A little patch of paradise, organic farm and vineyard near the amazing south coast in Marbelup, Australia

  • Favourited 589 times
  • Last activity: 18 Apr 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are vignerons (those who grow grapes and make wine) with a passion for environmental sustainability, so our small farm is organic and we practice regenerative viticulture. Nearly 30 years ago, we built our passive solar, environmentally-friendly house and enjoy a busy, agricultural lifestyle. Our wines have won many awards and we have been featured widely in the media, and in 2015 Prince Charles visited us on his Australian visit. We are experienced hosts, having been a member of a similar scheme since 2002.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • 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

    You can learn about organic farming/gardening, enjoy a tranquil and beautiful location, stay in our comfortable passive-solar house that we built ourselves, enjoy drinking our award winning wine and learning more about wine appreciation and wine making. We can also teach you some interesting Australian language.

  • Help

    Help

    If you are fit, healthy, willing and happy travellers we invite you to help us with our small family-run, organic vineyard near Albany on the Amazing South Coast of Western Australia. Albany is 400km from Perth (only 1 hour via plane) and is a beautiful, historic, seaside town. We have hosted many such travellers under a similar scheme and we thoroughly enjoy the cultural exchange that occurs, as well as being very grateful for the help we receive.

    You will not need a lot of experience just enthusiasm, general fitness and basic English language skills. In exchange for your help for 5 hours per day we will provide you with accommodation, use of our bicycles, all meals and more. In addition to the work hours, we also expect that you will assist with meal preparation and cleaning up. Like any good house guest we expect you to also clean up after yourself (there are no house-maids to do this), so if you are not willing to participate in these aspects of being hosted, please do not apply. We are sharing the privilege of our home and our lives in exchange for the privilege of your help. We will not treat you like a slave and we expect that you will not behave as if our home is a hotel. Please note, that as with all previous guests, we guarantee to host you only for the first two nights/three days. If your attitude and behaviour meets our expectations you will be invited to stay longer (don't worry, the majority of previous guests were invited to stay longer). Likewise, you do not need to commit to staying with us for a particular amount of time. If you decide, after the first three days, that what we offer does not suit you, you are welcome to move on. We will not be offended.

    The types of things you might do here include: general gardening (mulching, picking fruit, pruning), help in the vineyard (depending on the season - maintenance, pruning, picking), food preparation (drying & preserving fruit) and clean-up of the food processing area, assisting with sheep.

    Given the current risk of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we kindly ask that if you develop a respiratory illness (influenza symptoms, such as cough and/or fever) in the days or weeks prior to your arrival date, please CANCEL your stay with us, or at least contact us to discuss it. This is very important to us and we will not be able to provide you with a position here. We trust you understand. Both of us are fully COVID vaccinated, and because our income is dependant solely on us, we cannot afford to get ill. We will supply you with a rapid COVID test kit upon arrival should you have any doubts about your state of health.


    OUR PROPERTY:
    We have an 3 hectare vineyard as well as a large mixed fruit orchard (fresh fruit all year round!) and vegetable garden, 2 alpachas, several dozen Wiltshire sheep plus two small friendly dogs who love meeting new house guests. The whole property is organic and we originally planted the gardens using permaculture principles. We are also proponents of Regenerative Farming.

    SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:
    We are about a 10 minute drive from the regional town of Albany, which is a gateway to many adventures and natural attractions, including beautiful bays and beaches. We are happy to help you out with guidance and advice about tours and and hikes. Having your own car is ideal if you wish to see more than just the town, but not essential.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You can stay in our guest room (in the house) which sleeps 3 people and has its own bathroom & toilet. There is also a caravan suitable for a couple in the summer. You will mostly eat with us (we enjoy a mixed mediterranean style diet - a little ethically-raised meat/chicken/fish with plenty of fruit and vegetables, olive oil and wine) and you will be encouraged to cook at least one shared-meal (preferably from your own culture) per week. We are unable to cater for Vegans, sorry. Our house is comfortable, clean and cosy. Smoking is not permitted inside the house, and is discouraged even outside during the summer months. Campervans are welcome.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There are many natural attractions in the area (most require a car) including:-
    - Stirling Range (hiking)
    - Wild flowers (in season)
    - Some of the best beaches and bays in Australia
    - Whale watching (from boats)
    - Many bicycle and walking trails
    Albany is 10 minutes by car or 40 minutes by bicycle from our farm.

    Note: We have limited internet service available so we cannot offer unlimited access to the internet. Checking emails, googling/searching is fine, but watching movies/videos on-line is not possible.
    As we are a working farm and there is a large dam (lake) in front of our house, our property is NOT suitable for children.
    We generally cannot allow other pets on our property, particularly as we have sheep.
    There is no direct public transport available to our place, so having your own transport is preferable but not essential as we can arrange to transfer you to the bus station in Albany, a 10 minute drive from our farm or the airport, which is only 5 minutes away. Ask us about how to get a cheap airfare to Albany from Perth if you don't want to sit on a bus for 6 hours. Also ask our advice for the best bus to book because it is easy to get on one that goes the long way!
    We sit down together for evening meals, and try to also do so for breakfast and lunch times but it does depend on the work schedule. We expect that you will assist us with meal preparation and cleaning up so if you are not willing to participate in this aspect of being hosted, please do not apply. The workaway website has an excellent basic summary of how to be a workaway guest. It is recommended reading. We give priority to prospective guests who have reviews from previous Workaway hosts or other forms of references.
    Please do not come if you are ill or are developing a respiratory illness like influenza or COVID.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Campervans welcome. We are happy to negotiate fewer hours each day, depending on whether or not you choose to eat with us.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Only small dogs and those who will not chase sheep etc....but only on a case by case basis, as we have our own little dogs, one of whom is aged and a little grumpy.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    maximum 25 hours a week, 2 days off

Host ref number: 579551943264

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