Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
18 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 57 days
Feedback
50
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hi everyone!
Oh wow. Let's update Workaway. So many things has passed these years.
Before Corona we hosted Workawayers for about 10 years.
After Corona we quit everything and spend a year going around as a "Workaway-family" ourselves. Went to France, italy, Spain and Portugal. Great trip and it led us back to Germany.
And...
Started a new project somewhere else. Restoring an old house to build up a cafe for cultural activities, part of an association. Non profit.
So our café is opening up at the end of august 2024. Lots of thing to do. Beside raising our boys 9 and 12.
We could use some hands helping restoring the house and building up the stuff together.
If you feel like passing by: a big welcome.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
beside language skills you can learn about renovation stuff. the rural forrestial area here is very lovely for hiking. a big beautiful lake is like 20min busride away. the cities of Bonn or even Cologne are within reach, but takes some time to get there and have to switch bus and trains.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
it's now mostly about easy renovation work, like cleaning stuff, painting, getting thing together.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: FluentThis 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
there will be a room for your own, a bathroom (shared) and share our kitchen and living space with us.
What else ...
share experiences with each other - have a good time, make friends. we'll also help you to find your way here to get around, there are also busses to the town and cities nearby, but...this place is really countryside ;-)
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
5 (no more than 25 hours per week - two days off)
Host ref number: 512981551285
Feedback (29)
25 Nov 2020
Left by Workawayer (Andrew & Elena) for host
A few of the workaways we went to felt like we were being used as cheap labour. This was not the case with Mark and Melanie. They were very fair with their working hours, giving us lots of free time. The accomodation was very nice and very spacious, as we were in a separate house (shared with their tenant, who is wonderful and kind). Mark is a… read more
5 Oct 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Job)
Job was a great helper. It was not always easy what we asked him to do - he did it! Reliable and caring - thanks and good luck! come back at any time
(Excellent
)
5 Oct 2020
Left by Workawayer (Job) for host
Had my first workaway experience here and it was really great. I stayed for 2 weeks that went really fast and i might come back at some point to so see the then hopefully finisht pond.
25 May 2020
Left by Workawayer (Camila & Francisco) for host
We spent a great time together last autumn! One of the best workaway experience we've had. Mark and Melanie are great people and the kids are amazing. We loved working with them and getting to know each other, specially game night!
We spent a night helping Mark with him Milonga event and enjoyed watching everyone dance tango. This made us feel at… read more
We spent a night helping Mark with him Milonga event and enjoyed watching everyone dance tango. This made us feel at… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
25 Nov 2020
Left by Workawayer (Andrew & Elena) for host
A few of the workaways we went to felt like we were being used as cheap labour. This was not the case with Mark and Melanie. They were very fair with their working hours, giving us lots of free time. The accomodation was very nice and very spacious, as we were in a separate house (shared with their tenant, who is wonderful and kind). Mark is a… read more
5 Oct 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Job)
Job was a great helper. It was not always easy what we asked him to do - he did it! Reliable and caring - thanks and good luck! come back at any time
(Excellent
)
5 Oct 2020
Left by Workawayer (Job) for host
Had my first workaway experience here and it was really great. I stayed for 2 weeks that went really fast and i might come back at some point to so see the then hopefully finisht pond.
25 May 2020
Left by Workawayer (Camila & Francisco) for host
We spent a great time together last autumn! One of the best workaway experience we've had. Mark and Melanie are great people and the kids are amazing. We loved working with them and getting to know each other, specially game night!
We spent a night helping Mark with him Milonga event and enjoyed watching everyone dance tango. This made us feel at… read more
We spent a night helping Mark with him Milonga event and enjoyed watching everyone dance tango. This made us feel at… read more
25 May 2020
Left by Workawayer (Filippa) for host
Spent a lovely two weeks here with Mark and his family, who are all very friendly, attentive and keen to include& welcome you into their family life. You don´t really feel like a guest from the outside world here, rather they come with open arms to involve you in family life as if it were the natural course...which i really appreciated! ; )… read more
25 May 2020
Left by host for Workawayer (Filippa)
Felippa did a great job. She's a very engaged and kind person and we are all very sad when she left. SHe was great with kids, strong working, cooking, helpful whenever she was asked... or even without being asked. Thank you so much. Come back!
(Excellent
)
17 Nov 2019
Left by Workawayer (Julieta & Carlos Matias) for host
We had our first workaway experience with Mark and Melanie's family and it was fantastic! They are very kind people and their kids Emilio&Antonio are lovely.- We really enjoyed our 3 weeks with them.
The kind of tasks were: painted walls, plastering walls, fed the chickens, removed the wallpaper.
In our free time we played many board games with… read more
The kind of tasks were: painted walls, plastering walls, fed the chickens, removed the wallpaper.
In our free time we played many board games with… read more
6 Nov 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Julieta & Carlos Matias)
Julieta and Matias are great people and we were very happy to have them stayin with us.
They are cool and easy going, but honestly, hard working people. Fair and creative.
Simply great!
They are cool and easy going, but honestly, hard working people. Fair and creative.
Simply great!
(Excellent
)
17 Oct 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Mattia)
Matias is a very clever and friendly guy who loves helping and does all that he can.
We found a friend with him and love to see him again,
We found a friend with him and love to see him again,
(Excellent
)
16 Oct 2019
Left by Workawayer (Mattia) for host
What can i say about Mark, Melanie and the kids? I love them! :D these are the kind of people that everybody should have in their lifes. I feel really like i got far more than i gave. Melanie and Mark are really sympathetic and will give you some work according to your abilities, work which i guarantee is most of the time really relaxing and will… read more
29 Apr 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Wenny)
Wenny was very ambitioned to help everyone and very relaxed to fit in our crazy family life. A supergood workawayer - invite her if you can!
(Excellent
)
4 Apr 2019
Left by Workawayer (Wenny) for host
I had my first workaway experience with Mark and Melanie's family. As soon as I arrived everyone was completely welcoming, kind and friendly. I stayed for about two weeks and got to do all kinds of things like even painting part of the house blue! The boys are also really fun and great to play football with. I loved hanging out with the whole… read more
29 Apr 2019
Left by Workawayer (Barbara) for host
I had a very nice first workaway experience at Mark and Melanie's house, they are very kind people, very welcoming. I'm not so good at writing reviews so I'll simply say that I highly recommand any workawayer to help there, all the family members are great, you have the opportunity to visit Mainz, Frankfurt and to make beautiful walks.
Thank you… read more
Thank you… read more
9 Apr 2019
Left by Workawayer (Giulia) for host
A fantastic family! Mark, Melanie and Juli are very sweet people, always helpful and also very fun! Kids are adorable, they taught me how to play soccer and chess. Working hours are well distributed, work is based on your skills and on the need of the moment, Mark is very helpful. During the weekend you can enjoy the evening in the garden with a… read more
1 Apr 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Giulia)
Giulia is GREAT! Very ambitioned person to help with everything going on. A FANTASTIC COOK!!! Like a very very good italian restauranr, No kidding! Great with kids. Giulia - come back any time you like...
(Excellent
)
7 Jan 2019
Left by Workawayer (Paul Ferdinand) for host
I stayed about two weeks in the summertime. From the first moment i was very welcomed by Mark and his children. Two wonderfull kids where work does not feel like. I had a lot of fun with them as we went swimmimg or to the playground. Mark is an excellent host and very relaxed related to the time of work. Because of that you can plan your freetime… read more
21 Oct 2018
Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host
I really enjoyed my week with Mark and his community. They were very welcoming and made me feel like part of the family. Mark is a great guy and really interesting to talk to, I really enjoyed our conversations abkhr a wide range of topics. The work was not too much and I felt at times like I should have been doing more, but Mark is very laid back… read more
4 Sep 2018
Left by Workawayer (Jonathan) for host
Sorry for the belated review! I had a great time in Neuweilnau with Mark and his family. The work was balanced and fair and the children really made the stay enjoyable. It’s nice to be around such young energy for a change. The town and surrounding area were small, pleasant, and great to explore on my time off. Mark, Melanie, Sabine, and everyone… read more
27 Feb 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Serhii)
Hey Sergij, it was great fun to have you with us and we thank you a lot for your personal engagement with the kids and the work around the houses. All the best to you and your family. Come over again, if it suits...
(Excellent
)
21 Feb 2018
Left by Workawayer (Serhii) for host
I did my first workaway here lasting 3 weeks during late January - February and spent two weeks with another volunteer (Tobias). Mark, Melanie and Sabine were so kind and pleasant that I didn't feel working for food and accommodation but rather being a guest and helping when something was needed to be done. I really enjoyed my stay here. Besides… read more
19 Feb 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Tobias)
Hey Tobi...not bad for a guy from Schwabenland ;-)
Anytime again - thanks for your serious help. good luck for the future, b:asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol:
Anytime again - thanks for your serious help. good luck for the future, b:asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol::asterisk_symbol:
(Excellent
)
19 Feb 2018
Left by Workawayer (Tobias) for host
What a crazy and energetic family I visited there! 4 kids full of power, curiosity and the will to conquer you once you stepped in their flat. Prepare yourself for reading and playing a lot with those four little cute monsters. But I enjoyed it very much, and read a few stories from my own childhood I almost forgot.
Besides being crazy with the… read more
Besides being crazy with the… read more
8 Nov 2017
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
ATTENTION! There is high possibility to you will truly like this family and their views of life! This was my first workaway experience and i stayed for 10 days. Mark helped me more then i helped him and i am very thankful for that :) He's very talented in singing and playing a guitar and i am so jealous about that -.- Anyway, this was wonderful… read more
11 Sep 2017
Left by Workawayer (Benedetta) for host
I was with this family from the 15 of August to the 30 and i'm writing now the feedback quite late (sorry guys!!)
anyway i can only say that if you want to spend quite and relaxing days and do some fun jobs you can do that with them.. but most important you are in the true sense of the world IN THE NATURE.
Melanie and Sabine are great women and… read more
anyway i can only say that if you want to spend quite and relaxing days and do some fun jobs you can do that with them.. but most important you are in the true sense of the world IN THE NATURE.
Melanie and Sabine are great women and… read more
26 Aug 2017
Left by Workawayer (Jack) for host
This was my first time doing the workaway experience, and what a fantastic one. Highly recommend staying with Mark and his wonderful family which had so much to offer. The work was very flexible and rewarding along with the tasty homemade food and unlimited supply of wine. After staying here for a few days I didn't want to leave, very comfortable… read more
7 Jun 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Edoardo)
great guy! he helped us a lot! he is very kind and reliable. we spend some really nice days and he likes helping a lot and always does the best he can.
good luck on your trip around the world!
good luck on your trip around the world!
(Excellent
)
7 Jun 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Aurelien)
we were all very happy to have you here with us, Aurelien. it was a great time and we all want to say THANK YOU!!! thanks for the nice and easy contact, for your willing to share and for the sponteanous and serious help. its great to meet people like you and I hope we all meet again!
folks - Aurelien is THE WORKAWAYER
its him.
;-)
folks - Aurelien is THE WORKAWAYER
its him.
;-)
(Excellent
)
6 Jun 2017
Left by Workawayer (Aurelien) for host
Do yourself a favour and visit these two lovely families!
I spent three amazing weeks there working mostly with Mark (renovating two bedrooms) and helping out with whatever was necessary but most importantly, I had a blast connecting and playing with the kids as well as enjoying nice conversations with everyone. I learned a lot from all of them,… read more
I spent three amazing weeks there working mostly with Mark (renovating two bedrooms) and helping out with whatever was necessary but most importantly, I had a blast connecting and playing with the kids as well as enjoying nice conversations with everyone. I learned a lot from all of them,… read more
2 Mar 2017
Left by Workawayer (Roberto) for host
Sono arrivato il 07/02/2017 verso le 23.10, sono rientrato il 28/02/2017
Super accoglienti, gentilissimi :)
La famiglia è composta di 8 persone, 3 adulti e tutti gli altri bambini, tranne Giuly di 15 anni.
Sono tutti molto simpatici e disponibili.
La giornata tipo dal Lunedì al Sabato era, Sveglia alle 7.30 nella mia camera, ci sono due letti… read more
Super accoglienti, gentilissimi :)
La famiglia è composta di 8 persone, 3 adulti e tutti gli altri bambini, tranne Giuly di 15 anni.
Sono tutti molto simpatici e disponibili.
La giornata tipo dal Lunedì al Sabato era, Sveglia alle 7.30 nella mia camera, ci sono due letti… read more
27 Jan 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Csaba)
Csaba was a very kind guy.
Today no one is sleeping in any hut no more. We moved and started an new project which includes another house and more place to stay.
Today no one is sleeping in any hut no more. We moved and started an new project which includes another house and more place to stay.
(Excellent
)
5 Jan 2015
Left by Workawayer (Csaba) for host
I've spent two weeks with Melanie and Mark and a few other workawayers last summer and it was one of my best experiences. At first I was a bit afraid of the "hut" and sleeping on strow with some bugs but after a few days I got used to it :D The worktime and the type of works were both very flexible, allowing us to have more free time. I enjoyed… read more
31 Oct 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Christopher)
a keen british gardener - what else can I say??? He's got the perfect energy to make it nice!
(Excellent
)
28 Sep 2014
Left by Workawayer (Christopher) for host
I have had a great stay here and have returned for a second time.
Mark and Melanie are friendly and very generous hosts. Being involved in the projcts here and discussing the plans Mark has, was a very rewarding experience. I have really enjoyed the company,the food (bread especially) and the work here (mostly garden landscaping), thanks for… read more
Mark and Melanie are friendly and very generous hosts. Being involved in the projcts here and discussing the plans Mark has, was a very rewarding experience. I have really enjoyed the company,the food (bread especially) and the work here (mostly garden landscaping), thanks for… read more
31 Oct 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Francesco)
great guy, good help! thanks for your work!
(Excellent
)
12 Oct 2014
Left by Workawayer (Francesco) for host
Nice time at's Mark's and Melanie!
Funny childs, nice conversations, tango lessons and not ordinary jam sessions! The working schedule let you enough time to do things, the weather is often bad but it's nobody's fault though.
I like the way you are planning your future guys, and i really hope you will feel free soon. But, in the meanwhile, keep… read more
Funny childs, nice conversations, tango lessons and not ordinary jam sessions! The working schedule let you enough time to do things, the weather is often bad but it's nobody's fault though.
I like the way you are planning your future guys, and i really hope you will feel free soon. But, in the meanwhile, keep… read more
12 Sep 2014
Left by Workawayer (Alba & Alazne) for host
13 Aug 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Marcos Eliseo)
great and very ambitioned guy. always doing his best. very likely. thanks for your help, Eliseo
(Excellent
)
1 Aug 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Alejandro)
you can wash your clothes but you need to ask, without speaking our language or even basic english this was too difficult for you, like many other things. thank you for your help, sorry we couldn't talk to each other. people like us don't eat so much meat here, sorry that was difficult for you.
(Excellent
)
1 Aug 2014
Left by Workawayer (Alejandro) for host
It is good experience with Mark and his family. They are friendly persons. In my opinion the main advantage things of this place is the adaptation of your timetable for work and do other things like visit this beautiful area.
But I am disagree with many things, for example,we couldn´t use a washing machine for wash our clothes, more variety of… read more
But I am disagree with many things, for example,we couldn´t use a washing machine for wash our clothes, more variety of… read more
31 Jul 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Ricardo)
Hi Ricardo, thank you for your help. There is quite a language problem when you go to another country like Germany and don't even speak english. Maybe even reading our profile was difficult for you. It could have been a lot more fun with more personal input from you trying to do something for the community of the people there. But without… read more
(Excellent
)
31 Jul 2014
Left by Workawayer (Ricardo) for host
They are a very kind family, you can talk with them about many things, during the meals, around a fire... And the stayment in the hut was a special experience. Mainly due to the views from it, when you wake up in the morning.
Maybe is not the most comfortable place if you can´t support sleeping on the straw, with some insects... hehe
I missed… read more
Maybe is not the most comfortable place if you can´t support sleeping on the straw, with some insects... hehe
I missed… read more
15 Jun 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Jelle)
Jelle is very talented young guy who loves wood and has a strong work ethic. Very reliable person!
(Excellent
)
13 Jun 2014
Left by Workawayer (Jelle) for host
I just loved this place. The whole family is very nice, it almost felt like home(just better). It was fun to work with Mark, there where lots of things to do around the place, so it never got boring. I realy learned alot during the five weeks I've been with Mark and his family. It was realy the right place to go.
And: I'll be back
And: I'll be back
13 May 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Maria Eugenia & Pablo)
We loved so much to have you here. Thanks for your input in our projects!
(Excellent
)
13 May 2014
Left by Workawayer (Maria Eugenia & Pablo) for host
We spend 1 week with Melanie and Mark (Julie, Antonio and the future baby) and this was a LOVELY time together. We had the luck to take part in their projects and we enjoyed a lot, mainly with the fontain ;). There are many things to do so it is impossible to bore, and the zone is awsome. If you like the nature this is your place. The family is… read more
27 Apr 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Ella)
Ella can work hard, she's very reliable and great with children. Always good mood and very uncomplcated. Great time with her here.
(Excellent
)
19 Apr 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Reice)
Let me tell you about Reice: hard working man, very ambitioned, a good cook (sunday lunch! let him do it!!!), very reliable AND: clever in understanding what the work is about. Don't be silly: take him!
(Excellent
)
11 Apr 2014
Left by Workawayer (Reice) for host
Where do i even begin, i was at the start of what i intended to be a year long trip around europe, and after two weeks i was losing hope and thinkin of going home, so i came on work away and stayed with mark and his family and im so happy i did! It was an incredible and very entertaining month, i learnt a lot of new skills and had lots of fun… read more
20 Mar 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Bethany & Ellen)
Thanks for you Kai and Beth for having a nice time together!
(Excellent
)
25 Feb 2014
Left by Workawayer (Bethany & Ellen) for host
This incredible family took us in at a moments notice and now I never want to leave! If you come here I promise you you will have a real down to earth, educational, fun and exciting experience. The work is varied so never gets boring, the food is always very tasty and homemade. I have even learn how to make german bread! If you do not speak german… read more
