will trade 'room' and board, weaving/woodworking instruction *UPDATE*

We are looking for help on our land...in the gardens, and other homestead related, permaculture oriented projects.
We have plenty of room for folks to camp or pull in a small trailer. Individuals or a family would be welcome (pets not so much).
Hours and type of work would be flexible and fair.
We could provide most meals (depending on diet), municiple water (to haul, not hook up), kitchen use, washing machine and clothesline use, showers, sawdust toilet, an indoor sleeping room for bad weather, but no money.
There would also be the possibility of trading additional work for craft instruction...my husband in spoon and bowl carving and bucket coopering (with hand tools) and myself two to four harness floor loom weaving, frame loom twined rugs and natural dyes. We each have more than thirty years experience in homestead/pioneer crafts.
We are also leaving open the possibility of a part trade/part cash option for a few acres of our forty.
This is really flexible at the moment...we are looking at March at the earliest...but maybe a visit over the winter would be a good idea.

Hi Judith,

I read your post and it sounds like a great opportunity, I have recently completed a farm in south carolina I was involved in gardening and taking care of all natural, cage free and free range chickens. I would love to know more about our land and what your homestead/ farm includes.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Ally

hi, Ally...I'll write a detailed post in the morning...I've got to be somewhere now. Thanks for posting.

Alexandra Budz wrote:Hi Judith,

I read your post and it sounds like a great opportunity, I have recently completed a farm in south carolina I was involved in gardening and taking care of all natural, cage free and free range chickens. I would love to know more about our land and what your homestead/ farm includes.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Ally

I have a feeling if you could wade through all of my posts on this site you would have our life story in bits and pieces. We have been growing organically and working as craftspeople for most of forty years along with raising two sons and caring for my mother. Twelve years ago we moved to this hardwood forested forty acres at the end of two miles of gravel road. It is the place we should have had in our twenties...our minds are still in homesteading mode but our bodies can't keep up anymore. We are growing all of our vegetables and most of our fruits along with herbs both domestic and wild. We need help with regular garden work...including planting, mulching, some weeding, mowing, digging, rock removing, etc. I save most of our seed and grow all of our plant starts. There is maybe two acres of more open area around the house that has the deer proof garden , a kitchen garden and various fruit trees and brambles. We grow shiitakes and will be pluggin more logs early March. I am burying spent shiitake logs at the edge of a garden area...slowly.
Larger projects have to do with developing water sources...an old house site here has an old hand dug cistern and well that we have wanted to do some repair on and there is a ninety foot drilled well in the yard that needs work.
We cut shiitake logs, spoon wood, trees for bent wood pitchforks, hickory bark for chair seats and our firewood from these woods. Some years there are chanterelles, and always an abundance of useful herbs, fruits and nuts surrounding us...there would be some work in wild harvesting and preserving.
We don't have livestock anymore...just local wildlife wandering through, a bee hive and a dog and cat..
A lot of the work would be with plants...starting from seed, divisions, cuttings, etc. Other work might include cement and stone work, digging, cutting brush, raking and hauling leaves.
Our home is a 'make the best of it' situation..Someone began their dream home in the eighties and finished with cheap materials when they divorced...we repair what we can but we have never been able to afford to pay anyone to do work for us so it is what it is...
My weaving/workroom is upstairs in our home and the only room with airconditioning...My cave for summer afternoons and a comfortable space for classes.

In this area there are two small craft schools with a broad assortment ot traditional and contempory craft classes offered and also practicing craftsmen and women scattered through the hills county wide.

We are still looking!

try searching on survivalist singles .com, there are plenty of people there not looking for a mate, just like minded people.

we are in S.E. ok, and are going through some of the same issues, minus the house issues.

Best wishes and hang in there! We always seem to get what we need, just not on our own time schedule!

Randy Gibson wrote:try searching on survivalist singles .com, there are plenty of people there not looking for a mate, just like minded people.

we are in S.E. ok, and are going through some of the same issues, minus the house issues.

Best wishes and hang in there! We always seem to get what we need, just not on our own time schedule!

Thanks, Randy. I think we'll stick to permies for now, we're really not in a hurry, just offering what would have helped our own selves out in our twenties. This area of the Ozarks has a lot to offer if someone is interested in homesteading and learning a craft...and there are some wonderful musicians, floatable rivers, caves.

Hi, Im a student at the University of South Carolina right now, so there is no way I could make it up before mid may, but I would love to spend a summer helping y'all out. Im highly interesting in your weaving, its something I've wanted to try for several months. However, Ill have to come back to SC in mid August to finish my schooling. If having help for just the summer interests you, please PM me on here.

Hi, David, Good to hear from you. Our time and projects are very flexible so mid may onward could work out fine. I could teach you beginning/intermediate weaving on a floor loom and/or building a simple frame loom for rugs. Think about what you would like to learn and what your expectations would be. I'll PM soon.

Hello Judith,I am from India and I would also like to join you from April till mid June.Would It be possible for you to consider me.I am currently studying in IIM Lucknow(INDIA).

Shilpa Gaur wrote:Hello Judith,I am from India and I would also like to join you from April till mid June.Would It be possible for you to consider me.I am currently studying in IIM Lucknow(INDIA).

Hello, Shilpa and welcome to Permies.com! Thank you for your interest in our situation.. We are open to more helpers over the summer. Please post back with what your interests and expectations would be and with any questions.

Thanks Judith for prompt response. I have worked as a marketing executive in Jaipur(India) before going for Post Graduate program in Agribusiness Management. As part of my curriculum it is mandatory to go for 8-10 weeks of Internship so I want to intern with people who are actually working at grass root level. I have no expectation for Money. I am 24 year old girl and have been staying in hostel or on my own since class 6th. I can cook, dish wash and other work as well (if I see the way of doing it). Being from Rajsthan (Dessert in India), I have accustomed to live in rough condition and I wont have any problem living out there.
The single REQUIREMENT which I have from you is "Certificate of Internship"(mandatory to submit in my School).
My Expectation from this program- I want to learn permaculture and embrace new culture and their way of living.
What I have- No professional experience in the field but the will and the enthusiasm to work harder and harder.
What I can contribute-My positive attitude and my Hands (along with mind and heart)
I do not have adjustment problem(related to stay, sharing rooms,work or any of that sort)
I don't drink and have no drug issues.
I am great with kids.
How will I finance my Internship- Part Fundraising, Part my own contribution.
What I want from you- Help in getting there in April.
If you have any other question,Please ask.
Have a nice Day.

Hi, Shilpa, Thank you for your detailed response. My husband and I are very small compared to some volunteer situations and we are not certified organic although we have been growing that way for years. Even though we have many permaculture projects in progress and planned we are not qualified to teach it...we are in the learning stages ourselves. I wonder if you should start a topic here for what you are looking for and widen your search? There are many on this forum who know of the type of opportunity you are looking for I think.
You sound like someone we would love to have here but I think we would not fill your needs.

If you are still looking, I am intrested. I am an aspiring farmer, and weaver from Warren Wilson College, NC!

Francesca Clifford wrote:If you are still looking, I am intrested. I am an aspiring farmer, and weaver from Warren Wilson College, NC!

Hi, Francesca, good to hear from you and your interests. I read your PM and will write back soon. I love hearing of those who either do or intend to combine growing food and a craft...it makes for a very fullfilling lifestyle.

David Mcgowan Hicks wrote:Hi, Im a student at the University of South Carolina right now, so there is no way I could make it up before mid may, but I would love to spend a summer helping y'all out. Im highly interesting in your weaving, its something I've wanted to try for several months. However, Ill have to come back to SC in mid August to finish my schooling. If having help for just the summer interests you, please PM me on here.

Hi again David...I sent you a PM.

Hello just saw your post and am very interested in helping you guys out. I'm out in California right now but if you guys would accept me, I'd be more than willing to make the trip and be honored to lend a hand:) I'm currently enrolled in school and won't be out till about late April/ early May. Would that be ok with you folks?

Betzcani Anda wrote:Hello just saw your post and am very interested in helping you guys out. I'm out in California right now but if you guys would accept me, I'd be more than willing to make the trip and be honored to lend a hand:) I'm currently enrolled in school and won't be out till about late April/ early May. Would that be ok with you folks?

Hi, Betzcani, We are at the 'talking' stage with a few folks so time frames are still flexible. We would like stays that are a minimum of two weeks and that those who come have their own transportation, hopefully health insurance and spending money. Post back here with any questions or send us a PM. and thanks for your response! Judith

Cool. Well I was looking around for possible means of transportation other than a car(I lack one) and found that I can greyhound it all the way towards Fayetteville from Los Angeles in about a day. How far is that from your place? Also about how much $ would you recommend?

Thanks

Betz

Scratch that, there is a bus that goes all the way out to Ozark so that would be much closer to you no?

I'm going to send you a PM with the closest town with bus service...I am pretty sure there is one fairly close where they would stop to let some one off of the bus...usually a grocery store but not a bus station! As far as spending money, you wouldn't necessarily need any...we can go over what we would provde in a PM also. Please read what I have posted again and let us know your expectations and feel free to ask any other questions.

Hey Their let me introduce myself my name is steven kious i'm new here on permies but I came across this post and was wondering if this opportunity still stood and how long term you was looking for?

Steven Kious wrote:Hey Their let me introduce myself my name is steven kious i'm new here on permies but I came across this post and was wondering if this opportunity still stood and how long term you was looking for?

Just got out today to get online at the library...we are rethinking a lot of things this winter and are probably making some changes in another direction from having volunteers here...trying to work with the "problem is the solution" permaculture style...so I guess the answer to your question is it depends on some things we are discussing but have not come to any conclusions. Sorry this is so vague...I have been meaning to update this topic. Thank you very much for the post.

Would you consider selling a piece of your land? A very small piece is all I need. I have a wife and daughter and looking for just enough for a garden and to live sustainably. Could also trade work or help you out in any way. I'm very open to working with what you want to do. I'm very serious and looking for something soon maybe spring or summer. I'm not looking for much just enough to get by and willing to buy a piece or work a piece off in trade. Thanks!

Steven Kious wrote:Would you consider selling a piece of your land? A very small piece is all I need. I have a wife and daughter and looking for just enough for a garden and to live sustainably. Could also trade work or help you out in any way. I'm very open to working with what you want to do. I'm very serious and looking for something soon maybe spring or summer. I'm not looking for much just enough to get by and willing to buy a piece or work a piece off in trade. Thanks!

Hi steven...A trade is what we have been offering for a six acre piece in the corner of our forty acres....but now we are leaning towards selling the whole thing and 'downsizing' to something these sixty three year old bodies can more reasonably handle. My time is up at the library but I will post something as soon as we make a come up with a final plan.

Just so I don't leave this hanging...We are planning to sell our forty acres and home over the next year maybe two, depending on finding the right buyer. We are hoping to find someone who loves the place like we do but younger and can really accomplish this areas full permaculture potential.

So, this whole thread is obsolete for our situation, although it may inspire some larger land owners to share a portion of their land in trade for some work.....I think it is important to help those eager for a start while they are young enough to do the work

here is a link to information about our land for sale for sale...forty acres in the Ozarks