Help on family homestead and discover unique culture in Bruvoll, Norway

Details

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  Description

  We are a couple in our late fifties living at a homestead since October 2020. The place consist mainly of log buildings from 1850'ies (under renovation) and semi-new log buildings (under construction). We share our household with two cats from an Animal shelter. For the time being we do not have any livestock, but may keep a couple of pigs this summer/autumn, and hopefully add a few hens to our household next year.
  
  We are a private homestead producing for our own consumption only. Our goal is to be as selfsufficient as possible and we aim to get "almost-off-grid" in the future.
  
  A litle more about us:
  
  Haakan (59): originally from Sweden, but have stayed in Norway since the late 1980's. His working career so far: has a degree in forestry, worked as a carpenter for several years, familliar with industriall work (i.e. welding / plumbing / steel-work / masonry), offshore experience as a diver (oil industry) and more. Haakan is a driven, handy and active man (turbo), and aim to see solutions instead of problems. He isn't too good at foreign languages, quote: "very good at offshore english" (mix of Swedish/Norwegian/English). Haakan is very social and outgoing.
  
  Me (Stina, 56): My working career (roughly summarized): mainly in the area of office and trade as secretary / caseworker / food safety coordinator and office manager. I have also been a housewife / staying at home mum for several years. I've got three adult children, one of them with special needs. I had to leave ordinary work-life in 2016 due to health issues. Hence, I do have some "slow periods" where I tend to not so physical tasks :-) I'm a bit introvert and need some time on my own during the day, but still social and outgoing when the company is right.
  
  We do eat meat / fish / poultry / dairy products on a daily basis, so our diet / way of life is not suitable for vegans. If you are vegetarian we may work something out, and we do prefer to have our meals together.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our lifestyle will be suitable for those who are interessted in self-sufficiency in various forms and off-grid living. In the evenings there will occationally be time to sit around the camp-fire, exchanging stories, learn more about each others cultures and way of life, or just contemplation for that matter.
  
  I (Stina) do occationally like to visit various museums and events during the summer. Depending on your interests, I'd love to share more of the Norwegian history and culture if you'd like to come along :-)

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  Help

  Helping out with daily chores in addition to various ongoing projects.
  
  That'll say, depending on season of the year: housekeeping like making meals and cleaning, tending to the vegetable garden (weeding), regular gardening (lawn mowing), soil improvment / landscaping, chopping / packing wood, some minor forestry work, filtering oil for the various vehicles on the farm (Haakan re-use vegetabel frying oil from local restaurants), outdoor / indoor painting, foraging / harvesting, assist in renovating log buildings, renovating furnitures, tidying and organizing etc. Most of this is manual work.
  
  Main projects of 2024:
  
  Replacing the existing chimney in the main house "the old fashioned way" (masonry work with clay and bricks). Due to take place when there's no need to use the wood stoves for heating (summer / early autumn).
  
  Haakan would very much appreciate if someone with technical, mechanical and/or electrical knowledge would give him a hand in the areas of maintaining the old farm vehicles and other equipment (tractor, bob-cat, excavators, aggregator, chain-saws, car trailers etc.).
  
  Other ongoing projects:
  
  At the "new yard":
  Completion of a log lean-in as in tarring / some interiour work / minor carpentry.
  Completion of an oute-house as in painting / tarring / some interiour work.
  Completion of a small smoke-house (intended for meat / fish) as in tarring.
  Rebuilding a log house / storage cage - not sure if it'll turn into a sauna or housing unit yet (!)
  Building a wood-fired hot-tub :-D
  
  There is also the "The old yard" consisting of the original 1850ies log buildings, a project list with more detalis will be drafted as soon as the other yard is completed.
  
  We have our own transportable / mobile band saw-mill and some acres of wood-land, so Haakan makes most of the wooden construction materials by himself. Haakan has started the project of constructing a large shed to house the saw mill and the completion of this shed is scheduled to take place during 2023/2024.
  
  The kitchen and living-room in the main building will be refurbished (indoor painting, furnishing and other) after the replacing of the chimney.
  
  The garden is extended with a few square meters each year.
  
  The vegetable garden (organic) is also under extension, preparing the ground / making room for a more diverse crop. Please note that our vegetables, herbs, fruits and berries are for own consumption only. Hence, during the summer / autumn I (Stina) usually spend some time pickling, canning, drying, fermenting and otherwise preserve.
  
  Being a bit handy, willing to learn (working both ways of course!), having common sense, being honest, interested in creating social cohesion, versatile... are all qualities that will be very much appreciated. Both Haakan and I work more than five hours a day, so you must be comfortable enjoying your own company for a few hours every day.
  
  During spring / summer / autumn 2024, I (Stina) will need to help out at my elderly mothers place and / or assist at my disabeled daughters place. Workawayers are free to choose wether to come along or stay at the homestead tending to other chores. Occationally Haakan will need to work outside the homestead for shorter / longer periods.
  
  Please note that due to the risks working in heights (like roofing) and operating heavy machinery (i.e. the saw mill or the load carrier), workawayers will not be taking part in work that might compromise their personal safety.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Norwegian bokmål: Fluent
  Swedish: Fluent
  German: Beginner
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I (Stina) would love to refresh my language skills in English, and maybe take up on another language if I get the opportunity (French / German). I'm happy to share my native tounge and I'm able to teach the basics of spoken and written Norwegian. Ich verstehe etwas Deutsch, aber leider bin ich nicht gut in der Sprache. Ich habe es seit über dreißig Jahren nicht mehr benutzt, würde es aber gerne wieder lernen. Haakan understands English quite well and usually don't have a problem making himself understood. He is able to teach basics of spoken Swedish.
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  Accommodation

  A small, one-roomed log cabin from mid 1850's. No power/ electricity / wi-fi / running water. Suitable for 1 - 2 people. If you want to stay with us during the cold season, you will need to use the woodstove in the cabin to keep comfortable. There's unlimited access to ready made firewood nearby, so you may keep your private area (as in the cabin) warm and cosy.
  
  A small, rustic, one-roomed log cabin from mid 1850's that will be fully restored / refurbished during spring/summer 2024. No wi-fi/ running water, but power / electricity is installed. Suitable for 1 person.
  
  We welcome tenters if you don't want to stay in one of the cabins. If you don't have a tent, we can supply a decent sized tent for one person. Or "glamping" in a more spaceous tent suitable for two people (picture will be posted later). Bedding will be provided.
  
  Workawayers are of course welcome to use the bathroom, kitchen and livingroom in the main-house.
  
  Note: When you arrive, you are met by a tidy and clean cabin with clean bedding. We do expect that you tidy and vacuum / wash your cabin before your departure. Vacuum cleaner and equipment for washing will of course be provided.

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  What else ...

  The farm is situated at Bruvoll (Nord-Odal) 54 kilometers from Gardermoen International Airport. The public transport opportunities are rather scarce, so I will of course provide transport to and from the nearest bus stop / train station / airport when and if needed.
  
  There are excellent opportunities for hiking (photo of a map with marked trails in the surrounding area will be added shortly), and I'm working on making an agreement with DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association) for those who would like to go for longer hiking trips during their weekends.
  
  An important detail: we are not vaccinated (Covid 19) for medical reasons, and don't mind wether you are vaccinated or not (it will not be an issue of discussion either way).

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have decent wi-fi connection in the living room (main house), but the signals do not reach our guest cabins.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We can accomodate any kind of motorhome.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

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

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