Help with our small organic farm, finish ecobuilding project, and learn about permaculture in Daugavpils, Latvia

  • Favourited 155 times
  • Last activity: 21 Nov 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hello, Workawayer!
    We are a big family - 2 parents and 5 children from 8 to 20 years old - from Latgale, living in our small organic farm (10 ha) that was previously owned by our ancestors. We keep animals - cow, chicken, ducks - and grow a garden with vegetables, potatoes, apples, herbs, berry bushes and many more to provide ourselves with meals.
    We rely heavily on ourselves to provide daily necessities therefore it is not always easy. Sometimes we are a few hands short in our chores and are happy to accept your help.
    We have been living in this location for 20 years, but it seems like there's never too little to do. Whether it's building a greenhouse, preparing hay for winter, collecting berries and making jam, planting trees or general maintenance work all around, we always strive to do do the best we can with the resources we have.

    We have an organic small farm (10 ha) with cow, ducks, chickens. There's beautiful lakes all around for swimming, fishing and watching sunrise.

    Usually, We are working with animals and garden, firewood and building and and need help to do all of this.

    We welcome anyone who wishes to come and stay, help and learn about Permaculture.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    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

    Permaculture, self-sufficiency, Latvian traditional songs, herbal teas if interested in the topic.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    Winter is time for slower lifestyle, but woodchopping and animal feeding never ends...

    Getting through everyday life requires a lot of work - maintaining the garden, planting and weeding, taking care of animals (milking the cow, feeding, collecting eggs from chicken, occasionally cleaning animal barns). Milk has to be processed every day - churning butter, separating cream, cooking cottage cheese and cheese. These chores, although not as hard, require attention, care and time. There are also physically heavier projects that are usually done by men - firewood preparation, digging, helping with construction.

    In the morning after breakfast we loosely discuss the plan of the day, usually we split into smaller "teams" and work on our duties. Cooking and preparing family meals are also a huge part of our routine as well as household chores. Even though physically taxing at times, life here is full of adventure and fun!

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Latvian (Lettish): Fluent
    Russian: Fluent
    German: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    We would lieke some practice in German and Japanese

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    If you like a nature life, this is for you. There is a beautiful cottage - strawbale house for volunteers that will be your own personal space. We prefer to do things together as a family, so we all gather around the table for meals at once. We eat a lot of meat and diary products as well as home-grown seasonal vegetables, fruit and herbs. Sometimes we bake our own bread. We can provide vegetarian meals (including our own milk/eggs) as well, but there could be problems with vegan food, especially in winter. So if You are vegan, You should provide specific products for yourself.

    We can also provide WIFI Internet . There is no hot shower, but You can organize simple washing every day. In summers we go swimming every day. 1-2 times per week we make smoke sauna. We provide things for bed, washing.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Here you can experience a simple, basic rural life. Food is prepared on a fire-stove, sometimes we make fire in the evenings and sit around it. If you want to feel what living in the countryside is really like, with all it's hardships, struggles but full of heartfelt emotions and true humanity, while being connected with nature, you are welcome to live with us!

    Latgale is a beautiful region, even the smallest local roads are full of sights to see. We feel very connected to our land and tradition, so we can teach you about Latgalian culture, history and music, and take you along to local events and festivals if there are any at the time. We can also teach you traditional instruments like kokle and flute.

    You can come by buss stright to our village. The closest big Town is Daugavpils. You can come to Daugavpils either form Riga or Vilnius (Lithuania) airport.

  • 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

    Internet speed is good, but the work space will be tiny.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Lot's of place around to park a vehicle.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We have a cow, dogs, chicken, ducks with ducklings, cats. Your animals are welcome if they can live not harming ours :)

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5days a week

Host ref number: 133514721458

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