my helpx profile
Posted by savvyidler on Dec 19, 2010 · Member since Aug 2006 · 370 posts
I joined helpx (It's kind of like couchsurfing, w/room&board in exchange for help/labor.) to find someone to help with the dogs. I could use some input from wise Vegwebbers... Is there anything I could add to improve it? Something a helper would want to know? I'd appreciate suggestions and opinions? https://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostID=8813&network=9
Thanks. :)
It makes me want to come! :) I can't think of anything to add, except, I'm assuming that if they did choose to share your food, they'd have to pay for it, right?
Well you're certainly welcome veggydog! As for food, we'll cover costs as long as it's at home. Our standard diet is fairly inexpensive -corn tortillas, black beans, brown rice, fruit and veggies. I may even share my super-rare-imported nutritional yeast.
omg i want to go there! sounds like heaven!
Maybe someone would like an idea of some of the daily routines and how much time each day it will take. For example, would they be responsible for morning feeding, midday exercise/dog housekeeping, and/or evening feeding? I'd like to know what kind of free time I'd have to explore.
how many dogs are there?
i actually have a friend whose already in that area for around that period of time and needs a new place to go. i'll send her this link. shes not vegan but super veg friendly. she can eat a ton though so im just warning you...
Do you adhere to any particular training or discipline methods? That might be useful for potential applicants :)
good points hh. I'm going to think about how to word that. Basically we (me and hubby) will take care of all the feedings and medical stuff (like injections). We aren't really a kennels and itineraries kind of shop.* An hour of actual cleaning/raking would suffice. I mainly want helpers to interact with the dogs -whether directly like playing/walking, or indirectly, while reading or just hanging out. The dogs need to have other people around and get better (less excited)about people arriving or leaving. There is also a fair amount of saying callete ____!
I think helpx recommends 4 or 5 hours of work per day, but I'm more interested in having helpers be a distraction for the dogs, so I can get things done. Having someone who needs to be managed or who, when not working on assigned tasks, would spend their time in the apartment with the door shut is of no help to me. Putterers are good. :)
I could emphasize that the helper can spend time away themselves, especially on a longer stay ( I might need it; I'm not used to having people around.). A weekend in the city or a few days siteseeing ruins (there are some excellent sites within a few hours) would be fine. It's ok if they want to get away for a few hours a day; that will give us an opportunity to work on desensitizing the pack to guests arriving and leaving. We'd only need someone here all day if we go to the city.
aml: sometimes it is heaven, if heaven has a lot of dog poo and you can never sleep in. ;D
vh: mmm..a lot...I usually just say dozens or Jehovah. I can't say a # because another will immediately show up. I hate to be superstitious, but I allow myself that one. ::) http://dogsofcelestun.blogspot.com/2009/02/always-look-on-bright-side-of-life.html
ppc: you should definitely point your friend towards helpx, there are some cool situations there! If I didn't have so many mouths to feed....;)
I've got no problems with anyone else's diet, I'm more concerned that a vegan would have trouble with our dog's raw meat diet. Horribly gross. I figured I'd mention that in my response to any vegans that contact me. Funny you mention how much she eats; we had 2 young people come last year and we were amazed at how much they could put away!
Catski: I don't follow the schools of thought on that, so I don't know what I'd call it. If anything, I think we'd have some friction with anyone too devoted to a system.
Thanks guys, I have some thinking and rewrites to do.
* Things have changed a little since I shot the feeding time video in this post, but it's still basically the same: http://dogsofcelestun.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-dogs-life.html
Btw, it was the height of mosquito season, that's what he's cursing about at the beginning.
...whew, that took forfreakingever to write!
The revised version of the ad has served us well; we've hosted 2 sets of helpers so far and it has been a great experience! I've even decided to book people for the months we had intended to keep open. The shyest dogs are making progress, the needier ones seem happier and I'm learning to accept help. Old dog, new tricks.
All the helpers have enjoyed themselves as well. Thanks for the input. :)
good to hear!
The forums have been so sluggish! I don't have much to add, but I'll update this.
We've been hosting regularly for over a year and a half and the dogs and I have learned a lot! Overall it has been a success; we've met some good people, work has gotten done and the dogs' have definitely benefited. I've learned about myself as well. And how.
I've tweaked the ad and am going to try to be more discriminating in my selection of applicants. Despite being a grizzled old hermit, I am always at pains to give everyone the benefit of doubt -I intend to outgrow this. We've had a few less-than-helpful exchanges which should help fuel that impulse. Turns out there is more technique to raking poop than I had originally assumed! Also, if something needs doing, ask a question or 3 and get to it....I'm not freakin' Julie on the Love Boat (am I dating myself with this reference, or has it been remade?)!
Seriously though, if you are 18+ years old and do not know how to use a broom... I am not the person to instruct you ...I cannot possibly keep the incredulity out of my voice. And yes, I am turning into my mother.
I was pleasantly surprised at the number of veg*n applicants, though it is not a requirement! Full thanks to VegWeb for enabling my vegan baking! I even had a successful gluten-free baking stint.
veganhippie: In an effort to shake my superstitions...although I still can't bring myself to say a number ...I will say we are at capacity and, including a few dogs we're watching for other people, around something that rhymes with 'nifty.' :)