Caretakers - Farm - Pahoa, Hawaii 96778, HI

Aloha!

We are looking for an honest, dependable and stable couple to help take care of our 7 acre off-grid farm in Kapoho, Puna District, on the Big Island of Hawaii. We live here more or less full time, and we are looking for help with the work around here.

We have about 7 acres, of which around half has been cleared of forest. We have a certain amount of fruit trees growing, and keep adding more. We also have a large vegetable garden which is producing some great crops. We currently have nine chickens which are laying about 5 eggs a day. We have a pond stocked with fish. We plan on continuing to increase the amount of food we grow, and to make the place as self-sufficient as reasonably possible.

The help we are looking for is mainly in the following areas:
Mowing, weed-whacking, weeding, mulching, composting, harvesting, some basic building maintenance, keeping the fast-growing invasive species in check, assisting with our vacation rental from time to time, and almost certainly some other new project that we have not even thought of yet!

The persons suitable for the position will:
1. Be able to work with or without supervision.
2. Be strong enough to handle a variety of power tools and to move heavy objects such as rocks and logs when needed.
3. Have good communication skills.
4. Have at least one person available most of the time to deal with any and all of the different kind of situations which arise in off-the-grid living.
5. Not smoke tobacco or marijuana.
6. Appreciate the natural quiet of this area and will not wish to pollute it with noise. We live in a very quiet neighborhood where we greatly appreciate the sound of nature, and we would like our caretaker(s) to respect that.

In return for work on the farm, we offer the following accommodations:
A 16ft by 16ft off-the-grid cabin with solar electricity, hot and cold running water, shared refrigerator, composting toilet, outdoor shower, kitchen with 2 burner gas stove, outdoor area with picnic table and many other great features. The place is quiet, private and extremely beautiful. You really have to see it to appreciate it. Plus we are close to the ocean, a natural warm pond, and many other natural treasures.

This is a work trade for accommodation only. We do not offer any money as part of the deal, although you will be provided some quantity of fruits and vegetables when there is enough to share.

Our preference is to find people who are really happy here and who make it their home for an extended period of time, with a minimum commitment of 6 months.

Please reply by email with some information about you if you think you are a good fit for us.

Mahalo!