EcOasys 'Temperate Forest' - New York Forestburgh - Volunteers Base - Free Volunteering and Work Exchange Opportunities.

Location: Forestburgh, United States

(1.5 hours) NW of NYC between Port Jervis and Monticello. 10-year spring startup cycle for 30-year sustainable forestry/ edible forest-orchard-garden/ nursery demonstration: 50 hectares (120 acres) of mixed hardwoods-white pine; 100 cultivars heirloom/ adapted fruit. Secondary forest stand improvement/ timber release thinning (2-4 hectares/ 5-10 acres/ year), hardwood seedling planting (500 black walnut, butternut, black cherry, oak, hickory, etc/ year), fruit grafts (apple, pear, plum, cherry, etc) into nursery, nursery survivors out to forest openings, garden preparations, some remnant orchard restoration, etc. One (1) month commitment for May only. Confirm 2 months in advance. Another in autumn/ winter possible as existing trees mature for selective harvest. Room & food for 1-2 people in nearby home. 60 hours each for housing & food; rest compensated by learning & experience. Eventual opportunities in ecological design/ site conversion projects. Looking for people mindful, fit, and insured; this involves heavy-duty/ hazardous labour in the forest and a special touch in the nursery. Rural location: bike, hitch, rideshare within SW Catskills. Children & pets difficult. English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Arabic spoken here. Opportunivore kitchen, world cuisine. Full month of May each year, all day, 5 days a week, four weeks. Chainsaw & felling, pruning, digging, planting, grafting, nursery skills. Days-off: mountain hiking, lake fishing, river canoeing, helping old-timer apple grower nearby, exploring remnant orchards & fruit trees. See NM apprenticeship listing of ecOasys high desert for more on our other projects and opportunities.