Help us build our self sufficient family homestead in Balsa, Romania

Details

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  Description

  We could use some help in April and then again from july on. For May and June please contact us for the options.
  
  Hello! We are a family of seven living in the Transylvanian hills of Romania since july 2022. We are Mirjam, Menso and our 5 children: Mila (14), Nuri (10), Ilias (6), Josha (4) and Ramses (2).
  
  Our ideal is to live as self-sufficient as possible, in the middle of nature, in peace and with enough time for our family. Our house was in a bad state, but we managed to make it livable. We own two houses next to each other and the other house will be a guest house and workshop, but it is not ready yet.
  
  We live between two villages, quite remote in the middle of forests and fields. It is beautiful here, plenty of wild plants and animals to see and great for walking. In the past year we have welcomed two puppies, chickens and even two horses! We hope to add other livestock in the future, but for now we have our hands full!
  
  The nearest village is 1 kilometer away. There is a dirt road to our house that can be driven with a 4x4 car or a tractor (if it's not too wet). Several other families settled in the valley where we live before we came. These families have different nationalities and there are now about 15 children between the ages of 0 and 13. Most families are also on workaway and have volunteers on a regular basis. So there are plenty of opportunities to meet and get to know other people.
  
  In addition to live self-sufficiently, we intend to earn some money with online work (teaching and coaching), small-scale tourism and Menso will use the workshop to make wooden children's toys. Mirjam would like to make and sell decorated wool coats and sell them.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Because we are not Romanian and have only been living here for a short time, we cannot tell you much about the Romanian culture. In the area where we live, the villages are still authentic and traditional in many aspects. If there is an interest in these things, there are possibilities to get in touch with Romanians.
  If you are interested in woodworking, building, nature, animals, psychology, pedagogy, living in a large family in a remote back to basic place, you are very welcome! And ofcourse we can teach you the Dutch language

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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

  We have so much to do right now that the priority list should have its own priority list. So there is something for everyone here. We are newbies when it comes to hosting volunteers, so can't say exactly what to expect yet. We like to do everything in consultation and are curious to other people's expertise and talents, in addition to the fact that we ourselves enjoy sharing our knowledge with others.
  
  Because we have only just started our adventure and there are many things fighting for priority, help is welcome in many areas. Since we have not been (easily) accessible for months, there is a lot of rubble / construction waste / junk around the houses. Most of this still needs to be sorted out, burned and disposed of. The building rubble can be reused for improving the dirt road. Also, the joints of one of the houses must be redone.
  
  Much of our land has not been worked or cleaned up for decades, so there are many trees to be felled and bushes to be removed. Chopping wood for the winter is also a job that can be done.
  
  In the garden, weeds can be weeded, new vegetable beds laid, fruit harvested and preserved and pruned. There will be several smaller jobs in and around the house. Help with the household is also very much appreciated
  
  Since our children are homeschooled/unschooled, we are very interested in people who would like to teach our children something. The eldest two are learning English and are interested in nature, horses, music and history, but we are open to other talents and fields of expertise.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  We would like to learn Romanian
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  Accommodation

  From July on we have our second house available for volunteers. Still not finished but there will be a bedroom and livingroom and private composttoilet.
  
  We have a big tent with a double bed. Of course you are welcome to put up your own tent. We will soon have an outside toilet, for now we have a compost toilet in the house. Hopefully we'll have a shower soon, but for now we'll heat water for washing. We do have a washing machine and refrigerator. Electricity is available and there are wood stoves in the house.
  
  We will provide all the food needed. All meals can be eaten together, but of course it is possible to eat separately when wished for.

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  What else ...

  - From Balsa, one of the two nearest villages, a bus to Orastie departs twice a day
  - In Orastie there are shops and restaurants
  - Orastie has a bus connection to Deva, a somewhat larger city (markets, shops, swimming pool, etc.)
  
  - On our terrain we don't allow volunteers to drink alcohol and use drugs. Smoking is allright, but only out of sight from our children

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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 excellent internet access.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

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