This is a homestead in-progress in rural Kentucky in the Appalachians. We’re excited to meet new people, hear and share ideas, and spend time in the creek or by the campfire.
Off-grid volunteering in the USA – requirements & tasks
We are working towards building an intentional community. Our current main project is a new, larger cabin. Eventually, we plan to build a large, tavern-style community building with living spaces for guests that can work/stay or pay/stay, but finding new community members and off-grid / rustic / basic life education is the main focus.
If you’re interested in knowing what a basic start is like, this is it. We have built everything here ourselves or with the help of a few friends. We are familiar with solar power, herbs, tapping a spring, growing plants, plant identification, canning, and some technology skills, like setting up remote internet access and using home automation.
Three days a week, we build for 4 or 5 hours. We are currently building a cabin. This entails various building tasks, but — putting together framing, cutting wood, helping with roofing, laying concrete blocks. What to do can be taught on-site, and safety equipment is provided. In some stages of construction, additional work will be available if desired at $10/hr.
During the rest of the week, there will be a various small animal and gardening tasks, or one or two larger ones, coming to 2hrs for animal care and 2hrs for gardening each week.
Cooking and cleanup for communal meals: You can lead a community meal in cooking or help out with chopping/prepping and cleanup. You don’t have to participate in communal meals, but if you do your own separate cooking, you’ll need to yield the kitchen to those preparing communal meals, and you’ll still need to clean up after yourself.
Off-grid volunteering in the USA – what we offer
Keep in mind that we have extremely basic facilities here. Outhouse, 12×16 communal building with kitchen, solar electricity, and WiFi. 12×12 communal sleeping area with beds. Spring water (pumped), Solar Shower, greenhouse. Cellular is available at top of hill (10m walk) for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
If you’re interested in knowing what a basic start is like, this is it. We have built everything here ourselves or with the help of a few friends. We are familiar with solar power, herbs, tapping a spring, growing plants, plant identification, canning, and some technology skills, like setting up remote internet access and using home automation – we will show you!
Board is provided via communally prepared meals, generally simple, but delicious. We usually just have a large breakfast and large dinner, but a lunch snack (sandwich or similar) will be available upon request. We generally eat vegetarian or low-meat foods.Â
We’re surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest, and close to the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. Days off can be lumped together so you can go hiking/camping if you like.
Other volunteering opportunities in North America
- Help this family as an au pair in California.
- Volunteer at a campsite in Canada for free.
- Volunteer in a hostel in Banff and explore Canada
- Help with marketing & bike tours while volunteering in Florida.
- Volunteer in a hostel in Banff and explore Canada
- Volunteer on a ranch in New York State, United States
- Live in a self-sufficient EcoVillage while volunteering in California