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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Apr 2022
Feedback
65
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Description
***Please note: We are currently hosting Ukrainian refugees, so we cannot accept workawayers until summer***
We - an artist & translator/writer couple with two adult kids - live in a baroque manor house right in the romantic, beautiful holiday area of the Lahn valley, halfway between Frankfurt and Cologne. We always need help in our large historic garden, and we love interesting conversations. The famous historic towns of Limburg and Bad Ems are in bicycle distance of our place, and there are ample possibilities for hiking, biking, swimming and canoeing in the surrounding Nature Park of the Lahn valley.
Our big old house was built in 1790 as an aristocratic hunting lodge and has huge, beautiful gardens which extend right down to the river. There is always things to do there - raking leaves, mowing the lawn, cutting trees, weeding flowerbeds. It's physical help, but not too hard, and usually it should be fun because you can enjoy nature and garden while you work. We find the right job for everyone, whether you like slow, precise jobs or rough stuff.
Most volunteers help from 9 a.m. until lunch (ca. 1.30 p.m.) and spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the area. The forest starts right behind the house, with a beautiful, rocky little gorge. A beautiful and very idyllic place for nature lovers, with perfect opportunities for swimming in the river, hiking, biking and canoeing. We have bicycles you can use, and a canoe. We encourage volunteers to explore the beautiful surroundings, including the lovely historic towns of Limburg, Diez and Bad Ems - they're worth it!
Our place is great for couples, and we prefer hosting two people, be it friends or partners. If you travel alone, you should be the kind of person who enjoys spending time outdoors by yourself. You'll get your own little guest apartment with a private bathroom and toilet. As a general rule, workawayers are welcome to stay for one week (5 days work + 2 days weekend + arrival/ departure).
An important last remark: As we want the workaway system to be an environmentally sustainable one, we will NOT host people who fly into Germany and back home again just to stay with us (this has happened before and has been asked for again).
As for COVID, we will ask you to take a test when you arrive at our place (we are both vaccinated).Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningDIY and building projectsGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers can learn a lot about gardening and nature (including how to identify and cook mushrooms and wild herbs), but also about German art, literature and politics. We love reading and have a huge library of German, English and French books - feel free to use it while you are here! The same goes for the piano, if you know how to play. As we all like cooking and eating, you'll get to know some German recipes, if you want...
Help
Guests who are willing to help outdoors in the garden (mowing the lawn, weeding, cutting hedges etc.) are very welcome. It is important that you don't mind getting your hands dirty or helping outside even if the weather is not perfect. Gardening enthusiasts will love our place!
We recommend you get a travel insurance - it is not expensive and saves you (and your hosts) a lot of trouble in case you get ill.Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Hungarian: Intermediate
Russian: Intermediate
Arabic: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We speak English and French fluently, and we do enjoy teaching you German.Accommodation
1-2 Volunteers can stay in our guest room with a double bed, a private bathroom and toilet (and a view of the river). We cook organic & vegetarian. No pets, no smoking.
What else ...
There is a train station in the next village, 3 km from the house (10 min. by bike, we can also take you by car).
Activities other volunteers have enjoyed include:
- Visiting the beautiful medieval town of Limburg with its famous cathedral, half-timbered houses from the 12th to 14th century and a lovely farmers' market
- A trip to the historic spa town of Bad Ems, ideal for spending a rainy afternoon in the luxurious thermal baths
- Swimming in the river (in summer...)
- Hiking or jogging on scenic trails in the beautiful forests and along the small gorges and valleys
- Taking the bicycles for tours along the river on the famous "Lahnradweg" (Lahn Bike Path)
- Canoeing on the river (we have a canoe and you can start right from the garden)
- Taking the train for day trips to Koblenz, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden or Cologne (45 min - 1,5 hrs away)A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a fast internet connection, so you are welcome to work on online projects in your spare time.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a nice parking space about 50 meters from our house, on the edge of the forest.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (31)
I can recommend them… read more
Wir haben sogar ein paar nahe gelegene Städte wie Limburg, Bad Ems und Frankfurt… read more
Lucy macht nicht nur das beste… read more
Feedback
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I can recommend them… read more
Wir haben sogar ein paar nahe gelegene Städte wie Limburg, Bad Ems und Frankfurt… read more
Lucy macht nicht nur das beste… read more
Etwas ausführlicher auf Deutsch: Daniel ist nicht nur ein interessanter Intellektueller, sondern ein… read more
Ich war sehr glücklich, dass ich mit Ihnen eine schöne Zeit verbringen und im Ihrem schönen Garten arbeiten konnte.
Sofia hat mir die Namen und Geschichten über verschiedene Blumen, Bäume und Pflanzen im Garten beigebracht. Durch unsere Unterhaltungen und Aktivitäten… read more
Weil Minaho sehr gut Deutsch spricht und die Sprache noch besser lernen möchte, den Rest auf Deutsch: Minaho ist eine sehr nette, intelligente, höfliche und hilfsbereite Person; wir haben eine wunderbar anregende Woche mit ihr verbracht und… read more
My time with the whole family was a lot of fun and I found lots to see and do in the area, I spent the week working in their beautiful garden and meadow and everything I did was always structured and clearly explained for me. This was my first time in Germany and the whole… read more
I worked in the garden felling and clearing trees, pruning willows, clearing brambles and landscaping paths.… read more
The room was wonderfully comfortable and I don't think we've ever been so well fed. The vegetarian German dishes were fantastic and we honestly felt very spoilt.… read more
The location is incredible, a beautiful valley on the Lahn… read more
In one of their many books of their library we found a Rosseti's quote that captures very good the spirit of the place: " Mehr ein Gedicht als ein Haus...… read more
Sofia, Thomas, Jasper and Lucie are just perfect hosts, who create a lovely atmosphere, which makes you feel there at home from the very first moment. They have also helped me a lot with my German, kindly correcting my mistakes and never… read more
Weil Maria noch besser Deutsch lernen möchte, haben wir die ganze Woche nur Deutsch gesprochen. Sie hat sehr engagiert und selbstständig gearbeitet und war mit ihrer Wissbegier und ihrer… read more
Weil Basia noch besser Deutsch lernen möchte, haben wir die ganze Woche nur Deutsch gesprochen - bestimmt wäre es ihr recht, wenn zukünftige deutsche Gastgeber das auch tun. Sie hat sehr zuverlässig… read more
And they do not mind getting their hands dirty - they got a lot of hard work done during their stay. Thanks once again! We highly… read more
Firstly sorry for the delay of this feedback, but please accept my belated thanks for letting me staying with you all! Really, really a fantastic experience - the house and garden are absolutely gorgeous and were always a pleasure to work in, and… read more