"Walkabouts"?

Cspr · #1 02/04/14, 03:31 PM

I know I'm using the Aboriginal term in the simplest sense, with no regards to deeper cultural meaning, which I'm sorry about, but it's the closest I can get with what I want to do. Not sure if I should put this here, either. Sorry?

Anyway, I am not exactly in good physical condition. I am technically disabled, considering I some days I have to crawl to get around my house, which isn't wheelchair accessible. It's pretty bad, is what I'm saying. It'll get worse as I get older, but for the most part, I'm okay. It's chronic pain, pretty much, and I don't take pain meds for it because I don't want an addiction.

I have always loved animals, plants, and the wilderness. Mother Earth is my friend. I end up stuck in a square room, like a prisoner in a jail, most days. Where I live is just houses with no sidewalks. I feel trapped. I love going camping, but this usually requires a whole family affair and I don't get to do any real planning in regards to it. I'm considering, while I'm still young, to take part of my gap year to explore the North American countryside. Maybe a week, or two, at first. I have a kayak I borrow from my uncle and we have camping supplies. I'd need to go with a group, but I'd like to WOOF and see a few campsites. Maybe take an Alabamian river down towards the beach, maybe even to the beach. Just take some time to be with nature and see how far I can go, how well I can survive despite my limitations that have always made me feel useless and weak. (As you can tell, I feel sympathy for John Locke of Lost.) I'd love to try to live somewhat off the land. I love foraging, I do it for my pet rabbits. I'm good at fishing and I know how to ride horses, so a long trail ride would be awesome too. I'd like to learn to hunt, too.

Does anyone know of any group that wouldn't consider me a huge liability? Or any group at all? Most people I know tell me I shouldn't. That I should just be happy. I admit I'm probably a bit arrogant to do this:

But I want to try. I mean, I might have a body like a lemon car, but if I don't explore now? I might not get the chance later. I might drop dead from an aneurysm, which I'm actually prone to. I mean, I just want to live.

So, yeah. Any help in meeting this goal. Any suggestions. Anything, I'd love it. I've been planning some, but it's still in dream phase. I'd love solid leads.

Maura · #2 02/04/14, 03:45 PM

Put in a call to the state government, or even look on their website. Put in a call to social services and ask about handicap services. You should be able to find a non-profit group that does this sort of thing.

Cspr · #3 02/04/14, 03:57 PM

Alabama is completely broke, so I highly doubt that. But I'll look into non-profits, sure. I mean, I'm sure something is out there, I just have no idea where to begin looking. Thus, my post here. I figure back-to-nature folks might have some idea.

Thank you, though.

Cspr · #4 02/04/14, 04:09 PM

Speaking of our horrible state government website, it just sent me to a psychic investigator's page when I was looking up disability resources. XD Oh, Alabama, please change and change quickly, or I'm moving.

wyld thang · #5 02/04/14, 04:44 PM

Can I ask what your disability is? not trying to be intrusive, just give a better answer...

IowaLez · #6 02/06/14, 12:17 PM

Try Googling the official WOOFing website, there is a central one with all the contact info and most details of all current or upcoming farm work/live opportunities all over the world. You can negotiate stuff with the farmer, as far as tasks needed to be done that fit your physical capabilities.

But be warned, many of these farmers use WOOFers and "interns" as labor slaves and give them almost nothing in return, let alone actually train them to do stuff. I know a few of them (smaller organic farmers/farms) in NorCal, that operate this way, they are just a rip-off.

I know there is supposed to be a nice yoga "farm" (it is a special kind of yoga, I would have to go look up the name) in the Grass Valley area of the Northern CA Sierras, NE of Sacto, and they trade "farm work" for food, shelter and yoga training stuff. They require these "free" people to put in 4 hours of farm labor each day they are there.

Now, the person I know of that went there said it was great, but she was there in December 2012, and there ain't no food crops or herbs or anything like that growing there, in the Winter. It's snowy and freezing cold. So I just don't know, and I just read her mention of it in a blog post but the blog has been taken down as she prepares to take off travel for a year. And that is all I know.

If you see a listing in Cali that you like, let me know, cuz we know a lot of them, a lot of organic growers, as far as their operations and stuff grown/sold., both large and small. We used to be very involved in the CSA and fancy farmer's market stuff for a number of years, both as farmer and farmer's market operations/management positions.

Have done 4 small farm conferences in Cali, including the really big one at Asilomar in Santa Cruz (Eco-Farm.org); and at another smaller conference, we got to spend 4 hours alone with Joel Salatin, picking his brain and learning a bunch. We volunteered to do the totally-forgotten chore of airport pick-up, lunch, and killing time til he could check in at the B&B they booked for him. So this is another way to be involved and learning.

Good Luck, I hope it works out for you!

Big Dave · #7 02/07/14, 12:36 PM

I like wyld thang would like to know how bad off you are. WOOERS are nor SLAVE labor. Some do not know how to do farm work and some do. I really impathize with you. DO not look fro government help. Just go do what you can. you do not state what town of city you are in. Everyone is trapped right now because of the weather. Get your passport and go to an Island. A resort maybe and hire a guide. Kinda sounds like you are looking to be put out on the ice here. Hope not. Hope you can find your way.

Chixarecute · #8 02/07/14, 10:39 PM

Google "adventure outings for disabled individuals". Some results may be for kids, but I found this one right off: http://www.fdoa.org/about.

When I used the word camps instead of outings, the results were primarily for youth.

topofmountain · #9 02/07/14, 11:53 PM

What about Church Groups or people. Maybe even day trips?

dsmythe · #10 02/08/14, 03:12 AM

I listen to Christian Radio, there is a program on there, Joni and Friends, She, Joni is a quadriplegic. Her organization/website may have some hints/help/suggestions. My wife just lost her leg, below the knee amputation. She struggles with the same desires that you have listed, wanting to go outside and explore plus we have a small farm so she wants to be more involved with that so I know a little about what you are wanting.
The main thing is DO NOT GIVE UP on your dream, you will find you can do more for yourself and not have to depend on others if you want to bad enough. I had a friend who was a paraplegic, he hunted, fished, raised rabbits, carved wood, and was very active, YES, he had some help from a small group but we loved him. I worked in AL for a year and the people that I met were great to work around and be around. Good Luck