Region: Connacht

Has old-fashioned courtesy been consigned to the rubbish-dump? Any hope at all that workawayers could spare 30 seconds to reply to messages?! I am an artist/writer/photographer living in a smallish bungalow situated 1 km. from a 13th century walled town with very narrow streets! Bhind my house is a 1-acre field with a stable where my Shetland pony, Flicka and my donkey, Kassie live – though they do visit me unexpectedly now and then! I would really like to find a helper who would spend some time grooming the equines and teaching them to walk on a lead-rein with a soft bit. I have three cats, Lulu (aged 12) who spends a lot of her time in the stable, Kiwi (4) and Siog (Gaeilge for ‘fairy’), the baby, both of whom spend most of their time in the house with access to a walled courtyard for fresh air. My day is usually taken up with painting or designing in Photoshop, recording or mixing audio projects in my studio, writing my weekly columns for a local newspaper and a national magazine, taking and processing photographs and playing my beloved Takamine EN-40. I have lots of other instruments in my studio.

Region: Saskatchewan

Our farm consists of 90 head of cattle - calving is getting close to completed. We have 7 riding horses and 2 ponies (both ponies are needing harness work). The rest of the barnyard population is made up of chickens, ducks, cats, 5 dogs, rabbits, lambs, peacocks and of course our llama Sparky and our two pot belly pigs, Wilbur and Louie. Our farm has been hosting visitors since 2004. We are a family of 4 (daughters ages - 16 and 13yrs) and we encourage our helpers to become a part of our everyday life.

Region: Eastern Townships, Quebec

We are starting a cultural centre and auberge that will function out of a lovely old chapel and a seven bedroom farm house in the beautiful Eastern Townships of Quebec. The studio has no religious affiliation. Volunteers will work with us on both the house and church as well as the surrounding property, which is located in a peaceful village in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The official opening date of Staycation Studios is the first of July, 2012.

Region: Wales

We are a 10 acre smallholding in mid Wales. Two homes -myself Jules and husband Nick in one, and my daughter Rebbecca, and son in law Woef in the other. It`s a beautiful place - woods and fields full of wild flowers, a ceramic studio (available to those interested) a polytunnel with veg, gardens and a tree nursery (see website ). There are always lots of renovations to do, new plans and ideas, good conversation and laughter. We cook great food (one house vegetarian) and brew wonderful beer, so lots to do if it`s raining. We have no livestock at the moment, only 4 wonderful dogs - and a frisbee.

Region: Budapest

We are a small and cozy hostel in the center of Budapest looking for someone to help out a few hours a day and organizing pub crawls. Free accommodation is provided in a small loft separate from the dormitories. Free breakfast and occasional other meals are included. Fluency in English and good communication skills are expected.