Luke

United States
Login to see last activity

Badges (5)

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Description
Hello, my name is Luke. I am from Colorado, USA.

As of writing this, I am in full swing on my third year of volunteer traveling. I've stayed with 5 hosts, 4 on this platform, and I'm volunteering again with a couple I stayed with previously. I'm looking for work until winter!🙂

Between the ones I've done so far, I've done renovation work, tending to animals (inside and outside), gardening, cooking for groups, serving in a cafe, and painting murals.

But my absolute favorite thing is fire. I love the process of getting up and starting it first thing in the morning, warming up together, then nurturing it and keeping it stocked throughout the day. There's something so profoundly lifelike in its simplistic fight against darkness.

Before I started doing this biannual work/travel lifestyle, I was in college for jazz saxophone, dropped out to apprentice as a machinist, then started building ebikes and started my pedicab business. I love my job now; turns out shuttling tourists around on a tricycle beats working in a dusty machine shop any day of the week.

My sole travel focus is the former Yugoslav states, which I will most likely continue to travel to exclusively for another year or two until I feel comfortable speaking the language. My Naški level is pre-intermediate (also known as B1 (also known as the Valley of Despair)).
Interests
Languages
Technology
Music
Hiking
Drawing & painting
Gardening
Cooking & food
Languages
Languages spoken
Croatian: Intermediate
More details about my language interests
Interested in Serbian/Croatian
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Some knowledge of:
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
More details about your skills
Basic electrical
Welding/brazing/soldering
Home appliance installation
Woodworking/frame installation
Masonry
Pouring concrete
Retaining walls and other earth works
Basic irrigation/plumbing
Blackberry overgrowth removal
Gardening
Chickens, goats, quail, rabbits

Server/busser
Line cook/prep cook/dishwasher
Tourism/transportation

Painting murals (see my work above)
Age
23
What else ...
I put milk in herbal tea just to piss off the English
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Website Safety

Feedback

17 Jul 2024

Left by host (New wave farming near Lake ...) for Workawayer ()

When Luke was with us the season was coming to an end, meaning less people, lower temperatures but no less work.
He showed us that given the right guidance he can take it really far. If you are well organised and comfortable with delegating work to others - Luke is the worker you want. He is determined to understand the tasks and has an eye for… read more

(Excellent )

22 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (New wave farming near Lake ...)

Juš and Kim's ambitious vision for their farm and brand was a breath of fresh air which far surpassed my expectations.

To understand what made this exchange unique among the three I've done this year, you need some context for exactly what Kim and Juš are attempting to do. They are not just making a sustainable eco project; they are determined… read more organizers, wizards of adapting lesser-known, forgotten crafts to a new world.

Some of it seems obvious, like keeping egg-laying chickens for years until they die instead of slaughtering and replacing them every year, or harvesting their own seeds from their own crops instead of buying them every year.

Some of it is more inventive, like making ghee or composting with soldier fly larvae.

But all of it come with significant governmental backlash. Juš told me it takes years of emailing the right person in government, showing them a clause that says what they're doing SHOULD be possible, giving them proof that it IS possible, and eventually whittling down their patience until they get tired of saying no.

It's so funny to me, and I think few sectors of the economy come close to how painfully obvious it is as in farming, that a top-down distribution system is sometimes unhelpful, and at times woefully inadequate. The Ministry of Agriculture can say as many times as they want that what Juš and Kim are doing is not possible, or tell them they're squandering land or tax resources, or posing a danger to public health, because they're sidestepping much of the big business beaureacracy that the government overwhelmingly favors, but in the face of such bountiful results, they're forced to capitulate and reconsider.

Their determination is something I can't help but admire.

And it's not just for their farm. The work they're doing is paving the way for others to do the same; across Slovenia, Europe and the rest of the world. They're an active part of the small community of regenerative farmers in Slovenia, providing guidance to others not as far along in the process, and they represent the regenerative agricultural movement in international conferences.

They have years or decades of work cut out for them, even with a dozen helpers every summer.

I stayed a month through the beginning of winter, and I was the last volunteer of the year. Even though they typically don't have volunteers through December, they offered to have me stay longer, but it was apparent they were not equipped to have guests during the bitter winter cold given the messy state of renovations, so I left shortly after my initial intended date. We have tentatively planned my return at the beginning of the season.

While I was there, I sowed some seeds, raked some dirt, fed the chickens, made the fire, and that's pretty much it. I never worked more than 20 hours a week.

Their expectations were relaxed enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed, and they were present for communication enough that I felt respected.

(Excellent )

10 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us beginning our journey ...)

Luka and Alyson were incredible hosts.

Luka's a great cook, Alyson and I had a lot to talk about coming from the same country, their cats are friendly, the workload was light and easy, the village has plenty of beautiful hiking trails and lookout points, there's easy transit to the rest of the country, and there was a great balance between… read more

(Excellent )

11 Mar 2024

Left by host (Join us beginning our journey ...) for Workawayer ()

Luke was an excellent volunteer. He was very hardworking and had a great attitude towards our project. He was open to learning new things, and asked a lot of good questions. He was an active participant at all times, and maintained a positive and upbeat attitude when times were frustrating or uncomfortable. We laughed and sang a lot while working,… read more

(Excellent )

30 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with rural village ...)

Tony is an incredible host and I hope to stay with him again. I stayed with him for close to three weeks.

He is understanding and relaxed. I am thankful for the many days he allowed me to spend doing nothing but sketching, and his support for my artwork. He is attentive to people's needs and strengths.

Tony has afforded my soul not only the… read more

(Excellent )

View all

Photos

Friends

Feedback

17 Jul 2024

Left by host (New wave farming near Lake ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

22 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (New wave farming near Lake ...)

(Excellent)

10 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us beginning our journey ...)

(Excellent)

11 Mar 2024

Left by host (Join us beginning our journey ...) for Workawayer ()

(Excellent)

30 Oct 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with rural village ...)

(Excellent)

14 Apr 2023

Left by host for Workawayer ()

This was the most beautiful transformation from a lazy city guy to a real man and worker. :)
I want to push young generations of guys towards adulthood and manhood. It is always a hard process for them, more or less.
Luke is one very talkative and philosophical introvert, and likes to take it easy and casual.
If you give him the right instructions… read more

(Excellent)

14 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help around our family home ...)

Finally getting around to leaving a review. I know people gain a lot of insight, quite understandably, about where they're spending a significant portion of their year in terms of time and money, so it's time to cast my insight for the convenience of others.

Hi I'm Luke. I really appreciated my time with Davorin and Marina. I'm glad all the… read more

(Excellent)

To leave feedback make sure you are logged in & your account is online

Find your perfect host

$A person is walking a horse, with the horse\'s head down, in a field with green grass and a fence in the background. The horse is brown and white.$

New Zealand

(2)

Be part of our family and help with some outside tasks in in Norwest Auckland, New Zealand

Switzerland

(2)

Come join our family in the swiss alps.

Indonesia

Help our students learn English and learn about Javanese culture at a school in Java, Indonesia

$The image depicts a serene grassy field with rocks and a small waterfall, featuring a wire fence in the foreground and a sign reading \"Mandara\" in the distance.$