A nature paradise in the Transylvanian mountains in Blājeni, Romania

  • Favourited 269 times
  • Last activity: 22 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hello lovely people! We are Mihaela and Octavian, an oldish couple who after 3 years of backpacking around Austral-Asia, mostly volunteering and meeting awesome people from all over the world, have decided to settle down in the Transylvanian mountains called Apuseni. It is a special place with incredible energy and beauty, unspoilt nature and amazing people living very traditional. As most young people in theses villages have moved to the city, old and beautiful traditional houses become ruins very fast, the forest is taking over fast (which is not necessarily a bad think) and old traditions disappear slowly.
    We are the very proud owners (paper wise) of a hill and 3 old traditional wooden houses and barns, which we intend to bring back to life. We're also into permaculture, observing the place to see patterns and how nature works, trying to work with the nature and not against it. We capture water from the spring in the woods, buy dairy products, honey etc from the neighbours on other hills, have many fruit trees and wild flowers as much as you can see. It is so quiet and away from the craziness of the world, ... there is space to watch your own crazy mind. We're into meditation and yoga, connection with nature, hiking and simple life.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    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

    First of all, it's a magic place for the people that like quietness and nature, a great place for reflection and introspection. Not really for party goers, sorry! You will interact with local people, awesome neighbours and people in the nearby villages. This is remote place and people still live traditionally, making the hay, picking fruits and making jams and pies, managing a little home farm and growing their own veggies. It's mesmerising to see how they live this busy but at the same time, slow paced life, how they help eachother and find freedom and happiness in simplicity. We might go pick mushroom from the forest (which is everywhere), cook vegetarian food, do storytelling around the fire in the evening, do hikes or just chill. The nearest town, connected by bus, is about 40min away if you want to explore an old gold mining town (no more mining today but there is a museum you can visit). There is also a small ethnographic museum in the village and the local 'pub'. But living simple in the nature is, we think, the highlight!

  • Help

    Help

    We are in year 5 of this eco-project, still learning about the place, enjoying to the wild nature around, renovating a house. We need help with renovation work which means some lifting and heavy work, cutting the grass and pruning some neglected fruit trees, cutting wood for the winter, making improvements to the access road, picking fruits, work in the garden, designing beautiful stuff for the place, etc. There is also farm work with the neighbours... some days we'll go to help them with various jobs like hay making. We will of course adapt to your experience and fitness as much as possible, and will discuss all this before you arrive so that you're not disappointed. We've been volunteers ourselves and kind of know what makes a good volunteering experience.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Romanian: Fluent
    French: Intermediate

    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.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accomodation is likely to be in a recently renovated barn, with outdoor covered toilet and washing facilities. We also have tents and a minivan we have used to travel around New Zealand, if you prefer. We'll cook vegetarian food and we share preparation and cleaning... We try and source most products from locals but will do a shopping trip to town when needed. Our aim is be self-sufficient so catering for allergies, or other special needs could be difficult.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Access here is relatively simple, despite the remoteness. Nearest cites are Deva or Alba Iulia which are both connected by train to most of the country. From Deva, there are regular busses to Brad, the nearest town, about 30min drive away from here. From Brad, there is a minibus daily which will drop you 1km away from our house. Hitchhiking is also popular in Romania and very feasible and an affordable way to move around. Ask and we'll provide guidance for your travel plans.

  • 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

    Wi-fi connection via mobile operator is generally very good. You need to buy SIM card widely and cheaply available in any town

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Campervans are welcome, although there is a steep slope on the dirt road up to the house so it might be difficult to drive up. There is plenty of very safe parking space at the bottom of the hill. We also have a minivan we used for travelling in New Zealand, that you can use and it's close to our house.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 833292393219

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