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Offrez Workaway en cadeau

Information du profil

Information de voyage
Actuellement, je suis
en voyage
Les activités qui m'intéressent :
Former Systems/Network Administrator with a background in Software & Content Creation, Photography/Videography, Building/Construction, Ecological/Environmental projects, Renovation/Remodeling.
Ma prochaine destination :
Montenegro
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Description
Hello Hosts and Volunteers!

Throughout my career there has been an abundance of time to expand my knowledge and experience. Years of dedication have provided me resources to travel comfortably, and volunteering became the naturally occurring succession. Recently, having the means to travel, I opted for early retirement after several decades on my career path. My interests now are to provide support to those seeking listed skills.

- DIY and residential construction, plumbing, electrical, renovation and remodeling
- organic gardening, permaculture and composting, and nutrient rich soil remediation
- photography, videography and drone operation (digital media: DSLR & drone included)
- leadership and mentoring, coordinating events and activities
- operating farm equipment, loaders, backhoes, chainsaws, tractors
- concrete and ceramic tiling
- entertainment sound systems
- general structure maintenance, vehicle maintenance
- Wilderness & Jungle Survival Training/Skills
- solar array design & implementation for off-grid living
- natural elements water remediation & purification with self-made activated charcoal
- animal rescue/rehoming (including honey bees, dogs, cats)
- volunteer coordinator, community advocacy
- meal preparation for small groups including vegetarian, vegan (raw inclusive), omnivore, paleo and keto
- singing bowls (sound healing), Usui Reiki level II, guided meditation
- computer systems, wireless/WWAN-LAN/WiFi networks
- First Aid, CPR and Water Safety III qualified
- hospitality
- linear and analytical creativity

Where I call home when I am not volunteering or traveling is a rural settings and farming community. My core values include: forethought, compassion, gratitude, stewardship, community, transparency, self awareness, productivity, sustainability and accountability. I have a passion for preparing healthy meals absent of processed foods and grains. When conversing, deep meaningful conversation is among my preferences.

I ask hosts not to be concerned with providing food, but showing me where the local farmers markets, fruits and vegetable markets (or foods available for harvest) , and fresh animal proteins markets are located. If a slow, wholesome meal is your preference, I am happy to take the lead role or a supportive role in providing a memorable and flavorful experience.

Immersing into a variety of environments and embracing cultures is one of the most interesting aspects about volunteering and traveling. I am open to participate in cultural events with hosts and the communities. I have proclivity toward supporting projects that focus on positive, long-term impact on the surrounding community.
Centres d’intérêt
Plage
Vidéographie
Technologie
Événements/vie sociale
Cuisine et alimentation
Dev. durable
Nature
Activités en plein air
Photographie
Soin des plantes
Montagne
Randonnée
Jardinage
Ferme
Bricolage / artisanat
Menuiserie
Camping
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Espagnol: Débutant
Compétences et connaissances que j'aimerais partager ou apprendre
Ça m'intéresse :
Langues
J'ai des connaissances :
Préparer les repas / cuisiner pour la famille
Éco-projets
Accueil / tourisme
Travail associatif
Enseignement
Projets artistiques
S’occuper des animaux
Garde de maison et d'animaux
Je peux apprendre aux autres :
Jardinage
Bricolage et projets de construction
Entretien général
Aider dans une ferme
Aide informatique / Internet
Quelles sont vos compétences ?
Computers/Internet/Networks
Gardening
General Maintenance
Construction
Electrical
Plumbing
Welding
Mentoring/Teaching
Photography/Videography
Project Management
Hospitality
Environment friendly practices
SCUBA
Cooking/Meal preparation
Housekeeping
Autres infos...
- function well in rural areas and city settings, independently and small groups.
- enjoy hiking and exploring, beach walks and being outdoors.
- eager to participate where my skills are most beneficial.
Informations complémentaires
- Fumeur
- Permis de conduire
- Allergies
  No alergies.
- Régime alimentaire spécial
  Healthy choices absent of artificial ingredients.

Sécurité du site

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27 janv. 2026

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Transform the education in my ...)

Portugal, an amazing place, and the people are just as amazing if not more. Supporting Margarida and her vision was the single most fulfilling experience throughout the visit. Margarida is a kind, gentle and caring person, and she puts all her energy into caring for the children and assuring the learning center facility provides everything… read more

(Excellent )

17 juin 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Hospitality, pets and ...)

Larry and his son, Oscar, have an incredible place near Monteverde. Larry is a talented and well connected musician and made sure to introduce a variety of his friends and community members. He has a very positive perspective. He made sure we had the tools and supplies for doing the work and suggested where to get the best food at the local… read more

(Excellent )

16 juin 2025

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer ()

We were very happy to have Edward stay with us at our casa, he has tons of skills and is very handy with tools. When he stayed with us his visual talent with the camera and drome came in handy, he helped us update our pics for the vacation rentals that we offer. Forsure we can recommend him to join other workaway programs that are in need of his… read more

(Excellent )

19 mai 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Help us with our project and ...)

Luis is a real chill person. We worked on several projects during morning hours, although it was quite hot during the visit. Nothing Luis requested was high stress. At times there wasn't a full schedule of tasks, and other times we worked on small projects. Coronado is a small town that offers the necessities for daily living. There are activities… read more

(Excellent )

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27 janv. 2026

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Transform the education in my ...)

(Excellent)

17 juin 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Hospitality, pets and ...)

(Excellent)

16 juin 2025

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer ()

(Excellent)

19 mai 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Help us with our project and ...)

(Excellent)

18 janv. 2025

Laissé par l'hôte (Learn about bioconstruction ...) pour le workawayer ()

When Edward arrived at our campo, he could easily integrate and was much fun to be with. We had always interesting discussions over our meals.

Although Edward is capable and skilled in a lot of different tasks, he mainly welded. He did this with a lot of commitment, sense of duty and joy.

In addition to other work, Edward has mainly carried… read more

(Excellent)

11 janv. 2025

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Learn about bioconstruction ...)

This was quite the experience! Both Lea & Ferdi are multi-lingual and learning two additional languages. The eco-construction is remarkable and the soil creation and biological awareness are impressive. Lea is a fantastic cook and there were many vegetarian options with home-made bread everyday. The garden is very productive, the fruit trees… read more

(Excellent)

19 avr. 2023

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Join our eco-sustainable camp ...)

Arrival in San Jose from the airport in Alajuela was quite simple. Thare are buses, Did I and taxis available. I arrived at the farm which is located in a beautiful remote location south of San Isidro near a town named San Pedro on road 327 toward San Rafael.

The farm is surrounded by fruit trees on and off the property. Bananas, coconuts, limes,… read more

(Excellent)

1 mars 2023

Laissé par l'hôte (Help run a retreat center in ...) pour le workawayer ()

Edward has been one of our most stalwart supporters and integral to the vision of our wilderness retreat center! He has a tremendous amount of knowledge, skills, work ethic, and generosity of spirit. He's also great in the kitchen! Let him go and you'll have a five course meal of fantastic proportions and a smorgasbord of tastes.
Edward has… read more

(Excellent)

27 févr. 2023

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Help run a retreat center in ...)

It is difficult to know where to start. I did two work exchanges with Ian and Chelsea at Wilderness Lodge near Molalla, Oregon. First of all, this place is absolutely incredible! Situated close to Portland, Oregon, in a very thick forest filled with fresh water springs and wild raised food, I cannot emphasize enough the connection to nature that… read more

(Excellent)

3 févr. 2023

Laissé par l'hôte (Help with eco projects close ...) pour le workawayer ()

It was very nice to have Edward with us, he soaked up a bit of what life is like here in southern Mexico. Mexico is so big that it is different to live in the center or in the north.
Undoubtedly a job in the jungle is hard, this can range from planting to moving stones and building.
Edward unfortunately or gracefully had to live the moment of… read more

(Neutre)

31 janv. 2023

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Help with eco projects close ...)

First of all, this is NOT negative feedback, it is neutral and informative. As a previous host and now volunteer, I must say this experience was extremely beneficial as a reminder of how dependent we have become on technology, me included. Without reliable water sources, self supplied food sources, electricity, reliable cell service, no Internet… read more and no standard household appliances such as a washing machine, stove or refrigerator life can be from challenging to extremely difficult. Adding to that comes defeat and frustration when living in a tent and sleeping on an air mattress. This was undisclosed prior to my accepting this work exchange, and had it been known, I still would have supported Luis even without the basic staple foods that are part of the requirement of being a WorkAway host (I was one for a long time). That is unnegotiable if I read the host agreement correctly. Additionally, the lack of medically trained personnel and reliable transportation to the nearest town made the experience more challenging. Although my medical emergency training is expired, in the event of an emergency it could have been valuable during my stay considering this is a remote location without safety protocols in place.

The message here is that this work exchange will definitely challenge 80% or more of the likely candidates. I was raised in the rocky mountains (USA) learning survival skills. This experience is for those who want to push their limits. This is ONLY for those who want to know what they are made of, those who want to know the true limits of their tolerances and abilities. Those who know how to conduct rain water harvesting in a jungle setting. Those who know how to identify and process native plants for food. This is for the HARD CORE ONLY!

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of hand washing clothes in a stone basin and remaining conscious and aware of every detail of the environment (surroundings) and other people's stability. This experience rates right up there with the days I was in the USMC (Marine Corps) and went through Jungle Warfare Training.

The night it rained and my tent leaked was the night I had my limit. The next day I awoke to my entire wardrobe being saturated. I hung everything out to dry, but it was the jungle where it is very humid and more rain was coming. I had to have dry clothes for the rest of my travels to other countries and could not risk having all my personal effects for the next 6 months destroyed from mold and mildew. That is when I packed my stuff and went to Merida to the lavanderia (laundromat). The following day I had terrible congestion and was concerned about bronchitis or pneumonia. I stayed in a hostel for the remaining few days of my visit and did not return to the campground.

The description of this opportunity has been modified since my experience and more closely reflects the details. However, reducing the hours to 16 per week when there is unreliable transportation to drive to the town and get basic staple foods does not in anyway offset the responsibility of the host to provide those requirements. And, yes, the host did provide two meals for the crew then made them pay for the food (reimburse him) because the organization didn't have any money. I do not recall reading that in the host agreement either. There are certain expectations set forth when a host joins WorkAway, and I don't recall receiving notice those are negotiable.

The point is, again, be prepared to be a jungle bad-a$$ and you will do alright at this place. If you are a city dweller with no remote survival skills, stay home and flick your remote and get some chips. :-)

(Neutre)

30 janv. 2023

Laissé par l'hôte (Opportunity to experience the ...) pour le workawayer ()

Thank you Edward, you helped me a lot with the electrical installation of my house, I would have liked you to spend more time with us.
Edward is one of those volunteers you wish would stay for a long time :) He is a guy with an arsenal of knowledge, down to earth and a big heart.
When you want to return to Termascalapa
You know that this is your… read more

(Excellent)

21 janv. 2023

Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte (Opportunity to experience the ...)

Temescalapa is situated north of Mexico City in a cactus forest surrounded by mountains. With several years of living in similar regions in New Mexico and Arizona, it was easy to adapt to the Temascalapa region. Prior to arrival the host, Rafael, had communicated very clearly via email and WhatsApp. He provides clear instructions on using the… read more public transportation system and other available options. I opted to use a Didi for my ride from the airport to Temascalapa. the 1 hour ride was $467 MXN Pesos, or approximately $25 USD, plus another $160 MXN Pesos for the roll road fees. I was very happy to pay the fees considering the express way eliminated about 30-45 minutes from the drive. Upon arrival Rafael met me at the drive way.

I am very happy to have made this one of my volunteer experiences. Rafael is a very humble man and is very respectful of others. He is patient and sees the value in everybody. Rafael and I spent many moments at the Ferretería (hardware) stores finding the proper supplies for each job. We worked primarily on electricity to various rooms in the house. This included light switches, outlets and assorted power necessities. The house is incredible! It has approximately 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, some of which are nearly finished and some that require paint or lighting. The ceramic tile work in the house is amazing, and it is throughout the entire house. Rafael's dad began this project several years ago using a DONKEY and a CART to transport water and supplies for the cement. This is a 2-story house (mansion) and it displays the love and compassion put into every moment.

There is no best part because all of it was beyond completely satisfactory. However, Rafael's mom and dad would visit for a couple days from time-to-time. When they were at the hostel his mom prepared and provided 3 meals a day, fresh, authentic, and the most delicious meals I have had in the several months I have been traveling. She (Isabela) made sopa (soup), pollo (chicken), carne de res (beef), AND made vegetarian food for those requesting specialty diets. I cannot express enough the gratitude for Isabela and Amilillo (dad).

Then there was Luna (Maria Jesus Luna), and absolute amazing woman. She goes by "Luna" because during her University studies in Medicine there were many "Maria's", so her professors called her "Luna" and it has been her name for a long time. Luna is absolutely incredible. She is a very beautiful human with a heart as big as the universe. She is a neighbor of Rafael's and absolutely loves and supports the volunteers. She works very hard everyday in the town and ALWAYS found time to come across town to Rafael's to visit with the volunteers. Luna would walk to the market with us and interpret for those who had limited Spanish (me) and arranged a special 'Temazcal' (Sweat Lodge) where we met the local Shaman (local meaning more than 60 kilometers away). The 'temazcal' was hosted at Dayan's (the name for medicine woman in Latin America) who, with her husband, built a compressed earth block house FULLY SUSTAINABLE. This is MUST SEE experience. Luna didn't ask for anything in return, although we made sure she had money for her family and always included her in the meals - ALL of them. She was always so grateful. She is made of PURE LOVE and it is very evident.

The local inhabitants were always helpful and very patient with us (foreigners) and would engage in conversation. We were treated like royalty, something that is very rare these days, by Rafael's family and the local inhabitants. The authenticity and genuine perspective of this culture is a very refreshing and healing environment on many levels. Remember this is in a desert environment with cacti and desert dwellers such as rodents and snakes (although I never observed any).

If you are seeking a compassionate environment away from the city, LED's, thumping stereos and experience a chill work load (there is boat loads of work, so always something to do), I highly recommend this as an option.

Maria Luna has a personal web page -ask them for the link - to support her "Travel Guide" abilities. I strongly suggest reaching out to her if you are fortunate enough to be selected for this work away. As a previous Work Exchange host for 4+ years, this opportunity will be one to remember for a very long time. In the up coming weeks You can read more about our experience and view additional photographs -ask them for the link

(Excellent)

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