Join me on my homestead while experiencing outdoor life in Braskereidfoss, Norway

Details

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  Description

  "The axe mediates culture". Once upon a time neighbours here would meet up. They would stand in a circle and chop the firewood, food would be made, the fields would be raked and the hay strung up for drying, fields cleared, barns built and vegetables harvested. The next day it was the other neighbours turn, because everybody would need help to be prepared for winter. Domesticated animals, and people, would need food stored, warmth and shelter. Back to the axe: Because it do mediate culture. The neighbours would over the axe form bonds and exchange blood, sweat, tears, food, childrens play, knowledge, inspiration, drama, friendship and love. The homestead today is changed through machinery and one-man capital, but lets try keep the axe real?
  
  Hello!
  My name is Ole. Please read whole profile before sending message, and feel free to ask if something is unclear. I will answer most of the messages.
  
  I live on a homestead in eastern Norway, by the start of taiga-forest , close to the Swedish border. Area is scattered with wildlife, lakes, rivers and creeks and is situated roughly 2 hours travel time from main airport OSL. I have recently quit a manager-job that revolves around health, disabilites , career consulting and production. Currently I am enjoying every day-life, farming, and random projects.
  
  By welcoming you through workaway the goal is that we can network through cooperation, challenges, and exchange skills, language, explore cultural differences and evolve something for local community and our daily life.
  
  My friends and I enjoy learning from each other, culture exchange, language learning, discuss what sustainability is, or might be, self-reliance, food, nature, DIY, entrepenourship, politics, mechanics, science, survival/wildcamping, gadgets, general existencialism and fullfill some shared goals in daily-life as a nice experience. Kids love playing and talk english.
  
  In this area there is possible with hiking in the deep "finnish" forest and bicycling on endless gravel roads. "Elk-safari" is great fun. I live a few meters from a lake where you can fish, swim and use a canoe. There is a sauna by the lake.
  
  The homestead is kept on a small-scale level, and has no surplus other than passion for the lifestyle and variety it gives in life. A useful activity if older times comes back and homesteads gets crucial again for clean local food, clothes and resources?
  
  Accommodation is in a off-grid timber lake-cabin. It has a firewood stove, double bed, some furniture and a basic natural toilet in the shed. Access to all other facilities about 200 meters away in main-house. I have all the bedding necessary. Other options for sleeping is guestrooms in house or trailer, and in certain cold-periods,(around -15/ a bit individual), this is really the best option overall.
  
  The homestead is in a designated area for wolf, bear,lynx and wolverine. Beside sheep and wolf, there is also two dogs, cat and a parrot here.
  
  Some expectations and house-rules:
  
  - all Workawayers must know English on an intermediate or above level, so it is possible to communicate. Ideally you are of age 23+, but no final demand.
  
  -You are invited to a a homestead. What skills is needed and can be aquired in that setting? Is there goals and responsibility around buildings, animals, forest, fields and people? Can you learn skills for you own career and everyday life when here? What can you teach me?
  
  -use of house, cabin and stuff in a tidy and careful way! No shoes inside! You have the ability to help with household here and there to keep it tidy both inside and outside. At the end of stay you should wash the cabin properly with soap and water
  
  -after a while, we evaluate our interaction. The goal is an open dialogue of what is nice and what needs improvements. I do reserve my right to end the agreed hosting period earlier for various reasons (this has not happened yet😁)
  
  -at a homestead, safety is important. No workawayers have responsibility connected to farming and sheep-management. Those tasks need safety experience and documented training. This type of tasks is usually paid positions in farming and involve use of tractor,machines, specialized tools and extensive knowledge about the animals.
  
  -all applications mentioning they love go hunting trolls or unicorns are magically first in line.
  
  -food. There is food storage and from that it should be possible to make something, and we stock up what is needed. We also fish a bit for food. Usually dinner is a meal we all eat together. Be warned: I am a lousy chef! If you can help when it comes to food making, it would be great. Vegan-friendly, and have hosted many vegan, but if you need only vegan/vegetarian, you must buy ingredients yourself and make this on your own. I aim for having high animal welfare with natural approach, not industrial, but at the end of the day there is a livestock around you. Maybe you have some improvement, suggestions and some input for discussions from vegan perspectives?
  
  -Going to store buying vitamines, medecine, alcohol, candy, hygiene articles, special food,clothing, extra costs around activities, lending out cars and so on, is not a normal expectation within this level of exchange and accomodation.
  
  -early risers is nice. From morningside is what the important stuff is done.
  
  -prefer stays of minimum 14 days, as transportation, arrangements, learning how things works and getting to know each other takes time. If everything works out great, the time for departure is not important😁
  
  Important topics around the arrangement: Only EU / schengen citizens are eligible for this type of exchange according to border control!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
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  Interests

  

  Farming

  

  Culture

  

  Van life

  

  Sustainability

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking

  

  Camping
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You will learn some Norwegian, rural life, language, forest and wildlife, and it is possible to learn skills for your career and future family life. A Norwegian way of living in an area full of nature and fresh air :)

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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

  The activities are many, but revolves around rural everyday life, general upkeep and care of the landscape, garden, buildings and stuff. DIY and self-reliance and cooperation on increasing skills and work out ideas to be self-reliant is the main theme going on here (winter is coming!! And maybe zombies?) . Some extra hands, normal physical fitness and the right mindset is really enough!
  
  Woodworking/carpentery/ mechanics,painting and artspainting/wildlife/nature/photo experience is extra interesting. Knowledge about gathering and storing different natural food and medecinal herbs is also interesting.
  
  Examples of the help requested: picking trash in nature for a local ideal organisation, firewood for winter, moving branches so area is tidy, watch out if wildlife, dogs or people tries the fence. DIY projects/repurpose, repairs, designing the look and function of rooms, clean and tidy house and buildings, go recycle stuff, organize stuff, painting, kitchen garden, be a role model and good example on healthy activites, mini-saw milling for wood projects, lifting support moving stuff around, landscaping shoreline and marina, gardening, cooking, pick berries, fishing and prepare for storage.Housesitting.
  
  When the everyday- and seasonal stuff is finished, and I feel on top of things. I tend to start think of fun projects, activities an ideas that is not fully necessary. Having everything sorted out, and then do creative small stuff and recreational stuff is really nice 😁 Its not needed with a new sauna, swimming platforms, BBQ firepit, greenhouse, kitchen garden, hobby rooms etc.
  
  I have also lately been little bit curious of pulling off some community stuff, that is self reliant, more or less economic independent, gives something to society, like charity and help out local community organisations. It has potential here to collaborate on longer terms living, and share resources.Dunno how thats is going to look, but through cooperation the sky is the limit?
  
  A few words on the year-around rythm:
  
  January-march:
  There is snow, cold and quite cosy with fire in the firestove. Skiing and snowblowing. Will car start or get stuck? Sheep are in the barn with possibility to go outside. Mainprojects are next year firewood, indoor improvements, some organizing, cleaning, and I am servicing stuff. Waiting time for spring and lambing feels like ages.
  
  April and mai:
  New life is born everywhere. Lambs are giving birth, and wants to graze as soon as grass grow again. The birds are back singing loudly as the early morning fog meets the sun, people, animals and nature awake from winter dwelling. Firewood must be finished and left to dry. Maintenance of buildings, organizing stuff, gardening and tidy up outside can start. If you want to establish a kitchen garden this is the time. I havent succeded yet in doing so.
  
  June, juli and august
  Everything is green. Projects are many, but important to find time to enjoy summer also. Sadly, the ancient forest in norway is more or less gone, and there is a new increase of logging in older forest. Norway has almost no whole-growth old and wild forest with high biodiversity left, as most of the forest is artificially cultivated and planted and maintained like fields. There are a few small pockets of natural forest left, and when on top of things I enjoy trips to look for this combined with swimming, boating,fishing and camping.
  
  September and october:
  This is the months to finish up everything before winter. You never want to meet the winter unprepared. The trees prepare by releasing water so they dont freeze and crack open when the cold comes. Grass-eeds for next generation of lambs are ready in the soil. Lambs are eaten as "får-i-kål". Cutting trees for firewood and planks can start when leafs are yellow.
  
  November and december:
  Dark times, keeping warmth and farm- paperwork is done. A bit more cinema/gaming activities. Sauna is much used, maybe some ice bathing as well. Indoor improvements and forestry. The sheeps are mating. The "fjøsnisse" in the barn are starting his pranks and next year is planned😂

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Norwegian: Fluent
  English: Intermediate
  German: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  In an off-grid timber Lake-cabin. Main house is 200 meters away.

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  What else ...

  I often use WhatsApp for faster communication and to have a chat before we both decide.

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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

  If you are a digital nomad. I can set you up an office space in the farm workshop.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  I can indeed host caravan. Possible to park beside the cabin or at farm.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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