Big garden in beautiful, peaceful West Wicklow, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  Hello!
  
  My daughter and I would like to welcome helpers in May and June.
  
  These are some outdoor tasks I need help with in the next month or two: caring for native saplings in our field, clearing out the pond, watering the greenhouse, moving and dividing plants, gathering and chopping firewood and lots of weeding, strimming and mowing. On days when weather is really bad the focus will be on housework, and even though we love cooking, we'd be happy for someone who also loves cooking to prepare meals. You will need good outdoor, waterproof clothing and footwear.
  
  I live in a big house on 2 acres with my teenage daughter in beautiful West Wicklow, beside a forest and near the mountains. It's a peaceful, quiet, rural location. We are an hour from Dublin and Kilkenny, 25 mins from Carlow and The Glen of Imaal, and 45 mins from Glendalough.
  
  You will have your own bedroom and bathroom, and share the kitchen, living room, TV room and art room.
  
  I'm a primary school teacher so can help you with English or if you want to learn Gaeilge. I speak a bit of French and am learning Spanish these days.
  
  I'm a musician who plays traditional Irish music, so you will have the opportunity to hear authentic music and to come to local music sessions. There are spare instruments in the house which you can use if you play music. (fiddle, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, tin-whistles, charango, concertina) We both love art and crafts and you're welcome to use the art room. I like hiking and yoga and have just finished 200 hours yoga teacher training. If you're brave you can swim in the local freezing river with amazing health benefits! Walks from the house are on small roads. You will need lifts to local mountains for hikes.
  
  We have a dog and cat and hens. We grow our own vegetables.
  
  You need to be fit and able for using a spade, strimmer and lawnmower. I've rescue hens that need to be fed daily, have bedding changed and eggs collected. Cleaning, laundry and other housework can also be done. Our gorgeous dog, Fia, would also love you to take her for walks. If you're into construction I need a lean-to built for my campervan. Some garden furniture needs mending and painting. I need help for 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week and the hours can be flexible.
  
  I love cooking. I'm vegetarian so the healthy meals will be vegetarian. If you love cooking you are welcome to cook as part of your hours.
  
  We love travelling and meeting people from other countries and learning about their culture, language, food etc. We've really enjoyed hosting and getting to know helpers last year from Workaway and HelpX, and the conversations and connections have been very special. We had aupairs in the house for years and two years ago had a Ukrainian family live with us for some time. We now have a Ukrainian couple staying in our studio. Anyone who stays with us will be treated fairly and as part of the family and included in activities and outings if they wish, and won't be expected to work in their free time. However, I expect the helper to cooperate and help with basic housework as any family member would. You will be on your own during the day until we both get home from school. I often teach music in the evenings.
  
  I can give lifts to local towns (Rathvilly and Baltinglass) where there is public transport. You can have use of a bike. It is a very remote location though so a stay of one-two weeks is ideal. Our place is ideal if you feel like a break from a city as it's quiet and peaceful. We look forward to welcoming you to Wicklow!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We can help with language practice. I'm a primary teacher and also studied English literature alongside a teaching degree. I'm also a musician so could help musicians interested in Irish traditional music. There is the use of a keyboard and guitar. I play fiddle mostly and have a spare one. There's also an art room available with use of art materials. I'm vegetarian and love cooking so you'll have healthy food. I also practise yoga daily and am starting 200 hour teacher training in January . I have just started back hiking in the local mountains after a long time with long covid. There are road, forest and mountain walks locally.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Gardening: clearing out pond, planting trees, cleaning greenhouse, mowing grass, preparing raised beds for vegetables, strimming in garden and around young trees, weeding flower and vegetable beds and the gravel yard, adding compost to soil, caring for plants etc. Gathering and storing firewood. Looking after hens. Walking the dog. Building a lean to for a campervan. Housework. It's all organic so no chemicals are used. Also, basic help around the house would be great.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Irish: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I'd love to learn more Spanish as I'm a beginner.
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  Accommodation

  Double room with bathroom that's mostly private, as my daughter and I both have ensuites bathrooms in our bedrooms. Shared kitchen, art room, living room, TV room. You can cook your own meals or eat with us. You can have the use of a bike.

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  What else ...

  There is the use of a bike. There isn't much public transport, just an occasional bus. Lifts can be offered to local town or village where there are buses. You are expected to help out with basic housework to keep the place tidy. We live a few mins cycle or drive from the famous Patthana garden in Kiltegan which is open every Sunday.
  The Baltinglass area is the 'Hill fort capital of Ireland'. We're half an hour from the picturesque Glen of Imaal, and half an hour from Carlow Town. Glendalough is 45 mins drive away. We're just over an hour from Dublin which is accessible by bus locally.

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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

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  I have a campervan too that I built during covid and there's lots of room in the yard to park. There are outside sockets for you to plug in.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

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

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