Help at our non-profit, organic regenerative farm in Pedrovo, Slovenia

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  Hi, would you like to experience a real farming life? Do you want to learn new skills and knowledge about sustainable farming? Come and join us, and help us to develop our farm.
  
  Candidates for next year 2025 farming life experience welcome :-) LOOKING for LONG TERM HELP (1 month or more) Also this autumn there is some position free. You can of course write also for shorter time help ;-)
  
  We have an organic farm and small goat and sheep cheese dairy located in a quaint old village of Pedrovo on the edge of the Karst plateau above the Vipava Valley in mediterranean southwest part of Slovenia.
  
  We are Tom and Borut a male couple in their 30s. We bought the 150 years old stone house with some abandoned land 12 years ago and started with renovation and restoration on the house and land. Borut is a biologist working as a wildlife conservationist and Park Ranger in nearby National Park. Tom is an economist who used to run a youth hostel and worked in a tourism destination management for a decade and decided five years ago to quit the job and be a full time organic farmer and cheese maker.
  We make sure that our herd of Karst sheep (Istrian Sheep) and Drežnica Goats always enjoy their grazing. Both native, heritage breeds are extremely endangered. We pay special attention to breeding and taking care of our herd. The animals are pastured 24/7 on one of the species richest meadows in Europe. With pasturing we managing this fragile and endangered grassland habitat that is part of Natura2000 conservation network. The milk of both breeds is extremely rich and enables us to make a variety of products, all reflecting this unique and pristine environment and animals. In addition to 60 goats and 50 sheep, our farm is also home to three donkeys and quite some hens. The fruit from our orchards and the vegetables and herbs from our gardens are made into jams, sauces and syrups. Come and help us with our animals, pastures, orchards, gardens... enjoy the peaceful life in our picturesque village, enjoy the beauty and fragrance of our meadows, admire the beautiful views, pet our goats and sheep. Welcome!
  
  On our gardens we grow different varieties of vegetables, specially local heritage and heirloom varieties. This year we are growing more then 70 heirloom varieties of tomatoes :-) In orchard we have plenty of fruit trees from apples and pears, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, figs, pomegranates, meddlers, quinces, to elderberries, walnuts, chestnuts, jujubes... and every year planting some new :-)

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten

  Betreuung von Tieren

  Mithilfe auf einem Bauernhof

  Hausarbeiten

  Handwerkliche Arbeiten
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  UNO-Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung, die dieser Gastgeber verfolgt

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  Was ist das?
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Slovenia is small country with rich history and since we are a border region you can really feel mixture of cultural influences that result in very rich culinary and habits. You will be able to learn how is life on a farm far from big cities. Living in a village where u will be one of 18 inhabitants is pretty unique :-) While we like to cook and bake you will be able to learn some local recipes. You will have a chance to pick up some Slovene words. Knowledge about heritage breeds and old varieties of vegetables and fruits is also part of cultural exchange.

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  Arbeit

  We are looking for helpers that would like to become part of the farm for some weeks (or even more) and would like to give their contribution in development of our farm and our projects. We like people that are responsible and want to learn something new and also to left some traces in the story of farm development.
  So if you are looking for real experience of farm life and if you want to help with your skills to develop our projects you are welcome to join us :-)
  
  You will be able to learn about organic regenerative farming by helping us with everyday farm life tasks.
  In the milking season (April - November) the first thing in the morning after breakfast is milking our goats and sheep on pasture with milking parlour. This can be as early as 6 am in the hot summer months. When we are milking twice a day (April - July), the milking has to be done also in the evening. There are chickens who need care every morning and collecting eggs. The baby goats and lambs on the pasture also need some additional food, fresh water and some petting every day :-)
  Every few days a new pasture has to be prepared. The karst dry pastures are full of herbs so helping there include aromatherapy together with stunning views :-)
  
  During the winter when is no milking there is some help with feeding the animals and taking care of lambs and baby goats. That is also time when we are cleaning bushes on pastures and preparing some firewood.
  
  You will be able to help also with some gardening, cooking, some DIY projects, so whatever have to be done in everyday farm life ;-)
  
  We are gay couple and welcome any gender workawayers to get in touch as well as couples. LGBTQ+ friendly :) We are already thankful for your help on our farm and your strong will to learn new things and practices. The help is diverse and interesting.
  
  Right at the moment there is help with morning milking, every few days there is some work with preparing new pastures, gardening, some DIY projects,... We are making a new big herbal garden - 200m2 that including some dry stone walls reconstruction... We are also preparing didactic polygon around our farm so visitors will be able to learn about organic, regenerative farming, indigenous breeds, how farming activities can help protect nature... So on small farms like our there is always a lot of things to do :-)
  
  Helping on farm is not like working in an office. Helping on farm is a lifestyle. There is a lot of works that have to be done on time and depends on weather. So some days we will help some hours more and the other days some hours less.
  
  We prefer visits at least for two weeks. In two weeks you catch some knowledge and work is then easier. So longer it is better it is :-) We are looking also for a longer period ( long term stay ) members of the farm even for all the season - the year...
  
  There are also days off to travel around :-)
  But if you decide to stay and sleep and eat and live with us on farm also on your off-days please help us couple of hours for exchange. Thank you for your energy, love, support and new knowledge.
  
  So if you are ready for sometimes rough farming life and you want to be satisfied at the end of a day after a successfully done tasks then we are right place for you :-)
  
  P.S. If you are looking just for free accommodation and food during your trip we are probably not the right address. Become a real farm member, let's exchange energy, knowledge, ideas, stories and experience :-)
  
  Looking forward to hearing from you soon and meeting you :-)

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  Gesprochene Sprachen

  Englisch: Fließend
  Croatian: Fließend
  Italienisch: Fließend
  Slovenian: Fließend
  Serbian: Fließend
  Deutsch: Grundkenntnisse

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  Unterkunft

  We are living in 150 years old stone made house which we've been renovating last 12 years. You will be living with us sharing kitchen, living room and bathroom. We have two bedrooms for visitors. One with double bed and the other with two single beds. We can host two workawayers. Sheets, blankets and pillows are provided. Sleeping-bags are not allowed because we want to keep rooms and mattresses clean. The house is 150 years old lady so act respectful and be tidy :-)
  All the meals will be prepared and eaten together. You will be able to help with cooking and baking too :-)
  The village is without water pipeline or springs. Every house has it's own water well catching rain water. The water is filtered so its drinkable :-) We respect water and the nature. That's why we take short showers and use water only when needed. Please close the tap/pipe/shower when not needed that we all have enough water also to drink, for animals, for cooking, for cheese making, to water plants,... Thank you.

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  Was noch ...

  You will have also time to explore the area. Both Vipava valley and Karst are wine regions with picturesque villages, castles, nice walking trails, rich local culinary... Nearby are also some bigger historic cities like Trieste and Gorizia. The coast is 20km away.
  The railway station is 4km away in village Branik where also bus stop is.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  zwei

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  Arbeitszeiten

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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