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100 %
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14 Jun 2024
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Description
Update April 9 2024:
We are a regenerative education centre. You can learn a large variety of skills here.
Please know that we can only offer a moneyless exchange 'workaway' style learning experience if you already have some skills that we need.
We're mostly looking for people with experience. Skills in DIY, office skills such as excel, Social Media, gardening and Vegan cooking skills are most needed.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if this could be you.
We are looking for people who want to stay a month or longer.
We can offer a rich learning experience in return for your skills!
Sorry, we cannot sponsor or offer help you to obtain a VISA. We can only accept you if you have a visa or UK citizens, Irish citizens, Settled Status Holder, Commonwealth citizens with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holders with valid visa or Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa holders.
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Here is our full text:
We are the proud custodians of a young permaculture project on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
This is a beautiful 15-acre peninsula covered in stunning native woodland, with breathtaking views across the Sound of Sleat to the mountains of Knoydart and the small isles. Lichen-covered trees, a rich under-storey and an abundance of birdsong create a feeling of wilderness that is usually hard to come by. Otters and seals are regularly spotted near the shore as well as 88+ different bird species. If you're lucky, you might even see some dolphins or whales.
The aim of the project is to educate and inspire people about permaculture and the vital role it can play in helping communities work with nature to become more resilient and self-sufficient in the face of today's global challenges. We hope to make permaculture attractive and achievable for anyone and highlight its place in modern life, and plan to do this by creating a beautiful working example.
Our community is run by a Community Interest Company that runs some sustainable businesses on our Rock. This CIC does employ skilled people. Yet please take note that all your tasks as workawayer are all within the non-profit activities for the community and the land we live on.
It is also the base for a consultancy specializing in helping and teaching people to design and create their own vibrant, thriving, highly productive natural ecosystem and edible landscape.
We have a small field to grow food and within the woodland there are also some clearings which are used to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers. We keep a couple of ducks. There are several camping pitches and a number of small huts and caravans which give visitors the chance to sleep close to nature, while still having the option of a hot shower and cooking facilities.
We would like to remind you that we live on the West Coast of Scotland. During autumn and winter, we are sometimes blessed with some pretty dramatic and impressive weather. Strong winds and horizontal rain are not unusual. That means that it is possible that you might be working inside quite a bit. Sometimes on your own. If you can't stand this kind of weather or your own company for more than an hour or two, it may be best to apply for host that lives somewhere less exciting.
We are open to welcoming children and may have vulnerable people present in our community. Please understand that we want to be careful whom we welcome into our homes. For that reason the application process may be a little more work than you'd normally expect. We have some forms to fill in and some agreements to make.
Because of the effort involved in going through the process and introducing you to our unusual yet exciting way of working, this also means that -unless you have unusual skills- we normally would like to welcome people for longer than 4 weeks.Types of help and learning opportunities
Art ProjectsHelp with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceHelp with Computers/ InternetUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We expect volunteers to be self-motivated, hard working and mindful of the sensitive natural environment they will be living in. In return we will provide good basic real vegan food, a rich learning experience and a comfortable, welcoming place in our community.
PLEASE NOTE:
- We cannot accept dogs or other pets. Sorry no exceptions, our wildlife is important to us.
- We are an alcohol and drugs free project. If alcohol or drugs are important in your life, this is not the right place for you.
- Although the communal kitchen is normally vegan, we don't impose that on other people in their own spaces and may be happy to be flexible in our own kitchen
- The weather in our ecosystem can be very wet and windy and we live outside a lot. If you are not used to wet and windy weather, please know that it may take a little while to get used to that. You will need good shoes, warm and water proof clothing.
- We spend a lot of time outdoors.
This is a great opportunity to learn about and experience permaculture in the observation and design phase, organic vegetable growing on different scales, forest management, composting, animal husbandry, running a camp site, connecting people with nature, plant identification, bird watching plus loads of fun!
We'd also like to mention that our community is based on nature connection and routines that come along with it. We are regularly training our awareness and senses to become more alert and embody qualities of a healthy down-to-earth culture. One of the effects of this kind of living is that we become more and more sensitive to loud noise or hyper rushed energy (which often comes along with city life and the habits evolved with it). But it also brings us closer and closer to becoming grounded and balanced and being able to listen and building a beautiful team. So here is an invitation to bare that in mind when your contacting us. Think about if that sounds like what you're looking for and if you think our expectations fit together.
If you use the word 'White Tailed Eagle' in the subject of your email, we know that you have read our whole profile and you will increase your chances for a positive reply.Registered non-profit
This host is a registered CIC in the UK and is looking for help with their non-profit project. Please check directly with them if they can provide sponsorship. More info can be found here.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for up to 4 helpers. We would welcome individuals and/or couples on a long or medium term basis (1 month or more), with a preference for long term stay. People can apply to join the community as permanent members too.
All your tasks as workawayer are all within the non-profit activities for the community and the land we live on.
We are currently focussing on getting the site ready for the next growing season and improve our infrastructure, expand the garden, making more vegetable growing areas, improve and maintain the ones we already have and take care of the land by removing rhododendron, build natural fences to keep the deer out, improve paths and more.
We are looking for interested and motivated helpers who want to come for the minimum of a month. most important skills needed at the moment are gardening, DIY, handyperson skills, project management, cooking and house hold work. Some of our projects require some stronger bodies, let us know if you don't mind doing a bit of that.
We also need a webdesigner with experience of wordpress and some artists to make beautiful signs and wall paintings.
Other tasks we require help with include:
- helping plant a polytunnel with delicious vegetables and starting an aquaponics system;
- weeding and seed saving;
- compost making
- fixing and maintaining buildings;
- feeding and tending our ducks;
- miscellaneous jobs such as removing invasive species, collecting seaweed for composting, ecological surveys, beach cleans, wood chopping, painting, creating beauty, ...Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have several huts and caravans available in beautiful natural surroundings. We provide outdoor compost toilet facilities and there is a shower block with warm showers. Meals would be provided around a bonfire or if the weather is bad in an indoor communal kitchen.
If you are happy to stay in a tent, let us know, it makes is easier for us to say yes to you.What else ...
We offer an opportunity to be part of our community. We take this serious and we feel the need to go through a selection process to get to know each other. We take the time to discuss making a genuine agreement about your stay here. If you are looking for a quick answer or if you prefer not to go through this process, it may be best to scroll on.
Skye is regarded as one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, with dramatic mountains, seascapes and native woodland, fascinating geology and fantastic wildlife. There are many beautiful walks that can be made from Armadale and bikes can be hired locally. Skye has a strong traditional music scene, and prides itself on the wide range of arts and crafts that are created by local people.
The Sleat peninsula on Skye is a hot spot for Gaelic culture with Scotland's Gaelic College situated a few miles away. There are regular traditional and contemporary musical events, talks and other community-led events.
We are very close to Armadale pier where the ferry comes over from Mallaig. There is a post office and shop less than 10 minutes’ walk from the site and a few hundred metres further on lies the village of Ardvasar, with a hotel and community hall. There is a bus service to other parts of Skye and Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland.
We are part of an island community. Medical services are good quality, but scarce here. We expect you to be sensible to that and do not bring risky behaviour to our shores. If you are UK national we don't require you to be vaccinated. If you come from abroad, we would like to know that you are vaccinated. We do not want to occupy a scarce hospital bed needlessly. Please follow Scottish Covid Restrictions including wearing masks in public transport and shops. We may ask you to isolate for a few days and take a test. Please don't come if you have symptoms of any illness.
We would like to make sure that you take responsibility for all legal requirements to be able to travel to Scotland: visa's, tests, etc. We are able to provide opportunities for you to quarantine on arrival if that is needed.
If you can't take public transport and need to fly to Scotland to get here, can you persuade us that the carbon emitted is worth it? Do you have something to offer that is unusual perhaps? Can you help us reduce our own carbon emission perhaps? If the children of the future would ask you to justify the carbon you are spending, what would you respond?A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have wifi of decent speed in our communal spaces and the library and all mobile data networks have 4G
Space for parking camper vans
We have space to park your mobile home and can provide firewood and electricity. You will have to pay for your electric use or gas heating.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (28)
You gave us so much more than your magic with words. Your advice, your company, your… read more
Thank you for your delicious meals. Thank you for kindness, curiosity, rich experience, flexibility and willingness to help, whenever it was needed.
Your food and especially your cakes have entered the realm of legends here. We're still talking… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
You gave us so much more than your magic with words. Your advice, your company, your… read more
Thank you for your delicious meals. Thank you for kindness, curiosity, rich experience, flexibility and willingness to help, whenever it was needed.
Your food and especially your cakes have entered the realm of legends here. We're still talking… read more
We wish you could have stayed with us for… read more
The first in person meeting Otter had with me was on the beach. With a heart stone, he asked me questions and listened attentively to understand who I am and the aim of my visit. Then he tried very hard to make sure that I was able to take away whatever I wanted to get out of this experience by the day I… read more
We hope too welcome you back in the near future… read more
the communication went great, I had a good routine, cooking every day and just creating food that I wanted to make. thank you for appreciating it so much!
the surroundings are some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. watching the tide became one of my pastimes as well… read more
Thank you for your patience. Thank you for the care you took in every task you took on. I am walking around and seeing soo many things that you improved and fixed for us. Thank you for you kindness and quiet observations in our team. Thanks for being so open to something… read more
I spent 4 weeks on Rhuba Phoil in September 2022, the most interesting and powerful experience was adapting to the way the community works, with self-care and time in nature doing our "sit spot" practice being the priority. Main meal times are really interesting, when the weather permits, are always around an open fire at… read more
Thanks to Ludwig I learned more about nature awareness. He encouraged us to share and discuss about nature observations which was very enriching.
I was lucky to help out with some woodwork. During this work, Ludwig taught me… read more
It was a great experience for us all to have you here and… read more
You not only contributed so much by using your engineering skills, you also helped to make our community warm and welcoming and… read more
Thank you for helping me with a difficult issue and thank you for fixing our warm water plumbing issue.
We hope to welcome you back soon!
Thank you for acknowledging our understanding of you leaving early and our accepting your leaving with grace. Of course people are free to go when they want to. We accept that our visitors need to make decisions that… read more
I highly… read more
I loved the verity of work from wood chopping over washing sea weeds to harvesting and drying herbs. And nearly every day was… read more
It was a delight to welcome you in our community. It was really easy and fund to share this time with you.
We hope you are having a good time away and we hope to welcome you again. Some day.
The food was… read more
When you left us, you left a community very different than you found when you arrived. Your mindfulness, your creativity, your skills, your compassion, your warm heart, your dedication to your work has enriched our community greatly. I am writing this feedback in the kitchen while the young women you mentored are in my home… read more
Thanks for all your care for the other people here and the care for the land and the… read more
If you want to learn more about permaculture, community life and nature awareness this is a place to go. Ludwig has a lot of knowledge and is very willing to share it. The group of people that was there was very keen on sharing, taking… read more
I hope you can come back some day Lieve. Beste wensen voor… read more
Besides his many skills, Paul is kind, funny and very popular with everyone in the team. Sometimes we only realise how much we like someone when we notice the gap they leave when they left. Well it was a sink hole.
We all miss you Paul. Haste ye back!
Your presence in the group was uplifting and your warmth and friendship… read more
Thanks Ludwig for all the love and also all the… read more
Carolien is very smart and well organised. She is able to give excellent suggestions in designing and organising effective systems. She is really good at managing people and resources. She is also an excellent cook and is really good in making other people feel at home and welcome.
Your contributions have… read more
Your desire for doing your tasks as best you can is inspiring. It influenced everyone around you. Your sense of humour and happiness you spread helped to create a very pleasant atmosphere too.
Thank you for your wonderful stories of what you saw in nature. Thank you for sharing your… read more
it was fun to have you around. Thank you for going the extra mile! I hope you'll come back one day :-)
Apart from "normal" workawaying I made a short video about Ludwig and the project.
I am keeping my fingers… read more
On rainy days we worked inside, making signs for the campsite and when the sun was shining we enjoyed working in the garden. A good combination.
In our free time we loved exploring the island and enjoyed being surrounded by such a beautiful landscape!
All the people… read more
Ludwig is a wonderful warm and open person,… read more