Help us out with our homestead and regenerative farm in Ginestar, Spain
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: 11 März 2025
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Feedback (34)
Vom Workawayer (Ingrid) für Host
I stayed with Selina & Rob for about 1 month in Sept/Oct, and it was an absolute pleasure living at the Finca and learning the ins and outs of homesteading/agroforestry!!
Selina and Rob are excellent hosts - they took great care of me while I was there, providing everything I needed and also cooking amazing lunches during the week! They were
… read more very transparent and clearly communicated their expectations and boundaries with volunteers.
Highlights include the deeply philosophical discussions about life and society with Selina & Rob, making/trying almond butter for the first time (peanut butter will never be the same!), keeping up with the “Game of Goats” everytime I visited the goat pen, and playing with Ezra! I also had a chance to help with almond harvesting, fermenting hot chillies, and helped fortify the garden against future boar incursions!
The Finca is absolutely gorgeous, I loved being outside everyday and seeing all the wildlife, the sunrises and sunsets (though Noodle the cat did scare the absolute bejesus out of me one night while I was busy stargazing!).
Thanks so much Selina & Rob for having me! Looking forward to my next visit, take care guys! :)Dieser Workawayer hat sich dafür entschieden, sein Profil privat zu schalten, kann aber von anderen Workawayern bezüglich dieses Feedbacks kontaktiert werden.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Ingrid)
Barbara was such a lovely member of the finca team and was brave enough to look after the farm on her own while we escaped to the coast for a few days during the summer.
While she was with us, Barbara showed great determination and resolve with every task. I'm not sure that any of it came naturally or easily to her, but she gave everything her
… read more best shot. Barbara was self-sufficient and independent but seemed to always enjoy company - some great discussions were had over the dinner table!
Barbara is very much the scientist - keeping us entertained with explanations about her work and world. Her natural curiosity led to her constant discovery of natural wonders around the farm, which was lovely to witness. Barbara is positive and open-hearted, honest and trustworthy. I enjoyed our many conversations about personal growth and the path of self-healing.
All in all it was a great pleasure to have Barbara here and we look forward to crossing paths again in the future. All the best Barbara!
I stayed at the finca for one month during August. It was a great experience and the family is super welcoming and nice.
The place is magical; it was for me an open space to observe, the inner and outside world, to think, and to be on my own. And also, to be in touch with the Earth, which can be tiring but definitely satisfying.
I really
… read more enjoyed the work: cleaning and digging the beds win the first place, harvesting almonds last place haha. The work is not that hard and you are free to manage it in the most confortable way for you.
The experience was a bit different from what I expected but beautiful anyways! The first days I struggled with spending a lot of time alone, which I didn't expect, but at the end I was able to embrace the positive aspects of this. I also had the possibility to explore the surrounding area during the weekends: the see, Tarragona and Barcelona (thank you again for leaving me your car!).
Rob, Selina, Ely and Monty are strong and determinated people and remembered me to look at life as an adventure: the important thing is to remain curios and grateful, to love, to give and donate, and especially, to follow your own rules. And to laugh!
Thank you for the care, the affectation, the attention. Thank you for your delicious food and the great beauty of the place that you built and made home. Thank you for all the laughs, the easy and deep talks, the trust and the altruism. I hope to see you again in the future :)
PS I really miss Ezra!
Valeria was with us for almost a month during the toughest time of the year and it was a great pleasure to get to know her.
It can be a strange experience coming to a Workaway placement; things are rarely as we expect them to be, and this is often the case when volunteers land here with us. It was clear that initially Valeria struggled to settle
… read more in at our place, I think she was alone more often than she anticipated (until Luis arrived but that's another story!) and nothing was as she'd thought. But after a first few shaky days I saw that Valeria had made a decision to make it work and I could detect a real quiet strength and dtermination had settled over her.
I think Valeria learned to be with herself, to enjoy the pleasures of a life with little external stimulation. For those that make their peace with the quiet here, there are unexpected gifts to be discovered in the 'boredom' and open nature - I think that's what Valeria finally found.
There was, in the end, a lightness and peace to Valeria that made being with her so enjoyable. She worked hard and diligently, found solace in herself, negotiated some difficult conversations with our other volunteer Luis, and contributed to fun and philosophical conversations with wit and intelligence.
It was so lovely to have Valeria with us and Rob and I sincerely hope that she'll return again in the future.
Thanks for everything Valeria - until next time!
Vom Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied) für Host
I had the opportunity to stay with Rob and Selina for three weeks. I liked the change of pace in a quiet permaculture farm.
Monty, Eli, Rob and Selina received us with open arms. They were caring hosts who looked after us. Thoughtful, we shared interesting conversations. Laid back environment. Thanks for everything Rob.
We cleared some grass,
… read more chopped sticks, fed goats and sheep, prepared some garden beds and harvested some almonds. I loved the physical work.
Grateful for the experience, recommended for people who like to be in the nature.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Feedback
Dies sind zusätzliche optionale Bewertungen, wenn Mitglieder Feedback hinterlassen. Es wird die im Schnitt hinterlassene Bewertung für jede Option angezeigt.
Korrekte Angaben im Profil:
(5.0)
Kultureller Austausch:
(4.8)
Vom Workawayer (Ingrid) für Host
I stayed with Selina & Rob for about 1 month in Sept/Oct, and it was an absolute pleasure living at the Finca and learning the ins and outs of homesteading/agroforestry!!
Selina and Rob are excellent hosts - they took great care of me while I was there, providing everything I needed and also cooking amazing lunches during the week! They were
… read more very transparent and clearly communicated their expectations and boundaries with volunteers.
Highlights include the deeply philosophical discussions about life and society with Selina & Rob, making/trying almond butter for the first time (peanut butter will never be the same!), keeping up with the “Game of Goats” everytime I visited the goat pen, and playing with Ezra! I also had a chance to help with almond harvesting, fermenting hot chillies, and helped fortify the garden against future boar incursions!
The Finca is absolutely gorgeous, I loved being outside everyday and seeing all the wildlife, the sunrises and sunsets (though Noodle the cat did scare the absolute bejesus out of me one night while I was busy stargazing!).
Thanks so much Selina & Rob for having me! Looking forward to my next visit, take care guys! :)Dieser Workawayer hat sich dafür entschieden, sein Profil privat zu schalten, kann aber von anderen Workawayern bezüglich dieses Feedbacks kontaktiert werden.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Ingrid)
Barbara was such a lovely member of the finca team and was brave enough to look after the farm on her own while we escaped to the coast for a few days during the summer.
While she was with us, Barbara showed great determination and resolve with every task. I'm not sure that any of it came naturally or easily to her, but she gave everything her
… read more best shot. Barbara was self-sufficient and independent but seemed to always enjoy company - some great discussions were had over the dinner table!
Barbara is very much the scientist - keeping us entertained with explanations about her work and world. Her natural curiosity led to her constant discovery of natural wonders around the farm, which was lovely to witness. Barbara is positive and open-hearted, honest and trustworthy. I enjoyed our many conversations about personal growth and the path of self-healing.
All in all it was a great pleasure to have Barbara here and we look forward to crossing paths again in the future. All the best Barbara!
I stayed at the finca for one month during August. It was a great experience and the family is super welcoming and nice.
The place is magical; it was for me an open space to observe, the inner and outside world, to think, and to be on my own. And also, to be in touch with the Earth, which can be tiring but definitely satisfying.
I really
… read more enjoyed the work: cleaning and digging the beds win the first place, harvesting almonds last place haha. The work is not that hard and you are free to manage it in the most confortable way for you.
The experience was a bit different from what I expected but beautiful anyways! The first days I struggled with spending a lot of time alone, which I didn't expect, but at the end I was able to embrace the positive aspects of this. I also had the possibility to explore the surrounding area during the weekends: the see, Tarragona and Barcelona (thank you again for leaving me your car!).
Rob, Selina, Ely and Monty are strong and determinated people and remembered me to look at life as an adventure: the important thing is to remain curios and grateful, to love, to give and donate, and especially, to follow your own rules. And to laugh!
Thank you for the care, the affectation, the attention. Thank you for your delicious food and the great beauty of the place that you built and made home. Thank you for all the laughs, the easy and deep talks, the trust and the altruism. I hope to see you again in the future :)
PS I really miss Ezra!
Valeria was with us for almost a month during the toughest time of the year and it was a great pleasure to get to know her.
It can be a strange experience coming to a Workaway placement; things are rarely as we expect them to be, and this is often the case when volunteers land here with us. It was clear that initially Valeria struggled to settle
… read more in at our place, I think she was alone more often than she anticipated (until Luis arrived but that's another story!) and nothing was as she'd thought. But after a first few shaky days I saw that Valeria had made a decision to make it work and I could detect a real quiet strength and dtermination had settled over her.
I think Valeria learned to be with herself, to enjoy the pleasures of a life with little external stimulation. For those that make their peace with the quiet here, there are unexpected gifts to be discovered in the 'boredom' and open nature - I think that's what Valeria finally found.
There was, in the end, a lightness and peace to Valeria that made being with her so enjoyable. She worked hard and diligently, found solace in herself, negotiated some difficult conversations with our other volunteer Luis, and contributed to fun and philosophical conversations with wit and intelligence.
It was so lovely to have Valeria with us and Rob and I sincerely hope that she'll return again in the future.
Thanks for everything Valeria - until next time!
Vom Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied) für Host
I had the opportunity to stay with Rob and Selina for three weeks. I liked the change of pace in a quiet permaculture farm.
Monty, Eli, Rob and Selina received us with open arms. They were caring hosts who looked after us. Thoughtful, we shared interesting conversations. Laid back environment. Thanks for everything Rob.
We cleared some grass,
… read more chopped sticks, fed goats and sheep, prepared some garden beds and harvested some almonds. I loved the physical work.
Grateful for the experience, recommended for people who like to be in the nature.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Molène & Bastien) für Host
We spent a wonderful month with Selina, Rob, Monty, Eli & Ezra! They're a very welcoming, open-minded family, and we immediately felt at ease.
The location is magical; we stayed in a large tipee-style tent, with a kitchen, bathroom and other amenities, all outdoors. We loved this way of life for its connection with nature and the disconnection
… read more it brings. If you're looking for a change of pace, want to get out of your comfort zone and slow down a bit, this is the place for you.
In terms of work, it's quite varied. We learned and built a stone wall, tended the beautiful garden and vegetable patch, did some woodwork, all under Catalan weather. Even in May, it can be quite hot in the mornings. Selina and rob are quite flexible, they give us tasks and we were quite independent and autonomous in carrying them out.
The surrounding area is wonderful for hiking, discovering wide open spaces, the sea is about 1 hour away and the coast is very beautiful.
What we remember most about this stay are the incredible people! We shared many great moments, had great discussions and had a lot of laughs!
We'll be back for sure! Thanks again for everything!!!
Load of love, Bastien & MolèneDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Molène & Bastien)
Molene and Basitien were a fantastic additon to our homestead family for the time they were here.
Always good natured, self sufficient and hard working, we came to really love this fun and genuine pair of friends. Initially we were a little worried by Bastien's 'enthusiasm' for tasks ; going at everything with perhaps slightly too much gusto to
… read more begin with! But in time, he settled into our more laid back way of life here and found ways to pace himself and enjoy some down time and some slower activites.
Conversations around the dinner table were always fun and engaging - they are such interesting characters - and there was an openness and authenticity that we always value. And their attitude to work was always positive and determined.
While they were here they helped prepare veg beds, built some gates, dismantled and rebuilt dry stone walls (an art form), strimmed and mowed, cracked almonds, made almond butter, cooked an incredible lasagne, constantly took the dishes for washing even when it wasn't their turn and were generally incredibly helpful and useful.
Every weekend and often in the afternoon they would take themselves off on adventures in the surrounding area, coming back with stories and information about all the things they'd discovered.
It was a genuine pleasure to have met and spent time with these two beautiful humans and I sincerely hope that our paths will cross again at some point in the future.
Thanks for everything Molene and Bastien! You are special people xx
Vom Workawayer (George) für Host
I had the best time staying with Selina, Rob, Eli, Monty and Ezra! They are such a wonderful family and made me feel so welcome during my stay. Selina is full of ideas and I was so inspired by her appetite, knowledge and perspective on not just natural farming but life in general. She is such an enlightening and fun person to be around. Rob is
… read more always on hand to crack a witty joke and pull out oddly specific facts off the top of his head which always kept me laughing - he is very knowledgeable and great to chat to! They are both such down to earth people and they really looked out for me during my stay - I was able to visit Tarragona, Miravet, they lent me a bike to ride around (sorry about that key...), and even dropped me off in the mountains at a beautiful monastery (and took care of me when I came back from my hike a bit worse for wear...)
I loved sharing music and chatting about life with Eli and it was cool to go exploring together, hit me up if you come to study in the UK! :) Monty is an eccentric lad with no shortage of laughs and entertainment, he is great fun to be around! It was such a pleasure to stay with these hosts as they were very accommodating, made delicious food for us all to share and were always respectful.
The finca is a lovely spot surrounded by the hills and located nearby a small town, with plenty to see and do in the wider area if you want to. I most enjoyed the peace and quiet and being surrounded by nature in the outdoors - it did me a lot of good and helped clear my head :) I did around 5 hours work a day monday to friday (sometimes more or less) harvesting olives, putting up fences to move the sheep and chickens (not to brag but I was pretty good, ask Rob), feeding the goats (personal highlight), digging holes to plant trees, chopping firewood, digging up the veg garden beds for planting, a little bit of painting and some strimming. The work was varied and could be quite physical but it was rewarding and I always felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of a day. I loved learning about the regenerative process on the land and living more off grid - I learned a lot of new things! A lot of the work was independent as they can be quite busy but they always took the time to show me how to do things and check in on me.
I could say much more but the main thing to know is that it is definitely worth your time coming to help out at this special place as long as you are willing to contribute! Next time I am going away I will for sure look to come back and spend more time here. Thank you all so much for having me!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (George)
George is just a lovely soul and we loved having him stay with us.
It was a chilly time of year but George took it in his stride and although he hadn't done a lot of the jobs before he came here he really got stuck into everything - changing over our almost no-dig veg beds, moving animal fences, strimming, processing prunings, and generally
… read more making himself useful whenever he could. He also made us an absolutely delicious Ottolenghi pasta dish before he left that was a huge hit.
Conversations with George were always thoughtful and rewarding. He's a sensitive and sweet guy that the whole family adored.
Thanks for everything George - you were hardy, resilient, quietly determined, considerate and fun. Hope we see you soon xx
Vom Host für Workawayer (Marti & Ronja)
We absolutely loved hosting Marti and Ronja - what a truly gorgeous pair of humans they are!
Conversations were open-hearted, thoughtful and fun and all interractions were easy and warm.
We never felt we had to worry about Marti and Ronja as they were entirely self-sufficient - using their considerable intelligence, instinct and good humour to
… read more apply to all the jobs they got involved in.
It was surprising how quietly and with how little fuss they just efficiently got on with everything I asked them to do. I'd not see them for a few hours and then I'd realise that an entire terrace was strimmed and mown! They work incredibly hard!
They also possess tons of emotional intelligence and it was really refreshing to be with people who were so open and connected.
We all loved these two and miss their presence here greatly.
Vom Workawayer (Marti & Ronja) für Host
We had an absolut amazing time with Selina, Rob, Eli and Monty.
They have a beautiful land where we helped taking care of beds, did some almonds harvest, helped with the goats and prepared for the olive harvest. They are such lovely, caring, interesting and funny people, it was really a pleasure spending time with this family and while writing
… read more this we feel how much we miss them... It was a really special experience!! We hope we will come back soon. Warm hug from Marti and Ronja ❤️Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Thomas & Casper)
Yikes I can't believe it's taken me so long to write ffedback for these excellent people! Shame on me!
We LOVED Thomas and Caspar - they are such wonderful, warm, likable chaps. Almost everyday we could hear them laughing and joking whilst they worked. They were always cheerful, always grateful, always enthusiastic. Just absolutely lovely.
… read more
Nothing ever seemed too hard for them, even discovering a snake living in the caravan!
They worked so hard and so enthusiastically too - Thomas is a complete powerhouse, and Caspar is the brains (or so Thomas says! :) ) They were so self-sufficient too, taking themselves off on the bikes to explore all the time.
We honestly missed them so much when they gone...they brought such joy to this little corner of the world and we massively hope our paths cross again at some point in the future.
Vom Workawayer (Thomas & Casper) für Host
Our stay at the farm with Selina, Rob, Eli and monty was one of the best experiences of our lives. From the moment we arrived until we left we felt welcome and part of their warm, smiling, good-humoured family.
Unfortunately, we only stayed for a few weeks but that was enough to convince us to come back for sure!
We are very grateful to have met
… read more these people and had a taste of the life on their farm.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Lizzie & William)
Better late than never! (Hopefully!)
Lizzie and Wills are just awesome. If you have the opportunity to have these two in your lives - go for it!
Funny, warm, kind, trustworthy and ridiculously hard-working, they were an absolute pleasure to be around. They came along with us to the beach, to a party, to the pool! And were always engaged and
… read more engaging. We particularly loved hearing about 'Tazzy' and their lives on the other side of the world.
They built a double bed for us in our caravan, dug and cleared beds, tended plants, harvested almonds, did a load of strimming (or whipper-snippERing), moved compost bins and then looked after the finca for us while we were away - taking extremely good care of all the baby plants, the farm animals and our high maintenence dog!
We were only sad that we couldn't spend more time with them...I would have loved to hear Wills unique laugh one more time.
Really do miss these loves. Thanks for everything!
Vom Workawayer (Lizzie & William) für Host
Our time with this gorgeous family was cherished. Getting to know Selina, Rob, Monty & Eli is something we will always be grateful for. Our time at the finca was filled with lots of different happenings from crazy hot & stormy weather to peaceful walks and good conversation. We felt our time helping out was valued and could really sense the
… read more appreciation from Selina and Rob. Definitely a special place that we will never forget! Thank youDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Inga) für Host
Selina, Rob and their teenage Boys are incredibly generous and very good, friendly hosts. We had a sweet and short get together and delicious dinner, before 2 other workawayers and me took care of their farm. The family went abroad and we made sure that everything runs smoothly including animal and plant care.
Their animals are super sweet, Ezra
… read more the dog loves balls and can never get enough playtime. We had some extreme weather such like an intensive rain episode. Everything was fine and it was great to be surrounded with nature and it’s forces.
The farm is great for a rural basic life experience off grid but for remote working without a proper desk it’s not optimal.
Have a fun stay. :)
Thanks for the experience!
Vom Workawayer (Michaela) für Host
All I want to say is that- this family and land is wonderful. Selina and Rob are genuine and generous people who are living in their authentic way which I admire a lot, not to mention the two beautiful boys that they are raising. If you are looking for a place to share ideas, be amongst good intentional community, this family delivers in their own
… read more beautiful way. I can’t speak much on the work because I arrived at a unique time (the fam was taking time off and it was HOT) but there is plenty to be done ( Selina and Rob are so dedicated and it shows)! Looking forward to seeing this family again.
Ps- shout out to Selina and her wealth of knowledge when I was sick her commitment to making sure I was feeling better with herbs teas and vitamins- Selina you are a wonder woman who I admire greatly
Pps- shout out to Rob who makes great curries (obviously) and is so helpful in giving directions and clear communication a master on the guitar- can’t wait to see that band you create Rob
Thanks family!! Hasta la próximaDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Michaela)
We picked Michaela up with a car full of family and our other volunteer at the time and she just took the madness in her stride - immediately asking questions and getting to know us.
We had a couple of volunteers here along with Michaela when we went away for a few days and they were a brilliant team - it was so wonderful to leave everything in
… read more their capable hands and relax for a few days.
Michaela is laid back, resourceful, open, friendly, funny, resilient and resourceful. So easy to spend time with and it was a pleasure to get to know her. I imagine that she's a woman that can cope with just about any circumstance.
I loved getting to know Michaela a little bit and would love to bump into her again at some future point in our lives.
Vom Workawayer (Célestin & Oriana) für Host
My experience in Selina & Rob's finca was absolutely beautiful ❤️
The place is warm in summer but volunteers have dedicated spaces to hide from the sun and have chilling time, reading, sharing...
There are a lot of things to do and learn here, from restoration agriculture of olive and almond trees to irrigation in arid weather, animal care... and
… read more a lot of things to share with this beautiful family, from good food to world politics, hope for the future, and more.
My only regret was that we couldn't share that much time as they went away a few days to rest while we cared the place and animals (rest really needed!!) ...
But this a nice pretext to come back and visit again, as I really felt extremely well welcomed and feel like having new friends there.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Célestin & Oriana)
Although Celestin was only here for a short time we absolutely loved having him here on the farm. Celestin was mostly here to help look after our place while we were away for a few days and we felt totally reassured that he would be able to fully deal with amy eventuality that would arise.
While we were away, Celestin cared for the goats, sheep,
… read more chickens, dog and cat; watered plants and ran the various (complicated) irrigation systems. Additionally, while there was no obligation for him to get involved with anything else, he dismantled an old structure, spread and mowed a load of mulch and began the arduous process of moving the compost bin system to another part of the farm.
Celestin and the other workaways got on brilliantly and managed in extreme temperatures to stay calm and level-headed. Conversations were easy and engaging. Celestin is charming and capable.
OUr only sadness is that we didn't get to spend a little more time with Celestin and we sincerely hope that he returns at some point in the future.
We hope to see you soon!
Vom Workawayer (Matthew) für Host
What an incredible experience. Everything I was looking for and more.
Selina and Rob were super welcoming and made me feel at home and comfortable from day 1. The work was varied and interesting, I was able to try so many different jobs and they guided me through it all as well as letting me follow my interests. I helped build the chicken fence,
… read more used their big grass cutter around the olive trees, chopped some wood, made a couple veg patches and made some (I hope) tasty chutney!
A lovely social family who are all very wise with a great outlook onto the world. Selina has a very kind soul and communication was 10/10 for any concerns. Definitely recommend chats with Rob for some spiritual / psychological teachings. There is much I, and the rest of us, can learn from them.
Big shoutout to the coolest sons Eli and Monty who are such a laugh and keep it entertaining, they showed me round to the best spots in Ginestar / Mora through the mountains and rivers.
The area itself is really beautiful, you wake up with the sun and sleep with the moon. Very natural and sustainable living and it is the most relaxed I have felt in a long time.
I only spent one week here but could’ve easy spent many more, and I absolutely hope to return one day.
Thank you so much Selina and Rob !!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Matthew)
Matt was only really here for a short while but in that time we enjoyed his company immensely.
Given that Matt might have been one of the tidiest volunteers we've ever had (except for maybe Max!) I wasn't sure how he'd cope with our rough and ready homestead but Matt seemed to enjoy the experience and gave everything a go from chutney making and
… read more veg bed preparation to strimming the olive terraces.
Matt got along really well with the other volunteer that arrived while he was here and was easy and fun company for our teenagers. Whilst here, he explored the local river, visited the village pool and drove our boys and the other volunteer to a local wild swimming spot.
We had some good chats over meals and I think he might have been the first summer volunteer to actually choose to sit out in the sun to top up his tan! He was a natural in the heat.
A real sweet soul, it was great to have him here and we hope to see him again some day.
Thanks for everything Matt!
Vom Host für Workawayer (Manon)
Our experience hosting Manon was just wonderful. Manon was here for around two and a half weeks during the hottest time of the year here and I think she did just about every job there was to do!
Initially Manon was here with another volunteer and they got on really well and were easy with each other. Later, two other volunteers arrived to help
… read more look after our place while we were away, and again, Manon was just at ease and gnerous of spirit - helping to teach crochet and and enabling the others to feel at home.
Tasks covered were - clearing veg beds (no easy task in this soil and climate!) and covering beds with manure; mowing vast terraces of olives; making chutney; processing mountains of prunings; fixing irrigation pipes; cleaning plant pots and propagation trays and latterly sharing responsibilty for looking after animals (sheep, goats, chickens, dog and cat) and keeping all the veg and flower beds watered in the extreme heat.
Manon accompanied us on a few outings - out to the beach, lunch at a friends house and a party at another friend's house. Along with other volunteers and my teenagers she went to a wild swimming spot, the local pool and the river.
At all times Manon was unflappable, positive, thoughtful, considered and easygoing. She worked hard when it was required without a murmur of complaint and was upbeat and sociable when meeting friends.
I was particularly touched when Manon changed her plans in order for us to get away for a few days - this was a true gift for us and we will be forever grateful.
It was a genuine pleasure getting to know Manon and having her around; she has such a lovely, grounded energy - perfect for fitting into a busy homestead.
Bon voyage Manon!
Vom Workawayer (Maurits) für Host
This family must be one of the most welcoming families around. I stayed with Selina, Rob, Eli, Monty and Ezra for little over a month and absolutely loved it. They made me part of their family straight away and made me feel at home. I have a lot admiration and respect for the way they organise their life.
The finca is located beautifully up in
… read more the hills, which makes it a perfect location to go hiking or mountenbiking. The work was pretty diverse and super chill do to, since Selina always gave me multiple options and would say 'just do the thing you feel like doing right now'. She was always willing to answer my questions about the farming techniques and to give me some help if I needed this.
To make a long story short: If you're looking for a place to learn about living and working on the land, go to Ginestar and check it out.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Maurits)
There can't be many more beautiful souls in the world than Maurits. We almost didn't meet as when Maurits first contacted us, I was feeling pretty sure that we weren't taking any volunteers at that time - it was November and I knew it would be getting cold and challenging and after many months of hosting volunteers we were ready for a break.
… read more
When I conveyed all this to Maurits he was so lovely and so understanding that I said he could contact me if he didn't find another placement...luckily for us, he didn't.
Maurits had over a month with us and was so self-sufficient, helpful, open and kind that I honestly think I'd have been happy for him to stay as long as he wanted. No job was too tedious or too challenging, no situation too tough (he had to spend a week in a tent with no heating when some previously booked volunteers turned up).
After working each day (dry stone walling, pruning, almond harvesting, almond shucking, digging, weeding - you name it!) he'd head off on the bike to explore. At weekends he happily arranged trips and outings for himself and couldn't have been lovelier or less trouble.
He has a totally non-judgemental, calm and open approach to the world and even being around Maurits was nourishing. As a family we've even adopted a 'what would Maurits do?' question whenever we're in a challenging or inflammatory situation. Our eldest son particulalry bonded with Maurits and they even went off climbing for a day together.
I have nothing but good words and thoughts for this wonderful man and hope to see him again very soon.
Thanks so much Maurits for everything!
My two friends and I stayed a week with Selina, Rob, their two boys and another lovely volunteer Maurits for a week. They made us feel so welcome and comfortable with delicious healthy food and amazing accomadation. Asha and I got ill whilst we were there and Selina was very generous and caring with her herbal remedies. Rob was so inviting and an
… read more amazing cook. Eli and Monty were friendly and easy to get along with. Over all we had an amazing time with the family, we learnt new skills including dry stone walling and enjoyed our whole experience. We can't wait to visit again, we feel like we've made amazing connections over food, drink and board games with them all and can't wait go back!
Emmy came to stay with her two friends Asha and Charlie for a week in November and they couldn't have been a lovelier bunch.
From the start of our correspondence they were polite and enthusiastic and when we finally met, they continued to impress. Staying here in November is no easy feat and both Emmy and Sasha came down with colds whilst here
… read more which made their efforts even more impressive. Their attitude was spot on and they just got on with trying to make the best of the somewhat challenging conditions - gale force winds and freezing temps while living in a bell tent and small caravan.
They got on brilliantly with all the family and our existing volunteer and worked like troopers - dry stone walling, processing wood and prunings and doing the tedious work of removing bindweed from some beds. Charlie loved being let loose with the pole chainsaw and frankly, they were total sweethearts.
I'm always impressed these days when we get young people that are self-sufficient, with a no-nonsense approach. They were all just so capable and had their heads firmly screwed on as well as being delightful company. We can't wait to see them again!
Safe travels troops!
Vom Host für Workawayer (Abigail)
It was an absolute pleasure to host Abi for a week in October and have her as part of the Finca force team! Abi's grounded and wise manner was the perfect complement to our younger volunteer's inexperience and she proved a friendly and gentle role model.
Abi was happy to get involved with any tasks asked of her and whether harvesting almonds,
… read more teaching our young volunteer to cook risotto or doing battle with relentless bindweed in the garden, Abi worked with grace and good humour.
Mealtimes with Abi were fun as she likes to laugh a LOT and is always ready to engage enthusiastically in table conversation and even a few mild debates! We loved how appreciative Abi was of our food and we always enjoyed hearing her murmurs of approval :) I was particularly appreciative of Abi's respect for our home and general understanding of boundaries.
My favourite Abi moment was catching her walking barefoot at sunset through the garden gathering veggies while singing. A truly perfect picture of goodlife contentment!
We look forward to having Abi back here again one day and getting to know her better - thanks for everything Abi!
Vom Workawayer (Abigail) für Host
I had a beautiful week here with this family and other volunteer who was already settled in. I am very grateful this was my first workaway as it was exactly what I hoped for and I feel I departed as a friend and would love to stay again!
I had to reschedule my arrival multiple times, but Selina was super receptive and open to my plans. I only
… read more had a a week available but it all aligned and I feel very grateful for the experience! I was picked up at the nearest train station and warmly welcomed by all the family at home.
The jobs and routine were clear, it felt very special harvesting almonds where they have been cultivated for years!
Shared meals were all delicious and eaten together which I always appreciate. Then the weekends you cater for yourself and have the whole time to explore. Highly recommend walking to the castle across the river! It was very dreamy.
I could write my entire week here but highlights include:
-sleeping in a cosy comfy bed in a tent, the sound of cicadas whirring me to rest
-waking up to misty mountainous views
-outdoor shower (genuinely)
-joining a local outdoor yoga class as the sun set
Muchas gracias, encantada!
Until we meet again xxDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
These two are beautiful humans!
From their very first messages to us they were super-polite and lovely and that continued throughout our communications and their stay here.
We've been so lucky this year to meet so many wonderful young people and Hannes and Laura are no exception - it really does help to feel more positive about the future when
… read more you spend time with caring and thoughtful young folks.
Hannes and Laura were not afraid of hard work or of basic amenities, they were positive and easygoing about all aspects of life here. They helped with sawing and chopping prunings, strimming and clearing the land, building a beautiful little structure in the garden for climbing plants, a small bit of gardening (i don't think this was thier favourite! :) ) and a small amount of almond harvesting. We were able to trust them with our animals and the care of the farm while we spent a few days with family at the coast and they were all-round fun and lovely people who became part of the extended Muck and Roots family.
We would recommend them to anyone and would be totally happy to have them visit us again. We wish them so much joy for the future and hope our paths cross again at some point.
Lots of love you guys!
Vom Workawayer (Giulia) für Host
I stayed at Rob, Selina and the boys finca for a month. During that month I had the opportunity to build a deep connection with nature. I really miss being outside all day and sleeping in the tent. Their property is surrounded by nature and you have the chance to see the most beautiful sunsets.
I learned something new every day and I am very
… read more proud that I can now use a strimmer. :) The tasks varied a lot. I fixed the irrigation pipes, did some weeding, helped building a shelter for the volunteers...
In the weekends Rob and Selina were always happy to drop me and the other volunteers off at the train station. The weather was extremely hot during my stay so if you suffer from heat I don't recommend you going to Catalonia in July and August. During the hot summer days I went with the family to the pool in Ginestar.
The family is great and I loved to listen to their stories and all the interesting things they know.
Thank you for the beautiful experience, I miss you all! :)Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Giulia)
Giulia started our communication with a 'no mess' mindset and continued in the same way throughout her stay.
For someone so young, Giulia has an incredible amount of resilience and a fantastic work ethic. It was so hot during here stay but she'd be up at the crack of dawn every day, just getting on with it.
As Giulia's English wasn't very
… read more practised when she arrived I was so impressed with how she managed conversations around the table and communications with other volunteers. I really think that for an 18 yr old she has quite an incredible spirit.
There's no fuss, no drama just total solidity and commitment to the work at hand. I would trust Giulia with anything - I'd love her to come back and look after the place for us - I only had to mention the next job and she'd be off, putting maximum effort in. Giulia contributed to building a shelter, mowed, mended irrigation pipes, prepared no-dig vegetable beds, weeded, strimmed, and everything in between. Incredible really.
As Giulia's English became a little more fluent, it was lovely getting to know her a little better; alongside the serious work ethic she has a great sense of fun, and a good taste in music!
It was an absolute pleasure to host Giulia and any project would be lucky to have her on their team.
Vom Workawayer (Dominick) für Host
When I arrived at Selina and Rob’s farm, I was fresh out of college and came with no expectations other than to have a completely new experience that was totally out of my city-life comfort zone. After three weeks of hard farm work, intense heat, and a short bout of covid, I can confidently say that this expectation was met!
This was not only my
… read more first Workaway experience but also my first time traveling abroad solo so I was admittedly a bit disoriented in the beginning. But the whole family was so welcoming from the minute I arrived and really made an effort to make sure I was finding my footing. Talking with them about regenerative agriculture or music or politics or Choco Tacos over delicious meals was always my favorite part of the day. Rob and Selina are also both excellent cooks and meals never failed to impress!
The day to day farm work is undoubtedly laborious and tiresome (and the heat definitely doesn’t help), but I came to really enjoy putting my energy into chopping up wood, strimming weeds, and all the little jobs in between. It came to be an almost meditative experience for me at times. The farm itself and the surrounding regions are also quite beautiful (especially around sunset) and I found it very peaceful and healing to be surrounded by it every day.
On the weekends, I really enjoyed exploring the surrounding cities and seeing all the beauty Catalonia has to offer. Without a car your ability to travel is limited, but Rob and Selina were always willing to drop me and the other volunteer off at the train station or bring us to the local community pool when we weren’t working.
Overall, I had an incredible and unforgettable first Workaway experience that I’m so thankful for. I learned so much, not just about regenerative farming but also about myself and alternative ways of living. I would definitely recommend this opportunity to anyone looking to get out of their comfort zone and experience real farm life in Catalonia!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Dominick)
Dominick had arranged to come to our place quite far in adavnce and expressed frequently how excited he was about his arrival. Knowing that our place can be a bit overwhelming in the summer I was worried that we might not live up to his expectations...
For a couple of days it seemed that i might have been right as I watched Dom battling to get
… read more his head around being out of his comfort zone - a short bout of Covid didn't help the initial wobbles but as he speedily recovered I could see that he was finding his feet.
He and our other volunteer at the time got on beautifully, supporting each other and keeping each other company through some intense summer days. At communal times Dom was a little quiet and reserved but he worked like a trooper - processing prunings, weeding in the garden, helping to finish our new volunteer shelter, strimming and mowing and all the bits and pieces in between. Any wobbles he had he kept firmly to himself and committed to the experience fully.
The result of that mindset was that as the time went on, Dom seemed more comfortable and at home and when the other volunteer came to the end of their stay, we really got to know Dom properly. At that point I felt that Dom really opened up, and I really enjoyed our conversations and getting to connect a little more.
Dom is polite, smart, thoughtful, hardworking and diligent; he kept the communal volunteer living space clean and tidy and showed a real positive attitude in being determined to get the most out of his experience. It was a real pleasure having him stay with us and I hope he goes on to many amazing things in the future.
Thanks for everything Dom and best of luck for the future!
Vom Workawayer (Elise) für Host
Overall, volunteering at Rob’s and Selina’s farm has been a really good experience.
I learned a lot about sustainable living, practically and “spiritually”; With Selina’s patience and trust, I have gained experience in permaculture and gardening while facing their perspective on what it means to live on a farm as expats, which was really
… read more inspiring. I feel like I’ve learned more in 17 days than in two years of uni
The volunteers I met during my stay were truly inspiring, and just for that, being a workawayer is totally worth it! (thanks Selina, for doing an excellent job at choosing volunteers who might get along:))
That being said, the farm is quite far from the village and other places, so it could be tricky to be entirely independent of the family without a driver’s licence/car. Some spots are pretty difficult to attain without any means of locomotion.
So thank you for this experience, even though it was tough to be entirely comfortable at all times; thank you for having inspired me to rethink my future plans - now I know that I absolutely need an outdoor shower and outdoor lounge, and thank you for being my first workaway host! :)Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Elise)
We've been hosting Workaway volunteers for a good few years now and it's always fascinating to watch the development of volunteers throughout their stay with us.
I'm not sure whether Elise would agree but it seemed to me that Elise really was on a journey while she was with us. In our initial messages Elise had told me she had no real skills that
… read more would be useful to us. I reassured her that specific skills weren't necessary and that mindset was really the most important factor. In so many ways though I saw Elise doubt herself and her abilities; so many times she would put herself down or downplay the things she achieved.
My impression of Elise however was of an incredibly intelligent and interesting young woman, grappling with how to live her ideals of living sustainably whilst figuring out her place in the world.
I was so impressed with how she continually put herself out of her comfort zone, tackling tasks that she admitted herself were entirely alien. Considering her self-confessed shyness, the fact that she had put herself into a situation such as this - living with a family that doesn't speak your language on a wild piece of Catalunya in the middle of summer - is admirable indeed.
Although Elise did relax into life here, I would have loved to see her open up a little more. I think that Elise had many interesting experiences and ideas but she was often quiet at mealtimes and timid in one to one conversations. The occasions that Elise relaxed and shared fully in converstions were really enjoyable and it was plain to see what a lovely young woman she is.
Elise got on really well with the other volunteers, worked hard at her tasks (even when they were challenging) and showed great willingness to be involved with every aspect of life here. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Elise to any potential host and I know that she is committed to growing and learning more about herself as she continues on her journey.
Thanks for everything Elise!
It seens rather odd to try leave a review for this workaway as it felt much more like time spent with family rather than anything else but here goes.
From the offset I was made to feel incredibly welcomed by all the family. They are warm friendly people who can just as easily dive into the depths of what makes a person tick or shoot the breeze
… read more about nothing in particular. The conversations we shared really helped me examine the way I thought about certain things as well as just being genuinely incredibly enjoyable. We all got to know each other over delicious meals lunch and dinner time as well as weekend family excursions that I joined for. As well as conversations with Rob and Selina I also really enjoyed getting to know Eli and Monty with Eli being an essential extra pair of hands for my work on the farm and a much appreciated companion as well!
The farm itself is an idyllic bubble with a perfect blend of serenity and chaos. I stayed in the caravan along with the other resident gecko but spent most my time down in the shady garden area next to the outdoor kitchen. The kitchen boasts a wonderful rustic charm as well as an expansive insect population, for me this all adds to the appeal though - there's nothing like cooking up fresh scrambled eggs whilst sipping goat milk iced coffee all to the background hum of bumblebees!
Whilst sounding a little cliché, the work on the farm truly is what you make it. It's a huge piece of land that needs a lot of tending so you can easily fill a day doing little bits of this and that such as striming, pruning and gardening. At the beginning it can be a little intimidating but Selina and Rob are always there to provide support and guidance on the tasks that need doing. In addition to the farm maintenance, they're always looking to improve aspects of the farm and asked me to build a shelter for future volunteers. I found it an incredibly stimulating task as there was so much to learn and the family were super supportive the whole way through. I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this task, I am now replanning my future life around this kind of free form building!
I appear to have accidentally written a novel so I will call it there despite having more to say about the amazing surrounding area and all the things you can do buuuut hopefully this gives a flavour of my time on this workaway and helps others to choose if it's right for them!
Luke arrived on a bike having travelled from Edinburgh and cycled from the North of France! This epic entrance was to set the scene for a triumphant five weeks volunteering on our finca.
There was no task too sweaty or unpleasant, no conversation too gritty, no social occasion too intimidating for Luke to shy away from. The energy he brought to
… read more each and every day was an inspiration in itself...
Whilst here, Luke taught himself the basics of building with wood and constructed a shelter for all future volunteers to use. He took on strimming, gardening, manure shovelling and more. We never had to worry about leaving Luke to his own devices, he'd always find some little job to do or take himself off for an adventure - he took everything in his stride.
Luke was easy company and fitted into family life with no problems - he even charmed our teenage sons who are a difficult audience!
We had many conversations about commual living and whether it can work, I feel that if Luke was involved it definitely would. He's open minded, open hearted, smart, honest, determined, motivated, interested and interesting. A real gem.
If you get the chance to have this wonderful human help you with your project, don't pass it up! We miss him already and look forward to seeing him soon.
Thanks for everything Luke, you're a star.
Vom Workawayer (Marit) für Host
I feel really really happy and blessed I got to spend some time with this amazing family of four. I arrived very late at night the first day and even though I didn’t see anything of the surrounding yet I already felt very at ease and welcome. Everyone stayed up and I immediately got handed a plate of delicious curry (which is a true specialty of
… read more Rob). What a perfect welcome this was!
Getting to know the place and the family more and more over the days, I grew more comfortable and started loving everything about it even more. I loved the serenity, the nature around, the company , plenty of interesting stories and conversations and the day-to-day life.
Work never felt to me like hard work at this place and I woke everyday with even more energy than the day before, especially because Rob and Selina give great freedom in doing whatever you most love to do and which tasks you want to develop yourself in. There’s room for every kind of interest which is one of the biggest gifts as a workawayer in my opinion.
My stay here was way too short and since I left I’ve thought a lot already about coming back soon. I can’t wait for a second chapter to start and come back to this amazing place. Thank you for everything, I had a wonderful time! Dikke knuffel, MaritDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Marit)
Marit came here at really short notice and impressed me from the start. When I collected her from the train station she hadn't had a decent sleep in days but was so confident and smart on our ride back to the finca that I knew she'd fit right in.
At the time Marit came another volunteer was already here and they got along perfectly - working side
… read more by side, cooking and hanging out. Afer a few days with us, Marit and Luke looked after the farm while we went back to the UK for a week. They were the perfect farm-sitters - keeping all the animals safe and happy and all the plants alive during a hot spell.
Marit is laid back, fun, smart and has fantastic taste in vintage clothing! We all loved her and felt so lucky to have her with us for the short time she was here. All tasks were carried out diligently and with real energy, especially the pruning of the almond trees :)
We really hope that Marit can come again in the future and spend some more time with us. Thanks for everything Marit!
Vom Workawayer (Maximilian ) für Host
I can assure you that for all the changes that are going to be in my live this Family Full of lovely and intelligent people had a really big impact. We started with some obstacles like covid, the weather and of course two Kind of People from different ways of live. But the Result for Both of us was just a great experience. Rob is such a funny Man
… read more and a Real Chef Cook! Selina has this Great visions of what she Wants to get out of this Place and working real Hard for this goals. I got so much Input of How Life can be in an Alternative way and How i can realise it for myself. The Family is the Best example for „just do it!“. The more i get to know them, the more respect i get of what they created. The Farm is Made with much love and creativity. Its that „macgyver“-Building Style That creates a playful Environment.
I am Sure we will See again and if it is just for this delicious Food! :-)Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Maximilian )
What a pleasure it was to get to know Max. He arrived by motorcycle in a storm and was completely unfazed by the awful weather of his first few days. I'm not sure he knew what to make of us initially but by the 3rd day, he'd decided that his job was to get the place organised! He fixed things and tidied things; put up cupboards, completely cleared
… read more out sheds... and invented clever little ways to get round every problem. I'd set him a task and he would improve upon it threefold! Efficient, clever and canny - he was an utter treasure to have about the place.
As his stay went on, he seemed to understand more and more the life we were living. He smiled more and laughed more and while helping in the garden got to grips with no-dig gardening and the joys and challenges of growing your own veg. By the time Max left us, he was part of the family and a firm friend - he even popped back to allow us a night away and while he was here built us a floor for our outdoor shower!
A truly lovely man with an amazing drive to get things done, we were so privileged to have Max stay with us.
Thanks for everything Max, we hope you'll visit us soon!
Vom Workawayer (Sophie) für Host
Words feel too weak to fully express the extent to which my time at Selina and Rob’s reinvigorated, nourished, inspired and grounded me. From the moment I arrived I felt completely at home in Selina, Rob, Eli and Monty’s company and on the beautiful patch of land they are so lovingly caring for. Our conversations were enriching and
… read more thought-provoking, steeped in intelligence and sprinkled with the perfect amount of humour. If sleep hadn’t been a necessity, I could have continued talking into the wee hours of the morning. I have rarely encountered such honest, intelligent and down to earth people. They say that good food and laughter are the best medicines and I was gifted both in abundance!
Working with Selina in the garden was such a joy for me. It was an honour to have been entrusted with her garden beds for the all-too short time I was there. The garden is beautifully vibrant and diverse….a reflection of her nature, and a testament to her intuitive way of growing food, flowers, medicinal herbs, building soil and regenerating ecosystems. I found presence and rejuvenation in Selina’s garden. It never felt like work to me, just a wonderfully enjoyable way to spend the day. In seeking out a Workaway experience I had hoped to build my Regenerative Agriculture knowledge and skills but I never expected to also find a kindred spirit. Thank you for your authenticity Selina and for inspiring and uplifting my soul!
I am so grateful to Selina, Rob and the boys for such a wonderful experience. I look forward to the day when I return to their homestead or wherever else we may meet in the world! I feel like I made life-long friends. Thank you Selina, Rob, Eli and Monty!!!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Sophie)
How to put into words what Sophie brought to our homestead!
From the very beginning Sophie was utterly at home with living outdoors and being on the land. I felt that without knowing it, I had been needing another woman in love with the journey of learning to know and understand this lived on the land. The deep sense of calm and connection that
… read more Sophie carried around her daily tasks and interractions were a constant balm to my often agitated soul! She carries a deep curiosity for the natural world and the inner world and the connection between them. She was fun and funny, full of gratitude and appreciation, honest and open, respectful and boundaried.
Our conversations were both moving and inspiring, her work was meticulous and done with patience and thoroughness. Sophie is a real thinker, offering her intelligent observations whilst always inviting input and listening deeply to the thoughts of others.
I genuinely could go on and on. I felt like I met a sister, and all of us loved having Sophie around.
Sophie was a real gft to this family, to this farm and to me. She will be missed but not forgotten.
Thank you for your woderful authenticity Sophie!
Vom Workawayer (Emma) für Host
Selina, Rob and the boys were super warm and welcoming from day one (even before that when arranging my stay, they were super thoughtful and caring). They say they were in a winter and coronavirus rut, but their energy was so uplifting! I stayed for two weeks with them in February, looking to escape the city life (and coronavirus drama), connect
… read more with nature and experience living outdoors. This is exactly what I got. As it turns out, living outdoors in February, it gets cold, and although Selina did mention this on numerous occasions, I decided I wanted the experience and adventure. It turned out to be challenging for me at times, but also very beautiful and I had some really special moments that I will remember forever. I especially liked my connection to the full moon that on a couple of nights, lit up my path allowing me to ditch my head-torch (woo!), the outdoor shower on the occasional warm (woo again!) day and dinner time in the warm and cosy casita with delicious food and great conversation.
The workload was very manageable, but because of the nature of the regenerative farm, it is never ending. I was so impressed and motivated to see somebody taking the time to come up with the most regenerative methods and explaining everything to me, I learnt so much about permaculture and regenerative farming. I helped with the prunings, preparing the veggie beds, a tiny bit of dry stone walling and fence building for the flower gardens.
During my stay, there was another volunteer which was just great. We shared some really nice moments and at the weekends did a few hikes and cooked together. Thanks Selina for making sure we had each others company, it was really lovely.
Thank you for allowing me to experience this, I am so grateful I met you guys. I miss you all and I will see you soon I am sure.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Emma)
The minute Emma stepped into our lives she lifted our February doldrums. With Covid and winter having had a bit of a heavy impact on our little homestead, we were so grateful to have Emma's lovely energy come into our lives. Quick to laugh, with a curious and easygoing manner, Emma really was a little light in the darkness.
As Emma had come to
… read more us from quite a different life, she hadn't developed many of the skills and resiliencies of outdoor living and although it never came easily to her, she showed great determination and strength of spirit in her efforts to overcome the many challenges.
Emma helped us with processing all of our endless prunings, prepared vegetable beds for new plantings, made a small boundary fence for the garden, did some dry stone walling and generally helped with animal care and daily life. By the end of stay she was a boss at lighting her little stove and had made a real impact on us. Having Emma here for translating was a real help with Catalan bureaucracy too.
At communal mealtimes Emma really shone and it was clear that being with and working with others was what gave Emma energy. Working alone I'd say was a challenge and I think being part of a team would have suited Emma better than being left to her own devices. Unfortuntely that's not always possible to accomodate on a project like ours.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Emma to other projects because of her ability of lifting everyone else. Emma doesn't always realise, I don't think, what a pleasure it is to spend time with her.
Thanks for everything Emma and good luck on your journey :) x
Vom Workawayer (Matthew) für Host
I was lucky enough to do my first Workaway with Rob, Selina and the boys and they made it a fantastic experience. They are super warm, enthusiastic people who made me feel like a part of the family from the beginning. The farm is great and I passed my days harvesting and pruning and chopping wood, while being looked after and fed wonderfully well.
… read more There is always something to do and something new to learn about (especially when you're coming with zero experience like me). We shared meals, stories and opinions each night and it was always something to look forward to after a good day's work. The food was amazing and the company matched it. While I was made to feel at home with the family I was also given the opportunity to enjoy some solitude in nature which is exactly what I was seeking. Rob and Selina are trusting and kind and the kids are great fun. If we could hook Selina up to a generator we could power the world and Rob is as interesting and funny a man as I've encountered. They have a beautiful life in a beautiful area and I count myself lucky to have been able to share in it for a while, though hopefully I'll be back to visit.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Matthew)
Matt stayed with us from the end of summer until the colder weather kicked in. Matt was super-polite and enthusiastic and did everything with gusto. His joy at being immersed in a simpler way of life reminded me of why we do it all! Matt came to us from a city life and so didn't have a huge amount of practical skills to begin with but he got stuck
… read more in with all aspects of farm life.
I think Matt is a terrific chap and we had many a lively debate and many a giggle in his company. All the family are very fond of Matt and I hope we'll be firm friends into the future - even though he has returned to a civilised life...for now :)
Vom Workawayer (Holly & George) für Host
We had a truly lovely (but far too short!) time with Selina, Rob, Eli and Monty on their beautiful homestead. We were made to feel so welcome by them all. It was a perfect first workaday for us to have; the work was interesting, their land is stunning and as a family they are genuinely friendly and interesting.
Whilst we were with them we helped
… read more out with pruning olive trees, gardening and dry stone walling. Every meal was so delicious (despite my awkward food needs) and accompanied by great conversation and a lot of laughter.
We really enjoyed our time with you all and hope to be back one day (for longer next time!). If you're looking for a fun and beautiful place to work and stay we definitely reccommend staying with Selina, Rob and family. We really feel like we left as friends thank you :)Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Holly & George)
We loved George and Holly!
Fun, hard-working, friendly, chatty, knowledgable, passionate and strong - very strong, workawayers. They re-built me a dry stone wall without any supervision, cajoling or even asking as I was a bit pre-occupied elsewhere. They didn't stop grafting ,they taught me stuff and they chainsawed stuff. Seriously excellent
… read more company and they kept me up most nights with intelligent and funny chat.
My ONLY complaint was that they weren't here long enough! Come back Holly and George!
Seriously, thanks for all the hard work, you were brilliant.
Vom Workawayer (Jake) für Host
If you're looking for a place to learn about permaculture and living well on a family farm, with some amazing people in a beautiful bit of the world, this is the place to go. Rob, Selina and the boys are some of the most welcoming hosts I've come across, and made me feel like part of the group right from the start. Selina's knowledge and passion
… read more for the land and regenerative farming means there's a lot of opportunities to learn, especially with so much going on; agroforestry, rotational grazing, veg gardening, olive growing and a hyperactive dog to entertain. Together with the great food and company, this is a really special place to be; if you get the opportunity to visit, don't miss it.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Elliot & Haruka) für Host
Our stay to Selina and Rob's place was for us a first experience of Workaway. However, not a single time we felt as "worker", but as a part of this wonderful family ! They were one of the most lovely, nice and happy familiy we ever met. We had a lot of things to learn and try, and a lot of laughs with joke. Everyday was a new and different
… read more experience, work, problem to solve, thing to build, place to visit, etc.. They were so much kind and open-minded to share their knowledge and experience with us. And we enjoyed a lot to discover their culture and lifestyle. So, we didn't feel the time passing that already 1 month after, we had to leave unfortunately..
If you wanna discover a totally different way to live, without the monotony of usual life in a usual home, we can only advise you to go there, and see by yourself ! Don't even hesitate :D
We wish to see you again one day, and keep helping you to rise your paradise on the top of your hill !
It was so nice to meet you guys !
(Monty, Eli .. I lost the game :D )Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Elliot & Haruka)
Haruka and Eliot are super-sweet volunteers!
While they were volunteering at our farm they helped with moving animal fences, putting up a yurt, clearing beds and planting, sowing seeds, mowing and strimming grass, clearing water shoots from the base of olive trees and much much more! They also helped with the cooking once or twice, making some
… read more excellent salads and cakes :) Every job was done with enthusiasm and care, even when energy levels were low, they still showed great commitment and were always eager to learn about our way of life.
Haruka and Eliot were friendly, polite and helpful at all times; they got on well with both of our children and our other volunteer at the time. Meal times were always fun and we shared many stories and laughs.
We have a great deal of fondness for this sweet couple and hope to see them again some day.
Thanks for everything Haruka and Eliot!!
Vom Host für Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied)
Vicky and Caroline are friendly young women that worked hard during their stay with us. While they were here they harvested almonds and helped in the garden. I think they found the physical nature of the work and the inconveniences of the landscape a little tough but they kept on and tried to do their best. Vicky ended up helping with pruning the
… read more olive trees and did so with care and attention and Caroline took on the Herculean task of mowing some of our 8 acre farm. A couple of times I talked about our permaculture and regenerative goals but neither Vicky nor Caroline seemed to be very interested in this aspect of life here. However, they are bright capable women that very efficiently did everything that was asked of them. Thanks Vicky and Caroline for all your hard work!
Vom Host für Workawayer (Clara)
Clara started her Workaway experience with us and so it took her a while to come out of her shell. Her work level was really good and she was very willing to do everything we asked of her. While Clara was here she helped to harvest almonds, worked in the garden and with land clearing. Clara was always happy to help with any task and after she had
… read more been here a little while, we got to know her better and found her to be very kind and friendly. Thank you Clara for all your hard work!
Vom Workawayer (Patrik) für Host
I stayed with Selina and Rob for two weeks, it was my first Workaway and I couldn’t have had a better experience! Selina, Rob and their two boys were great hosts. They brought me along with them to whatever they were up to and we had lots of fun together. By the end of my stay I felt like part of the family.
The work included collecting almonds
… read more from the trees and sorting them, moving electric fences for the sheep and chickens and building on the outdoor kitchen. When building we used only recycled materials which called for being creative with putting it together. In the end we were all very happy with the result, it was a very nice project to work on.
Selina was very happy to answer all the questions I had about what they were doing at their farm. I was hoping to learn a lot about their way of life and I really did. I would strongly recommend staying with Selina, Rob and their family to anyone! If you do you will have lots of fun, learn a lot and see some incredible night skies. And let’s not forget their amazing cooking!
Thank you so much for hosting me! Hope to come back to see you again soon!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Patrik)
Ah, Patrik is a truly wonderful human being!
We had so much fun with Patrik on our farm while he worked on helping to build our outdoor kitchen. We had other volunteers here at the same time and Patrik got along really well with everybody - including our two boys. I was particulalrly grateful for his being a fantastic role model for one of our
… read more very young volunteers.
Patrik is very polite, always cheerful, hard working, creative and very funny.
Patrik came to us as part of a bigger journey in which he was hoping to learn some skills and experience different, perhaps more sustainable, ways of life. Together with our other volunteers he was always coming up with ideas or singing little tunes. Some of my fondest memories of this year on our farm have been the time that Patrik was here along with another of our favourite volunteers, Carmen.
I would be so happy to recommend Patrik to any future hosts - he was always willing to carry out whatever work was asked of him (no matter how boring or tiring!), he did everything with positivity and kindness, and his dedication to trying to get our kitchen finished meant that we are now able to boil kettles through the winter, even in gale force winds :)
Thanks for everything Patrik, we are so grateful for all that you brought here and would love to welcome you back here one day. All the best for the future :)
Vom Workawayer (Izzy) für Host
I stayed with Selina, Rob, and the boys for just about 3 weeks and I have to say it was my favorite part of my trip to Europe. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived, though I knew Selina and I would have much to discuss with our shared interest in permaculture and Agroecology. The homestead that they have built is an inspiration to me and I
… read more miss it everyday that I am gone.
My stay there was unique to those of previous Workawayers since the family went away for five days for their wedding, so during that time another couple and I were in charge of the farm. Due to this, I cannot comment on the average daily work, but the work that we did complete was very rewarding. Daily life in October provides nice brisk mornings blanketed by mist and filled with hands-on work on both their food garden and the larger farm of almond and olive trees. She normally has you end work at 1 pm which leaves plenty of time to explore the gorgeous surrounding areas or just hang out around the farm. Their two boys were such a pleasure to spend time with, their creativity and endless energy made their 2 hour lunchbreaks my some of my favorite times. Selina is very conscious of your individual needs and facilitates work that suits your daily abilities in addition to breaks for tea! We also went through some very extreme weather (heavy rains and winds) and Selina's outlook about the true connection to nature and its power opened my mind to new ways of facing challenges. Her knowledge of permaculture and her personal applications on the farm allow for great learning opportunities.
I was also fortunate enough to participate in the two day olive harvest and literally see the fruits of our labor come to life when we took the nearly 300 kilo harvest to the local mill in town to get processed. One of the coolest experiences of my life has to be tasting the fresh olive oil that we had harvested by hand (no machines involved besides the high-tech plastic rakes).
This family provided incredible experiences both on the farm and by facilitating travel on the weekends. I recommend to absolutely anyone to stay and help on this unique farm and homestead! Thank you so much to Selina, Rob, Colin, Pam, Ezra, Casper, and the boys for everything you did for me and good luck in your noble endeavors!!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Izzy)
Izzy is quite a remarkable young woman and we feel very lucky to have had her stay here with us. Izzy stayed in total for around three weeks during which time she helped with the day to day running of the farm and also looked after it while we left for five days to return to England.
Having studied environmental science and agroecology in
… read more California, Izzy is passionate about sustainable food systems and ever inquiring about how we best look after land while producing food. She was knowledgable, curious and fun - as well as having a willingness to turn her hand to most things she was asked to.
I was particularly touched by how well Izzy connected with our children, inspiring them to produce daily paintings and becoming particularly good friends with our youngest son. She was confident too with our animals, especially our dog Ezra, and was even willing to inject him with his daily meds while we were away.
I feel that Izzy is mature and capable byeond her years. During Izzy's stay we experienced some fairly extreme weather condtions and though she was only staying in a tent, she didn't give in to drama or make a fuss at all. In fact, I feel confident that Izzy would handle almost any situation with a level head. We had many lively and wide-ranging discussions whilst Izzy was here and she always made thoughtful and intellligent contributions.
We'd be more than happy to recommend Izzy and hope that we may see her back here one day.
Good luck and safe travels Izzy. Thanks for all that you did here, we're very grateful.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Carmen)
What an enormous pleasure it was to have Carmen stay with us here! Carmen is everything one could want tin a volunteer - laid back, funny, positive and enthusiastic. Everybody here loved Carmen; grandparents, kids and other volunteers. Every task that was given to Carmen she undertook with determination and positivity - even the somewhat
… read more monotonous jobs that other volunteers were less enthusuaitic about!
In the evenings we could hear Carmen laughing with our other volunteers and in the day they sang little songs and entertained everyone. I was particularly taken by Carmen's journey of curiosity that she undertook whilst staying with us. She arrived questioning the systems and habits that lead to her unhappiness at visiting supermarkets every day, and delved deep into discussions of food production and distribution, always going away with thoughtfulness and returning with more questions. During her stay it seemd to me that she had a few 'lightbulb' moments and when she returned to the Netherlands, she stated her intention to seek out community gardens and ethical food production.
I would not hesitate to recommend Carmen as a volunteer, she was an absolute joy to be around and she was terribly missed when she left.
Good luck on your journeys Carmen - both physical and intellectual. Thanks for all the laughter :)
Vom Host für Workawayer (Jean-Christophe (J-C) & Mercedez )
Jc and Mercedez are great fun to have around, JC in particular had all us regularly chuckling with his special brand of high-energy humour. We all enjoyed their youthful vigour and our children particularly enjoyed their readiness for fun and games.
Both JC and Mercedez are incredibly hard workers if given plenty of direction and things to do,
… read more but tended to get a little bored or distracted if they didn't get enough stimulation. JC is a former athlete and had an enormous amount of energy and stamina and Mercedez too was never afraid to get stuck in and 'send it' .
I don't know how interested they were specifically in the goals and aims of our project but they seemed to take on board many of the things we talked about during their stay and I hope that they left understanding our intentions more than when they arrived. The weather was a little extreme during their stay and as they were only staying in a tent and had caught a bug during their travels, they struggled a little initially with the simplicity of our set-up. By the time they left I hope that they had a better grasp of the reasons for our way of life.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this love-struck couple; they were fun, hard-working, trustworthy and good company. If potential hosts can just bear in mind that these guys need lots of work to be getting on with from the moment they're up and ready to go, then they'll be rewarded with determination and persistance; they're certainly not afraid to work hard.
Mercedez and JC - we wish you well with your ongoing travels and hope that we get to catch up with all your tales one day. Thanks so much for all your help and enabling us to go away and get married. May your adventures continue with excitement and joy!
Vom Workawayer (Jean-Christophe (J-C) & Mercedez ) für Host
Pretty cool bunch of English lads. We stayed with them for a bit over a week and it was a sweet time. The work was fine and everyone pulled their weight. We have to say it was good time to sit around the table for dinner and chat with this passionate family. The boys are.. you know... pretty darn awesome. They are now "young senders" and will grow
… read more up to be "full senders". Really cool to share some time with them, great stay:))
Thanks for everything guys!
JC&MerceDu kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Anna Laura & Alina) für Host
We got the chance to spend two weeks on the Farm with Selina, Robb and their two marvellous children. We were moving fences for their sheep and chicken, helped to fix the irrigation system for the olive trees and did some small tasks around the house. Selina told as a lot about permaculture systems and the nature in the region (and it is truly
… read more beautiful around there…). And although it was really warm Selina was always taking care of everybody not to stay in the sun for too long and there was always time to go to the community pool and relax and play with the boys in the afternoon.
Robb and Selina are great chefs and we always enjoyed meal time when everybody came together, we had great food, interesting talks and got to watch breathtaking sunset every evening. We had fun times with lots of new experiences and memories made. From cracking almonds out of their shell to our little jam session on our last evening – we had a blast!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Stephen & Charlotte)
What a fantastic pair Steve and Charlotte are! Any host would be delighted to have such positive and hard working people to help with their project. From the moment we picked them up they were chatty and cheerful, even helping with our shopping and although Steve had a bad back at the time, he barely complained at all!
They took on every task with
… read more enthusiam and curiosity, from moving sheep fences to setting up a whole new section of irrigation. They built, they cooked, they entertained children and looked after the farm when we needed to be elsewhere.
Not only are they hard workers but excellent company too, always with smiles on their faces and up for a laugh any time.
They've picked up so many skills and stories while they've been travelling that they seem to be able to turn their hands to anything or have a tale to tell about most things. I think the big successes of their stay though were the stirling work Steve put into our kitchen - cladding it and making shelves from salvaged pallets - and the amazing bit of dry stone walling Charlotte did, which looked as professional as any i've seen (Steve did a bit of that too I should say).
All in all, we were sad to say goodbye and would gladly have them here again for as long as they wanted to stay. Grab them if you can! We wih them lots of luck and happiness in their future adventures :)
Vom Workawayer (Stephen & Charlotte) für Host
We stayed with Rob, Selina and their two awesome boys for a couple of weeks and had the best time. Easily our favourite workaway!
The work is always varied, from pruning olive trees and working in the garden to moving sheep fences and stone wall repair. We also built a few shelves for the outside kitchen where Steve put his skills to the test and
… read more even cladded the back wall.. very precisely! Selina has a wealth of knowledge to teach, especially around permaculture and sustainable living- we learned so much in just 2 weeks and felt like part of the family from the start!
Nice vibes and energy made it a really enjoyable exchange and importantly, we always felt appreciated. We were well looked after with lovely mealtimes, family outings and even had a party where we met their local friends. We just had a fab time as they're wonderful people, and know we'll be back someday.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Antti) für Host
We had a truly amazing time with Selina, Rob and the kids at their beautiful finca. The work at the farm was varied, with enough to do but no pressure, and although we did stay only for 12 days, Selina taught us many interesting things about permaculture and sustainable farming. Especially the olive harvest (raking the two hundred kilos of olives
… read more in a few hectic days and then the rewarding moment of seeing them pressed into oil in the end) was an amazing experience. Furthermore we felt a great connection with the entire family, and enjoyed every moment with them (from having a wine and good talks in the evening with Rob and Selina to seeing the boys perform at their school celebration). We wish them good luck with their inspiring initiative and would love to come back to spend more time with them, and to see their finca flourish and grow. Hope to see you again!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Host für Workawayer (Antti)
Antti came to our finca with his partner Femke for 12 nights in total. While they were here they helped with many jobs from moving animals to harvesting olives and they did it all with good cheer and enthusiasm. They were fantastic with our two children and our dog and really wonderful, lively company. They have a good working knowledge of British
… read more comedy and as academics are interesting and interested, They'd be very welcome back in the future.
Vom Workawayer (theopig) für Host
The time I spent with Rob, Selina and the boys was great, they live a beautiful lifestyle and I felt I was a part of the family by the end!
The farm is an amazing place, lots of land that is slowly but surely becoming a paradise in Ginestar from the work and effort they put into it. I have also learnt some permaculture knowledge and fundamentals
… read more in the short time being there, and also the best techniques to wack almond trees, husk and crack them!
I already miss it and know anyone who goes will enjoy their time, just make sure that if you visit Miravet that its not a windy day!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Sunny and organic life on a farm in Jete, Andalusia, Spain
Experience the magical Celtic charm of rural Spain at our family finca in Nava, Asturias, Spain
Wir haben festgestellt, dass es in deinem Profil weniger als 3 Fotos gibt. Für das neue Gastgeberprofil-Layout empfehlen wir dir unbedingt, mehr als 3 Fotos zu haben, damit sich dein Profil optisch hervorhebt.
Bitte nimm dir einen Moment Zeit und suche ein paar schöne Aufnahmen heraus, die zeigen wie es bei dir aussieht und Lust auf einen Aufenthalt bei dir machen:
Bitte logge dich in dein Workawayer-Konto ein, um diesen Gastgeber zu kontaktieren, oder
melde dich hier an!
Help us out with our homestead and regenerative farm in Ginestar, Spain
Spanien
Wenn du KEIN EU-BÜRGER bist und Spanien besuchen möchtest, um dort zu arbeiten, zu studieren oder als Volunteer tätig zu sein, BRAUCHST DU DAS ENTSPRECHENDE VISUM. Um mehr darüber zu erfahren, solltest du dich VOR DEINER ABREISE von zu Hause an die Botschaft in deinem Land wenden.
Sprachpraxis
Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten
Gartenarbeiten
Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten
Betreuung von Tieren
Mithilfe auf einem Bauernhof
Babysitten und Kinderbetreuung
Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie
Hausarbeiten
Handwerkliche Arbeiten
House sitting
