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Busy life on an historic and diverse setting in Co Kildare, Ireland

  • Favourited 3754 times
  • Last activity: 27 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    24/3/24. We are currently looking for volunteers (preferably a pair/couple) from the end May/beginning June for the summer.

    We are living on a biodiverse estate just one hour by bus from Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains in (South) Co Kildare. We are a big close family although our kids have all left home now so normally though, it's just Karl and I along with three dogs, farm cats, hens and cattle.

    Our aim on the farm is to marry together our sustainability goals with successful farming. With that in mind, we dedicate large areas of the farm to bee-friendly pastures, ponds and hedgerows for bird-life. We minimise the use of sprays and inputs in our farming, and encourage biodiversity wherever we can in small and large corners around the farm whether its through allowing thistles along fencing or establishing wildflower meadows in corner. We have several interesting projects on the farm, including a moth survey, flora and fauna survey, solitary bee habitats, an attempt to re-establish owls on the grounds and regular bat walks.

    Our agricultural industry is sustainable dairy farming, and we no longer ask our volunteers to get involved in this. We also do online rentals, but again, our volunteers do not participate in this. We farm from a historic 18th century house and garden which is open to the public (in a non-commercial way) for some parts of the year. We live just outside the village of Moone. We have a tennis court, lovely farm walks, bicycles. A couple of km away is the 11th century Kilkea Castle, home to the Dukes of Leinster. A great cycle for the day takes you on a tour of Round Towers and High Crosses, or perhaps take the bus to Dublin or Kilkenny (one of the smallest cities you'll ever see!). The peaceful monastic mountain retreat of Glendalough is 45 minutes by car.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You can of course practice your English and learn about ecology. sustainability, archaeological and cultural heritage, farming, gardening, cooking and how life is on a busy estate in Ireland. We hope to learn more about your background and culture, as well as showing you ours.

  • Help

    Help

    We always have a different project, whether it be a stone wall to rebuild or reclaim, planting or freeing up young trees, a flowerbed to weed, a shed to repaint or a window to replace. We like to grow our own vegetables: from sowing to harvest this takes lots of love and care to produce to its best. In February/March/April we are preoccupied with our farm business, so at this time we do not take volunteers.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    Spanish: Beginner
    Irish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accommodation depends on what works when you come. Usually our helpers will be accommodated in a self-contained apartment, and, very rarely, in a guestroom in the main house. We have internet access. We can accommodate couples and singles.

    We always interview our prospective helpers because its very important to us that we like each other: and we also suggest that if after a week you don't think that our home offers what you want, then you really should feel free to say so and move on, with no hard feelings.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We really enjoy having practical people with us, because the projects we need to work on are really for 'hands-on' people. It would be a help if you have experience on outdoor projects.

    Due to the fact that we may take language students during the summer, and that we undertake that no other native speakers will be in the house while the students are here, we sometimes have restrictions on the nationalities we can accommodate.

    Look forward to meeting you.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Our download speed is normally about 25mbps, though it can get slow at busy times.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 11552435884d

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