You can now volunteer for ISLAND!
We're looking for a few folks with a few hours to give toward a few select projects this spring and summer. Read below, see if you're interested, and contact us to get involved!
Surveying and Mapping the Property
Date Set! We'll be working all day (10am on) on Wed, July 2nd. Give a shout if you want to join us!
Folks Needed: 6-10
Time Committment: 4-8 hours (may repeat)
Ever wanted to learn basic surveying techniques? This is an opportunity to work with Brad on setting contour lines and mapping key objects on the new ISLAND property. You'll have the chance to learn a few different surveying tools: an optical auto-level + surveyor's rod (including using stadia to measure distance), a water level and an A-frame level (including how to build your own versions of both). You'll also learn to use standard measuring tapes (both 25' and 300') along with a bar compass and an engineers rule to draw accurate maps. Then you'll get plenty of practice doing all of those things, while you contribute directly to the design work taking place on the new ISLAND property in Bellaire!
You should be physically fit enough to spend the day standing and walking. You should be able to commit at least 4 hours on a given day (to be announced for late winter/early spring — once we have enough interest). You should dress for the weather and wear clothes you can get dirty (including good boots). We will provide coffee, water, juice and meals, and all materials.
Paparazzi
Folks Needed: 1 or 2 per event
Time Commitment: length of the event
We're willing to offer free admission to ISLAND events if you're willing to take high quality photos for our archives. You need your own digital camera and a willingness to take a few dozen shots an hour. Of course, the ability to take pictures without disrupting the event is key. We're currently looking for folks to document our benefit concert (April 12) and the upcoming Skill Swap (May 10).
Skill Sharing Research
Folks Needed: a few from time to time
Time Commitment: an hour or two
Our DIY Skills page needs some loving — we need folks to research practical skills and post .pdfs or text directions to the site. You should be a solid writer and a decent researcher; web development skills are not needed.
Street Team!
Folks Needed: A bunch all over
Time Commitment: varies, 15 minutes to a few hours
We need a person or two in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, Traverse City, Leelanau County, Kalkaska, Grayling, etc. who can pick out a half dozen places to hang posters for upcoming events. 3-5 times a year we'll either email you .pdfs to print and hang or we'll send you a small packet of posters. Take them to coffee shops, libraries, bookstores, pubs and wherever else you think folks will find out about the great events we're hosting! You can also help by sending us contact information (usually email or a web site) for local media community calendars, or by finding like-minded organizations that might be willing to cross-pollinate on projects.
Finding Friends
Folks Needed: 1 or more
Time Commitment: varies, 15 minutes to a few hours
This is a simple task for anyone who doesn't live near us, helping us grow our mailing list, obtain contributions of books, tools or money, find partner organizations and generally spread the word about this important work!
Improving the Library
Folks Needed: We've got enough! Thanks!
Time Commitment: 4-6 hours on 1-2 days
Get first look at our complete library! Though we have the books mostly in place, we need a small team of people to comb through all 2000+ titles looking for damaged books, titles that don't belong, duplicates, overly-specific dewey numbers, etc. We'll show you how to do all of that. We may also have folks enter new books into the database and apply the library markings to each new book
This is a relaxed job for a handful of people, and will take place in the basement of our current house sometime this spring. Coffee, snacks, good music and a meal will be provided! You can be the first to get your official ISLAND library card too!
Doug with the auto level finding 2' elevations off of the main road.
Computer mapping of property contour levels have been very useful so far, but are not high resolution enough or accurate enough for our needs. We need to get on the ground!
Then we make big maps of the property and start drawing in our rough ideas for where to place the gardens, house, barn, woodpile, etc. This photo is from Dave Jacke's Permaculture course where Brad learned all of this.
Once upon a time, about 12 months ago, these shelves held our entire library. Now that they're way outgrown, we need help wrestling the library into shape!