Volunteer on an unusual farm in Ireland
Description
My wife and i are now both retired teachers but are active working on a small farm.We have been running a small Summer English language school for many years.
We now have an Airsoft site on the farm which needs much development in the future.We are building a big Tree house here.
Our children are grown up but our last son is still in university and stays at weekends with us.We live near a small village but within 10 minutes to the city.This year we would like to design and plant a corn Maize and have it open to the public later in the year.We work with a special school during the week and also with homeless people in the garden.
Looking to develop Allotments and a pet farm for the general public in 2013 plus make our Airsoft site improved with more car parking new Hides using tyres and building castle command posts.Starting in March 1st we would welcome people interested in working in a vegetable garden and helping out in the allotments.Have lots of various and interesting projects throughout the year but would like to hear from teachers,cooks and activity organisers for July.Also interested to hear from anyone able to create a website for our farm and activities going on here.
We now have an Airsoft site on the farm which needs much development in the future.We are building a big Tree house here.
Our children are grown up but our last son is still in university and stays at weekends with us.We live near a small village but within 10 minutes to the city.This year we would like to design and plant a corn Maize and have it open to the public later in the year.We work with a special school during the week and also with homeless people in the garden.
Looking to develop Allotments and a pet farm for the general public in 2013 plus make our Airsoft site improved with more car parking new Hides using tyres and building castle command posts.Starting in March 1st we would welcome people interested in working in a vegetable garden and helping out in the allotments.Have lots of various and interesting projects throughout the year but would like to hear from teachers,cooks and activity organisers for July.Also interested to hear from anyone able to create a website for our farm and activities going on here.
Area
45 acres
Type of work
Teaching,Help with Computers / internet,
Other,
Art project,
Language practise,
Charity work,
Helping with Tourists,
Animal care,
Help in the house,
Help with Eco project,
Farming,
General Maintenance,
Cooking / shopping,
Building,
Gardening
Work
The work we do is mainly during March to October as we try to travel ourselves for the winter volunteering.
Vegetable gardening in the Spring.Clearing flower beds and setting new plants.
During June preparing for our Summer students in July.
Other work,--tidying ,painting ,cleaning etc...
We are constantly trying to make our Airsoft site better by building shelters for the players, b.b.q areas,tidying,painting,planting trees,stone wall building and repairs,
Completing building stables for the horses,
developing a hostel,
looking after the poultry,
creating nature walks in the small forest,
planting hedges,
training 3 horses,
painting buildings,
creating a new website for an open farm,airsoft activity centre and Allotments .
cutting timber and splitting logs for the fire and stacking them for the winter.
In July of 2012 we would love to hear from energetic people who could help us with our Language school either teaching English ,help in cooking or activities,Designing and participating in various activities on the farm with lots of fun,supervising young foreign students on excursions to various places of interest,general cleaning and tidying around the residence and dining area and social area.
Vegetable gardening in the Spring.Clearing flower beds and setting new plants.
During June preparing for our Summer students in July.
Other work,--tidying ,painting ,cleaning etc...
We are constantly trying to make our Airsoft site better by building shelters for the players, b.b.q areas,tidying,painting,planting trees,stone wall building and repairs,
Completing building stables for the horses,
developing a hostel,
looking after the poultry,
creating nature walks in the small forest,
planting hedges,
training 3 horses,
painting buildings,
creating a new website for an open farm,airsoft activity centre and Allotments .
cutting timber and splitting logs for the fire and stacking them for the winter.
In July of 2012 we would love to hear from energetic people who could help us with our Language school either teaching English ,help in cooking or activities,Designing and participating in various activities on the farm with lots of fun,supervising young foreign students on excursions to various places of interest,general cleaning and tidying around the residence and dining area and social area.
Languages spoken
English
Accommodation
We have a student accommodation building beside our own home and we can offer either a single or large room sharing-depending on the time of year and the number of volunteers staying at the farm.Volunteers share their own kitchen and living room with all essentials including wifi.
What else ...
We would like to have some help throughout our working year(March -October) in all the different work that we do around the farm and in return we offer friendly conversation and food.As on all farms the work depends on the time of year so be prepared to have different jobs each week. and maybe every day.People with Vegetable gardening experience would be nice as would anyone with know how to build a website for us.Work usually begins by 9.30 am until 5.00pm for five days a week.We would like people of all ages to be adaptable,good humored and willing to learn new skills or even teach us some new skills.
Projects for 2012 include creating an overnight parking area for Camper vans ,
Creating an Allotment area for people to grow their own food,
Adding more paddocks for small animals and fowl for the development of our Open Farm project,
develop a Wildlife and nature walk through the wood,
learning to preserve fruits from the farm,
developing the Airsoft site,
construct a everlasting water wheel to fill lake with water from a stream on the farm and generally help in learning to become self sufficient...........
Projects for 2012 include creating an overnight parking area for Camper vans ,
Creating an Allotment area for people to grow their own food,
Adding more paddocks for small animals and fowl for the development of our Open Farm project,
develop a Wildlife and nature walk through the wood,
learning to preserve fruits from the farm,
developing the Airsoft site,
construct a everlasting water wheel to fill lake with water from a stream on the farm and generally help in learning to become self sufficient...........
My Photo Album
Click to enlarge
Host ref number: 4354557344b7
Feedback left about host
Staying with John and Catherine was absolutely wonderful. There was always something new and interesting to do and I learned so much about the local area and history. Great accomodation, great meals and a very, very friendly atmosphere! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity! :)
This is my first experience in a Host Farm and it was WONDERFULL!!! It is a privilege for me to work with John!!!!!!!!!!
I arrived here and I didn’t understand when John spoke with me now after 3 week I understand and I like listen English language!!!!! I Met people from different part of the world (France Germany Australia Taiwan Svezia more
I arrived here and I didn’t understand when John spoke with me now after 3 week I understand and I like listen English language!!!!! I Met people from different part of the world (France Germany Australia Taiwan Svezia more
I had a GREAT time at John and Catherine's farm! A very caring, patient and wonderful couple, fun and easy work to do + new friends from all over the world! Thank you all!
I could not have asked for better hosts! I stayed in their farm for 5 wonderful weeks and enjoyed every single moment of it. John and Catherine are really kind and lovely and the best example of famous Irish hospitality. The surrounding area is very beautiful and worth exploring. John says that work must be fun and so it is. I would highly more
It was a fantastic stay in John's house for my first experience as helper. The team was worldwilde and very funny. John is an exceptional guy as George his brother in law. Thank you for this lovely place.
Genial! Estar en la granja de John ha sido toda una experiencia. Sobre todo para una urbanita como yo.
John y Catherine son fantasticos. Buenas personas y muy agradables. Si quieres practicar inglés te los recomiendo porque se esfuerzan mucho por hablar despacio y hacerse entender. Y siempre estan dispuestos a enseñarte trucos y detalles del more
John y Catherine son fantasticos. Buenas personas y muy agradables. Si quieres practicar inglés te los recomiendo porque se esfuerzan mucho por hablar despacio y hacerse entender. Y siempre estan dispuestos a enseñarte trucos y detalles del more
Thanks so much!!! i will never forget limerick and all the friends that i made in your place, many thanks to you and Catherine, Jayson, Dennis, Alfred, Fred and all the filipino friends, thanks to George, and the others workawalyers that became my friends so quicky, i will miss your place and the work there, also the dogs maxie and ali are so more
We found Perla to be very interested in all our tasks that we did during her stay and was always willing to help and learn how to do and then worked away herself.She also cooked some Mexican dishes for us.Thanks Perla
Helping John, his family and his AirSoft team was a great experience. John and his land are full of ideas and potential, full of amazing history at the same time. Still, he doesn't urge and so it was a good mixture of easy gardening and hard, but a work you could be proud of afterwards! Especially, founding the future big tyre mace was an honour. more
IT IS a very UNUSUAL farm!THanks to John I have found a really warm atmosphere, work was always playful and rewarding. I wanted to stay more!!
We're very happy for our wonderful experience. It couldn't be better!!! We've enjoyed a lot all the things we have done. We miss a lot the farm, all the nice people we have met and of course Maxie and Eli. Thanks a lot for everything!!!
Núria and Pati
Núria and Pati
I stayed only for two weeks at John´s and Catherine´s farm, but i made so many amazing experiences and i learned a lot of new information about the land and the area.
I met many nice and friendly people and also all the animals at this place were lovely, especially maxi.
Thanks for this great time!
I met many nice and friendly people and also all the animals at this place were lovely, especially maxi.
Thanks for this great time!
Please log in and visit this profile to leave your feedback.
