Karla
& Steven

United States & United Kingdom
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Travel information
We are currently
Travelling
Activities we are interested in:
Animal rights, nature protection, veganics, permaculture, off-grid lifestyle, agroforestry, bikepacking, folklore, art, wildlife, rewilding, social + eco justice, outdoor adventure, mindfulness, joy
Description
Hello! We are Steven & Karla (from England and the US / Germany), a creative cycling duo on an epic journey to advocate for a peaceful existence for all life and learn about ecological ways of living. So far we’ve cycled 4,400+ miles in 12 countries since 2021 and we’re currently focusing on cycling to veganic farms and animal sanctuaries whilst filming for a documentary.

How we can help you:
We love to volunteer our time and skills, which range from artistic pursuits to manual outdoor (and indoor) labor. Although we are not experts when it comes to farm work and gardening, we are eager to learn and excited to start our own veganic farm in the near future. In addition to hands-on labor, we can help with creative pursuits such as photography, film, podcasts, making art, developing websites, media in general, blogs, writing, etc. We enjoy problem-solving and coming up with thoughtful ideas.

We’re also happy to cook vegan meals and take on odds and ends jobs that don’t fit a specific category but are important to do :-).

Our deep joy:
Everything related with the natural world, from observing birds and other wildlife to discovering the mysteries of fungi and all the marvels of Earth. We are passionate about rewilding and healing the human-nature connection. As bikepacking enthusiasts we feel grateful to explore the world by bicycle, sleeping in our tent and powering our devices with solar panels that sort of make us look like bumble bees when strapped on the bikes!

Professional backgrounds:
Both of us come from backgrounds as professional graphic designers working in teams (marketing and corporate training) within typical office environments, and we left these jobs to grow independent art pursuits as an illustrator (Karla) and photographer / filmmaker (Steven). Karla also holds a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies degree (Ohio University, 2012) and worked with non profits in coal mine reclamation and watershed restoration. Steven has also worked as an on-call firefighter in Essex, England.

Now we have our own studio called Pedals Turn and write from our blog Pedalsturn.com.

Opportunities we’re looking for:
We are developing our knowledge and skills with veganics, permaculture, animal sanctuary care and connection, gardening (no dig), soil health, agroforestry, regenerative and self-sufficient living. As animal and vegan advocates we also actively practice our listening and communication skills, knowing how important it is to relate with others and understand where people are coming from.

On the social front:
We enjoy socializing; music, dancing, conversation and sharing joy + laughter with others, especially around campfires, dinner tables or on walks & bikes. Appreciate good films, documentaries and TedTalks. We are enthusiastic and also quiet people, except when riding up and down big hills, then we have a few signature calls “For the Animals!” “For the guinea pigs!”

Important to mention is that we do not smoke, drink alcohol nor use drugs, and prefer not to be around these activities.
Interests
Books
Dancing
Yoga / Wellness
Writing
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Plant care
Politics / Social justice
Performing arts
Outdoor activities
Music
Photography
Nature
History
Hiking
LGBTQ
Gardening
Fitness
Farming
Drawing & painting

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Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Turkish: Beginner
More details about my language interests
Always curious to learn about the language in whichever country we visit.
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Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Some knowledge of:
Charity Work
Life at a Farmstay
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Able to teach about:
Art Projects
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Creative skills:
Photography, filmmaking, art (illustration & painting), graphic design, website design and development, writing, poetry, blogging, podcast creation (audio recording, sound editing), DIY arts and crafts, Steven plays drums, Karla plays piano and loves to read too (some experience as a Beta reader for a fantasy series).

Manual labor:
Can handle tough physical work such as digging, moving rocks, weeding, shoveling soil / manure, operating chainsaw (more Steven on machinery, although Karla has good experience with a wood chipper), picking veggies / fruits, and many other wide variety of endeavors that require resilience to the elements and physical exertion. We’re both fit and love many outdoor activities.

Technical skills:
Steven is good at technical problem-solving, (computers, cameras, devices, etc.) meanwhile Karla can cook up a yummy batch of vegan pancakes while the problem is being solved. Steven has a lot of patience for researching technical problems until he’s discovered the solution, and Karla has a lot of patience for cleaning (although Steven is great at this too). Steven has built both of our bicycles and is the brain behind our mobile off-grid system. Karla knows a lot about digital illustration and basic animation.

Social + mindfulness skills:
We believe strongly in self-development and mindfulness practices. We actively develop our listening / relational / communication skills and feel passionate about learning the psychological factors / historical traumas that shape behavior. We try our best to meet people where they are, to be open and practice non-judgement. Helping us on this journey are techniques of meditation, breath-work, yoga, dance and grounding with the natural world.

Misc. skills:
Cleaning, cooking vegan whole foods meals, making banana bread, bikepacking, camping.
Age
36 & 33
What else ...
We feel grateful for the opportunity to continue our growth on this beautiful journey of life! One day we can’t wait to host volunteers at our own veganic farm, so for now being a volunteer has helped us learn a lot. We are new to Workaway but have a lot of combined experiences between us.

We are excited to continue meeting people and other animals from all walks of life and share ideas and efforts to help make the world a peaceful and nature abundant place :-).
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No, not that we know of :-)
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegan

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28 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Karla & Steven) for host (Help out on our quaint rescue ...)

My partner and I volunteered for 4 months here from October - February this year. They were four incredibly beautiful, insightful, challenging and heart-warming winter months! We learned SO much about animal welfare and gained so many skills from the day-to-day care routines. There is no better place to become familiar with what it takes to… read more provide a good life for those who’ve had it very tough. We were able to help support the sweetest, sensitive and most amazing animals rescued from all kinds of conditions, most unbearably traumatic.

The work is certainly challenging at times, accurately described in the profile, so we knew to be ready for that. We came prepared with great gear - waterproof everything is a must - and otherwise the wonderful core team were always more than ready to help with any need. What I loved most was simply being with the animals, whether through the diverse work shift activities or off-hour interactions, when you can have one-on-one time and truly get to know everyone.

I fell in love with each unique being and miss them dearly, and my heart is overflowing with memories of all their personalities, funny moments and many, many cuddles. However, we also witnessed the hardships that come with life on a rescue farm, like illness and the first-hand awareness of just how terribly abused many animals are in the world today. Fortunately there are sanctuaries like this and we are so grateful for the endless care given by the staff and volunteers.

It’s inspiring to be with people who care this much, who work so thoughtfully to give all the medical care, attention and love needed. The core team also do their very best to make sure volunteers are comfortable too. Someone always seemed to notice if I was feeling just a bit low, and they went above and beyond to offer assistance. It’s definitely a compassionate place to be with welcoming people!

We recommend coming here with high energy and strong physical and mental fitness. It’s a fast-paced environment, given the dynamic nature of rescue farms where daily events are unpredictable. That said, the work shift hours are highly respected and there’s plenty of time to rest too and have social time with other volunteers.

One important note, coming from a more introverted person, communal living can feel tough if you’re used to a lot of alone time, but this is all a part of the learning. For us, helping the animals was always our priority and main focus: being with them so closely is an experience we’ll cherish forever as we move forward with our advocacy work.

All in all, you’ll become part of a much needed rescue farm, learn loads of skills from patient and supportive staff, meet the loveliest of people from all over the world, and did I mention enjoy the yummiest of meals with scrumptious treats? Just a tiny detail aside from the best part of all: being there, with and for the animals of course!

Thank you to everyone here; for being so loving and for all the incredible work you do.

(Excellent )

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