4S: Stephen's Snowbirding & Sustainability Sojourn - February 2025

Hello all!

TO SUM IT UP:
I'll be on the road, driving literally across the country, and I am wondering if you'd like a hand for a few days as I wander my way back to Wheaton Labs. Vital details and important information are below.

WHAT: a volunteer for 3 to 5 days
WHEN: February 2025, estimated dates below.
WHERE: see the maps below... The date listed on the map indicates when I will likely be in the shaded-purple area on that map.

WEEK 1: 2nd - 8th February 2025



WEEK 2: 9th - 15th February 2025



WEEK 3: 16th - 22nd February 2025
(please note, this week is already mostly-booked)



WEEK 4: 23rd February - 1st March 2025



A couple very important notes:
- No, I can't be everywhere. I am "snowbirding" and don't have an all-terrain vehicle. That's why I'm avoiding generally-cold and snow-covered areas on this trip.
- No, unfortunately I can't accept every invite. Please don't take it personally.
- That being said: first come, first served.
- The only thing I request in exchange is a place to sleep (out of the precipitation) and vegetarian food to eat. Coffee will also be of tremendous help.
- I'm not some permaculture guru. I can make no promises. However, I am very willing to put in some hard work to help you with your existing or soon-to-be-existing homestead and permaculture projects. Maybe my BEL thread can clue you in to some of the things I've accomplished and helped with over the past couple years at Wheaton Labs. Click here to have a look.
- "Three is the magic number." I think three days at your site is what I can manage, though if my schedule turns out to be light, then I may be able to stay longer.
- It's unlikely I will be able to bring many tools with me on this trip. Please have what you need for me to do some tasks for you already on-site.
- No, I have never done something like this before. It may be amazing, it may be terrible. Probably not either of those (gotta manage expectations, and all that). But at least you and I will know from the personal experience.
- This is not WWOOF or HelpX. I am not a Boot or the High Commander while at your place. This is a personal project. We will make our own rules and guidelines.

Please send me a PM if you think I can be of help to you when I'm in your area. Thanks for reading...!

This sounds like a really fun trip!
I hope you enjoy a warm winter month!

Weeks 3 and 4 are booked!

During Week 1, I will be in and around the Carolinas. There's still time to request a visit should things work out for your schedule. Please send me a PM if you're interested. Thanks!

For your time in the Carolinas you might look into the Living Soil Foundation in Mars Hill, NC. They have been making biochar to remediate the soils that were polluted after the hurricane.



EDIT: It turns out that he knows Uncle Mud. He did a rocket stove training with him back in November. It's a small permaculture world out there.

Not exactly what you might be looking for, but we are still dealing with people that are living in tents and warm weather rv's and could use help.  We are a large distribution hub for 11 counties in WNC and ETN.  We supply United Cajun Navy in Black Mountain so we run out of stuff quickly.  We always need people to load and unload trucks and trailers, sort and put away supplies or gather them for deliveries, make deliveries, and repair or help build a multitude of things.  We have seeds, gardening supplies, hatching eggs / chicks, fencing, etc coming in the spring to help rebuild farms and homesteads that were destroyed by Helene.  I live in my van and have been volunteering here since the beginning of October.  There are cots, sleeping bags, food and coffee for volunteers.  I am at Fines Creek Community Center north of Clyde, NC.