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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Nov 2023
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Description
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ Update 12 June 2021. We're rebuilding the derelict old main house, and we're moving the yurt into the forest. This week, with a Dutch Workawayer we've been building a new improved compost toilet by the new yurt site. Soon we'll be building the new yurt floor and moving it. There is lots of woodwork going on. We have builders making the wooden frame for the house, the roof and windows, and the plumbing, but we're doing the electrics and straw bale insulation ourselves. We have a number of other projects going on at the same time, and of course about 50 animals to feed and look after... There are always plenty of things to do, things to improve. We try to adapt work to our visitor's skills and interests. We love it when volunteers create artwork on our walls. We look forward to meeting you :) *️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️
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Hi. We're Henry, Kasia and Maia. We're an Anglo-Polish couple and we took the plunge and moved in Spring 2015 to this small farm in rural NE Poland. It's a lovely sheltered spot surrounded by woods and away from the road. It was all run down but we've made a LOT of progress already. We love having volunteers and we will make lots of effort to accommodate you as long as you are willing and able to fit in to our busy working environment. We do work hard and long hours, but we don't expect more from volunteers than is in the Workaway contract (max 4-5hrs).
When we first arrived we were living in a tent and getting water from the well in a bucket. We've since renovated the old garage into a communal kitchen/living/dining space. We built a yurt, and then a small straw bale cottage for my 77 year old mother who peacefully passed away after two years of living here. A couple of years ago we renovated an old goat house for storage space and also converted the end of it into comfy accommodation for two people. We insulated the old goat house and the kitchen with straw and plastered it with clay, which has worked very well. I haven't heard about many people doing this so it's quite interesting maybe. Also the technique for making the continuous arched walls/roof of our strawbale cottage is quite unique and interesting. Eventually we have an old house that we want to renovate/convert and we are getting plans together for that.
We have 9 goats and we get daily fresh milk. Occasionally we make cheese. We have about 30 chickens living in our woods and guinea fowl, so we have fresh eggs too. We have two dogs and three cats, oh and a rabbit, and most recently 5 ducks! Quack!
We planted lots of trees and shrubs around the place and expanded our no-dig vegetable patches. The goats and chickens have been helping us tidy up our orchards. We've made swales and hugelbeds and we're trying to integrate permaculture design and principles into the place. We respect nature and we try to limit our resource, machine and chemical use.
Our daughter is now nearly eight, is helping us as much as she can, and she's always up for playing, running, making us laugh, and otherwise distracting us. She's really creative and determined and has good social skills. She is on holiday until the beginning of September.
We're looking for volunteers for our gardening and building work, for spending time with our daughter doing creative/arty things (or even just reading a book).
There are big forests around, also Poland's biggest National Park about 12km away.
Any questions, do get in touch :-)Types of help and learning opportunities
Art ProjectsLanguage practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpBabysitting and creative playCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can see the reality of the early years of moving from a city life to a derelict farm site and trying to convert it into a beautiful living and working space using permaculture principles. Henry is often keen to talk about permaculture and philosophy and we have a fairly good library here.
Previous volunteers have commented that they've learned all sorts of things.Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Upcoming volunteering help (winter): charcoal making, forest work, firewood, greenhouse building, wood working (door making, shelf construction, etc.), (Spring and summer): various building projects, clay plastering, gardening, compost, extending vegetable gardens. We do expect some help with the other chores like cooking, washing up, tending the fire for hot water, etc.
We're open to other possibilities. Come and create art, help entertain and educate our little girl.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Polish: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I'm learning Polish and teaching EnglishAccommodation
Accommodation seems pretty comfortable now compared to last year! We've recently made some good accommodation in the goat shed. It's quite cool in there in the summer but no heating for winter. We also have a beautiful yurt that can be available. There's also comfortable shelter and a sofa-bed in the kitchen.
We have running water from a well, electricity, cooking facilities, a washing machine and dryer, an outside composting toilet and a solar shower.
Internet and phone reception is sometimes limited on our beautiful site sheltered by trees (but seems to be getting better).What else ...
Tourist facilities are fairly limited in the immediate area. The local town is about 10km away - plenty of hardware and food shops, but otherwise pretty basic facilities.
There's rich local flora and fauna, including elk, wild boar and wolves.
There's places for walking, cycling, and fairly good tourist centres less than an hour's drive away. We have bikes that can be borrowed.
We try to go away for day trips together with volunteers from time to time if there is an opportunity. We enjoy bonfires sometimes in the evenings.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (15)
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.6)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.6)
This was also my first Workaway, which was daunting at first, but after a couple of days adjusting I felt like one of the family!
The jobs I was given tested… read more
I felt great with all of them and I have really good memories of interesting work, the challenge to make things work and to develop skills.
I… read more
Things have moved on quite a bit and we now have a decent working kitchen and living space in the old garage :-)