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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
29 Mar 2024
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Details
Description
UPDATE JULY 2023:
Hello!
I am currently in the beginning phase of developing my beautiful piece of land located in Boothbay, Maine, which is the back part of my family's farmland. Last summer we hosted workawayers at the farm and had help with farm maintenance and rebuilding of my grandmother's house which had recently burned down, as you'll read in the comments.
I have done several Workaways myself in Portugal, Panama, Chile, Argentina & Hawaii, and have gotten so much from those experiences and my time on the road, and I would love the opportunity to continue to host fellow travelers, introduce them to the beautiful part of the world I was fortunate to grow up in, and share this special piece of land.
So far this summer, the road (previously an ATV trail) has been developed for seasonal use and is fine for most 2WD vehicles. There is a shared camper with a compost toilet, kitchenette, and sofa. The outdoor kitchen/ hangout area should be going up by the end of July!
THE GOAL: I've been dreaming of creating an off-grid homestead someday for almost a decade, but life has taken me on many different wild adventures since then! I'm finally out of the dreaming phase and things are coming to fruition with the development of the back 40-acre lot (part of my family's 70 acres) to serve as a sustainable & modest off-grid home base.
I envision a Cobb-style house or tiny home with a few seasonal housing structures for helpers and short-term rentals, i.e. yurts, platform tents, etc. My goal is to use recycled/ repurposed materials as much as possible. I will be installing a solar system, a well, and potentially a bio-gas system. There will also be a permaculture garden for seasonal fruits and veggies. Those are the main goals, but some ideas down the road would also be being able to use the space to host small events, workshops, etc.
I naturally love to host and share my ideas and skills, am an out-of-the-box thinker, and thrive working with people with the same energy!
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Please include:
-If you have a vehicle (definitely preferable for this season as I'm getting settled and can't promise frequent transportation)
-What you are skilled in- Right now we are primarily interested in help with construction, DIY Projects, van build, and farm renovations.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Knowledge about the area, gardening, DIY projects, van conversion... my life's been a pretty wild adventure so far and I'm always happy to share whatever bits of knowledge or skills I've picked up along the way.
I have (so far!) traveled to 13 countries and 22 US states and will never turn down an opportunity to talk about traveling- and would be more than happy to swap travel tips and stories around the campfire!
I was also a whitewater rafting guide in western Maine with many friends still in that area...I would love to coordinate a trip this summer for anyone I'm hosting at that time!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.
Help
Help Needed: DIY Projects, off-grid setup, gardening, & construction work.
Very flexible in hours and work depending on what you’re skilled in and what you’re looking for.
Personally, I've done several workaways, some great, some not so great... so I always try my best to accommodate people and provide a welcoming and positive experience. Before hosting I'd most likely want to do a brief Skype call to go over expectations, hours, accommodations, etc. to make sure it's mutually beneficial.
A minimal amount of hours would be required to cover accommodations & food with the opportunity for paid work depending on your length of stay and your skillsets.
My grandmother's house burned down last year and we were in the process of rebuilding when she passed... so we decided to continue the build and will need lots of help this summer with things like painting, trim work, and decorating. (1/2 mile away).
The farm is non-operational at the moment but there's still a lot of maintenance that needs to get done like lawn mowing, weed whacking, and bush hogging, so those are all options, as well.
I also have some upgrades I'd like to make to the van this summer that I could use help in.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Platform tents w/ twin beds or cots & solar lights.
I have a camper that will be used as a common area indoor space with a kitchen, dinette, sofa, and bathroom with a compost toilet.
There will be a covered outdoor kitchen, rainwater collection system, outdoor shower (w/ hot water), campfire pit (w/ enough wood on the property for nightly campfires!), and vegetable garden.
Between my generator and van's solar setup, I can power a small shared fridge, electronic devices, and a mobile hotspot for shared (limited) wifi. I'm hoping to install a separate solar system this summer if I can get help with that.
FOOD: Some basic pantry items will be included as well as produce from the garden, and occasional meals. From the workaways I've done in the past, I've loved being able to coordinate group meals and taking turns cooking from time to time.
My family's farmhouse is just down the road and available for occasional use for laundry, showering, movie nights, etc.
I recently purchased a side-by-side four-wheeler that can be used to explore the 70-acre property that will be also used for projects. There are a ton of little trails on the property, one that runs along the creek with beautiful water views and is great for peaceful wildlife viewing.
What else ...
We live on a beautiful peninsula that is vibrant in the summertime with lots of activities and places to explore. We are about a 10-minute drive to downtown Boothbay Harbor and can offer rides to and from town from time to time. We have bikes available and are a 10-minute bike ride from a lake that's a great swimming spot. We also have a kayak available for use. The closest ocean access point is a 5-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is less than a mile away and a great half-day activity. There are 15 land trust preserves on our peninsula, many of which run along the rocky coastline. The closest one to our property is about 2 miles away. Once in town, there is a free trolly that operates every day of the summer and can take you around the harbor. There are many fantastic restaurants and small gift shops in town to explore. There are a few bars on the pier with live music just about every weekend during the summer. Ubers/Lyfts are not available here. There are taxis that cost about $10 to get from town to our property if we are not available. The grocery store is a 10-minute drive, and there is a weekly farmer's market a mile and a half away.
We also have a ton of extra camping equipment that you can borrow if you'd like to plan a trip for your days off.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is reception on the property (2 bars for Verizon & Spectrum) and I do have a mobile hotspot that will stay onsite, although it is limited. I have a few secluded sites if you want privacy, or you can park near the common areas which would have the mobile hotspot, outdoor kitchen, shared camper with the compost toilet, etc.
Space for parking camper vans
I have plenty of space and privacy to host workawayers with campervans!
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Flexible depending on experience/ accommodations (Max 40 hours/week)
Feedback (1)
There were plenty of things to do and learn around the farm, from sanding and painting the barn, to using the tractor to bush hog the fields. I also spent a substantial amount of time working up the street to help… read more
They were always willing to lend a hand and help with whatever work was needed, from mechanical work, painting, sanding, constructing an outdoor shower, van build-out projects, and household chores.
They were easygoing despite the many… read more
Feedback
There were plenty of things to do and learn around the farm, from sanding and painting the barn, to using the tractor to bush hog the fields. I also spent a substantial amount of time working up the street to help… read more
They were always willing to lend a hand and help with whatever work was needed, from mechanical work, painting, sanding, constructing an outdoor shower, van build-out projects, and household chores.
They were easygoing despite the many… read more
