Help with building a homestead for our family using sustainable practices in Vermont, USA

Infos

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  Description

  Homestead Build 2024
  This will be a very busy year of construction and homesteading!!
  
  - WATER: We have an intermittent water supply which currently requires a lot of regular maintenance and often freezes during the winter. We plan to dig out a new spring closer to the house, build a spring house, and re-plumb the house, and install some plumbing in the greenhouse.
  
  - HOUSE: We moved into our home before it was complete (back in 2019) and there are some sections which were hastily "thrown together" that now need to be done right. One 12'x12' section needs to be completely removed, framed, and re-installed. The north wall needs to have the 2nd floor rim joist installed and brought back into alignment. Additional cobbing inside and out are needed all over the house. Interior and exterior wood cladding needs to be installed on a few sections.
  
  - BARN: The barn is slowly coming along, but we need to finish the siding at the loft and a section on the east side. This will include hanging a few windows.
  
  - GARDEN, GREENHOUSE, & FOOD FOREST: Our greenhouse needs a new roof and we need to improve drainage around the structure. Additional fencing needs to be installed around the property increasing our garden spaces and orchard. If time allows we will build another barn/shed for housing our rabbits.
  
  - ROCKET MASS HEATER BUILD: We will be dismantling our J-tube and re-building it using newer techniques. We also will be completing the bench with some gorgeous Vermont Greenstone sourced on site. Shelves and niches will be carved into the cob as well.
  
  - OFF-GRID LIVING: Lots of daily chores including feeding goats, rabbits, & chickens, firewood, "normal" household chores like cooking & cleaning, etc.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Our family is constructing our home using natural building methods--timber framing, round wood framing, straw bale in-fill, cob, etc. Our off-grid homestead features sustainable living--solar power, passive solar home, greenhouse, food forest, hugelkulture, composting. Our lifestyle is sustainable by using locally-sourced building materials--trees, rocks, and clay from the build site, locally milled lumber, used windows and doors, used local slate for roofing. We encourage our volunteers to work with us in design and construction methods. We don't know everything, so we listen to the wealth of knowledge others have and implement solutions immediately.

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  Aide

  General homestead tasks plus construction projects and gardening. The profile above details more of what's happening this spring/summer/fall.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
  
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  Hébergement

  We have a guest room that sleeps 2. We also have a loft for an adventurous person. Bedding provided.
  
  We will provide meals. We have a privy as well as some composting toilets.
  
  We are still in THE PROCESS of building our home, so along with the ruggedness of our home it is also a construction zone.
  
  If this isn't your cup of tea, that's totally understandable. Check back in a few months to see where we're at.

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  Autres infos...

  We are in the heart of the Green Mountains with the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail only a few minutes away sporting Vermont's second highest Peak--Killington Peak. Our property is 31 acres of heavily forested hills with streams, boulders, and plenty of wildlife. Hiking and exploring are strongly recommended. Skiing, snowboarding & snowshoeing available. There is an abundance of streams, lakes, mountains, and hills nearby. Historic sites. Covered bridges. Farmers markets. Museums.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have both wired and wi-fi internet connections available. The guestroom is practically above the router so the connection is solid. The dining room table is rather large, near major light sources including huge windows, and also close to the router, so there's a really nice work space when it's not meal time.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have a couple different parking locations both quiet and near potable water. Some solar access. More solar access can be had with some tree trimming (we want to turn that area into a meadow anyway).

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  We have a lab mix and a Great Pyrenees mix who are both very friendly. They get along well with most dogs. We now have 2 cats as well.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week (usually around 20 hrs)

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