Join us and help out with micro-farming and pet care in Leverett, MA, USA

Detalles

• 

  Descripción

  We recently moved to Leverett where we are micro-farming composting worms, microgreens, and mushrooms.
  
  We are both educators, open minded, and friendly. We like to host guests, hold communal dinners, explore hikes in the area, and play board games. We would welcome you to join in and you are welcome to have guests over as long as they are respectful of the house and inhabitants*. Our cat Gwen enjoys finding the sunny spot on the couch, running around the house like a maniac, and cuddles. Our rabbit Senator Bunny Sanders enjoys hopping around the house in search of fuzzy socks, getting treats, and being adorable. Herman the axolotl likes eating worms and smiling. We have 10 laying hens year round and raise meat turkeys in the summers.
  
  *We are fully vaccinated and are taking COVID safety precautions as recommended
  
  The house is at the end of a dirt road in a rural area, with fields, forest, a fire pit, garden, and pond. Only a 15 minute drive to downtown Amherst with shops and restaurants. We have bikes to borrow to explore but the area is quite hilly.

• 

  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos

  Jardinería

  Proyectos de construcción y bricolaje

  Cuidado de animales

  Ayuda en una granja

  Cocinar para toda la familia

  Ayuda doméstica

  Mantenimiento general
• 

  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  This help exchange experience will give you the flexibility to explore the area and dive deep into local culture and nature, while getting hands on experience gardening, caring for animals, and micro-farming.
  
  We can also offer a few bonuses to hopefully add to your experience:
  
  -The hours/schedule are flexible to give you a chance to explore the area or work on personal projects
  
  -Access to the pottery studio with wheel and kiln and supplies. I can teach the basics! (with our move this is not yet fully set up, though hand building is always available)
  
  - Learn how to vermicompost (composting with worms to build soil biology)
  
  - Learn how to brew Kombucha, make sourdough, and ferment yogurt
  
  - Learn how to grow microgreens and mushrooms indoors, and you are always welcome to eat what you help grow!
  
  -A car will not be provided, but we can arrange to drive you places when we are available and/or can pick up any supplies you need. If you have a drivers license in the states you might have an opportunity to borrow the car if all works out.

• 

  Ayuda

  The help:
  - Daily greenhouse tasks: watering, seeding, transplanting, managing worm bins
  - Compost pick up and processing: we travel to local businesses to pick up compost, then use a modified wood chipper to grind it to create food for the vermicomposting worms.
  - Gardening: Help maintain the kitchen garden in season, plant berry bushes, trees, etc. We are open to any and all ideas! You are welcome to any of the food you help grow. We try to practice regenerative no-till methods with a permaculture influence
  - Help with the indoor micro-farming: microgreens, gourmet mushrooms, worm composting, blatticomposting
  - House chores: Help out with shared cleaning, tidying, lawn care, etc. tasks as needed
  - Pet Care: help with daily care for our cat, rabbit, axolotl, and chickens
  
  Upcoming Project Ideas:
  - Build compost bays and Johnson-Su bioreactors
  - prep garden for winter
  - Composting/vermicompost - building more continuous flow-through bins (CFTs)
  - Interior painting
  
  There is also an option to work with our friend Ben some days. Ben is a self-employed carpenter, composter, and all around handy man who has many skills to share. He is a wonderful teacher and always appreciates some extra help. A great chance for workawayers to build carpentry skills if that is what you are looking for!
  
  We are looking for someone that is comfortable with animals, independent, a good communicator, and reliable.
  
  You won't be asked to help more than 20 hours/week. Hours are very flexible. A mix of recurring daily tasks, independent tasks list, and group projects. We usually come up with a list of things that could get done and leave it to you to decide what you find interesting! Flexible time off.
  
  We both work during the week so there will be time that you are here alone, usually between 1-4:30 but some days longer. During this time alone we have a list of independent tasks you could work on, or you could take time to explore the area or work on your own projects.
  
  If this is the kind of thing you are looking for, send us a message with a bit about yourself and why you think you'd be a good fit!

• 

  Idiomas

  Idiomas hablados
  Inglés: Fluido

  Este anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
  Especially interested in practicing/relearning Spanish!
• 

  Alojamiento

  Private upstairs room in a house with a comfortable full size futon. Access to shared bathroom, kitchen, and common areas. Bedroom and bathroom are upstairs and kitchen is downstairs. Relax in the living room, borrow one of our many books, or watch TV/movies (we have Netflix). You will be able to use the WiFi and indoor Washer/Dryer.
  
  The bedroom is furnished with a comfortable full sized futon, desk, and mirror. We provide sheets, pillowcases, towels, and blankets. Extra shampoo/soap is also available - just ask!
  
  When not in guest use the room also doubles as a pottery studio and mushroom grow room. There may be times that we will ask to enter the room to check on mushrooms and get something from the room, but we always will check in with you first! You will have shared access to the bathroom, living spaces, spacious kitchen, and outdoor areas. We do not have A/C in the summer, just fans. Close to Amherst, Northampton, Springfield, and Worcester.
  
  The house is split in two units. My husband Cameron and I live on one side, with two lovely housemates and their dog on the other side. We expect workawayers to be respectful of our home and to be responsible for cleaning up after yourself.
  
  On shared work days we also share meals. We welcome workawayers to help prepare any meals, and we will purchase the ingredients requested! Food and breakfast ingredients will also be provided (flour, spices, oatmeal, cereal, rice, oil, milk, eggs, baking ingredients, etc.) with fresh eggs from the chickens for any meals not shared. We will ask you for any food/ingredient requests before you arrive!
  
  We eat meat but welcome vegetarians/vegans, especially if you can help us grow our repertoire of vegan dishes!
  
  You are welcome to use the kitchen at all times. You are also welcome to harvest any food from the garden or land. We also often have kombucha, microgreens, and mushrooms to share. Sometimes homemade yogurt and sourdough.
  
  There is parking so you are welcome to bring your own car. If you don't have a car we can arrange to drive you places when available and/or can pick up any supplies you need.

• 

  Algo más...

  We are close to many hiking trails and are happy to give recommendations. There are many farm stands nearby with excellent produce in season. We have bicycles you can borrow. I am happy to help arrange trips to nearby sights, shops, etc. and can drive you when I am available. We can also sometimes arrange a day trip to Boston so that you can experience the city.

• 

  Un poco más de información

  • 

    Acceso a Internet

  • 

    Acceso a Internet limitado

  • 

    Tenemos animales

  • 

    Somos fumadores

  • 

    Puede alojar familias

• 

  Puede acoger a nómadas digitales

  We have a high speed internet connection. Your private room has a desk and there are also shared work areas in the living room, dining room, and outdoor picnic area (although the wifi doesn't always cooperate outside) Plenty of coffee & tea to share!

• 

  Podría aceptar mascotas

  We can sometimes accept a well-behaved pet, especially for shorter stays.

• 

  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Dos

• 

  Horas esperadas

  Maximum of 20 hours/week. Very flexible

Comentarios (4)