Hello fellow and prospective SHEP’ians. I'd like to go into detail about what Steemit’s
Hospitality and Engagement Platform’s purpose is in detail.
There has been a great response to the idea, but because of how new it is, there hasn't been a reasonable amount of information published yet about it. We hope to add some clarity in this blog.
S-H-E-P is a new initiative that is the brainchild of 
Over the past few years I have been traveling America using platforms like
Wwoof or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, as has
in the past. This is the original platform created to bring, in Wwoof’s own words:
”Volunteers together with Organic Farmers to exchange experiences and trust using a non-monetary exchange, to promote building a sustainable and global community.”
This has spun off into a couple of other platforms like helpxand
Workaway, which provide a place for hosts, or brethren offering room and board in exchange for a helping hand. These platforms cover all areas of need, not just Organic Farming. Helpx is the platform I used, which introduced me to this way of life. The majority of volunteers I met through this used Workaway, as did
While these platforms are great and all provide and promote a positive connection between life and the environment, they are not specific to Steemit, they charge a fee and force you to use their singular platform.
S-H-E-P shares the intention of creating a sustainable global community, but differs from these previous platforms in some major aspects.
Instead of charging a fee, users can actually earn through posting on their personal blogs asking for a helping hand, volunteering a hand, or blogging about the people and experiences they’ve encountered through the platform.
Steemit users don’t need any other passwords, profiles, or accounts to interact with this system. Just by utilizing the correct tags on your personal blog post your request or offer will be visible to steemians worldwide.
S-H-E-P is simply an idea and central information center, simplified so your needs can be seen by those who can help you move beyond such need. We did this by creating the process you'll be using and naming the separate tags for you to file your post under. This allows your specific request to be searchable and curated through 
Instead of being a solitary platform, S-H-E-P crosses barriers and gives you exposure on three
different platforms; Steemit,
SteemitWorldMap and Discord.
We are definitely about;
creating relationships and investing in the success of others to ensure success for all.
The purpose of the main platform account 
These are the tags you use on your Steemit Blog Post, allowing it to be searchable on both Steemit and the SteemitWorldMap for users to find your offer or request:
The #kin-shep or hosts are looking for a hand around the house, on the homestead, looking
for a live in nanny, organizing a Steemit gathering, offering a couch, organizing a natural
building workshop or putting on any type of event with the need to invite others to your property, for any reason.
The #shep-heards are traveler's and/or volunteers that are away from home, listening to the calls of need from the #kin-shep or interested in what the kin are offering. They are looking to do more than just visit a destination. They want to get to know the area by staying with a local and offering a bit of labor for room and board.
Maybe the #shep-heard is looking to travel and has a special skill they would rather trade than spending money on renting a hotel or apartment. Maybe you don’t have a special skill but are willing to pull weeds, help with repairs, maybe build a website, offer childcare, landscape or any other need the kin may have. An example would be offering 25 hours of service for room and board.
Maybe you are looking for something like AirB&B, renting out a rural cabin or yurt but want to cut out the middleman… S-H-E-P allows Steemit to act as an impartial uniter to offer a service of any kind in an ethical and cheap manner.
While S-H-E-P can be used to conduct business, it's intention is more organic.
It's main purpose is to unite people in a personal way to connect on a human level, by creating unlikely friendships, an exchange of experiences and knowledge. The best part is, it's done in a way that the needs of both are met without the need for monetary exchange.
We are hoping to unite brethren that are interested in investing in one another’s success as a way to build bridges, ensuring that both parties prosper.
When we work together as a community for mutual benefit, the world as a whole succeeds.
The Earth provides enough resources in abundance for every living entity to live a healthy,
happy and safe life, without dire need. Unfortunately, our current governmental and economic
systems leave many without basic necessities.
There is so much need and hunger in the world which could be eased if we were able to work together in supportive rather than competitive communities.
governments, we can bypass the functions of economies. By bartering skills and labor for necessities, we are bypassing a middleman. This action by itself is a step towards efficiency, benefitting both the helper and those in need of a hand.
We hope you resonate with the mission of
Let's unite in more ways than just digitally.
Please refer to this post for instructions on how to add your blog to all three platforms and sample template giving you an idea for what information to put in your blogs.
Shortly, full details for use will be posted to both the
a permanent link available for access to them at will.
Please make sure to follow 
Thank you for sharing your time with us. If you see the potential we do in SHEP, please upvote, comment and resteem.
The platform is only of use if Steemians know it's available to them. Please help us get the word out…
Please make sure to get outside and record it for others to enjoy.
#PayItForward because someone has done right by you.
And most importantly, help keep our area's clean by practicing Leave No Trace Principle's.
