Sahale is the site of an ecovillage that is being developed by The Goodenough Community.  Sahale currently functions as a retreat center for many community-oriented events, a part-time residence and retreat for involved community members, and full time residence for 3 caretakers.  It is locateded 25 minutes from Belfair, WA.  It is an easy drive from Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and the Olympic Penninsula.  Embraced by 65 acres of forest and valley, the land holds within its valley a sacred grove of cedars more than 300 years old. The cathedral-like stillness here within this ring of cedars harmonizes with the flow of the Tahuya River just yards away, one of currently only a few free, salmon bearing rivers in Washington.  

Sahale has hosted several Permaculture Design Courses, and the first two NW permaculture convergences.  There are many designs and ideas available for implementation, and many ongoing projects for contintual sustainable developement.  Currently a multi-use bath house is being constructed with an ultra-sustainable wood-fired boiler/passive solar heating system.  And no-till Emelia Hazelip/Fukuoka-style beds are being established (youtube "a synergistic garden" or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugFd1JdFaE0&p=BB89AFE0110ED1E6&playnext=1&index=2 ).  

Community support for Sahale is largely from sustainably-minded professionals from Seattle who spend time here contributing to projects and events and working towards the ecovillage.  This community has worked together in various ways for several decades as a  non-residential urban intentional community, who is now transitioning toward a rural land base that they have owned for nearly 10 years now.  They are now very open to people with flexible lifestyles, inovative methods, and healthy work ethic to help with the ongoing gardening and permaculture projects that will help flesh out the ecovillage.  

Sahale has a large stream-irrigated terrace system that that is being cultivated for the production of annual and perennial vegetables, herbs, culinary and medicinal herbs, ornamentals and other permaculture plants. Below the terraces there are acres of forests, orchards, and fields that the community is working towards being further enhanced for sustainable food systems and cottage industries.  Some possible projects in these areas include: a mushroom farm from on-site alder, basketry willows and other fiber arts plants, flood tolerant productive trees, more berries, row-cropping, and etc...  

Job Description: The permaculture gardeners would live on-site, and be offered room, board, internet, hot-tub access, and a small stipend depending on experience and what is needed. They would be responsible for the day-to-day up-keep and cultivation of the gardens for annual and perennial production. This includes: planting, weeding, mulching, watering, hauling, pruning, harvesting, processing the harvest, and etc...  Other projects may include light construction or be non-garden oriented, but a majority of the work would be gardening.  
Sahale is looking for gardeners at the intern level, as well as possibly a garden manager.  Inquire within for more information. 

*Qualifications: We are looking for interns who have experience or interest in any the following fields: permaculture, ecology, organic gardening, cooking, sustainable agriculture, alternative energy and building, forestry, mycology, fiber arts, natural history, photography, ethnobotany, ethnobiology, indigenous studies, soil sciences, community studies, GIS/GPS, transpersonal psychology, and etc. Gardeners are especially encouraged to have a Permaculture Design Certificate and/or an established background in permaculture.   We are looking for people who are curious, compassionate, friendly, and dedicated to growing a healthy planet for our future.  

We need permaculturally and community modivated interns who work efficiently with or without direct supervision.  Community members take their work, recreation, and relaxation to heart, and so should the gardeners!  This is a highly rewarding and fairly flexible project to work for, and a good fit would be someone whose personal goals are well meshed with those of goals of Sahale and the ecovillage project, and the communitarian and non-violent communication practices embodied by the Goodenough Community.  

Contact Lola D. for more information about the position(s), 360-930-9227, sahale.seed@gmail.com

See www.goodenough.org for more information about the Goodenough Community