Help me create an artistic farmstead on a 160 yr old farmhouse in Argyle, NY, USA

Details

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  Description

  Hi! I am a queer non-binary artist, creative arts therapist, and single parent (with shared custody) to a delightful 7 yr old. I am in the beginning stages of establishing a creative arts therapy farm and community arts studios in a 160 yr old farmhouse on 10 acres in a beautiful place.
  
  I value connection, respect, and fun, as well as engaging artfully with the mundane, recognizing our inherent relations with all things, and deep playfulness. I also love discovering new swimming holes, music (listening and making), and especially tabletop games (Wingspan is a new fave, but I love Catan and just good old card & dice games). Indoors we have a small dog (Pomeranian), 1 intrepid cat and 1 older deaf cat that likes to snuggles with the chickens.. Outdoors we have the chickens, a milk snake that lives under the kitchen door stoop, tons of wild rabbits roaming the hills, and I eventually want to get goats.
  
  When I am with my kid, I tend to prioritize rest, play and exploration, though we often do farm tasks together as well and we both love having a good bonfire party. On other days I see individual psychotherapy clients in my home studio space; for this work, I close off that area of the house (this won't affect you in any way) and won't be available while I am with clients, though I do schedule down-time in between sessions and can check-in then if need be. My goal here is to create a place and space that feels wonderful, invites connection with the land and nature, and supports a grounded experience of retreat and replenishment.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is a place you can learn about and experience delicious food, foraging, wildcrafting, gardening, building structures, weaving baskets and fences, artmaking, play, animal care, whimsy, creativity, and community connection!

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  This is my second year with this land and this spring I am focusing on paying attention to the land to continue learning what wants to happen, transforming the barn/garage into a community art/studio/gathering space, expanding my kitchen gardens and chicken run, setting up living spaces inside the house, and raising chickens (I currently have 28 hens and 2 sweet roosters but one of my hens is broody so who knows what this number will become).
  
  I invited my family to come here for a reunion at the end of June so I am focusing on getting rooms ready, clearing out and decorating the garage/barn for dancing, and general weeding and tidying up the space. My ongoing projects include caring for the garden, clearing burdock; clearing some of the honeysuckle and wild rose off the hills to make space for an orchard; finding a good spot for the hammock; pruning trees around the stream and on the hill; ongoing general maintenance in the house and outside including mowing and weedwacking; growing, harvesting and preserving veggies and herbs from the garden; wildcrafting; and the list goes on.
  
  Long-term projects include, expanding a deck out front & rebuilding a deck out back; building a sauna; cultivating outdoor spaces for deep rest; building a small greenhouse into the side of the hill; clearing out dead branches, especially along the small stream running alongside the house and land; building a woven shelter at the top of the hill; and the dreams continue. There is so much that wants to happen here, and I am looking for creative, curious, and energized people who enjoy engaging with the land, are interested in creating beautiful things, who have energy for the satisfying (sometimes incremental) work of building something new, who have talent for envisioning and developing possibilities, and who are dedicated to communicating through the ebbs and flows of community-relating. The work tends to fluctuate depending on the task/weather/energy level;
  
  I ask for 4-5 hours/day, 5 days a week, and am flexible if you want to work longer days in order to have other days fully free. I also respect that some of us are night owls, and some of us are morning birds; I trust you to take care of yourself and communicate your needs and rhythms. I like to start the day with a check in to see how we're all doing, talk about anything that needs our attention, and to organize the goals and tasks for the day.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Polish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  You will have your own private room/space in the house (there are a few options available depending on the kind of space you like to be in) and there is plenty of room for camping if you prefer to be outdoors. Daily meals tend to be a rolling event here and we share evening cooking duties and enjoy dinners together.

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  What else ...

  Having your own transportation is best as we are in rural farm country, but I do have a bike available if you want to explore the gorgeous backroads or ride into town. Greenwich is small but only 5 minutes away and has a grocery store/restaurant etc; Schuylerville (~10 minutes) has a bit more to offer, and Saratoga is a beautiful 25 minute drive away and offers a great deal of things, including wonderful restaurants, nightlife, performances, movie theater, a million coffee shops, some bookstores, the state park, mineral springs etc. The Adirondacks are close by and offer tremendously lovely hiking, and VT is just a stone's throw away.
  
  LGBTQ+ friendly.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I have an office space that you are welcome to use when I am not working; otherwise we can set up a workspace for you in another part of the house. I am flexible with working hours and can accommodate workawayers who have an online job.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Lots of space available here, including electric hookup and possible water hookup for a campervan/motorhome

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Pets (including dogs) are okay as long as they are good with children and other animals

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week