Love cats and hang with donkeys in rural Tennessee, USA

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  fall winter 2024 / 2025
  
  HI, I'm Val! I'm back on workaway after a long hiatus. I've really enjoyed hosting work-awayers in the past few years. My dream of building a unique community where people cross my path is coming to fruition in this sharing economy. It's nice to have company, so I invite you to join me if only briefly to my small oasis in rural Tennessee. I am on my own here and it's important to me to open up my home/life to travelers who are interested in contributing to a collective dream. If it's relevant, know that I vote democratic and believe in policies that support the environment, people/health, animal welfare, etc. I'm very concerned about the upcoming election, but I'm rooted where I am so I'm trying to make my life as sustainable on the land as possible.
  
  During the pandemic, I became certified as a Forest Therapy guide and am eager to learn from others who have herbal or gardening skills. I'm here because I decided to walk away from a career as a college professor and forge what I call the unpaved path. It's a much slower process that I could have imagined. I could use some extra hands in the coming months. I have total of 17 acres bordering a lazy river and have donkeys (standards and minis), chickens (hens and roosters), cats that help with rodents or to sit on laps, peacocks, and two big friendly outside only dogs. It's more work than I imagined, but I've got grit and tenacity.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Projetos artísticos

  Ajuda em projetos ambientais

  Jardinagem

  Construção/faça você mesmo

  Cuidar de animais

  Ajuda em fazenda

  Manutenção geral
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  This part of Tennessee is really lovely so you may have time to explore my property or the surrounding region. I have 5 acre plat where my donkeys live, the garden, three total houses spread out, along with chickens and some studio spaces. I have another primitive untamed, barely tamed 12 acres across the street with frontage on the Buffalo River.
  
  It's probably best if you have your own transportation if you want to get off the property, but I can arrange pick-up/drop-off in Nashville.
  
  A bit about the property and cultural exchange. I am new to this area - only been here full time since June 2019, but owned it since 2015. The town I spend more time in is called Hohenwald which is German meaning High Forest. I'm in Lewis County in the foothills of Appalachia and what's called the Western Highland Rim. It's truly a hidden gem of rolling hills with many trees. Timber and logging land is a large part of the immediate region.
  
  My property is on the Buffalo River. There are nature parks including the historic Natchez Trace Parkway nearby. Nashville is just under 2 hours and Memphis is 3 hrs. Columbia TN and Florence AL are about an hour. Lots of little towns and even thrifting/antiquing in this area. With planning and the right people I can offer transport to/from the Nashville airport.
  
  The coldest month is February. It's likely to snow a bit. The power may go out during extreme storms which means that the water will also be off (but I hoard buckets for this random issue). I have a fireplace that I try to use every day in the winter if I have enough wood.

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  Ajuda

  If you are interested in spending time in nature a few hours a day during your time in this lovely area of Tennessee, this might be a good opportunity. (more photos coming soon)
  
  Projects include:
  - chopping down dead bamboo in my bamboo grove, cutting off the branches with machete, and then transporting for several decorative fencing projects.
  - picking up fallen sticks and cutting fallen branches into smaller pieces for firewood. transporting firewood pieces, stacking, and possibly helping with a log splitter rental. May need to use a small handsaw or small electric chain saw.
  - raking leaves onto tarp and dragging to the vegetable garden
  - fall/winter garden maintenance.
  - when those projects are finished I would love help clearing or identifying some trails on my river property, creating a fire circle area, and possibly upcycling creative projects from making bird baths, using old glass bottles for garden borders, or even a treehouse for the carpentry adventurous types.
  - there might be other maintenance projects that can go faster with two extra hands.
  
  Minimum of 1 week and typically two to three weeks maximum stay. Longer availability only based on timing and circumstances might require a video interview.
  
  I am DEFINITELY SEEKING A CAT LOVER because there are multiple cats in the house. You CANNOT BE IN THE SLIGHTEST ALLERGIC TO CATS, PLEASE DON'T ACCEPT THIS IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC AT ALL. They aren't allowed in your room so that is helpful. I have a routine for daily and weekly house cleaning. I'm constructing a catio this summer so they may spend more time out there than inside. There are also outside cats that sometimes come into the laundry room for naps or food.
  
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  Those with pet allergies or smokers won't be accepted. Limited or no alcohol preferred.
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  The closest town is 20 minutes drive so if you can't be without fast food, a daily starbucks, or more access to modern society this is not the place for you. I eat minimally and tend towards vegetarian, pescatarian, and rarely eat meat unless it's organic. I am gluten free, no wheat or corn, and minimally processed food. I prefer not to have bacon cooked in the house and bread is often also difficult for me to just mentally be around.
  
  I do not offer food for volunteers as I am currently in 'funemployed' / 'underemployed' and getting myself back on my feet slowly after leaving that FT career.
  
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  Something to consider:
  Fall and Winter are the primary months I host workawayers. You should be able to adjust to not having the heat in the house so high that it feels like a sauna. There are lots of blankets. Fire in the fireplace during the days. Thermostat kept in the low 60s and only use small space heaters where people are actually sitting so that energy is not wasted trying to heat an entire house.
  
  I'm still working on getting the house more energy efficient, so there still could be drafty windows and inefficient duct work. I have hosted workawayers who were not prepared for winter and created saunas in their room while also experiencing severe seasonal affective disorder. Once the time changes until the winter solstice, it gets dark around 430pm.
  
  I'm very interested in hosting travelers, digital nomads, people that like to read, people that like to cook, and have interesting life stories. I hope that people are good at taking directions and can do some things without a lot of oversight.

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  Idiomas

  Inglês: Fluente
  Espanhol: Intermediário
  Japonês: Iniciante

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  Acomodação

  YOU MUST NOT BE ALLERGIC TO CATS. You should be amenable to multiple cats in the household that are not allowed in the guest bedrooms.
  
  You will have the largest bedroom which is an ensuite with a queen bed, a desk, a sitting chair, general lighting, and creative decor. There is a small refrigerator and limited pantry space. Must be able to not leave food open over night, prefer not to have people eat in the bedroom and/or leave food open in the rooms (please deter the outside from coming inside).
  
  Shared living space includes a living room with fireplace, two couches, a sitting area, and one of my office workspaces. Smart TV may be installed before end of the year to watch movies. The kitchen includes an eat-in area with large table and an adjoining den studio type of space with 6 windows for natural light and view of the surrounding forest (and chickens). I have a second workspace here at a standing table and an additional tall table for sitting, snack spot, and the cats water bowls.
  
  Due to lack of income at the moment of dealing with getting sidelined by a bunch of unexpected things, I can host, but cannot provide food. The nearest towns are 20-25 minutes drive in each direction so I don't go grocery shopping very often. A better grocery store is about 40 minute drive. Most people order groceries and I can pick them up. Or have things shipped to yourself.
  
  You can go for walks on the property and visit the river. Spend as much time with the donkeys as possible in socializing and grooming them.
  
  High speed broadband. Phone probably won't work except for text messages unless you have a wifi calling feature.
  
  There are two other houses on my property dedicated to short term rental including an artist and writer residency. Workawayers are not allowed to use the kitchens in those houses or spend significant amount of time in those especially because the climate control will be minimal while those rooms are unoccupied.

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  Algo mais...

  NO SMOKING including Vaping!! limited use of alcohol or none preferred. No drugs. No Fox TV :( (I currently don't have a TV and when I do get a new one it won't have cable).
  
  I'm in my 50s, but I have hosted some great workawayers of all ages. As a former college professor, I don't feel like I'm in my 50s except that my feet hurt all the time.

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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  I am able to host digital nomads. You may want to consider my remote worker pitstop program instead of this option. Those who are working full time remotely in the work exchange need to ensure a certain number of hours of contribution to the space. Let's talk and negotiate.

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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  I have an rv pad with electric and water hookup.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  1

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  Horas previstas

  15 per week

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