Looking to Provide Volunteer Work in U.S. Midwest or South; Can Provide for Myself

I have been a web developer for all of my adult life, and this has caused me to want to find more fulfillment in the "basics" of life. So, it is now a big dream of mine to have or live on a homestead. While I still have to work at my job, I have plenty of flex hours to volunteer on someone's farm or homestead. I'm in good shape, I am a hard worker, and I can provide for myself. I would like the opportunity to learn from those who are going where I desire to go. Am I in the right spot? Does anyone have a place for someone like me? I'm currently in north Texas and work remotely. I look forward to your responses.

Tell us a little more about what you're looking for?

- What kind of accommodations do you need? Nothing but a place to pitch a tent, and you're going to cook on a campfire and poop in the woods? Or something more? Maybe a minimum/hoping-for comparison would help?

-What kind of operation are you hoping to join? You probably don't want to come cut and split firewood, feed livestock, dig drainage, and press CEBs for me... while I stay inside and take care of the kids, right? There's some level of boring and exploitative that would too much for you? I bet if you can kind of outline a dream scenario, and then a scenario that's the least you'd accept, it would help the right person find you.




Edit to add: Have you looked at the goings-on at Wheaton Laborotories? There are a variety of of arrangements for staying short-, medium-, and long-term, and an AWFUL lot of things to learn.

Thanks for your reply, Mike. You're cracking me up here. As you can see, I'm so inexperienced that I don't even know where to tell folks that I need to poop. As far as living situations go, I was just thinking that I could rent a place nearby.

The manual labor doesn't bother me. I mainly want to know what kind of work it would entail if I were to have a little farm of my own. With that comes the desire to learn how and when to plant things, to harvest, and to take care of animals.

I haven't looked at Wheaton Laboratories, but I appreciate the lead. I will take a gander.

Hi Nathan,

I'm actually looking for a roommate at the moment if you wouldn't mind living in Jump River, WI. Very remote town full of farmers and community oriented people. If you are good with kids (I have custody of my two youngest Monday thru Thurs.) and wouldn't mind helping me set up a garden etc. on a property I will be renting, that would be cool. There is a room downstairs in the basement and we could share the kitchen, living areas and bathroom. I have sheep and ducks and will be adding to my herd/flock and I will be purchasing pigs, possibly breeding pigs if I have help. The place I will be renting is surrounded by land with crops or beef cattle in the fields. It has a very nice barn that the owner says he can put water out to. There is also a garage. There are lots of possibilities, projects we can start and I can teach you most things, but like bees we'd have to learn together and I know there are folks in town that know things too. I want to get a winter garden started with the help of my Eliot Coleman 4 season harvest book. If you want to know more about my experience, my ad is here: https://permies.com/t/46165/WWOOF-organic-farm-volunteers-interns/Working-Farm-Live-Wisconsin and my craigslist ad with pictures: http://northernwi.craigslist.org/grd/5006627280.html

If this sounds interesting to you, just PM me. Rent will be fairly cheap.

Nathan May wrote:Thanks for your reply, Mike. You're cracking me up here. As you can see, I'm so inexperienced that I don't even know where to tell folks that I need to poop. As far as living situations go, I was just thinking that I could rent a place nearby.

Wow! You're going to be too-good-to-be-true for a lot of folks. EVERYBODY wants help, and most of the time, the hang-up is compensation/living arrangements. That's... marvelous. If I can offer a speck of advice, it would be not to undervalue that. You can afford to be a little picky, and only go somewhere that's going to teach you exactly what you want to know.

Nathan May wrote:what kind of work it would entail if I were to have a little farm of my own. With that comes the desire to learn how and when to plant things, to harvest, and to take care of animals.

Cool- that's what we needed. Presumably, you want somebody who's been at it a little while. Because if you wanted the beginner's perspective, you'd just be experimenting in your own yard, and not trying to move somewhere, right?

Nathan May wrote:I haven't looked at Wheaton Laboratories, but I appreciate the lead. I will take a gander.

You may have caught it already, but if not, Paul Wheaton is the owner and benevolent dictator of this forum. (He'll correct you if you try to stick the b-word on him.) Wheaton Labs is his burgeoning permaculture project near Missoula, Montana.

I appreciate your guidance, Mike. I figured at least SOMEONE could use some free labor in exchange for their knowledge. I don't mind learning things with people as well, but, yes, it would be preferable if they knew more than me on the subject.