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 means 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.

Short Term Worktrade

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

You are willing to completely read and follow directions.
You will not create extra work for others (such as leaving a mess or stuff lying around)
You are really good at communicating about your work.
You are extremely self motivated.
You will not leave things partially complete and in a half complete state for days or weeks.
You are resourceful and won't ask a ton of questions that you could figure out yourself.
You will proactively figure out what needs to be done, and follow priorities if they are set.
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.

Process for Informal Work-Trade

Read all sections of the website.
If 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 with "worktrade" in the subject line within 24 hours of arrival.
Log your hours in the spreadsheet on the same day you do the work.
Each day you work email an update on how much time you have spent, and what was complete along with before/after pictures.

Important: If you don't report on the same day, work is discounted by 1/3rd because it tends to drift off in sub-optimal directions.

Paid Work Arrangements

For those interested in short-term or longer-term arrangements for work, the following qualities are required:

You can follow directions 100% and read multiple pages of directions.
You are good at using web apps for organizing and are able to clearly prioritize.
You are willing to give effort on a consistent manner over the course of days.
You will be able to read the website and internalize the house rules and procedures.
You communicate consistently and clearly and without delay.
You don't leave jobs unfinished at all - you complete things 100%.

Compensation: $20/hour unless otherwise negotiated. Payment is typically made once a week via Square, Venmo, Zelle or PayPal.

Self-Service Worktrade Tasks

Anytime Items

Organize items in the two freezers (Kitchen and Garage)
Organize the towels or linens closet
Clean out old items in the fridge
Pull weeds from the flower beds
Airblow the front porch
Airblow the back porch (device under the grill on the left)
Vacuum the living room, dining room and garage
Take out all the trash
Clean and Organize the trash area in front of the car charging

On & Off Items

Art: We welcome art installations, especially with Alpaca theme
Event Planning: Organize your own event here, or help with others'
Landscaping: Planting, growing, landscaping needs
Painting: Many areas need painting including concrete by the alpaca shed
Decorating: Lots of areas to be decorated. Metal art hung on fence
Stenciling & Murals
Photography: Take and upload pictures of animals and people
Organizing: Many areas need more organization
Signage: Big need for guidance signage. You can use the Glowforge CNC
Building/Construction: Tiny Houseboat renovation, Spartan Aluminum Trailer renovation, Glamping Pods construction
IT: Programming smart lights and devices on Alexa and Google Home
Stereo tweaking: Can you make the sound better?
Flame: Creation of large-scale Fire Art and heating systems (propane)
Alpaca Information: We'd like to compile a great guide to alpacas
Jokes & Puns: We need better ones than "I'm Alpac'in heat" or "Alpac my bags and come over"
Picture framing: Lots of stuff needs framing
Oil the butcher block: Wood and outdoor table/chairs (oil above washer)