Homestead Experience - July 2026
Camp Wonder WanderAbout This Opportunity
“Homesteading and sustainable rural living”
This **Homestead Experience Program** is an intensive experience that offers you the hands-on practice with a daily routine and at least a week of workshop style seminar discussions to pull the dream into a more concrete plan. Dreaming about having your own chickens or farm animals, growing your own food, and having a creative practice in a more peaceful space, but don't know where to start? Maybe you have a bit of fear in the chaos of today's society to go anywhere outside of the traditional liberal and cultural arts spaces of city life? Or maybe you are seeking a place to create a safe bubble?
**Seeking 5 people for this annual opportunity.** *Each person will have their own room either in the Raspberry Residency House or the Camphaus (with cats). 3 group dinners are included in this program along with individualized consultation from the start that extends to a longer term mentor relationship in the future.*
In this program, you'll hear firsthand stories from your host/guide/coach who was in a similar spot and made the decision in 2014 to make that break. You'll learn from her challenges, trials and tribulations, small moments of success and larger moments of hope in navigating this jouney. In this program, the relationship is one of mentor and friend. Alumni of this program are eligible to return at any time at no cost and to be considered in future planning what the legacy of this place becomes in the next two or three decades to have a life beyond the founder.
2026 DATES: July 1 - August 2
Discover the difference between a dream of a homestead life with the practical realities of the day in and day out aspects of the lifestyle you decide to pursue.
*This homestead experience program is a live and work opportunity that has plenty of time for you to also pursue your creative projects as well as explore the region.*
In an active-learning mode, you will have the opportunity to have hands on learning on the property in particular the care and maintenance of the animals and gardens. In seminar style gatherings, there will be q/a sessions to learn more of Val's story, decisions, trials and tribulations, and knowledge she has gained in the last decade. She will guide/coach you in a variety of basic tasks around the property so you can gain actual practical experience to embark on your own quest of similar lifestyle.
Topics include:
- identifying the type of property, location, and acquisition techniques that suits your dreams and goals
- how to adjust to living in rural America as a liberal progressive and as an entrepreneur in the creative fields
- where to start with your animal decisions (the quirkiness of various species, the things to consider and learn from her mistakes/challenges, why you might need LGDs - large guard dogs, and more)
- connecting to the community and finding help (from veterinary to a social network)
- thinking about the types of agriculture or the landscape you desire and figuring out some of the challenges ahead of time (differences between container and in ground vegetable garden, should you try fruit trees, should you try something that could be sold at farmer's markets)
- how to balance creative life with the daily grind on the land that is different than suburbia and urban conveniences
- actual demonstration lessons (how to install a wire fence with t-posts, composting and weeding, basic carpentry if you haven't tried before, and other topics based on your interests)
Eligibility & Requirements
Career Stage
Geographic Eligibility
Eligible Countries
Disciplines
Applicant Type
Individual artists and collectives
Additional Requirements
Applicants should complete the form on the website and be ready to make a commitment to yourself while taking a leap to make a commitment to this unique place. Ideal candidates have deep ambition, a fearless approach to goals, boundless energy, ability to wake up early, and physical ability to move throughout the day including walking on uneven terrain, lifting, shoveling, and other elements that may require hand-eye coordination. Previous experience in animal caretaking preferred. Must be someone who embraces new experiences and understands verbal instructions.
Note
Only open to artists based in the country the program is located (United States). May apply as a team. Applicants should have: previous experience in animal caretaking (volunteering, pet sitting, own animals); physical ability to move throughout the day including walking on uneven terrain, lifting, shoveling; not be someone to complain about heat, weather, sounds, being away from home, lack of urban conveniences; embrace new experiences including being sweaty or dirty; understand verbal instructions and ask for clarification; have a goal within the next few years to bring nature into life in some way; have a longer term goal to make a rural lifestyle permanent; or be looking for a longer term mentor in this new trajectory. This is not for people who have this idea on a whim.
Compensation & Benefits
Overview
$400 residency fee (discounted). Includes housing, meals, and mentorship. No artist stipend or travel stipend provided.
Detailed Breakdown
This program includes a discounted fee and is in essence an exchange. You'll receive an almost priceless workshop, seminar, learning and individualized planning with the help of a mentor/guide/coach. Approximately 18 days will consist of actual hands-on practice with the care and feeding of the animals in their routines from the birds in the morning, day, and night to the donkeys with their meal routine, and can't forget the cats and two adorable big farm dogs.
What's Provided
Housing Provided
Each person will have their own room either in the Raspberry Residency House or the Camphaus (with cats).
Studio Access
Private Studios available. Plenty of time for you to also pursue your creative projects.
Accessibility
Inaccessible Housing. Studios/Facilities Accessibility Partially Accessible (50% or more) or Inaccessible.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. If your application fits, you will be invited to a video interview. All final participants will be required to sign a formal agreement of your commitment, the policies, etc.
Interview Required
video interview
Timeline
Deadline
April 30, 2026
Program Dates
July 1, 2026– August 2, 2026
