of Portland, everything you can do in Portland you can do from here. Also, we're not far from the coast, the mountains, or the desert. Public transportation is a bit difficult, but there is almost always someone coming and going into town and we'll be happy to give you a lift.

  • 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

    We have good internet, and if you can do your work in the afternoons and weekends, then that will work fine with our farm schedule.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have space for a camper/trailer/short bus.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Twenty-five plus

Host ref number: 874649947983

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