Join us and help out with micro-farming and pet care in Leverett, MA, USA

Details

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  Description

  We currently live in Leverett where we raise/grow composting worms, microgreens, a seasonal garden and mushrooms.
  
  We are both educators, open minded, in our 30s. We like to host guests, hold communal dinners, explore hikes in the area, and play board games. Our cat Gwen enjoys finding the sunny spot on the couch, running around the house like a maniac, and cuddles. Our rabbit Senator Bunny Sanders enjoys hopping around the house in search of fuzzy socks, getting treats, and being adorable. Herman the axolotl likes eating worms and smiling. We have 10+ laying hens year round and raise meat turkeys in the summers.
  
  We also are starting to transition to our future farm up in Claremont New Hampshire, so there might be a chance to travel up to do some work up there with us. This spring we will be building fences, clearing brush, planting trees. Beginning mid June we will start some renovations on our NH house. We plan to be fully moved to NH by end of August.
  
  The Leverett house is at the end of a dirt road in a rural area, with fields, forest, a fire pit, garden, wood-fired sauna, and pond. Only a 15 minute drive to downtown Amherst with shops and restaurants. We have bikes to borrow to explore but the area is quite hilly.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This help exchange experience will give you the flexibility to explore the area and dive deep into local culture and nature, while getting hands on experience gardening, caring for animals, and foraging.
  
  We can also offer a few bonuses to hopefully add to your experience:
  
  -The hours/schedule are flexible to give you a chance to explore the area or work on personal projects
  
  -Access to the pottery studio with wheel and kiln and supplies. I can teach the basics! (with our move this is not yet fully set up, though hand building is always available)
  
  - Learn how to vermicompost (composting with worms to build soil biology)
  
  - Learn how to brew Kombucha, make sourdough, and ferment yogurt
  
  - Learn how to grow microgreens and mushrooms indoors, and you are always welcome to eat what you help grow!
  
  -A car will not be provided, but we can arrange to drive you places when we are available and/or can pick up any supplies you need. If you have a drivers license in the states you might have an opportunity to borrow the car if all works out.

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  Help

  The help:
  - Daily greenhouse tasks: watering, seeding, transplanting, managing worm bins
  - Compost pick up and processing: we travel to local businesses to pick up compost, then use a modified wood chipper to grind it to create food for the vermicomposting worms.
  - Gardening: Help maintain the kitchen garden in season, plant berry bushes, trees, etc. We are open to any and all ideas! You are welcome to any of the food you help grow. We try to practice regenerative no-till methods with a permaculture influence
  - Help with the indoor micro-farming: microgreens, gourmet mushrooms, worm composting, blatticomposting
  - House chores: Help out with shared cleaning, tidying, lawn care, etc. tasks as needed
  - Pet Care: help with daily care for our cat, rabbit, axolotl, and chickens
  
  Upcoming Project Ideas:
  - Build compost bays and Johnson-Su bioreactors
  - prep garden for winter
  - Composting/vermicompost - building more continuous flow-through bins (CFTs)
  - Interior painting
  
  There is also an option to work with our friend Ben some days. Ben is a self-employed carpenter, composter, and all around handy man who has many skills to share. He is a wonderful teacher and always appreciates some extra help. A great chance for workawayers to build carpentry skills if that is what you are looking for!
  
  We are looking for someone that is comfortable with animals, independent, a good communicator, and reliable.
  
  You won't be asked to help more than 20 hours/week. Hours are very flexible. A mix of recurring daily tasks, independent tasks list, and group projects. We usually come up with a list of things that could get done and leave it to you to decide what you find interesting! Flexible time off.
  
  We both work during the week so there will be time that you are here alone, usually at least between 1-4:30 but some days longer. During this time alone we have a list of independent tasks you could work on, or you could take time to explore the area or work on your own projects.
  
  We sometimes could use housesitting/pet care while we are away.
  
  If this is the kind of thing you are looking for, send us a message with a bit about yourself and why you think you'd be a good fit!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  Especially interested in practicing/relearning Spanish!
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  Accommodation

  Private upstairs room in a house with a comfortable full size futon. Access to shared bathroom, kitchen, and common areas. Bedroom and bathroom are upstairs and kitchen is downstairs. Relax in the living room, borrow one of our many books, or watch TV/movies (we have Netflix). You will be able to use the WiFi and indoor Washer/Dryer.
  
  The bedroom is furnished with a comfortable full sized futon, desk, and mirror. We provide sheets, pillowcases, towels, and blankets. Extra shampoo/soap is also available.
  
  When not in guest use the room also doubles as a pottery studio and mushroom grow room. There may be times that we will ask to enter to get something from the room, but we always will check in with you first! You will have shared access to the bathroom, living spaces, spacious kitchen, and outdoor areas. We do not have A/C in the summer, just fans. Close to Amherst, Northampton, and Springfield.
  
  The house is split in two units. My husband Cameron and I live on one side, with two lovely housemates and their dog Otis on the other side. We expect workawayers to be respectful of our home and to be responsible for cleaning up after yourself.
  
  On shared work days we also often share meals. We welcome workawayers to help prepare any meals, and we will purchase the ingredients requested if you have a recipe in mind!
  
  There are also some times where you will prepare your own meals, often lunch and breakfast - ingredients will be provided (flour, spices, oatmeal, cereal, rice, oil, milk, fruit, eggs, baking ingredients, etc.) We will ask you for any food/ingredient requests before you arrive!
  
  We eat meat but welcome vegetarians/vegans, especially if you can help us grow our repertoire of vegan dishes!
  
  Cameron has a citrus allergy so we don’t cook with citrus (limes, lemon, grapefruit), but it isn’t serious enough that we can’t have any citrus in the house so you are welcome to have some and cook with it yourself. Other than that we don’t have any dietary restrictions beyond that we’re trying to move more away from processed foods and non-local meat.
  
  You are welcome to use the kitchen at all times. You are also welcome to harvest any food from the garden or land. We also often have kombucha, microgreens, and mushrooms to share. Sometimes homemade yogurt and sourdough.
  
  There is parking so you are welcome to bring your own car. If you don't have a car we can arrange to drive you places when available and/or can pick up any supplies you need.

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  What else ...

  We are close to many hiking trails and are happy to give recommendations. There are many farm stands nearby with excellent produce in season. We have bicycles you can borrow. I am happy to help arrange trips to nearby sights, shops, etc. and can drive you when I am available. We can also sometimes arrange a day trip to Boston so that you can experience the city.

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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

  We have a high speed internet connection. Your private room has a desk and there are also shared work areas in the living room, dining room, and outdoor picnic area (although the wifi doesn't always cooperate outside) Plenty of coffee & tea to share!

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We can sometimes accept a well-behaved pet, especially for shorter stays.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum of 20 hours/week. Very flexible

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