Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Apr 2024
Reply rate
92.3 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
6
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello! We are Mel and Damien. We are a professional couple in our late-thirties who, having spent many years living and working in the city, decided to relocate to the Adelaide Hills to embrace a different kind of life, close to nature. When we moved onto the land it was fairly neglected and it was clear we'd need some help to restore it. Our property is a rustic beauty, 20 acres, mostly protected eucalyptus forest, with a small orchard of fruit trees we are learning to tend and maintain. There is an abundance of Australian native animals that visit the property including Kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras. Our property is entirely fed by rainwater, solar battery powered and we are connected to a septic system.
We absolutely love the connection to nature, variety of wildlife and serenity we get on the property. If this sounds like something you would also appreciate, please reach out to us.Types of help and learning opportunities
Art ProjectsHelp with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsFarmstay helpHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
There is so much to learn about Australian native land management on our property, as well as how to observe our seasons and take care of productive trees. The landscape here is beautiful, so if you're interested in exploring native Australian flora and fauna, you'll love staying here.
We also look forward to sharing a meal together and learning about each others cultures. We have both travelled widely in our time, mostly throughout Europe, but also to parts of Asia, Africa and the Americas.Help
Currently we are looking for a pair of workawayers to help around the house with some tasks in May including sanding and oiling/painting parts of our house and deck and getting our orchard in order.
The dates we are offering are:
Friday 10 May - Friday 17 May
Friday 24 May - Friday 31 May
--
We are looking to connect with workawayers with experience with gardening, basic building skills and land management, although we would still like to hear from you if you have an interest in developing skills in this area.
Workawayers can expect to work 5 hours per day for an up to 7-day stay. We are open to host a motivated single, couple or two travel mates. If you have any particular skills or interests, please let us know as it may be something we can work with.
Some of the jobs we need help with include:
- General cleaning and garden maintenance
- General building tasks (ie. restoring chicken coop, installing irrigation, making bird boxes, path edging, fixing fences etc)
- Pruning fruit trees and shrubs in our orchard
- Collecting firewood from the forest
- Weeding on the property or in the forest
- External painting or oiling of timber
- Picking up excess leaves around the property (we have a lot of nearby gum trees!)
- Land clearing, razing low-level shrubs and minor trees and orchard pathways
- Picking fruit, preserving fruit and making conserves
Please let us know if you’d like to join us for one of these weeks :)
If you are a workawayer with building experience and would like to stay with us during the Winter months get in touch as we need some help fixing the orchard fence, setting up irrigation and building a chicken shed.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Our home is a beautiful split-level, mid-century building, set into the hillside and overlooking the forest. The guest room is secluded on the bottom level with big windows, a queen bed, private bathroom and kitchenette (fridge, microwave, toaster and kettle provided). We also have an additional air mattress that can be used if you are a duo that prefer not to share a bed.
The room has an external entrance, so you wont bother anyone by coming and going, with your own outdoor sitting area facing the forest - it really is a lovely view to wake up to!
We have ample car parking for Workaway guests as well as space for vans, caravans or camper trailers, if that suits you better.
We will provide tasty provisions for breakfast and lunches in your kitchenette and are happy to make dinners made to share, however if you enjoy cooking and would like to share your culinary heritage (or favourite simple meal) we would be more than happy to let you make a meal! :)
An outdoor BBQ is also available for Workaway guests, should the weather permit (generally use it weekly in summer)What else ...
Our property is located in the Adelaide Hills, with neighbouring properties containing commercial vineyards, fruit orchards (a few include apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries) and pasture land. It is a short 30 mins drive to the Adelaide city centre, with local buses available in two nearby towns - the closest being a 3 minute drive or 20 min walk away. There will be times where we can certainly drop you to the bus stop or nearby towns, however we can't guarantee this as we both still work.
Nearby attractions include the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, national parks, local wineries, breweries, pubs and wildlife attractions. This is arguably one of the most beautiful parts of South Australia (in our very biased opinion ;D) and we would be more than happy to give you tips on where to visit and how to get there.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We do have facilities to accommodate digital nomads, including a decent Fixed Wireless NBN connection, though it will vary depending on time of day/weather conditions etc (approx. DL 20-80MB/s, UL 1-15MB/s). There are ample places to sit and work, including in your room, outside or in the kitchenette.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
Thanks for everything i really loved my stay with you 😊
We are your second workaway ever!! What an honor! We really enjoyed our week with you and as you know loved the work and chill time while traveling.
The dinners every night with good stories and alot of… read more
Melissa and Damien live in a magnificent house surrounded by a superb garden and vegetable patch. This garden is shared with other inhabitants, such as kangaroos, koalas and different birds. The workawayer has independence with everything necessary.
As soon as I arrived, Melissa and Damien were welcoming,… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Thanks for everything i really loved my stay with you 😊
We are your second workaway ever!! What an honor! We really enjoyed our week with you and as you know loved the work and chill time while traveling.
The dinners every night with good stories and alot of… read more
Melissa and Damien live in a magnificent house surrounded by a superb garden and vegetable patch. This garden is shared with other inhabitants, such as kangaroos, koalas and different birds. The workawayer has independence with everything necessary.
As soon as I arrived, Melissa and Damien were welcoming,… read more