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Work-Exchange Program

Page history last edited by Deanne Bednar 15 years ago

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Strawbale Studio NATURAL BUILDING TRAINING PROGRAM

Join in with the Natural Building Crew, and learn skills toward your own future.

A modest $125/week fee includes all training, basic lodging or camping, and food. Attend most workshops that are happening during your visit, and have access to a great Natural Building Library and Videos. Share in the cooking, and household activities. You will have an opportunity to experience a variety of skills depending on the dates you attend.  Length of stay: 1 week minimum

 


 

Strawbale Studio WWOOFING WORK-EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Our residential work-exchange program is a way for you to immerse yourself in a number of aspects of sustainability over a longer time period. This program offers you room and board and some of the classes that are offered in exchange for helping on current natural building projects, working in our organic vegetable and herb gardens, helping prepare for teaching weekends, maintaining the center, on-going projects and anything else that may come up. We ask for a commitment of at least 2 weeks. We are recieving people year-round, depending on scheduling.

 

Located on 50 acres in Rural SE Michigan, the Strawbale Studio Natural Building Project features a thatched roof, straw bale construction, cob, earthen plasters, natural paints and finishes, solar electricity and cooking. Experience hands-on training while working on the current natural building projects. Take part in most workshops planned during your stay. Indoor lodging or camping plus food provided. A stay of three or more days is preferred. Short-term volunteers help out 7 hours a day 5 days a week, learning new skills, helping with natural building projects, and helping maintain this learning center.  In addition we will share the daily household chores such as meal prep, sweeping, etc.  We share cooking and most meals, and primarily eat a simple fair of grains, vegies, beans, seeds. After Wwoofing for 2 weeks, a limited number of Longer-stay interns can work 40 hours/week in exchange for a modest monthly stipend plus food and lodging/camping. After the quota of paid WWOOFERS is filled, you may still wish to participate and recieve room/camping and board (food). 

 

Opportunities are available year-round. Foraging is taught & encouraged, and gardens are under development for vegetables, permaculture, native plantings, perennial flowers. Assistance with the gardens would also be appreciated. We will all share in the cooking, and general maintance. Opportunities nearby the Strawbale Studio Land outside Oxford, MI: The Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center ~~ a wind & solar powered, earth-sheltered building with a living roof, Bald Mountain Recreation Area and Seven Ponds Nature Center. Opportunites at the Kensington Metropark Farm: The Farm, of course, with baby animals, goats, horses, etc. etc., swimming, hiking, boat rental, a small town, Milford, nearby. Detroit is about 30 miles away.

 

WWOOFING PROGRAM

Welcome to the WWOOF program. Willing Workers on Organic Farms and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Vacationing in the US and volunteering with this program is a great way to broaden your education and practical experience. It also serves as a great way to inexpensively travel. We will introduce you to the many interesting aspects of natural building, and you can experience the Strawbale Studio ~ a thatched-roof structure, the Rocket Stove Heated Bench, Greenhouse, Labyrinth, Worm Composting and Solar Cooking.

 

For those coming from overseas, you must have a simple basic understanding of English. You will be expected to learn, share and participate in the daily activities of building and developing the grounds. We request a minimum of 2 weeks - so that you can orientate yourself to the this place and its activities; many volunteers stay 2-4 weeks - thus gaining a variety of experiences.

  

WWOOF Aims 

  • to get firsthand experience of organic farming & gardening and to lend a helping hand wherever needed
  • to get into the countryside and experience the US and it's people.
  • to help the organic movement, which is often labour intensive and does not rely on pesticides and fertilizers.
  • to make contact with other people in the organic movement.
  • to have a wonderful enriching experience.
  • to enable people from all over the world to have a cultural exchange with people from the States.

 

THE STRAWBALE STUDIO Natural Building Program focuses on using natural, local materials and sustainable design strategies. It also promotes related sustainable activities such as Permaculture, Foraging, Natural Crafts, etc.

  

Best Time To WWOOF

 

The best time to WWOOF is of course between early spring ( April to late autumn/fall. We do accept volunteers all year round. Winter activities include such things as Reed collection for roof thatching, organization of resources (books, videos), grant writing, Earth Sculpting Natural Paints and Plasters.

 

Do you have to be of a certain age?

The only requirement is that you are at least 18 years old. There is no age limit, so you could do it if you were 100! The average age is 20-30. Many are in the 40’s! And 65% of the participants are women.

 

What about health insurance?

When you complete the application form, by signing, you are agreeing to the conditions of being a member. WWOOF USA is not responsible for any loss, injury or damage to yourself or that you cause. You are responsible for your own Travel and Health insurance. Some farms may ask you to sign an additional waiver when you arrive.

 

 

"Reverence for the mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and humility for our human place in Nature and the whole." From the Earth Charter.

It is in this spirit that we work for sustainability. And we have fun learning together!

 

WWOOF host, Deanne Bednar

 

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