Work Exchange Opportunities at Dancing Rabbit 🛠️🐐

Are you ready to immerse yourself in a radically different lifestyle, rooted in connection to the Earth and community within a well-established ecovillage, while actively contributing to various projects aimed at building a regenerative, resilient, and cooperative culture? If so, then you're in luck! We are actively seeking individuals to participate in our 2024 work exchange program at Dancing Rabbit, and we have openings as soon as mid-March. In an effort to create a more fun, robust, and dynamic work exchange program, we’re trying something new this year: all work exchangers, colloquially known as "wexers," will form their own subcommunity and kitchen co-op known as the Bloom and Build Brigade!

Join the Bloom and Build Brigade!

This subcommunity will include a few Rabbits (folks that call Dancing Rabbit home) and between six to eight wexers. We ask for a minimum commitment of four to five weeks, and welcome longer stays! Work will involve a variety of tasks, both independent and group-oriented. There are lots of projects in the works at DR; some of the big ones this year are:

 

1. Working on Critter Kitchen. This community building utilizes lots of round wood timbers harvested sustainably from our own land, as well as reclaimed dimensional lumber. This year we’re going to focus on getting the roof up (combination of living and metal), installing the floors (brick and “dirt-crete”), and building out the kitchen space.
2. Growing so much food! Using a combination of local wisdom, mountains of compost (thanks to our cows and goats), permaculture principles, good ‘ol fashion hard work and cooperation, we plan to seriously up our gardening game this year. Help us grow good food, and eat it too! Or preserve it for later.
3. Establishing a chestnut orchard. We’re planting 250 chestnut trees this year, and we need help at every step! Learn how to establish and maintain the “rice of the future” using organic and regenerative techniques.
4. Participating in the Dairy Co-op. Milking, cheesemaking and pasture management. A great way to learn the ins and outs of small scale regenerative animal agriculture and/or artisanal cheesemaking.

 

In addition to these projects, other work areas include:

Natural building at the Hub (formerly SubHub), building roofed tent platforms, invasive species management, forestry, firewood processing, hospitality work, cooking for visitor program participants, regular community chores and whatever the season calls for.

You will have some choices in areas of focus for your time as a wexer, although you will inevitably need to do some things which you might consider “menial.” We will have regular planning meetings where we will divide the week's tasks to ensure that folks are engaging with what they love AND the highest priority work still gets done.

For those open to more focused roles with higher responsibilities, specific positions are available. While these roles are unpaid, they offer a valuable opportunity to deepen your skills and knowledge in specific areas, and contribute meaningfully to a thriving ecovillage. On-site training is provided for all positions, and while prior experience is beneficial, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to learn are the most important attributes!


We do have one paid position: Innkeeper for the Milkweed Mercantile. This is best for someone who is seriously considering moving to Dancing Rabbit and/or has been here previously. Minimum commitment: Three months.

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A work exchange position at Dancing Rabbit can be a transformative experience, allowing you to become fully engaged in a lifestyle deeply rooted in connection to the Earth and community living. You'll collaborate with like-minded individuals, gaining both physical skills and the intangible abilities necessary for effective, authentic cooperation. Expectations for the work exchange program include 25-30 hours of work per week (which includes cooking two meals a week for the work exchanger co-op). Amenities include a tent platform for camping, an outdoor kitchen co-op for shared meals, and access to the common house with showers, composting toilets, electricity, and wifi. Perks include the ability to participate for free in a diverse range of community activities and offerings. These include our three-day Ecovillage Experience weekend, weekly song circle, potluck, game night, bonfires, a delightful swimming pond, a Finnish-style sauna, dark skies with bright stars, abundant wildlife, 280 acres with mowed trails, dance parties (sometimes ecstatic), jam sessions, and plenty of serene spaces for relaxation with (or without) a book.

Skills required for all positions:

• Motivated, hard-working, and diligent
• Flexible and adaptable to rustic and rugged living/working conditions
• Self-directed and self-reliant with a high level of emotional awareness and stability
• Open to grappling with societal issues like privilege, colonialism, racism, and sexism
• Non-judgmental and generous of spirit, embodying humility and understanding of ongoing progress
• Passionate about grassroots sustainability, community, and exploring alternatives to mainstream culture

If this sounds like an awesome way to spend some time this year, please check out the webpage for more information and a link to apply!

Thanks for considering!


Eric and Mae
Dancing Rabbit wexer wranglers