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We welcome you at our holiday farm in Natural Slovakia.

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    *Yvon is alone on the farm the coming period, since Sabine is working in Holland from september till februari. She really can use some helping hands to make the farm winterproof. All kind of tasks will be available, like painting, mowing, working in the garden & greenhouse, taking care of the (farm) animals but also helping Yvon with all kind of building chores. So you are looking for a wonderfull place? Send a message and enjoy magical Slovakia in autumn vibes!*

    In early spring 2016, we (Yvonne and Sabine van der Laan) fell in love with an abandoned farm in the south of beautiful Slovakia.

    A farm that in photos appeared very differently than in reality.... At the time we visited it was a bit of a shock, the farm had been neglected, those cute pine trees had become colossal giants and blocked any view. Yet we saw the potential this place had. We kicked off work and in 2019 we excitedly swung open the doors of our holiday farm Natural Slovakia. A place for our guests to unwind, adventuring, enjoying the peace and breathtaking nature. A powerful place to come home to, unknown but familiar.

    From the Dutch Bulb Region to the wide-open Slovak countryside

    In 1991, we, Sabine van der Laan-Vooren and Yvonne van der Laan from Lisse, first met in secondary school. As girls of 13, we soon became best friends. We are now a day older but the friendship was born there and has embedded itself in us. Even though Sabine flew out of the Bulb Region for a while to places in the Netherlands and abroad. And we lost sight of each other for several years but never from our hearts. In 2010, we found each other again and we said YES to sharing our lives together. We didn't know then that life would take us all the way to Slovakia....

    Facts & Figures: Did you know?

    ꕥ That at first the farm was born under a different name? The name was: Holiday farm the Blue Stone, because this is the translation of Modrý Kamen, the village we live in. During a random night, Sabine saw another glimpse of light in her dreams, that of: Natural Slovakia! And the rest is history. ツ

    ꕥ Yvon worked as a taxi planner for about 20 years? And that Sabine went to college in her late twenties to re-educate towards pedagogical work & education?

    ꕥ We have renovated/renovated/created and furnished almost everything with our own hands? But that we also receive regular reinforcement from volunteers from all over the world and from John van der Laan, Yvon's father, who regularly comes to help with odd jobs. We would not have managed all this without all this heartwarming help.

    ꕥ Sabine is an herbal witch? And she likes working with the phases of the moon, the power of herbs, getting her hands into the earth, living with the seasons and celebrating the yearwheel festivals?

    ꕥ Our accommodations all bear a Slovak name and in English they are: Beautiful World, Morning Dew, Old Love and Koekoek.

    ꕥ Favours of Yvon: making special gift items ➳ hiking with the dogs & cats ➳ having breakfast with Greek yoghurt and strawberry jam ➳ passion for wood ➳ Harry Potter books & films ➳ dancing ➳ walking undiscovered paths ➳ likes to wear caps ➳ singing along loudly with music while doing chores

    ꕥ Favours of Sabine: photography ➳ writing visual & inspiring texts ➳ making pure care products and foods ➳ dark chocolate with herbal tea ➳ decorating and styling spaces ➳ floral art with meadow flowers and materials found from nature ➳ sweetest film ever: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain

    Why did you decide to start a holiday farm in Slovakia instead of the popular France or Spain?
    How did we end up here and why did we choose Slovakia? These are questions we regularly get from our guests upon arrival.

    Just look around you, is often our response. Our farm is tucked away in an enchanted valley, surrounded by nature, bordering on forest and stream. You can walk here for hours, right from the farm, without meeting a single human being. There is also, literally and figuratively, room to live and work in the rhythm of the seasons and where time appears to stand still.

    Slovakia is a country with a rich history and traditions, colourful folklore with clothes/music and dance and friendliness of the at first sight, somewhat grumpy people. From the start, we always wave to neighbours or basically everyone in our street. This turns out not to be very common, as we got a confused stoic look back at first, but with an even bigger smile, we never gave up waving. And now when we meet the post lady, she is the first to wave enthusiastically! So if you're on holiday with us, feel free to wave to everyone, they're used to it by now ツ

    Does our story resonates with you? Please contact us if you want to know more about us and our farm!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
  • 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

    What can we offer?

    1) Challenging & inspiring working holiday. We are still learning, so we can learn from each other.
    2) Making magical memories, campfires, telling stories, having a glass of something and watching the many stars in the sky!
    3) Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner.
    4) Space to be yourself and enough free time to explore beautiful Slovakia.

  • Help

    Help

    We have a lot of different projects. From making appel sauce (of the apples we received from our neighbour) and Elderflower Syrup and more home made products, also we have a vegetable garden
    and a greenhouse, so there we can use some help and also helping out with all kind of construction work, a tinyhouse on wheels is our latest project and ofcourse the daily odd jobs like mowing, cleaning and painting. You have lovely animals around you. Two dogs (Beau and Sara), 2 cats (Joey and Phoebe) sheeps/goats and 10 chickens. We offer a diversity of activities, because it is not fun to do the same thing all the time.

    We will see together which tasks suits you the best, we're very flexible. If you are enthusiastic and curious and like to learn different things about farmlife, the culture of Slovakia and like to see how it is to start a new life here, you are at the right place.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent

    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

    You can stay in our holidayhouse. When you driving a ven/camper, you can park in front of the farm. You can use our bathroom and kitchen. Every day you get breakfast, lunch and a evening meal. It will be nice if you can cook as well!

    Travel expenses are for your own account. But we can pick you up and bring you back to the nearest busstation (Velky Krtis 6km) or the busstop in our village (but if you like to hike, it is a 30 minutes walk to our farm). If you are coming from Budapest, we can pick you up at the border Balassagyarmat (30 minutes drive)

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    A must seen is the Castle of Modry Kamen. You can hike or we can bring you by car.
    You can make great hiking trips, the blue hikingpath starts close by.
    Visit Boedapest, 100 km from ur place. You can take the bus at the border of Hungary ( we can bring you )
    From our village you can take the bus to serveral city's (Zvolen, Banksa Bystrica etc)
    The potraviny (small supermarket) is a 30 minutes walk from our farm to the village.


    We don't have WiFi.

  • 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

    Wi-Fi is availible in the holidayhouses.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    You can park in front of your farm and we can give you electricity.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 268985978111

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