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Beschreibung
We are an active family looking for the occasional extra set of hands to get some jobs done and help build upon a number of permaculture principle based projects around our bush property.
After establishing a flourishing permaculture property over a decade we moved about a year ago and are working on our new sustainability adventure on the outskirts of Ballarat with views over to the Grampians.
Backing onto the Creswick State Forest, our property will provide you with ample bushwalking opportunities. We have already done a lot of work to establish our intensive garden beds and our food forest area is now completely mulched, summer has been prepped for, so the main focus now is getting the veg patch pumping!
Both Dominique and Liz have completed Permaculture Design Courses (2016 and 2017 respectively). Liz has also completed Permaculture teacher training. On our last property we implemented a number of projects, including intensive crop rotation garden beds, wicking beds, setting up poly tunnels, creating a mini-forest garden orchard area and designing water systems most of which we are in process of replicating again.
We love living in the bush. We are mostly vegetarian (some seafood) and take pride in the fact we eat from our garden most days.
If this sounds like you, then please get in touch! Extra points if Liz can practice her Dutch on you (not mandatory) 😉🤣
Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten
Sprachpraxis
Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten
Gartenarbeiten
Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten
Betreuung von Tieren
Mithilfe auf einem Bauernhof
Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie
Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten
Both Dom and Liz are fluent in Dutch. Dom is originally from Holland, while Liz learnt the language while living there (and keen to practice!). Dom also speaks German.
Liz has been interested in permaculture since the mid-nineties, collecting all kinds of gardening and permaculture books along the way. Dominique completed his PDC in 2016, with Liz completing hers in 2017. We are always keen to share knowledge and learn from others in any area that helps us live more sustainably.
Other practical skills we can share with you include sustainable gardening techniques (including sheet mulching, raised garden beds), bee keeping (beginners), preserving and foraging techniques.
Arbeit
Most of the work we do is project based, so we probably can complete a project while you are here, working where possible to your skills, experience or willingness to give it a go.
During the cooler months we prepare for the summer: clearing, collecting and removing sticks. This often results in a weekend bonfire; a perfect way to end the day (with a glass of wine, naturally).
On top of this we are forage extensively (and furiously) at various times of the year collecting, among other things, blackberries, mushrooms, wild damsons, hawthorns, elderflowers, elderberries for use throughout the year. At these times of year, there are a LOT of preserving jobs.
Other tasks may include help with our brood of chickens. We also keep bees, and our dog Betty is sure to love you to bits (just rub her tummy, seriously). Two cats also live on the property, but live inside to protect the abundant bird life.
Current and upcoming projects we will do together include building two new IBC wicking beds, building new native gardens around the house and forever keeping the vegetable garden under control 🤣.
Gesprochene Sprachen
Englisch: Fließend
Niederländisch: Fließend
Deutsch: Gute Kenntnisse
Unterkunft
When staying with us you will have your own private room in our home.
Was noch ...
We are both work from home on alternate days, which is why we’d love you to take your free days off during the week if possible (we can always discuss). This is more so we can get in and work with you over the weekend. Many hands make light work as they say! The good news is someone is generally home, so if you need a quick lift into town something can generally be organised between us.
Ballarat is very close (7 min drive). A pick up to and from the station can be arranged. We can happily drop you off at the train station on your days off to take in sights in Melbourne or Ballarat. Ballarat has some wonderful goldrush era architecture and lots of great things to do including Sovereign Hill, the Eureka Centre (see the Eureka flag), Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat Wildlife Park and the botanical gardens as well as the numerous cafes and wine bars that have recently opened up.
If you have your own car Daylesford (spa country) as well as numerous cute goldfields era villages are very close and well worth exploring. Aside from the State Park backing into our block the area boasts great hiking opportunities. We are avid bush-walkers and have many books and maps for walks in the Central Goldfields and Grampians area if you need some inspiration, but you can otherwise literally walk out the front door and choose your own adventure / walk.
Lastly, we are on tank water which means we collect all our own rainwater for drinking and bathing. This means it is a finite resource for us, so we are mindful of not taking excessively long showers :)
Etwas mehr Information
Internet Zugang
Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang
Wir besitzen Tiere
Wir sind Raucher
Familien möglich
Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen
We recently signed up to Starlink so our wifi is great!
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Feedback (25)
Thank you for this experience and I highly recommend them as host.
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Korrekte Angaben im Profil:
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Kultureller Austausch:
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Kommunikation:
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Thank you for this experience and I highly recommend them as host.
Matilde is a methodical worker with an eye for detail. She is very patient with excellent English and blended in… read more
Every family member makes you feel warmly welcomed and go out of their way to make sure you are feeling happy and comfortable, and I was for the entire time. Thank you Liz for sharing… read more
They are such a wonderful and warm family. I had a rough start in my first host family and because of that I kinda lost my trust in Workaway, but they showed me how it should be and beyond… read more
The work is fair and enjoyable. I helped them move fallen trees from their backyard, put mulch in their garden, and cut some… read more
While… read more
My room and their house was so lovely, beautiful and comfortable.
Dom and Liz were extremely generous and inclusive. We worked together on the property, enjoyed recreational time afterwards together and ate together.
The work on their new garden was… read more
I helped preparing their food garden for spring, which involved making raised veggie beds and doing sheet composting. There were other hands-on outdoor tasks too, such as pruning small trees, and painting the inside of their chicken coop.
I largely interacted with Dom, as Liz was away on a short trip for… read more
We had our own private space but they always shared their meals with us, so we always felt welcomed.
The work was without pressure, and during… read more
They were our first Workaway experience and it was amazing. After another host cancelled last minute Liz and Dom offered us to stay with them three more weeks.
We had to do some weeding in the garden and had daily… read more
Recommended!
Maxime has some awesome skills and so practical. He fitted in perfectly with our family and I loved chatting with him about… read more
Jane helped out with light gardening work, a bit of cooking and cleaned her accomodation before she left. She was incredibly helpful, simple things like cleaning… read more
They gave excellent instructions how to arrive from Melbourne airport, then really allowed me to experience Australian life! While I was there I felt like part of the family. They have a very nice 18-year-old… read more
Especially the working in and around their permaculture garden made me a lot of fun. Dom and Liz are planting many vegetables in there. And every evening they grab some and create a really really nice meal!
All in all the food was tasty,… read more
