Forestry and community gardening
Colorado
We are a retired couple living two miles from the west gate of Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, Colorado. Although we have never hosted a working volunteer, we have hosted professionals and students from other countries. We are hoping to build a chicken coop and get chickens this summer. Though we like dogs, we don't have any right now. Our project is a restoration and fire preparedness project with the hope of developing the space and resources for more gardening and chickens
Our area suffered through the East Troublesome Fire in 2020. It burned over 170,000 acres of forested land including 80 acres of our property. The mild winter suggests a significant threat for more fires in the fall of 2026. A WWOOFer could help us plant trees in the burned area and willows along the Colorado River that flows through the property. We are still working to build fence, plant trees and grasses, make slash piles to burn, etc. Our home sits on three acres that did not burn, but we are working to make this area more "fire wise". A WWOOFer could spend a few hours each day cutting out juniper bushes, downing old trees, cleaning debris, and planting native grasses, shrubs, and flowers. A WWOOFer would learn about erosion control, forest management, native plant restoration, etc. We could also use help restoring an old spring for a future garden.
We have two extra bedrooms. Each has its own balcony and a shared Jack & Jill bathroom. The kitchen is available for use, and we are happy to cook or share something that the WWOOFER would like to cook. Our dining is casual, because we are usually busy during the day. We rarely eat breakfast or lunch together, but always share dinner. We will provide food for three meals and honor a WOOFER's food request as best we can. The WOOFER(s) can decide whether or not they want to join us or prepare their own meals. This is a non-smoking house. In past years, the county has also included outdoor smoking as part of a fire ban. The national park always has a Stage I Fire ban (outdoor fires only in designated fire rings), but there are no county fire restrictions (as of April 2026).
We love our town and are active members of the community including community gardening, volunteer gardening for the local extension office and food pantry, volunteering at the local museum, lifeguarding, and board service for the local theater and recreation district boards. Our town is part of the Continental Divide Trail, and the area provides hundreds of miles of pristine hiking. There are three nearby bodies of water for kayaking, fishing, etc. We have kayaks for helpers to borrow and bicycles to help you explore. New this summer, there will be a bus connecting our town to the rest of the county 2-3 times per day.
Nous sommes un couple de retraités vivant à trois kilomètres de l'entrée ouest du Rocky Mountain National Park. Nous n'ayons jamais accueilli des WWOOFers, mais nous avons reçu des professionnels et des étudiants étrangers. Nous aimons notre ville et sommes des membres actifs de la communauté : nous participons au jardinage communautaire, au bénévolat au musée local, le surveillant des baignades et siégeons aux conseils d'administration du théâtre local et du district des loisirs. Notre ville fait partie du Continental Divide Trail et la région offre des centaines de kilomètres de sentiers de randonnée préservés. Trois lacs à proximité permettent de pratiquer le kayak, la pêche, etc. Nous mettons des kayaks à disposition des bénévoles et des vélos pour vous aider à explorer les environs. Nouveauté cet été : un bus reliera notre ville au reste du comté 2 à 3 fois par jour.
La région a été durement touchée par l'incendie d'East Troublesome en 2020. Plus de 68 800 hectares de forêt ont brûlé, dont 32 hectares de notre propriété. Le manque de neige de l'hiver laisse présager un risque important de nouveaux incendies à l'automne 2026. Nous avons planté des arbres et des saules sur notre propriété, dans la zone incendiée et le long du fleuve Colorado. Nous travaillons encore à la construction de la clôture, à la plantation d'arbres et d'herbes, à la préparation de tas de rémanents à brûler, etc. Notre maison se trouve sur un terrain de trois acres qui n'a pas brûlé, mais nous nous efforçons de rendre cette zone plus résistante aux incendies. Cela implique d'éliminer les genévriers, d'abattre les vieux arbres, de nettoyer les débris et de planter des herbes, des arbustes et des fleurs indigènes. Nous avons également une longue liste d'autres projets. Si vous souhaitez changer de travail, vous pouvez nous aider à construire un poulailler, à remettre en état une vieille cloche, à aménager un foyer extérieur, à réparer notre source pour l'arrosage du jardin, etc. Toute aide sera la bienvenue et nous serions ravis d'en savoir plus sur votre lien avec la terre. Nous serons prêts à démarrer le 1er juin 2026.
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Learning opportunities
Forestry
Wild foraging
Seed saving or production
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Community-supported agriculture (CSA)
Holistic management
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
32.4
Hectares
|
80
Acres
Amy
Member since 2026
Languages spoken:
English, French
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Mon
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Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Colorado
Granby, Colorado
My past WWOOFers
Amy has not had any confirmed visits.
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