Eric

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I have an immense passion for putting my efforts towards projects and ideas that create good in this world.
I graduated university with a degree in environmental engineering, in large part because I did not have a clear direction as to my future goals and the direction I wanted to take my life. I always had a knack for problem solving and building, so engineering seemed like a path that would work well for me. Along my journey, I quickly found that many of the things I valued most did not necessarily fall in line with my education, and I was constantly seeking opportunities to expand my learning past the classroom.
After graduation, I knew I needed change in my life, and I was more determined than ever to begin to make choices based on what I valued most and making sure my choices were in line with my morals and ethics. I took part in a three month internship in permaculture and organic farming in Hawaii, and this blew open my world to the powerful effects of growing food, and establishing strong and connected local communities.
This opportunity made me realize that through growing food, I believe there is the most transformative power to change the direction our species goes in the coming decades. There is massive opportunity to move away from the capitalist model we have currently employed, and to reinvent and reestablish local communities based around sustainable living and creating resiliency in the face of a changing climate.

In the past few years, life has taken me away from the traveling space. I am now married, and am actively building a family with my wife.

Currently, my wife Andea and I live on a small farm practicing organic vegetable production and pastured poultry. We are helping out on the farm when we can, and also have our own garden plot. I am a full time operations manager for a local regenerative landscaping company, so my time is spent a lot away from the property during the week. I am extremely passionate about holistic systems on all scales, and immensely value the simple life we are creating for ourselves. We have a 1.5 year old boy named Theodore who is an absolute joy and light in our lives. We take him around to complete chores as much as possible (though he still can't quite help with tasks). Our goal is to create a family homestead, and ideally sharing in community that values Earth connection, healthy organic food, and gathering in faith.

My partner Andrea is also passionate about working with and being with the land. She especially enjoys harvesting food, foraging, and preserving, from canning to dehydrating, to just cooking and prepping lots of food! Additionally she has an intense love for animals, from wildlife to livestock and does well tending to them. She is also an artist and musician who loves watercolor painting, drawing, playing the violin, singing, and songwriting. Spending lots of time outside is also a must, whether it be reading, walking, or running. She also feels at home in a community setting and feels fulfilled connecting with others over food, music, and everyday tasks. We also have a dog named Pebbles; a 2 year old blue heeler mix, roughly 50 pounds. He is active and affectionate, good with other dogs and pets. He can be a little nervous but adapts to new environments quickly given the chance.

We are looking to relocate to the central VA area for the long term, and are excited to meet and connect with folks in that area passionate about similar ventures.

Cheers!

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner

More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Eco Projects

Languages

Art Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

DIY and building projects

General Maintenance

Life at a Farmstay

Animal Care

Charity Work

Teaching

Creating/ Cooking family meals

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

More details about your skills

I have experience in permaculture, organic farming, regenerative agriculture, carpentry and building, working with children, and many manual labor tasks involved with landscaping and gardening. I love to use my hands to creatively engage with the world in whatever work I do. I have experience with permaculture design and love thinking about and designing for larger visions and ideas.
I love to cook and share in meals with community, especially utilizing local, organic produce from the land.
I also study qigong, martial arts, and breath-work and am very interested in opportunities where I can share my passions and interests in these fields with a community.
I enjoy photography and writing, and would love to take photos of projects I am engaged in.

Age

28

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements