updated   Last minute

Help needed for projects in Cockatoo, close to Melbourne, Vic., Australia

  • Favourited 313 times
  • Last activity: 27 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi!

    We are hoping to find helpers who can start anytime-.
    We prefer you to have some experience with tools, but for upcoming jobs this is not essential.

    In the week of March 18, we have an arborist coming- he is an amazing climber, and it would be great to have some people on the ground to help with cutting up the trees, and putting branches in the mulcher.
    There is also lots of weeding to be done, cutting some small bushes, and brush cutting.



    We have a caravan that we are doing up- one of our helpers has brought it a lot further along- but now it still needs; SEWING of curtains, and some wood work/ CARPENTRY, mainly to clad the outside, and maybe build a roof over it :-)
    These could be a very fun project for some handy people ! and- it will be where you sleep a lot of the time ( the guesthouse is available when its not booked out. )

    For some these we are hoping for Tool handling experience. We don't have time to teach from scratch- but if you are handy, you will learn a lot of skills- depending on length of stay :-) .

    There is also animal care ( we have 3 dogs, 3 horses, no pigs, lots of chickens , indoor birds, ... I think that is it, but it varies from week to week) , FENCING, CONSTRUCTION of a little shed, LANDSCAPING, shovelling and gardening, etc etc. (and as always, joint cooking, chatting,, swimming in nice weather, and horse care, . etc etc) We don't want you to do the same for days on end- it gets very boring... This is why we vary jobs.


    We like to share stories, jokes, and thoughts about the deeper meaning of life- accompanied by a glass of beer or wine, or not- and also sometimes need some family time. We like to talk about what works well for you and us.

    Reasonable ENGLISH is NECESSARY to improve your and our experience . This is why we love to talk on the phone before you come- and also because it is just so much faster then endless emailing. Please call us. ( I mean this)

    We expect you to have appropriate insurance.
    If you email us; tell us about your skills. Its nice to know what you want, BUT its easier for us to know what you can do around here :-) Always include a PHONE NUMBER, as this makes contact so much easier and faster. Whatsapp is fine.

    Hope to see you soon!!!

    Vegetarians can try to convince us that it is a good life style ( but it won’t be easy!!) , NO vegans.

    We are Dutchies, We both work at home; outside, and we both have a workshop- Arthur ( mechanical design engineer) works with wood, Aukje (sculptor) with clay , both with metal, and of course; we ride our horses. There will be plenty of time to work together, or learn things. We are both very practical people. - But also busy with a million things!

    Help will be erratic hours - we make long days ourselves- with (long) coffee and lunchbreaks with lovely food, and stay in a separate guesthouse or caravan as soon as its done-- We don't see help in the kitchen as work, but as a joint experience. (and necessary to keep the place running)
    We eat meat which is homegrown and healthy, but maybe you can convince us of a vegetarian diet by cooking for us :-) No vegans, sorry. LGBTI+ welcome, as is neurodivergence.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We have dinner together 5 nights a week, and most helpers feel they become are part of our family. As immigrants we have our own view on Australia, and have learnt a lot through the years.
    Because we come from Europe, we also understand more about the culture you (often) come from- and for example, don't think french backpackers are rude. (apparently this myth is going around) We have also traveled all of Australia- so know a lot of areas.
    You can learn plenty of skills here, depending on how busy we are, but a lot of our helpers go away with something they take to a paid job- and I am writing plenty of references for people after they have left when they apply to paid jobs !

    We seem to have a knack to give life advice, and help figure out what it is people are looking for :-)

  • Help

    Help

    Help required varies, as our project are always varying- we can't plan very well, as things come up, change, are re-thought, influenced by weather, etc. In general there is weeding, brush cutting, horse, dog, chicken and/or duck care, building, tree chopping, planting, fencing, playing with kids, swimming, trampoline jumping, bushwalking, cooking and baking etc etc.

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️We love people who are interested and/or take initiative - we are open to a lot- if you talk about your plans first :-)
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️We love good food- if you can cook or bake, we love to give you a chance to show us!
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️We generally work 5 ( or more if you want) days a week- depending on what comes up. Sunday is always off, and we will often take you somewhere that is cool - depending on our schedule as well. (horseriding is fun, but takes up a lot of time :-) )
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ this place is in a beautiful area, with national parks, and tiny towns close by. We have a few bicycles to use- or can bring you to the bus if needed. You can also walk out straight from our property.
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ we will try to show you the area in the weekend or after work! sometimes life gets too busy though :-(

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️If you don't like animals- there is NO reason to be here.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    German: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ phone reception its very good here. Internet is only at our house- so limited to roughly 30 minutes per day, as you will be sitting in our living room. There is an "internet cafe" outside- for longer sessions when really needed.
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️We provide 1-2 beers or glasses of wine after work/ during dinner. If you like more, you are welcome to bring your own. within reason.
    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ Most people rave about the food, we like to cook! we like to eat food that is cooked for me too :-) (cleaning not so much- so we do that together)

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our place (in Cockatoo) is in Victoria's most beautiful area's, with main attractions like large national state park (s!) close by, old steam train (puffing billy) , Yarra valley wineries very close (by car) and many other attractions. so a bit of everything. Most people hang around our house though as it is so tranquil here, and go for a walk in our own bush. _ or go for a bike ride :-) (bikes provided)

    We have had 160 helpers so far- so we're quite experienced in having people here, and explaining work etc etc. it means we can be reasonably clear to you, but if there would be questions, we are happy to answer them. We try to go out in the weekends, if we can, and show you some of the surrounds. We do have lots of activities in the weekends so this is not always possible. Happy to transport you to bus though!

    We do drink alcohol, and love sharing a beer after work, and a glass of wine at dinner. After that its up to you!
    we don't love smoke nor cigarette butts anywhere- except for in our bin.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have good internet connection- in the cottage and in the house- so times may need to be discussed.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    plenty of space!

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    depending on- contact us.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 321576839765

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