Learn to build your own home - Natural Building Project near Melbourne, Australia

  • Favourited 641 times
  • Last activity: 7 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    UPDATE: As the house build is now complete, we won't be hosting again in the near future. However, we will do some short hosting periods for helping around the farm, we will update when we have dates in mind so keep a look out. Thanks everyone.

    * * * * * * * * * *

    Our earth bag dome is needing a final render coat and finishing (floors, door and window to be installed). You will work along side Hayden

    We are located in a town called Willow Grove, VIC, Australia. We are 5 minutes from the beautiful Blue Rock Lake, with views over the baw baw ranges.

    We would love skilled Workawayers (experience in building, carpentry, rendering, using tools etc) (but it's not a must!) so please get in touch if your keen to get your hands dirty and these dates might work for you.

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️

    SuperAdobe comes from California, and is a growing natural building technique the world over. It is our passion to spread this as far as possible, so take the opportunity to come and learn a fast growing technique to build homes and spaces of all sizes.

    We are looking for excited, enthusiastic people to join our volunteer program. We hosted over 250 workaway volunteers over 2 years whilst building our super adobe round house and got to meet some amazing people!
    The house is compete so we are keen to complete our dome.

    The work will be physical, so we would love dedicated, hard workers who don't mind a bit of shovelling, wheel-barrowing etc. All of this is done in a very supportive environment, where we all look after each other and our bodies.

    3 vegetarian meals are served everyday (cooked by our Workaway team) So it's also great if you don't mind having a cook in the kitchen every now and then. You don't have to be amazing, just enthusiastic!

    The finishing of the dome will be run by Pete (the owner-builder) and Hayden (natural building extraordinaire) so you will be clearly instructed on exactly what to do, so don't worry if you've never built anything before, we are completely open to all people from all walks of life, and everyone has something to offer. That being said, we would LOVE to have builders, carpenters, crafters, painters, what-evers onboard, to be able to offer their particular skills to the project.

    We will be working 5 days a week, with 2 rest days per week.

    We supply delish meals, showers, toilets, natural building knowledge and teaching, a unique experience, rewarding physical work, healthy community living and heaps of fun! Unfortunately there is no internet aside from your own mobile reception.
    You will be staying in our cosy barn with your own bed and clean bedding supplied.

    We will organise transport to and from the farm from the closest train station (Trafalgar) which is a 1.40hr train ride from Southern Cross train station in Melbourne.

    Volunteers won't have a chance to work with the horses, but we have 20+ beautiful horses on the property. A pet cow, 2 farm dogs (that are super friendly), a cat and beautiful scenery and wildlife. And the most amazing sunsets over the Gippsland landscape nearly every night!

    There will also be a small amount of work around the farm including collecting firewood, splitting wood and lawn mowing (so farm experience is also great must not a must)

    We are just minutes from Blue Rock lake so we like to go swimming there in the hotter months and during the colder months we have campfires most nights.

    If you're full of beans, very keen to meet amazing new people, see a breathtaking part of Victoria, and build something incredibly interesting and rewarding, please get in touch!


    We'd love to have you!

    Ursula & Pete

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    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

    You will be surrounded by breath-taking Australian countryside, get to work very closely with 3 down-to-earth aussies, gain heaps of skills around building with the earth. Lots of fun!

  • Help

    Help

    We will be volunteering 5 days a week (with 2 days off), on building our eco-dome. There will be a complete team of around 4-6 people at all times. You will gain a huge number of natural building skills, and get to work with amazing, fun, exciting new people. Lots of travellers and people from all walks of life :)

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Inside our timber barn with a comfortable mattress and all clean bedding is supplied, hot water showers, toilet and fully equipped kitchen.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The area is home to a HUGE lake which is surrounded by a beautiful state forest. There is a picnic and swimming area which is wonderful for BBQs and swimming, very popular with the locals.
    When we are working during summer, we head down there a lot for swims, walks and lunch under the trees! It's a beautiful spot with spectacular scenery and the best sunsets.
    During the winter months, sitting around the camp fire at night under the stars is a highlight, and we do this lots.

  • 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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 876563291436

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