Help with permaculture garden, milk goats and experience sustainable lifestyle in Gračišče, Slovenia

  • Favourited 464 times
  • Last activity: 24 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a couple managing small sustainable homestead situated in the rural area of Slovenian Istria. We strive for a sustainable lifestyle that we describe as luxurious simplicity. We fulfil 80% of our need for vegetables from our permaculture garden. We use dry toilets and rid beds for wastewater treatment. This enables us to reuse all water from the kitchen and bathrooms in our garden. At the moment there are 2 permanent residents in the house, and February - November we host 2-4 volunteers at any time. We often have visiting friends and guests that come and go and are temporarily part of the community. Occasionally we organize workshops or host meetings. The place is surrounded by nature and very peaceful.
    For young people under 30, we can discuss a 2-6 monthsESC volunteering option, that allows volunteer to get travel cost refunded and a little bit of pocket money for the time of their stay. If you are interested in such option, please let us know.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    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

    You will experience a calm lifestyle in connection with nature, where daily rhythms are adapted to the weather and the season. You'll enjoy pristine nature, mostly organic local food, long walks, and a lot of time for yourself, meditation, book reading and silence. Life here is most suitable for people who know how to entertain themselves. We mostly socialize at the time of common meals and during working actions. We have weekly meetings where we talk more about each other and any topic, brought up by people in the circle. Sometimes we spontaneously make a bonfire or little celebration.

  • Help

    Help

    Volunteers are welcome to help with our daily tasks and maintenance. It can be preparing wood for winter, helping in the garden, or helping with construction.
    From March until the end of October there is always work on the garden. Basically preparing the soil for planting, planting and weeding.
    April-November is a milking season. We milk goats twice a day and we expect volunteers to help with milking once a day. If you are interested you will have an opportunity to learn how to make yoghurt and cheese.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Croatian: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accommodation is in an old but fully renovated house. There are 6 beds in the volunteers' room, dry toilets, hot water in the showers, a common kitchen where we prepare meals together, while breakfast is self-organized. Homemade bread, butter, homemade jams, and cereals are provided. We cook mostly (but not exclusively) vegetarian meals from mainly organic ingredients.
    As we recycle all the water from the kitchen and the bathroom we insist on using ecological cosmetics and detergents. There is wi-fi in the house.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are easygoing and open-minded people. Most of us have been volunteers ourselves, we still are. We encourage volunteers to self-manage their time according to their tasks and weather conditions. There is some structure in the daily schedule, which can be adapted according to the needs of the moment and the group. We expect volunteers to engage in household tasks such as cooking and maintenance in turns. We call meetings once a week to share our thoughts on what is good and what could be improved and address any issue that might need attention.
    Volunteers are welcome to organize activities such as game night or movie night if the crew at the moment is up to it. Or simply enjoy the calmness of the place, play music, or read the book. It takes some adaptation time for volunteers to find their rhythm, and our experience shows that one month is a good period of time to spend with us.
    During your free time, you can hike surrounding hills and valleys or visit the coastal area and charming small towns Piran, Izola, and Portoroz. We are very happy to give you advice on what to see and where to go.
    There are a few buses every day from Koper to Hrvoji or Belvedur (no buses on weekends!).

  • 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 use mobile internet with unlimited data that works fairly well. Three of us are working remotely from home, and having a lot of zoom calls without major difficulties.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have a big parking area in front of the house. There is no size limit for the campervan. The only obstacle is a stiff and narrow road that leads to us, that for a skilled driver shouldn't be an issue.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    maximum 25 hours/week

Host ref number: 787264913379

Feedback (18)



Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile: (4.7)

Cultural exchange: (4.4)

Communication: (4.9)




















Help us with turning an old stone house into its previous glory in Portorož, Slovenia
A small meditation center is seeking assistance with its garden and the renovation of an old, traditional Panonic house in Kunova, Slovenia