Room & board & pay in Kentucky!

Howdy!

I'm normally only on in the winter, but this season has proved more busy than usual. So this is the first place I turned to find a helping hand. Our sustainable landscaping business has tripled in size, and our family has almost tripled in size (twins!). Which leaves little time for continuing our work on our land. Rather than wait a year for things to settle down I really want to bring someone in to be excited about the land while I'm tied up. The big push is setting up a nursery and prepping for orchard plantings but like any small holding there's a million others things to be done.

I went ahead and formalized things below just so I could respond individually to everybody looking for work and give the full picture without retyping everything...

This is the copy and paste part:

us:
two folks, Holly and Dave, with three babies. a three year old and two infant twins. We have land, we have space and we have gainful employment. what we don't have is time.
between twin babies and a sustainable landscaping business that just tripled in size our property is...getting mowed, and that's about it. which seems like a shame.

What we are offering:
room and board*
paid labor at a living wage**
engaging farm work***
a good time****

* initially you will be staying in the front room here :
https://www.facebook.com/valleyhillgeneralstore/photos_stream
yup, that's right a genuine 1887 general store. We are building dedicated intern housing but for now you'll have to suffice with 10 ft tall windows and walls covered with antiques.

we'll provide plenty of food, but as we have small children the caveat on the board part of room and board is that it'd be good if you could share in with the cooking.

** I have a sustainable landscaping business it's here:
https://www.facebook.com/victorygardensofkentucky
and here:
http://www.victorygardensofkentucky.com/

and it's a really good year to be be gainfully employed playing in the dirt. we can fit just about any skill set into the schedule so I can assure you one day a week but if it something you excel at we can find more hours.

*** We're on 12 or so acres, with a barn, creek and a slope bedecked with hugulkultur berms (these https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150859142691721&set=a.10150859130936721.395205.711371720&type=3&theater) . Our focus for the next year is prepping for a massive tree planting in the spring. orchard fruit on the hugulkultur slope and natives on the steeper slope and the creek banks. Additionally we are in the process of setting up a nursery to supply the landscaping business.

**** i really like our valley. for instance these are our nearest neighbors http://ourfarmky.wordpress.com/ . Albert who's house you can almost see from here is a professional potter who is always happy to have folks over and a further bike ride is a two other families on our road.
we're a potlucking sort. additionally if you'd like to try your hand at homebrewing, we have a fairly large set up. if you enjoy hiking there's 900 acres attached to our farm with the largest private lake in washington county included.we have canoes and it's a short drive to the salt river. if you'd like to go tubing cartwright creek is a fine waterway after a rain. We also have the lincoln branch which is best for regular creek dipping.

What we are looking for:
A few extra hands*
folks that are good with (or at least don't mind) small children**

* there is a tremendous amount of work to do and it is clearly defined ( I run crews for a living so you don't have to worry about being board sitting around waiting for me to make up my mind). While we would still like to meet you if you don't have a strong work ethic, you probably won't see much of us.

** cause we've got a lot of them.

Returning the Howdy! I checked out all of the links you posted(and contacted you via FB), and it paints a picture of awesomeness. Definitely something I could see myself participating in. I am wondering if you've found help? I say "see myself" as in it is all terribly interesting to me, you are the proverbial hop and skip away, and getting paid for fun sounds awesome. Realistically, I have a husband and three small kids and don't know how that would translate into a live-in internship situation. Do you see any possibility of hiring out any of the work needing done, without the 'room and board' aspect? Also, do you have openings for your landscaping crew? We currently rent on the edge of a lovely farm in Pulaski county north of Somerset, but my husband is currently looking for a better(meaning more fulfilling and interesting) work. Our lease is up in October and we've considered renewing, but the right opportunity would nudge us from our current rural paradise.

As far as our story... My husband works so that I can stay at home with the kiddos(8,5 and 2.5). We homeschool, child-led learning style. The kids participate in many facets of my work and hobbies... Gardening, lawn care, food prep and preservation, wild food harvesting(it's blackberry season!), nature hikes with a focus on identification of and wild-crafting native herbs. The rest of their time is spent pursuing their interests and learning their passions. It is a very casual, laid back relationship with the kids, and their involvement with most of what I do makes for good times. I've been studying permaculture, sustainable agriculture, native plants, green building and heirloom gardening for years.

I was raised on a small farm in the Missouri Ozarks that my family, collectively, still owns. We hope to one day build a small intentional community(permaculture philosophy based) there. I would really relish the chance to shadow a successful sustainable business, especially one intimately tied into many of the things I find most fascinating... I think whatever I pick up through osmosis would be very helpful in my quest to build a functional system at my own family land in the future. My husband grew up in Kentucky, and we came here after a stint on the Missouri land. We were following a job opportunity(so conventional and eventually proving unsatisfying) and chose to leave the farm. I was pregnant with our youngest then, and the farm was a handful more than we could manage at the time. In our time there my husband studied the use of traditional farming handtools, the scythe and ax, most prominently. While I am the gardener and plant enthusiast of our bunch, he has a strong working knowledge of these things that he picked up from our time there.

I can say that myself and my husband would be interested in any work opportunities that you have even though we may, as a family unit, not fit the exact slot of live-in help.

Anywho... I hope that this finds you having an awesome and productive summer, and best wishes for a successful search for help!

Howdy Dave,

I am ready to work in the dirt!

I don't have much experience, but I'm passionately willing & able to learn. I'm in great over all physical health, have my permaculture certificate and want to teach in the future... especially help others grow their own food. We will grow together!

I love kids & they most always take to me. And well, I am vegan~ so I'm great with salads, grains, fruit... healthy, simple dishes.

Thank you for providing the opportunity. I hope this can work for both of us & your family.

hugs! ~Dawn

Good morning! My husband, Matthew and I are very interested in helping you there in Kentucky! We are currently in North Central Florida, where we have lived for the past 3 years. We are renting on three acres right now, and have installed raised beds for herbs, permacultured garden beds full of trees, flowers and vegetables, with a focus on perennials to attract bees and butterflies. We've planted several fruit trees, and bushes.
We have a website with pictures, if you are interested: www.govardhanaorganics.com .
We came here to be part of a spiritual "community" with some promise of support. Since we have been here the support just hasn't been there. We are both crafters, and make a wide variety of herbal care products, jewelry, knitting, and herbal teas, and clothing. We sell at area farmers markets. This has been our main means of supporting ourselves. We also give consultation to those looking to grow on their land, and we help maintain gardens for those in need and friends! We are both in our 30's, non-smokers, non-drinkers, vegetarian and simple, hard -working people.
I grew up on a farm in Iowa, and have been organically growing my whole life. I am certified as a master gardener. My husband has done landscaping/gardening all over the country. Our dream is to take a piece of land and make it sustainable. To live a healthy, happy life and to meet and help others who are trying to do the same thing. We have lived in different communal settings, and have found it enjoyable. I have experience with children, though I have none of my own, but I love being with them. I could definitely help you out there. I also like cooking. We are also very clean! I clean for a few people here in our community, and they seem very pleased.
Our reasoning for reaching back to you is that we feel we have something to offer to the world and to others, it is our service. We are having a trying time doing it on our own here. We have the TIME....and we see that you have the projects! Maybe this would be a good fit! We look forward to talking with you more. Until then, take care and be well, Ellen

Hi, i am interested in the position you have posted, im using. My cell phone so cant write a long response. Please contact me if you have a position available. Im 47 yr. Old male and am a plumber, pipefittet, welder by trade. Ive been in construction my whole life. I require little other than room and board. My only blessing is that i am a hard and dedicated worker. Please call or text me. 209-872-2144 or email me. Mestresser.bh@gmail.com. God bless and thank you.

Hello family! Wow, the twins must be giving you a run for your money and enjoying their first Christmas! How wonderful! Did you find help for your farm? If not, I am currently employed full time in the maintenance department of our hometown community college. I am an active 29 year old trapped in a 50 year old body. I love gardening , creating art, combining the art and the gardening is a big favorite of mine as well. I hope you enjoy this holiday season. Feel free to contact me at illumination1098@gmail.com if you still need a helping hand.

Opps! this is the SECOND Christmas for the twins! Now I KNOW you are getting a run for your money!

hello my name is Lisa Lawrence and I sent you a private email.

I would love to talk with you about working at your farm. there's nothing I like better than getting my hands dirty.

Thanks, Lisa

(843) 619-9398

Hi All!

Things have finally slowed down enough that i can think about the coming season and with that start figuring out how we all fit together. In the next week I'll be contacting each of the 15 (!) folks who've contacted us just from this one post and figuring out whats the best fit for every one. A good friend of ours has just purchased a large farm down the road and are looking for hands as well. They're great folks big on goats but they tend to avoid the internet so I'll also be fielding inquiries for them too.

Also, it looks like we'll be housing a small (8-12 student) Montessori-ish school out of the front room of the store between February and May. So, even more kiddos about, but also a great opportunity as the two teachers are happy pass along skills.

Also Also, I bought a dump truck. So that's fun.


Talk to you all soon,
- Dave

I'd really like it if you'd contact me, please about your original posting.

you got it, pm sent.

Hello Dave!

Is this opportunity still available? We are passionate survivalists looking to relocate. My husband is a Kentucky native and an asset to any landscaping endeavor. We would love to talk to you more.. I know I'm a little late.. But I can't pass up the chance to speak with you about this.. It sounds wonderful!

Thank you for your time!

Lauren and Bobby

It would probably help if I gave you my email! Lauren.chastain@gmail.com

Hello,
I was also wondering if this opportunity is still available, for the summer. I am a current student at St. Catharine College studying in the Wendell Berry sustainable farming program. You can email me at winifred.cheuvront@sccky.edu
Thank you.

how you doing Dave my name is Jason Horton 30 years old I have a wife Jessica and i three year old daughter autumn and it sounds like you're doing and offering just what we would be seeking out we are praying it still available if it is please contact me back at your earliest possible convenience I have a lot of it versatile experience in a multitude of different things it would be an asset to any homestead farm or landscaping company I love working hard and I love being with my family I really hope to hear from you if you're still looking for some help
roscomerrywethr84@gmail.com
Thank you kindly and god bless.
Jason Horton and Family.

I am in Indiana, pretty wide open a bit unexpectedly this summer. Have a small market garden up here that a partner can manage, looking for more to do and learn, larger spaces to work, collaborations. Your project sounds great, I am wondering what the status of your work crew is currently. I'm energetic and versatile. I realize it is a busy season, but if you have need for another hand, let me know! Thank you- Michael Polera

Howdy!
My name is josh and I'm in my mid twenties!
I'm looking for an internship on a farm, and have basic gardening and irrigation system knowledge.
I am tired of the city, and I know working alongside animals and crops is where I need to devote my time and knowledge!

Look forward to hearing from you!

I have been studying architecture at community college for the past year at community college, and have wanted to become an architect since the age of eight, eleven years ago. I have just finished reading "The Art of Natural Building", and am beginning to read "The Hand Sculpted House", about cob cottages. I am looking for some land to practice creating a cob cottage on after finishing a cob workshop or apprenticeship. I could possibly leave the cottage to you to use as intern housing, rent out, etc, once I am done building it. Since you are working on creating intern housing anyways, it would be a good idea for the other workers to join in on the house as well, since it is not difficult to learn (one can start building without any experience). If this does not sound like something you are interested in, I am still highly interested in the permaculture lifestyle, which is why I joined this forum, so send me a message if the opportunity is still available.

I am 54 year young female who grew up in the country. I have vegetable gardens every year, enough to feed myself and neighbors wherever i am at. ( extreme green thumb) I am looking for a simpler life, and want to earn my way doing things I love. I like to cook, bake, garden,and tons of other things. I like hard physical work, it keeps me healthy and in good shape. I am good with children and animals. My family is grown, and I have no responsibilities, I travel light, and can move quickly. I would be very happy working on your farm. See my profile if you are interested, and email me. I can provide many good references if you wish. Thank you for taking time to read this.

Hi Dave, I sent you a PM.

I am very interested in doing this and I do actually have landscape experience. I have no ties here so the option to stay there works out great. Hopefully you still need a good strong back trustworthy incredibly reliable and willing to relocate easily. Contact me anytime:) bushcraftgoblin@gmail.com

Hello,

I came across this post and although it is old, it seems like people still are replying to it. This is definitely something I am interested in and would love to know if you still had anything like this available. I currently reside in Illinois but relocating is not an issue to me (I don't have much so I don't need much space). Feel free to contact me, hope to hear from you soon,

John

I am interested in a position at your farm. Please let me know if you have any openings for help for females. I am a hard worker. Thank you

Hi!
Please let me know if you are still looking for help
Im a very fun energetic person who loves everyone and everything. And im very interested in this. Im a very hard worker ive worked on a farm and have done landscaping for a few years now. I love learning new things. And am open to anything. Please contact me and let me know if you could still use someone like me. Thank you!
MelBurket97@outlook.com

Dave Zoller wrote:Howdy!

  I'm normally only on in the winter, but this season has proved more busy than usual. So this is the first place I turned to find a helping hand. Our sustainable landscaping business has tripled in size, and our family has almost tripled in size (twins!). Which leaves little time for continuing our work on our land. Rather than wait a year for things to settle down I really want to bring someone in to be excited about the land while I'm tied up. The big push is setting up a nursery and prepping for orchard plantings but like any small holding there's a million others things to be done.

 I went ahead and formalized things below just so I could respond individually to everybody looking for work and give the full picture without retyping everything...

This is the copy and paste part:

us:
two folks, Holly and Dave, with three babies. a three year old and two infant twins. We have land, we have space and we have gainful employment. what we don't have is time.
between twin babies and a sustainable landscaping business that just tripled in size our property is...getting mowed, and that's about it. which seems like a shame.

What we are offering:
room and board*
paid labor at a living wage**
engaging farm work***
a good time****

* initially you will be staying in the front room here :
https://www.facebook.com/valleyhillgeneralstore/photos_stream
yup, that's right a genuine 1887 general store. We are building dedicated intern housing but for now you'll have to suffice with 10 ft tall windows and walls covered with antiques.

we'll provide plenty of food, but as we have small children the caveat on the board part of room and board is that it'd be good if you could share in with the cooking.

** I have a sustainable landscaping business it's here:
https://www.facebook.com/victorygardensofkentucky
and here:
http://www.victorygardensofkentucky.com/

and it's a really good year to be be gainfully employed playing in the dirt. we can fit just about any skill set into the schedule so I can assure you one day a week but if it something you excel at we can find more hours.

*** We're on 12 or so acres, with a barn, creek and a slope bedecked with hugulkultur berms (these https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150859142691721&set=a.10150859130936721.395205.711371720&type=3&theater) . Our focus for the next year is prepping for a massive tree planting in the spring. orchard fruit on the hugulkultur slope and natives on the steeper slope and the creek banks. Additionally we are in the process of setting up a nursery to supply the landscaping business.

**** i really like our valley. for instance these are our nearest neighbors http://ourfarmky.wordpress.com/ . Albert who's house you can almost see from here is a professional potter who is always happy to have folks over and a further bike ride is a two other families on our road.
we're a potlucking sort. additionally if you'd like to try your hand at homebrewing,  we have a fairly large set up. if you enjoy hiking there's 900 acres attached to our farm with the largest private lake in washington county included.we have canoes and it's a short drive to the salt river. if you'd like to go tubing cartwright creek is a fine waterway after a rain. We also have the lincoln branch which is best for regular creek dipping.

What we are looking for:
A few extra hands*
folks that are good with (or at least don't mind) small children**

* there is a tremendous amount of work to do and it is clearly defined ( I run crews for a living so you don't have to worry about being board sitting around waiting for me to make up my mind). While we would still like to meet you if you don't have a strong work ethic, you probably won't see much of us.

** cause we've got a lot of them.

Hi my name is catrina buechele Im extremely interested in this position.Im a hard worker I will do anything scrape gum of benchs to cleaning toilets.I have kids so little children I love them.I would love this oppurtunity to embark on this give me this chance you wont regret your decision.I also have my fiance to.We both are willing to work very hard.Please give me this chance my number4234450194
Email me at brysonbuechele232@gmail.com
My facebook is catrina buechele please give chance
Thanks

The last it shows on the Facebook page is that store burned down. That's really unfortunate and I hope you all have recovered.