Help us build our sustainable, off-grid and selfsufficient place in the forest in Stugun, Sweden

Details

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  Description

  Hello lovely people!
  
  We would love to host some workawayers. We always enjoy meeting new people who would like to help us build our off-grid life here near the lovely village Borgvattnet.
  From the second half of april onwards we are looking for people who can help us build a new chicken coop and -shed, that is situated closer to our house than the present chicken house.
  
  After that we could need some help with our vegetable garden and greenhouse. If, in any way, shape or for you have knowledge of sustainable gardening and/or permaculture, we would really love you to get in touch with us. We would love to work with you.
  
  Harvesting trees for firewood and chopping it is also a neverending job we could use some help with. And all kinds of building and painting jobs.
  
  A bit of information about us and our lovely place:
  This former "fäbod" (a place in the forest the farmer in the old days used to bring the cows during summer) is located in the middle of the forest, with our nearest neighbour at ca. 4 km. It had no electricity, running water or sewage when we bought it. Still the place is fully off-grid, but with solar panels and batteries for electricity, a septic tank for sewage and a drilled well for running water.
  Here we like to live a sustainable life in harmony with nature and our surroundings, trying to be more and more self-sufficient.
  
  Coming from The Netherlands we moved here in 2021 to be more connected to nature, enjoying the space around us and the living with the seasons.
  Jan is the builder, the inventor and the off-grid specialist. Petra is the one foraging in the forest, taking care of vegetable garden and chickens and learning about old ways to preserve food or making natural care products.
  We both think it is important to connect with others, spreading our vision of a sustainable life, buy our food local and organic (if it is not homegrown or foraged in the woods), pay honest prices to those who grow our food.
  
  Here we are a family of two, but our three (adult) children are still living in The Netherlands.
  For now we have 7 chickens (but hopefully during the summer our flock is expanding) and later we would like to have some pigs and cows.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  When you are staying with us, you can learn a lot about comfortable off-grid living. How it is to live in the middle of nature with the nearest neighbours at about 4 km away. You can learn everything about a fäbod and the food that is growing in de forest.
  The little village nearby has a lovely community, a church, a little shop and some very special historical places. We even have our own level 2 Wim Hof instructor in the village. A walk through the woods to the village is a wonderfull experience.
  Jämtland, the provence that we live in, is filled with history from Viking times, and is also part of Geopark Indalsälven that opened in june 2023. The closest city is Östersund which is a 1,5 hr drive from here.
  Staying with us means also that you can learn about what we know from our life experiences and we would love to learn from you. We hope to attract people that are willing to share their thoughts, opinions and views and would like to hear and explore ours.

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  Help

  Since we are an off-grid place of 20 Ha, trying to be more and more selfsufficient, there is always a lot to do (and a lot to learn). Like mowing, working in the vegetable garden and greenhouse and maintaining hiking trails. Or taking care of the chickens. Splitting firewood.
  
  After that we could need some help with our vegetable garden and greenhouse. If, in any way, shape or for you have knowledge of sustainable gardening and/or permaculture, we would really love you to get in touch with us. We would love to work with you.
  
  Harvesting trees for firewood and chopping it is also a neverending job we could use some help with. And all kinds of building and painting jobs.
  
  ===========From the second half of april 2025 onwards we are looking for people who can help us build a new chicken coop and -shed, that is situated closer to our house than the present chicken house===========

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  Languages spoken

  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  English: Intermediate
  Swedish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We can accommodate a maximum of 2 persons at the same time, who will be living in the same 1950's stuga. The stuga has a woodstove in the kitchen and a woodstove in de livingroom. There is a seperate bedroom with a bunkbed, but there are sofa beds in the kitchen and the livingroom. There is enough electricity in the stuga to charge e.g. your telephone and there are candles for lighting. There is a sink and a 10 L watercan. You can use the toilet/shower/running water in the main building that is about 15 meters from the stuga.
  
  We suggest we have our lunch and diner together. Cooking, preparing meals and doing the dishes will be our joint responsibility.
  Our living of the land means we are sadly not able to take care of a vegan or glutenfree diet, but you are welcome to take care of that yourself if you want to. The food will be simple but good, nutritious and mostly organic.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Please feel free to bring your own little campervan.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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