We are looking to exchange homesteading chores for an 800 square-foot cabin on 76 acres in "Sunny Kapoho" (average of 75 inches of rain, mostly in the early morning hours) on the Big Island of Hawaii. We would prefer a health and ecologically focused couple who are drug free, responsible, energetic, fit, stable couple (age 20-40's)and looking for a long term living arrangement (6 month to one year minimum but ideally desire lifetime commitment) for an off grid (solar and wind) educational living project, that supports fair, responsible, sustainable, and healthy living on a beach front,sustainable homestead/land trust in sunny Kapoho. We would also consider recurrent seasonal stays for part of the year and occasionally we may be open to single people and short term (3-5 months)stays. The cabin is set back about 300 feet from the ocean, and is about 50 feet above sea level. The 20x40 foot cabin has an outside shower, chest refrigerator (solar voltaic generated electricity), propane oven (I would love to see the propane stove used as a backup to solar cooking, and the rocket stove), and the bathroom consists of a composting bucket, which is under a conventional toilet seat. The cabin is single wall cedar construction,and three of the walls are mostly window, which allow in a lot of natural light and allow for enjoyment of the panoramic views of the ocean, jungle, and the cinder cone. There are few mosquitoes because most of the property is lava rock rather than moist jungle (although the jungle is about 150 feet from one side of the cabin. The cabin is about 150 feet from my house. I've also built a 20 foot, ferro-cement yurt shaped cottage which is very private and nestled within a grove of ironwoods. It has it's own ocean view and one can sit outdoors and watch the whales go by during December through March. It has the same amenities as the cabin. Your guests could stay in the cabin, camp on the beach, or stay in an old school bus, that I used to live in, depending on what is occupied.

    The work exchange, or "homestead dance" entails: watering the organic gardens, feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs, feeding and milking the goats, taking the buck out to be tethered and fed, taking the does out to pasture and/or cutting greens, filling up one large wheelbarrow of "nitrogen fixing tree" (calliandra, wiliwili, leucaena, glircidia) leaves for the does feed, garden/structure maintenance, and feeding the cats and dog. Most of the physical labor involves using loppers or a bow saw to cut greens for the goats and hauling them to the manger via wheelbarrow. All of this takes an average of 4 hours per day for me to perform. I am asking that the couple "homestead dance"or Work/trade in exchange for housing: 15-18 hours per week for single (eg. 3 hours 5 days per week=15 hrs)or 20-23 hours a week per couple (eg. 2 hours per person 5 days per week=20 hrs). Exact number of hours depends on the season, weather, what needs harvesting, efficiency of working, etc.) Working hours are flexible. Food available for extra hours. If you have a lap top computer there is wireless internet. Surfing is four miles away, and snorkeling 1½ miles. We share excess organic eggs,goat milk (kefir, mozzarella cheese, feta, and yogurt) vegetables, and tropical fruits when available. Desire pet, child, and auto free (or minimal/mindful use). County bus transportation is free. Please send your resume, references, and photo to drrimerdo@yahoo.com or snail mail to Dr. Rick Rimer D.O., RR 2 Box 3363, Pahoa, HI 96778 or call (818) 687-4820

If you are interested in applying for the caretaking position, please feel free to send us your resume, a brief letter describing yourself and why you want to help caretake our property, a recent photograph, and make arrangements with three non-family references that we may contact at a later time.

Click here for a virtual tour of the caretaker accommodations.

Click here to view the web site of the current caretakers, Jim and Beth Hood