Homestead has space for energetic and positive helpers in Honoka'a, Hawaii, USA

Details

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  Description

  We are a couple in our late 50s who have been stewarding this land for nearly three years. We work hard, relax hard, and enjoy the good company of curious, artistic, witty, strong, passionate, sane, humane learners and teachers. We like to be around people whose relationship to land, soil and purposeful physical effort is at the center of daily life.
  
  **Update: spacious and comfortable new guest tent under canopy has been set up. See photo.
  
  >> For updates please scroll down after reading the basic description
  
  We're looking for motivated & energetic people to help us tend our flourishing 5 acres: cultivating seeds, cuttings, stock for green manure, and planting trees for a diverse edible, native and habitat forest; taking care of hedgerows and windbreaks, vegetable gardens and new plantings of long-term fruit and native tree orchards.
  
  We also have a strong current (2024) need for help in completing some infrastructural tasks : sanding and other painting prep; basic construction or unskilled / learning support for construction; landscape building and miscellaneous creative solution-finding.
  
  In the process we hope to offer good hospitality, company and mentorship.
  
  The farm is not a commercial or income-producing operation. We both have other jobs: movement educator/Rolfer/Thai Massage therapist and carpenter/builder. However, for this year we're taking on minimal hours on outside clients and projects, just to cover some bills. Our energy is 99% focused on our land as a personal homestead, and a Workaway helper can expect us to be working right alongside them. In 3-5 years we may have the capacity to start a small nursery operation or grow medicinal or food plants for specialty markets, but that is still in the future.
  
  Our 5-acre land on the Hamakua Coast of Hawai'i Island has been home to many intensive agricultural operations over the past decades, including a rose farm (before cut flower production moved to South America), an anthurium/orchid farm, vegetables, eucalyptus seedling nursery, and cow grazing. Many of these uses have been extractive and hard on the land. The nursery propagation in particular left a lot of rubbish to clean up. Most recently neglect allowed existing fruit trees to die, fences to fall, and water lines to break. We've been working steadily to repair everything and are planting cover crop, food and ornamental plants almost every day.
  
  Helpers would be expected to help us with the creative and regenerative work of preparing the ground for new plantings, planting food & nitrogen-fixing trees, tending existing trees and working in the garden & propagation area as well as with the rehab work (clean-up of agricultural debris on the land, which is mostly down to manageable items like old sections of pipe, buckets, nursery pots, small pieces of broken fencing etc. but which we want to be meticulous about). There are so many projects to do, so apart from the essential work of cleaning & preparing the land for planting (which is our top priority), we hope helpers will have choices about where to help according to their interests and skills.
  
  There are always a lot of tasks that are not directly plant- or soil-related, such as construction projects, so we also welcome people with skills to help us accomplish these. They include things like building trellises for vines, building propagation tables, etc.
  
  The work that is happening on our place is the work of Beginning.
  It's the work of approaching the blank slate and imagining the future. It's the work of initiating, planning, envisioning; and also of repairing, restoring and replenishing. It's not yet the work of "listening to the sound of fruit dropping." For almost one year we've been cleaning up the land, removing derelict structures and preparing soil. We look for helpers who are willing to learn this phase of farmsteading, to gain the experience of entering onto raw or damaged land in order to participate in soil-building & planting for diversity. Anyone who has the vision & enthusiasm for the hard work of Beginning is welcome!
  
  
  ***We ask that prospective helpers read through the following and make sure that they’re OK with making these agreements with us:


  - To bring their own work gloves, work boots or closed-toe shoes and sturdy work pants. This is a requirement. We want everyone to be safe and protected when working. Even though this is Hawaii, we don’t only wear shorts and sandals in the field, though of course that’s totally fine if appropriate. Pulling out old fencing = protective work clothing required. Sowing seed trays = dress as you like!


  - To abstain from cannabis, tobacco, and all recreational drugs and alcohol during their stay with us. We really mean this and we really appreciate your respecting this request.


  - To understand that we don’t live by the beach, and that we don’t have good public transportation here. On days off, travel to the beach or any other recreational areas would be your responsibility, though we would be happy to help as we can and share rides when we go that way. 


  - To have a clear plan for departure day and to communicate with clarity throughout our time together about any thing important such as need to change plans, etc.

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  We're hard-working but fun-loving people who have a strong motivation to bring more health, beauty & diversity to this land. We like to eat well, read, discuss and learn; we like to hike, go to the ocean, play and balance effort with rest. Between the two of us we have extensive gardening, farming and homebuilding experience. Our ask is for some dedicated help in taking our land to the next step, and our intention is to build relationships that will allow helpers to feel welcomed, appreciated and rewarded as they take part in caring for this Island.
  
  
  Update January 2024:
  
  We're opening up new areas of the farm after having established many hundreds of pioneer shrubs and trees. Abundant banana, papaya, avocado, pumpkin and garden vegetables are now in our diet. Many other trees are getting closer to fruiting in 2024/2025. We trade for taro and bake a lot of bread.
  
  We continue to propagate new plants all the time & are focusing on the following projects this spring:
  - new native forest area (3 zones already planted) / maintain existing zones
  - continuing syntropic experiments with cassava (yuca) as the main food anchor
  - building help needed!! lanai roof extension, machine shed, tent platform and making brand new outdoor stairs to the garden
  
  Update July 2023:
  
  The indoor guest space is now available and we have an immediate need for assistance on the farm and will consider any motivated & mature workawayers (single or couple of people) who are interested. Focus on planting, plant propagation and development of new planting areas. Hard but rewarding work, reasonable expectations, lots to learn and good vibes.
  
  
  Update Summer 2023:
  
  At the moment due to house renovation work, we're preferring to consider Workawayers who have a tent and are willing to use the outdoor shower. They would have access to an indoor toilet and of course to share meals/kitchen.
  
  We would like to host for a one week or two trial period, with the possibility if things are going well of extending.
  
  The work support that's needed at this time is primarily propagation and planting, with some additional miscellaneous tasks mainly associated with caring for the new plantings (mulching, watering, weeding.) The planting projects include:
  
  - seed collection
  - taking cuttings from fast-growing plants and re-planting them elsewhere
  - preparing dibble tubes, seeding fast-growing tree and shrub plantings in the shade house, and keeping them watered
  - planting out trees
  - caring for many hundreds of established trees and food plants: weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting etc.
  
  There is no need to have machine experience for the work, but a willingness to hand sickle tall grass and to dig holes / pick is a definite bonus.
  
  
  January 21 2023
  
  We're working on a project basis at the moment. There are so many things to that require a team. We would like to host people who want to stay a few days, pitch in fully and whole-heartedly, and be part of a many-hands effort that accomplishes a lot in a short time. Some recent examples are seed-collecting, planting cuttings, demolishing an interior wall, converting a goat pen into an orchard, building an outdoor shower, etc.
  
  Eventually we may be able to offer longer-term farmstays or apprenticeships with extended learning, but at the moment we prefer very short term.
  
  - They have a tent:
  
  We are in the middle of demolishing interior walls and renovating an old house. Our only guest room is being occupied by some friends staying long-term to help us on the farm. Guests should be self-sufficient for camping in our camping meadow, but would have access to the bathroom (plus additional outdoor shower) and of course share meals with us.
  
  - They have their own vehicle or are able to be picked up very nearby and not needing to leave the property on their own:
  
  If possible, guests would have their own vehicle. We realize that this limits the pool of guests, but it means that you're self-sufficient, can easily leave for outings, adventures and touring around each day after work hours are exchanged. We love to show people around and to go on outings ourselves, but are in an extremely busy phase where we stay on the land a lot or need our vehicle for other work.
  
  - They are clean, orderly and aware in the shared space of the kitchen:
  
  Hopefully this is an obvious one :-)
  
  If these conditions match please read on! Know that we are hospitable, generous, fun, easy-going people interested in cultural exchange & sharing skills. We have a very full plate at the moment and want to host people who can put in positive energy.

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  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
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We have both lived, traveled and worked extensively abroad, and have received so much hospitality & kindness from our hosts in other countries. Our freedom to travel has with changed with our commitment to the land, and Covid has transformed the landscape for many of us, but we are still as curious & eager as before to connect with other people from around the world. We would like to offer our own hospitality & welcome to our helpers through the sharing of mentorship, collaboration, friendship, good meals (and recreational outings together if it works out.) What we can share are our skills in farming & gardening, building, eco-projects and farm management.
  
  We speak English, Spanish and French.

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  Help

  - Care for existing and expanding vegetable, herb and flower gardens; fruit tree orchards; permaculture food forests, native forest planting, windbreaks, biomass rows and more
  - Propagate (in temporary propagation areas and on site): many varieties of vegetables green manure plants; food & habitat trees
  - Build rock retaining walls with larger rocks removed from planting areas
  - Plant: nitrogenous & other fast-growing biomass trees, diverse cover crops, fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers.
  - Install pond & Plant pond area
  - Weed / prune: existing trees of low utility or that are shading growing areas; noxious weeds
  - Clean the land of agricultural debris and waste left by previous users. 1 acre has been fully cleared and the remaining 4 acres have varying degrees of need.
  - Build: permanent shade/greenhouse & propagation area; goat shed; stairway on steep slope
  - Establish large composting area with multiple piles
  - We're always doing ongoing work restoring the 1966 house: sanding, scraping, painting, repairing windows and screens, etc.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  We speak Spanish, French and English. Slowly but study working on study of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
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  Accommodation

  A nice room in our house with its own bathroom (currently occupied by other volunteer spring 2024); large 11 x 14 comfortable tent under permanent waterproof canopy in camping meadow.
  Helpers can also tent camp with their own tent if they prefer.

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  What else ...

  The Hawai'i of tourist brochures is a poor reflection of the Island's true essence. Yes, Hawai'i is rich in natural beauty, walking & hiking opportunities, ocean, mountains and forests. Its cultural traditions are profoundly earth-based and should be respected & honored. What helpers do in their time off is only limited by their energy & interests. Public transport is regular but not extensive. We may be able to help. We love to walk & to explore.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Internet is fine for us.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Let's discuss whether this can work. Hookups are not available.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

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

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