United States
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Located somewhere between not too far away and far enough away to just slow down and savor life.
Our family has been in the Carolina low-country since the 1670s, and here on this property since 1827. The farm and family have seen many changes throughout the centuries, and is looking to the future!!!
This is the farm’s 10th year hosting visitors. Forty-seven countries represented and over 390 folks volunteering, all have helped make the farm a better place. They have laughed, learned, sweated, grown and eaten some great food. We hope all that those who spend time here will take something positive away with them. Looking forward to another year of great helpers & guests!!!
An experimental and educational farm, we are working to bring a high level of self-sufficiency here and to share our knowledge with our visitors. We also offer farmstay/English immersion vacation packages so folks can spend their holiday relaxing on a peaceful farm while improving their language skills. We are the stewards of one of the many Carolina Bays that pepper the East Coast, a unique ecosystem, which contains rare carnivorous plants.
Now accepting volunteers for 2020...all months from July are available....Autumn and winter months are slow times on the farm and the need for volunteers is reduced to no more than 2 persons at a time.
...see ya soon!!!
Located in the Carolina Lowcountry, on the NC/SC border in the lower coastal plain, the farm is 30 miles N of Myrtle Beach, SC, just outside a small rural town. I own 120+ acres of mixed pine/hardwood forest and fields, and a large 2-story 1880s farmhouse--the land has been in our family since 1827. Would like to get it back to the level of self-sufficiency of my great-grandparents' day.
The property has a small pond, an extensive network of trails(several miles), fruit(plum, persimmon, loquat, serviceberry, black currant, dragonfruit, hardy kiwi, apple, pomegranate, pear) and nut(pecan, chestnut, hazelnut)trees, grapevines, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, vegetable and flower gardens, a dog(Snoddy Dawg!), friendly barn cats, poultry(Chickens, geese, ducks, guineas, bantams), lots of wildlife, as well as a zone 8 growing season(4 season garden).
Current projects include organic raised bed & field mixed veg gardening, mixed flower and herb(edible & medicinal) gardens, experimental crops, high tunnel, straw bale & traditional cold frames, exotic plants-ethnobotany, permaculture, mycoculture, wildcrafting, hugelkultur, drainage projects/ditching, trail clearing and construction, pallet and bamboo construction, remodeling the 1880s farm house, pecan, blueberry, blackberry and grape harvesting, chickens, geese, guineas, landscaping, composting and a small nursery. Open to trying any new ideas, and always have something going on. Times when we really need volunteers(from 3-8 people) are during the spring & summer season when things are the busiest. I accept folks during the off-season, but in limited numbers(2-3). Volunteers will mainly help in the garden and around the homestead.
I have a library of 7k+ volumes, covering a myriad of topics, plus most friends refer to me as a walking encyclopedia. An old hippie (54yo) from the Rainbow Family--very liberal, I moved back to the Carolinas to run the farm and help my mom who had Alzheimer's. My children are now adults & on their life journeys.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2016, I've gone through radiation treatments & multiple surgeries. It's been a hell of a time for me & the homestead, but we've continued to host volunteers/guests the whole time. I'm now learning a new way of life due a laryngectomy & a pectoral flap procedure. My mobility is limited & some may have trouble understanding my speech. My son has had to run the farm for me for the past few summers. I will never be back to my old self, but we will keep hosting until I'm not able to handle it any longer. I look forward to this challenge and still having a load of helpful folks to teach and to learn from.
Helpers are reminded that they are sharing a communal living space and should be considerate of the other household members. I have no problem with being blunt and correcting bad/inconsiderate behaviors–Trump supporters need not apply. I have a car I use for farm errands. Transportation is available to town on a fairly regular basis, but not daily. Downtown Tabor City is about a 15 minute walk from the farm–a few stores and small restaurants, but that is about it, not much to do or see. The farm is in a rural area, which means helpers should realize the pace of life is slower and relaxing. Walks in the forest, making hand-churned ice cream, sitting in the hammock chairs on the upstairs veranda, lazy afternoon naps, campfires & ‘smores in the evening, shooting lessons, movie marathons are some of the recreational activities.
There are books, DVDs, games, music & conversation for entertainment. I try to plan outings to show helpers the region around the farm. Just don’t expect shopping trips/guided tours every afternoon, or wild parties every evening.
I have recently quit smoking tobacco. So, consult with me about tobacco use while on the farm. No cigars/blunts in house.
Still in the beginning stages of reshaping the property to self-sufficiency after a couple of decades of neglect. The farm contains a quail habitat conservation area, as well as the ecosystem, one of the many Carolina Bays that dot the southern coastal plain, a truly unique ecosystem. Many miles of walking trails allow our guests to experience this ecosystem in a close & personal manner. While here, please respect the varied flora & fauna on the property by taking photos only, and not disturbing any sensitive habitats on the farm.
A questionnaire will be sent to all prospective volunteers, so include your email in your message--& include the word "enlightenment" in your request to show you took the time to read my complete profile. Failure to do so will lead me to assume that you are mass-mailing hosts and will get a similar response from me. US helpers: please include your phone number and best time to reach you.
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>>>*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Helpers must have a completed profile and a photo posted prior to contacting me.
Please send links to your Facebook profiles for each person wishing to volunteer.
If several people are wanting to help here together, do the same for each person.
Volunteers are accepted on a first come/first serve basis--if you delay on responding once contact is made, you may lose the time slot you request. Volunteers are not considered confirmed until I receive their travel itinerary showing that tickets have been purchased for travel to the farm. One year, 30 people signed up by the end of Feb. for the summer--all failed to show up, leaving me short-handed in my busiest season. If you fail to respond to any messages from host in a timely manner, then any offer to stay is rescinded. Often, volunteers commit to stays without a true idea of what farm life is really like. If you fail to research the realities of life in a rustic setting, then arrive & decide it is not for you, do not expect me to drop everything to take you back to the airport at your command. If you need to depart because of an emergency situation, then plan to arrange your own transportation from the farm.
When writing as to availability of positions, include the dates you wish to help on the farm and your mode of transportation to get here. Keep this in mind when you contact me for a position.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Looking for helpers wanting to learn as well as helping out, 2 week minimum stay. If you contact me for a long-term stay, please follow through. Long-term stays are preferable during the slow months. For long-term helpers, I will sit down with you after a week to discuss how things are working out.>
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️I am an omnivore, thus volunteers can eat what I prepare or prepare food for themselves. Vegetables compose the majority of what i cook, but sometimes it’s one dish meals with meat.
Will accept folks with food allergies/special diets(veggie, vegan, gluten-free, lactose intolerant, paleo, all-organic/all-natural, raw, etc) as long as you supply your own food. We make ice cream in a churn.
If someone with dietary restrictions wants to come here, that is fine with us but we can not alter our eating habits to suit someone else, nor buy special foods for you. It ain’t going to kill ya try it. If it does, what a helluva ride!
Facilities will be provided for you to prepare your own food if you have a special diet. Skittles, Dorito’s, nut milk, Bragg’s, soda, etc: these are the types of things you would need to provide for yourself.
If you prefer all-natural foods, all-organic, etc, be sure to bring plenty with you. Especially when it it’s not growing on the farm. Self-sufficiency isn’t expecting availability of everything all the time. We eat farm fresh in season, and always preserve part of harvest for rest of year. We recognize the limits of the seasons and the joys of abundance all year.
Btw, I buy my groceries at a normal supermarket, but all farm produce is organic. *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
If you are willing to travel around the world to volunteer without reading your hosts' complete profile, then you will be greatly surprised on arrival.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️No excessive alcohol use allowed on farm--non-negotiable.*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Attention: prospective volunteers should send me a link to their Facebook profiles and include a current email address so our farm questionnaire can be sent to you. Include the word "enlightenment" in your message heading, or I will assume you are mass mailing hosts. Failure to follow direction regarding your messages to me reflect upon your ability to follow direction while being a Workawayer on my property, & will show me that you are not taking this process seriously.*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️All prospective helpers must agree to the farm rules in the "notes" section of the farm's Facebook page. Leave a comment at the end of the rules that you agree to follow them. Thanks.*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️For folks who wish to learn about farming methods, it would be better for you to apply during the spring and summer months*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
***COVID-19 is a huge concern for me as I am a laryngectomee & cancer survivor. A covid-19 infection would be a death sentence to me. Any applicant must have practiced social distancing & safe practices for over two weeks prior to coming to my farm. If coming from outside the US, then you must undergo a self-quarantine for over two weeks before coming to my farm. While on the farm, all will practice behavior to lessen any chance that covid-19 could infect me. Already, during the pandemic, I have had people come to my farm who acted as though covid-19 was no big deal & failed to abide by the CDC guidelines--this attitude & behavior is dangerous to me and will result in expulsion from my property. This means, until the pandemic is over, you agree to stay on the property, and absolutely refrain from any unnecessary trips away from the farm. If you cannot do without fast-food, or insist on exploring the area during your off-time, or cannot entertain yourself while isolated on a farm, or stay on the property, then stay at your own home until the pandemic is done. Coordination among farm guests for laundry/grocery shopping/etc. must be approved by me and be limited to once a week. Anyone leaving property must use all precautions while off-farm to lessen chance to bring the virus back to the farm, including wearing gloves & facemasks, using sanitizer/hand-washing, etc(volunteers should bring these items with them)--no exceptions!!! *****
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Other
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Language practice
Art project
My friends call me 'nikipedia' for the vast wealth of knowledge I love to share. I am a scholar of history and a myriad of other topics. I have extensive knowledge of my home region and love to share its wonders. I enjoy hosting international volunteers and helping people improve their English skills. Guests will learn about organic, sustainable farming methods & self-sufficiency, as well as anything else that they care to inquire about. My library is extensive with thousands of books available to guests. The farm acts as an English language immersion experience as well. We are the stewards of one of the many Carolina Bays that pepper the mid-Atlantic Coast, which are truly unique ecosystems, containing rare carnivorous plants plus many other special species. Many miles of walking trails allow our guests to experience this ecosystem in a close & personal manner. While here, please respect the varied flora & fauna on the property by taking photos only, and not disturbing any sensitive habitats on the farm.
International helpers: Part of the experience is a cultural exchange, which includes sharing native cuisine of your host. You will be eating a variety of American and International dishes on the farm. If you come here expecting to eat like you do at home, then you will miss out on many tasty treats.*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
general help around homestead and garden.
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Current projects include organic raised bed & field mixed veg gardening, mixed flower and herb(edible & medicinal) gardens, mycoculture, straw bale & traditional cold frames, exotic plants-ethnobotany, permaculture, wildcrafting, drainage projects/ditching, trail clearing and construction, pallet and bamboo construction, remodeling the 1880s farm house, pecan, blueberry and grape harvesting, chickens, geese, ducks, landscaping, composting and a small nursery. Open to trying any new ideas, and always have something going on.
English
2 bedrooms in house, 2 rustic bunkhouses, plenty of room for tent camping and vehicle camping
Guests should bring towels and their own toiletry items.
*As stated here on the Workaway site, it is up to you to organize your travel arrangements & arrange your travel visas.
For people without their own means of transportation: to get to the farm-->nearest airport-Myrtle Beach, SC(1 hour drive)--nearest train station-Dillon, SC(45 minute drive), nearest bus station--Whiteville, NC(20 minute drive).
I can arrange your pick up and travel to the farm ONLY from Myrtle Beach, Whiteville or Dillon, unless other arrangements have been agreed to beforehand--thanks. Since all transportation to various transport hubs must be scheduled by me, alterations in your travel plans must be pre-approved by me 7 days prior to travel. I am not a taxi service. It is difficult to run a farm if I have to drop everything to satisfy you in response to poor planning on your part.
**If you need to be picked up & dropped off from these places, a fee will be charged. Ask when arranging your stay how much the fee for transportation will be. If you require transportation to bus/train/airport prior to agreed departure date, there is an extra fee commensurate to the inconvenience to me. **
Be considerate & schedule your arrival between 9am & 5pm. I do not want to drive to airport at 10pm!
Downtown Tabor City is about a 15 minute walk from the farm--a few stores and small restaurants, but that is about it, not much to do or see. The farm is in a rural area, which means helpers should realize the pace of life is slower and relaxing. Walks in the forest, making hand-churned ice cream, sitting in the hammock chairs on the upstairs veranda, lazy afternoon naps, campfires & 'smores in the evening, shooting lessons, movie marathons are some of the recreational activities after work.
There are books, DVDs, games, music & conversation for entertainment. I try to plan outings to show helpers the region around the farm. Just don't expect shopping trips/guided tours every afternoon, or wild parties every evening. I speak English and Geordie.
I no longer smoke tobacco. So, please consult with me about tobacco use while on the farm. No cigars/blunts in house.
Myrtle Beach, SC--the Grand Strand--is just down the road(30 minutes) and is a huge tourist destination that has almost everything imaginable thing you could want to do available there. Lake Waccamaw & Lake Tabor, plus several rivers--Waccamaw, Lumber, Little Pee Dee--are also a short distance away--swimming trips are a frequent activity for our helpers.
International(non-US) volunteers are responsible for acquiring the proper visas for US travel. I will NOT help you get a US visa in any way!
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️Do NOT contact me for a position if you have ANYTHING pending in your life for the same time period that you wish to volunteer, especially if it is something more important than honoring your word. Thanks
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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