Hard Work and Plain Living (艰苦奋斗, 勤俭节约)

Hard Work and Plain Living (艰苦奋斗, 勤俭节约)

In most cases guests can stay two nights as a guest, which mean you only need to clean up after yourself and clean your room to airbnb ready state when you leave (including putting on new linens and washing old ones). Beyond this Guests must pay or do a work trade.

If you are staying several days or weeks and want to do work trade this is possible if and only if:

  • You are really good at communicating about your work.

  • You are extremely self motivated.

  • You will not leave things partially complete.

  • You are resourceful and won’t ask a ton of questions that you could figure out yourself.

  • You are absolutely committed to completing anything you say you are going to do, at the time you say you will.

Generally work trade is available for 1 - 2 hours/day on each and every day you are staying depending on where you are staying. If you are on an informal work-trade plan (vs. long term signed agreement type), then please follow this process:

  • Read all sections of the website.

  • If you are staying more than one week, read the best practices guide.

  • Determine what work tasks you are planning to do. Look around or read the site for ideas.

  • Email alpacaplayhouse@gmail.com include “worktrade” in the subject link, and in the body provide the details of your work plan within 24 hours of your arrival.

  • Each day you work email the above address with an update on how much time you have spent, and what was complete along with any relevant pictures of before/after or something that shows the work. Do this every day you work. If you don’t do this on the same day, work is discounted by 1/3rd because it tends to be less valuable.

Here is a list of things you can do:

Anytime Items:

  • Organize items in the two freezers (Kitchen and Garage).

  • Organize the towels or linens closet so that it is better looking and more clear.

  • Clean out old items in the fridge. If no name and they look bad, toss it.

  • Pull weeds from the flower beds in the front, in the back, and in the yard.

  • Airblow the front porch.

  • Airblow the back porch (device is under the grill on the left w/ extension cords)

  • Review this document and add comments for how it could be improved or make changes.

  • Vacuum the living room, dining room and garage.

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On Off Items:

  • Art. We welcome art installations of all types especially with some Alpaca theme.

  • Event Planning. Organize your own event here, or help with others’.

  • Landscaping. There are a lot of needs for planting, growing, landscaping.

  • Painting. A lot of areas need to be painted, including concrete by the alpaca shed, wood near there, thermostat areas, and more…

  • Decorating. Lots of areas to be decorated. 

    • Metal art hung on fence.

    • Stenciling

    • Murals

  • Photography.  Please take and upload pictures when appropriate of animals and people. Ask for equipment as needed.

  • Organizing. Many areas need more organization, ask if you want ideas.

  • Signage. There is a big need for figuring out what signage is needed and then creating the signage to guide people through the use of the Alpaca Playhouse. We also need a few big “Alpaca Playhouse” signs.

  • Building / Construction - lots of plans here:

    • Tiny Houseboat - Renovation

    • Spartan Aluminum Trailer - Renovation

    • Glamping Pods - Construction and decoration

  • IT - lots of needs for programming smart lights and other smart devices mainly on Alex, but also on Google Home, ask for more details

  • Stereo tweaking - can you make the sound better?

  • Flame.  Creation of large-scale Fire Art and Fire heating systems (propane based)

  • Pool Design & Construction (planned for 2022)

  • Alpaca Information. We would like to compile a great guide to alpacas, which strangely doesn’t seem to exist.  Nor is their history very clear.

  • Jokes & Puns.  We need better ones than “I’m Alpac’in heat” or “Alpac my bags and come over”.  Alpacohontas, Alapcalypse, etc…

  • Contribute Materials - Wood, metal, stone.

  • Picture framing. Lots of stuff needs framing.

  • Oil the butcher block wood and outdoor table/chairs (oil above washer on left)