Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
22 May 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
25
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
This chance of coming here for a full year is open from August/September. For the opportunity of a full 12-month stay, you will naturally want to see the place first, and are invited to spend a few days here if you are from afar.
My details (which will follow) are of less interest to you than your aspirations.
YOUR AMBITIONS: I see you as a young couple* who live in a large town but who yearn to be out in the peace of the countryside where you can grow as much of your own food as possible, surrounded by trees, in a warm house, and with a host of books to read, but with no need to spend your money on any of these advantages.
I have been enjoying all this since I retired twenty years ago. But I am now aware that the vegetable garden could be put to better use, as could the workshop with its supply of wood and tools, with enthusiastic young people in charge of it. So if you can’t make a success in these circumstances, then maybe a country living is not for you!
MY DETAILS: I am the vegetarian founder of the Irish Green Party, and I fell in love with Bloomville House where I live, about 100 km west of Dublin, as soon as I saw its surroundings. (I don’t say that the house itself didn’t need a lot of repairs but those are done now.)
WHAT YOU NEED: You will need a driving licence - I supply the 10-year-old car; a willingness to enjoy a vegetarian lifestyle while in the house; a delight in the company of two friendly cats, and a thrill to know that the house is full of books of all kinds. (One sad thing may be that my cats are unhappy at the presence of dogs.). Also, because I am rather deaf, you will need to be a fluent English speaker.
* Young couple could mean any kind of combination, as long as they share the kind of enthusiasm needed; and the inclusion of a child is perfectly possible. And as for staying for more than a year, nothing is ruled out
But remember: no meat, no fish, no smokers, and no dogs!
Final note: l believe in answering promptly!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I have a large library of all sorts of books, fiction, environmental studies, biographies, etc., and many books for children of all ages.
For families there are adventure trails, trees to climb, places for hide-and-seek and running around, and the possibility for children to build their own dens.
There are musical instruments and various board games.
And two delightful cats, Comfrey and Yarrow.
Help
Some useful skills are general gardening
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Shared rooms by request only.
Washing machine is free for you to use but we enjoy washing-up dishes by hand.
Several bicycles available.
Nearest train station has regular trains from Dublin and Galway.
What else ...
All our gardening is organic, and we compost everything we can. Where that is not possible we carefully recycle wherever possible.
We are not just vegetarians but also do our best to respect other forms of life.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
The tasks were always clear and easy. The work expected of me was completely reasonable: I could learn how to use some gardening items that I had never tried to use before.
I felt right at home for… read more
Christopher is a generous host and this was a pleasant experience for my first "official" workaway assignment. There was an interesting array of friends, guests and other volunteers during my… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
The tasks were always clear and easy. The work expected of me was completely reasonable: I could learn how to use some gardening items that I had never tried to use before.
I felt right at home for… read more
Christopher is a generous host and this was a pleasant experience for my first "official" workaway assignment. There was an interesting array of friends, guests and other volunteers during my… read more
They were always cheerful and hardworking and never bored.
They undertook all sorts of tasks which they had never done before, but always with great efficiency. I continue to look around me at the work they accomplished on my estate with great pleasure, and hope they will one day… read more
I loved working outside to help with the… read more
Silence in the reading room, a flickering fire to hear… read more
He has lots of amazing books and so I spent many hours in the Reading Room reading one of the books Christopher recommended with Toga, his cat, on my lap. I haven’t read that much for a long while and I loved having… read more
He was willing to work at all tasks offered, sometimes after training. In his free time he was very willing to red books in English and make a fuss of my cat!
I hope he will come this way again.
Best wishes from Christopher
He's a very serious, interesting, knowledgeable and wise person, easy to follow any conversation on any subject.
When I arrived, he went to pick me up at the station, and the same when leaving, which was very kind of… read more
I hope he will pass this way again.
I spent two weeks there, and I loved every minute of it. Christopher is kind, has good taste, and a good sense of humor. As other reviews have mentioned, the house and location is fantastic if you're looking for a rural get-away in quaint settings.
The work was fulfilling and could even be fun.… read more
