Rachel

United States
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
My next destination:
United States - from Jan 2024 until Jun 2024
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Description
Hello, Workaway community!

After graduating with my master's (civil engineering) from the University of Washington in Seattle in December ('23), I've hit the road and have been on a workaway journey through the western US since Jan 1. So far I've had a wonderful experience and hope to continue this journey through the summer of 2024.

I've had a fair amount of experience in farming and building/construction over the past few years and I'm looking for opportunities to learn more skills in these areas, especially natural building.
- My background in farm work includes volunteering for one year at my school's community farm, where I helped with planting, harvesting, and the many tasks in between. I also worked for 6 weeks on farm in California where I took care of animal feedings and learned about agroecology.
- My experience with building is ongoing, as I am currently enrolled in a house building apprenticeship through May 2024. I'm comfortable with tools and have built a fair amount of furniture for myself in the last few years.

I'm very clean and tidy and considerate of others' space and boundaries. I can be counted on to be honest, respectful, conscientious, and caring, and I value those things in others.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to connecting with wonderful folks around the world!
Interests
Gardening
Farming
Animals
DIY & crafts
Carpentry
Architecture
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
More details about my language interests
Interested in improving my spanish
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Eco Projects
Languages
More details about your skills
- gardening/yardwork
- farm work (i've worked on both animal and veg farms)
- building projects- comfortable using power tools
- sewing
- pretty good eye for design/good taste

I'm a pretty quick learner!
Age
26
What else ...
I once roasted and carved a 20-lb turkey by myself (though it was consumed by many)
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  light allergies to pollens, cats
- Special dietary requirements

Feedback

12 Mar 2024

Left by host (Help us restore a historic ...) for Workawayer (Rachel)

Rachel slogged through the worst of our wet winter this year, and more than contributed her share at a time when I myself would like to have quit farming.
She has maturity and judgment not often found in people twice her age. Rachel is physically fit, mentally brilliant, a careful observer, asks good questions, and is totally reliable. She is… read more

(Excellent )

7 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Rachel) for host (Help us restore a historic ...)

What an unforgettable stay this was with Roy and Siena at the Farm. This has been an unreplicable experience in many ways. I highly recommend this stay to anyone who's curious about the world, interested in agroecology, or looking for genuine human connection. Roy is a one-in-a-million human with interesting experiences and stories, and quite a… read more

(Excellent )

19 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Rachel) for host (Come and learn about a ...)

What a wonderful experience it was to stay with Kait and Hawk and sweet Osi. From the beginning of my two-week stay, I felt like part of the community, which included several of Kait and Hawk's friends who came up to visit. It was a full house at times, with lots of laughter, music, good food, child care/entertainment, and generally living closely… read more in community. Amidst this, I felt like my personal space and privacy were respected during the time I was there. Whether folks are visiting or not, this is a great place to focus on spiritual connection or work on personal growth in some way, as this is something I think Kait and Hawk value.

The highlight of my stay was getting to spend time with Kait and Hawk, who are wonderful people to be in community with. Hawk taught me a fair amount about forest ecology and when to fell trees (watch the moon), and it always felt like he valued my assistance on projects. Kait's warmth and sweetness are something I'll miss about my stay; she genuinely cared how things were going for me and checked in here and there. I am going to miss their company.

Some days were help days, where I would assist with projects on the land or around the house, and some days were laid-back days, good for reading or writing by the fire, helping on personal projects, or perhaps exploring the land. Overall the daily agenda was fluid and sometimes nonexistent if there was inclement weather. Help with cooking and dishes was something us visitors took on most days.

Do note what's written in the overview about the remote location... Amenities are a 45-minute drive away on winding, hilly roads. In the winter there can be dangerous conditions for non-4WD vehicles, but that can vary day by day. Also, the house is heated by a wood-burning stove in the winter, and no ac in the summer, so living here is a bit on the rugged side. That being said, I always felt that Kait and Hawk cared about my comfort and provided plenty of blankets, etc. The house uses solar for electricity, so on cloudy days, everyone tries to be mindful of electricity usage. In the winter, it's best to have muck boots/rubber boots as it gets quite muddy. The wifi was strong for the most part, save for a few moments where the signal would waver a bit, including when there was weather. For an important call, I was able to use a room close to the router and had no issues with the connection. This may or may not always be an option for visitors.

Overall, I would highly recommend this stay to anyone looking for community or meaningful connection with other humans and with nature, or looking to find spiritual grounding. For those looking for rigorous work or a set schedule, this may not be the best place, at least based on my experience here in the winter.

I've found new dear friends in Kait and Hawk, and I hope to visit again some day.

(Excellent )

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