Volunteer Opportunities

Strawbale Building Party: Sierra Nevada, California. My wife and I own/run Cool Organics, a small orchard in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, and are looking to build a straw bale kitchen / shelter that can be used for future volunteers to use. We would like to shoot for a spring 2008 Building party and invite any and all to participate. We can provide meals, fruit, and a tipi or tent, to volunteers but not much more. We do live in a great kayaking/rafting area on the American River and can arrange trips for volunteers. Please contact Dan or Jen Alcorn at: dalcorn@wildblue.net.

Log House Construction: Blount County, Alabama. We are beginning construction of a vertical log (stockade style) home on our 144 acres. Willing to negotiate on room and board if needed. Please contact Dwight Norris: Dwight@sampsons-sanctuary.org.

Slipform Stone Masonry: Columbus, Ohio. I am starting to build a slipform stone house based on the method shown in Tom Elpel's book and video. For more info, please contact Andrew at 614-356-3299: andrewrmarton@gmail.com.

Stone House / Organic Farming: British Columbia. We are a young family in the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains. We are building a stone home in the town of Nelson, British Columbia. We will be building our home for some time and have many stone walls interior and exterior to build. We are wwoof (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) ourselves and grow our own veggies and herbs. For more information, please call us at: 250-357-0111. Jay and Jean Poitras.

Alternative Building / Organic Farming: Lewistown, Montana. I am in starting a small farm located outside of Lewistown, Montana. This season I am offering volunteer positions to those interested in learning a wide range of homesteading skills. We are building a greenhouse, putting in an organic garden large enough to supply enough food for family, volunteers and the local farmers market. We have a big year ahead with fun projects planned! Experiments with natural building including a cob sauna, straw bale garden walls, utility sheds and animal housing. We are planting grapes to establish a local Montana vineyard and winery. We are looking for those of you who like to garden, and want to learn alternative building skills. We have camping set up in a beautiful setting and like to have fun in an easy going environment. If you think this might be the place for you, email with any detailed questions about our place, our projects and goals, or our lifestyle here.

I am hosting a six day, hands on intensive workshop the last week of July. I will be teaching participants how to design and build their own backyard courtyard using cob as a building material. Participants will learn the basics of cob, build a cob oven, dining and eating area, and garden wall. Please contact Kate Whitney: k8whitney@gmail.com.

Slipform Stone Masonry: France. We are seeking volunteers to help out with our slipform stone house in France. Last summer we put in the perimeter drainage, backfilled outside and inside the foundations, laid the underfloor drains, poured the basement slab and got the basement walls up to 2' all round and about half of them to just under the 4' level. Then winter came. The site is at 4,000' so there's no building between end of November and end of April. Right now, we're collecting huge quantities of rocks from around our land, and once we run out of space to store them we're going to start building!

My wife and I can provide food and accommodation (= mattress on the floor) and plenty of hands-on experience, but that's about all. I'm a total beginner at this, not an experienced instructor. But if someone would like to gain experience while helping us out, that'd be great! Please contact: Steve Rawcliffe srawcliffe@wanadoo.fr.

Stone Masonry & Bamboo: Baja California Sur. I would like to build two homes using stone, bamboo and native materials. I have been a carpenter all my life and was one of the lead carpenters for the Titanic movie filmed here in Rosarito Beach, Baja Norte but, I have never had any experience using stone and would love to have some help. I don't have much money but my land is in one of the most beautiful places in Baja with year round running water, animals, deer and eagles everywhere, (most of my neighbors are cows!) and about 45 minutes from the Sea of Cortez and the east cape area.

If anyone is interested in seeing some of the most rural yet close to the coast In Baja areas, please contact jrbaja@hotmail.com.

PO Box 684 Silver Star, MT 59751 406-287-3605 E-mail Contact Page

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