Couple Seeking Farm, Family, Ranch, Homestead, Ecovillage, etc. for Work/Live Trade + Stipend

We are a couple interested in permaculture homesteading one day, but for now we are looking
to increase our knoweledge and experience in related tasks.

Starting December 1st, 2012, we are specifically and especially seeking out:

Permaculture Design
Homesteading Skills
Natural Building
Perennial and Food Foresting
Medicinal Herb Cultivation
Livestock Husbandry
Market Gardening
Passive Solar Design
Self-Sufficiency

We are currently coming to the close of a full-season apprenticeship at Spoutwood Farm,
a certified Naturally Grown CSA farm and education center in southern Pennsylvania. While
at Spoutwood, we spend our time under a farm manager in the garden. We've done it all,
from seed to delivery. We started plants in the greenhouse, transplanted, weeded,
watered, maintained the field, harvested, washed, and packaged vegtables, herbs and
some flowers. We live onsite in a small cabin without running water, and also help out
whenever there are educational groups who come for tours or educational programs.

We believe working with animals is a crucial aspect of harmoniously living off the land, and
we are seeking a much deeper interaction with them in a farm setting. We also seek any
experience with marketing food to a local community, whether it be veggie, fruit, or animal.
We are both competent and hardworking indviduals capable of working alone, with a group
and taking leadership roles when necessary. We offer different experiences with our
previous jobs, which have helped shape our work ethic and desire to work, live, and
prosper sustainably. Our combined skills include:

Both of us are Certified Permaculture Designers
Woodwork and Carpentry
Extensive Animal Care
Un-certified Organic Farming
Native Landscaping
Photography
Filmmaking
Web Design


We are both commited to the environment and being part of a local food system, and
we're always encouraging others to do the same.

The thought of traveling out of state is not only comfortable but desirable for us. We are
ideally seeking locations in these states, but are always open to the idea of any others:
Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California (Northern), Wyoming, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire.

We will provide resumes once we start a conversation.
Hope this finds you well, and we hope to hear from you soon.

~Meghan and Quentin

Hello M & Q,

I have a basically non-active farm on 16 acres in the North Carolina highlands. I am very interested to talk to both of you about the design and execution of a complete make-over that leads to an ecologically, and financially self sustaining farm. I am in the final phase of renovating the existing 100 year old farm house, and am seriously ready to move into the goal setting and zone planning for the rest of the farm.

I'm ready to start as soon as I can find someone compatible with which to work. Given your combined skills it looks like our options and opportunities are wide open at this point, please let me know if you are interested in some brainstorming.
Kurt

check out my site here in central pa

http://directory.ic.org/22661/Central_Pa_Mountain_farm___for_Hip_open_minded_people

Do you have any interest in helping to start a farm?

how bout Australia>?

I am in the process of buying land in Tennessee near Greeneville TN with the intention of sustainable/organic vegetable farming and the growing of hazelnut trees. I am looking to partner with someone to ultimately live on the property and organize the farm. The current owner has been raising beef cattle and has extensive fencing and water systems for that purpose. I am not adverse to goats or sheep on part of the property and intend to have chickens in addition to the hazelnut trees and vegetables.

Hi M&Q,

Thanks for your post. I think we should talk. Here is what my wife and I are looking for, generally: https://permies.com/t/18359/community/young-married-couple-looking-start

Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,
Stu

M & Q

Who we are:
A middle-aged couple w/ one (not ours) early 20-something still at home. Healthy, happy, family oriented and committed to a peaceful life (peaceful is different than quiet). We have established a community of friends who enjoy joining us quite often for food, beer, wine, conversation...
He (Rick)= Semi-retired from construction trades, artist, builder of beautiful gardens, not a plant person, visionary, amazing cook, very handy guy...
She (Elizabeth)= Fulfilling work as an energy, agriculture and natural resources consultant, small business owner and employer of amazing people, loves to garden and preserve food, nurturing, exceptionally busy, amazing cook, local food fanatic...

What we have:
20 acres in the forest - deciduous/fir
Off-grid w/ solar
Spring gravity-fed water and additional undeveloped springs
Columbia Gorge area (OR)
Old garden area
Old orchard
Amazing opportunity for creating a space that sustains a more self-sufficient lifestyle
Large house w/ additional green building opportunities.
Lot's of house projects
Great existing wood shop and metal shop in development w/ potential living/guest quarters above shop

What we need/want:
A plant person(s) w/ some permaculture or organic farm experience (intern?)
Someone(s) looking to grow food and animals for personal consumption (with a potential to produce for sale)
We love to share meals, chores...
Someone(s) looking to establish a home
Someone(s) who can develop and maintain gardens, orchard and possible animal care
Someone(s) with energy to put towards developing the land in a respectful, caring, connected way
Your thoughts, ideas, energy to make this a sustainable endeavor

What we offer:
Room and board (at least initially)
Possible initial stipend
The $$ to make the initial improvements (garden, springs...) and to buy seed, trees, tools, and other necessities
Opportunity to pursue your business ideas that might utilize property, shop, surrounding area...
Possible opportunity to pursue business ideas collectively w/ our financial investment (small) and joint efforts
We have experience starting and operating successful, very diverse businesses
Supportive environment to try different "things"

When:
As soon as we find the right fit

You could be a couple, single, or?
Just need to have the energy for hard work.

Let's have a conversation!!

Elizabeth

Hi Megh,

How do you feel about Canada? Would you be interested in coming to a small starter farm? We have Maple Syrup, Small flock chickens and lots of organic gardening which includes new hugelkulture beds. We have a blacksmith shop onsite and are looking at building cob walls and a cob oven for a community kitchen this coming season.

Bob

I know it's a while since you posted, but I had to give this a try. My wife and I want to build a healthy life for ourselves. To that end, we bought some land. It's completely undeveloped, and it will be a while before we get there. If you're looking for a place to call home, I think it would be grand to have you there for free. We would get the benefit of good people on the land, and you would have more or less free reign in a good area (just north of Laurel, MT). From the sound of you, I wouldn't discount the idea of you living there even after we move there (it's 20 acres). Let me know if you're interested, or if I'm just being the fool.