Help with natural building and permaculture land management in the mountains outside Limassol, Cyprus

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  I feel truly blessed to be the caretaker of this land (Koukouli) and honoured to be working together with all the plants, creatures and fungi that also make it their home. I welcome all that come here to enter into this shared experience which means that every decision or activity should take these other beings into consideration. In practical terms for most people this means working slower, observing more and really thinking about process as well as result.
  
  I moved to Cyprus 12 years ago to build my own home with my own hands, which had been a dream of mine for many years. What I thought initially would be a short experimental stay has turned into a way of life ;) While living in my weird and wonderful dome home I have been slowly regenerating the land (and myself) learning as I go, based on the needs of the place and my desire to live independently and responsibly with the lowest environmental impact possible. Residents also include three chickens (Gertrude, Lilly and Merva), Cyclops, Goldie and Saffron the fish, Ninja a black snake rarely seen but that keeps the mice on their toes and the land safe from vipers and Bella the dog that I share responsibility and time with my friend. Over time this land has also become a sanctuary for many birds and lizards :) I will do my best to share the experience and knowledge I have gained living and working on the land for the last 12 years.
  
  I'm excited about hosting those with experience of Permaculture, renewable/alternative technologies and/or natural building and those with practical skills and hard working attitudes. At the end of 2021 I bought a much larger piece of land (Livelouli) with friends which is unbelievably exciting and a whole new challenge on a much larger, wilder scale! I also started working at a local school in the afternoons so I am trying to balance my time and energy between the two pieces of land and my new job.
  
  Most weeks don't look the same here, it is really project and season dependent and also as adaptable as possible to our shared needs and abilities but I will try to give you an idea more or less ;) So here goes: When you arrive I will settle you in here and we will go through the list of projects and seasonal jobs that need to be done. We will try to balance the jobs that need to be done with a project that inspires you and you are excited to take responsibility for (if needed I will create a small workshop to upskill you to the task) and then you will be left to get on with it. For the second week we will go to the shared land and camp. (I will be with you for one or two days and then you will be on your own for 3or4 with those I share the land with popping in every day or two to check on you/work together/bring any needed supplies) . This place is much more wild and beautiful and basic. There is no toilet (you dig a hole), there is no shower (you swim in the river or the lake or use a hose) and the accommodation is sleep in in a tent (I will provide all you need including mattress so you can sleep comfortably). There is no electricity and no wifi although we do have solar lights and a portable battery pack to charge your phone. Do you love to camp? Do you enjoy being in quiet natural beauty? Do you enjoy your own company? Are you self motivated?
  
  All the structures on this land (Koukouli) have been hand build with low tech, low cost ecological methods. There are two geodesic domes (main house and kitchen), one sand bag dome (guest room), an outdoor workshop and compost toilet, outdoor stone shower and bath, fire amphitheatre and yoga/meditation platform.
  
  It is all a work in progress with lots of room for improvement and i am really excited by the idea of hosting someone who has experience in permaculture/natural building/renewable technologies so we can collaborate and do tasks together. I would prioritize anyone that also has a PDC and is motivated to improve the design I have. I prefer living with people who are naturally tidy. The chores are mostly physical but rewarding and there is always a fair bit of organising and tidying required around the land.
  
  Throughout 2024/25 I am looking for those eager to learn cob building and plastering as well as lime washing/plastering to assist with the completion of walls and making of the floor for the dome extension/ second bedroom. I am also looking for people to land and animal sit so I may travel during school holidays. I would expect a responsible person/couple/family to arrive at least one week before I leave so I can get you settled and orientated. In addition to this if you are a happy camper then we would be happy to welcome you to camp on the other land and enjoy the quiet wild nature there.
  
  We are located in a beautiful village 20 minutes from Limassol with lots of options for hiking/biking around and are fairly central for travel throughout the island.

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Kunstprojekte

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten

  Betreuung von Tieren

  Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie

  Hausarbeiten

  Handwerkliche Arbeiten
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  Interessengebiete

  

  Selbstentwicklung

  

  Film & Fernsehen

  

  Farmarbeit

  

  Kultur

  

  Nachhaltigkeit

  

  Politik & Soziales

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Bücher

  

  Gärtnern

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Strand

  

  Tanzen

  

  Gebirge

  

  Wandern

  

  Natur

  

  Camping
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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

  This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves living outdoors and is interested in permaculture and natural building. Simply by living here you will interact and be immersed in these elements.
  
  This is also a great place for anyone wanting to put knowledge they already have in these areas into practice. I am also open to someone with skills and practical experience taking the time to learn and research around an area they have little or no experience in but are passionate about learning more and would like to try out (as long as this project is harmony with what the land requires). This is after all how i started and continue to learn ;)
  
  You are very welcome to all the books and resources i have accumulated over the years and on off days i am happy to introduce you to others practicing permaculture and living off grid around the island.

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  Arbeit

  Throughout 2024/25 I am looking for those eager to learn cob building and plastering as well as lime washing/plastering to assist with the completion of walls and making of the floor for the dome extension/ second bedroom. I am also looking for people to land and animal sit so I may travel during school holidays. I would expect a responsible person/couple/family to arrive at least one week before I leave so I can get you settled and orientated. In addition to this if you are a happy camper then we would be happy to welcome you to camp on the other land and enjoy the quiet wild nature there.
  
  You need to be a self motivated individual that enjoys physical and often repetitive tasks (although you do not need to have all the technical skills or knowledge required for every job, part of the fun is often figuring things out together, I would prefer you to have experience in building/construction of some kind that is relevant).
  
  There are various responsibilities around the land that need to be taken care of on a daily or weekly basis as well as seasonal responsibilities (such as olive harvesting, pruning, checking and tweeking watering systems, consolidating compost systems and then using these to mulch the land). These responsibilities will always take priority over other ongoing projects. These projects we will discuss and decide together depending on your passion and experience and the needs of the land.
  
  I prefer to get up early and work together for 5 hours till lunch. This means start at 8 finish at 1. In the heat of the summer especially if executing very physical tasks we split our days into two with a long free time in the middle to avoid the most intense heat. I am happy to be flexible about when you take your free days and we can discuss if you would prefer to take them together or not.
  
  This is a great place for anyone who is self-motivated and enjoys being given the space and responsibility to manage their own time and project/task. I do not like micromanaging or clocking you in and out of your task times. I much prefer for you to take responsibility of certain tasks and set your own schedule, this means I am looking for organised and responsible people who will honour the work hours and the tasks itself .
  
  There are always people visiting and passing through bringing new ideas and invites. You will always be welcome to join in adventures and road trips. In between excursions and gatherings I like to live quietly on the land and go to bed early. You need to be happy with your own company and like living in nature.
  
  I am looking for hard working, self motivated, reliable and outdoorsy individuals to help in the daily responsibilities around the land as well as contributing to ongoing projects. As well as the day to day responsibilities I would love help adding those extra touches, like handmade beautiful signs, clear stone cob and wood chip pathways and other little personal touches that show simplicity at its most appealing.
  
  I've had great experiences with longer term volunteers (2-6 months) and if you are responsible I can happily try to find you work outside the land to enable you to earn an income as well (I have been able to do so in the past but please do not read this as a certain. It is also much harder if you are not from an EU country). I am also looking for longer term people to help manage the land so I may travel. I am hoping to travel more this year especially during school holidays and am looking for a responsible person/couple/family to land/dog and chicken sit. I would expect you to arrive at least one week before I leave so I can get you settled and orientated.

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  Gesprochene Sprachen

  Greek: Fließend
  Englisch: Fließend
  Spanisch: Grundkenntnisse

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  Unterkunft

  Life is lived mostly outside on the land. The accommodation is either in the small sandbag dome with a double bed and some storage space but no standing room, or in spring-autumn also camping. The kitchen is in the outdoor dome the toilets are compost. We do have a washing machine but all water goes through a basic filtering system and/or directly into the land via swales so we use soap nuts to wash clothes and PLEASE ONLY BRING NATURAL/BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS this includes toothpaste as well as shampoo/soap/bodywash. Also from May-November we have strong sun and lots of mosquitoes/other insects so you will also need to bring bio mosquito repellent (must not contain DEET) and also sun tan lotion.
  
  Food is strictly plant based and local and therefore seasonal, we all share and take responsibility for the cooking and cleaning together. I do the shopping and i am happy to accommodate requests if they fit into the budget and we all want to eat it. If you have specific special dietary requirements or expensive food needs you can provide for these yourself.

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  Was noch ...

  I'm happy to give you a ride into town on your days off and also to take you to my favourite beach spots around Limassol as well as show you some of the beautiful walks in the mountains and to picturesque villages in the area. We also have not so regular local busses and bikes available to borrow (although they will need some TLC first) It takes 30 minutes to cycle into Limassol and one hour to cycle back (all downhill into town and all uphill back). Hitchhiking is also easy if that is your thing, I and other guests/friends do it fairly regularly.

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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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  Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen

  We do have good wifi here but limited areas that have power. Your guest dome is one such place (pictured) but it lacks a desk. The communal kitchen (where the router and therefore strongest signal is) has lots of surface space but is a shared fairly busy space, There are also various sitting and chilling areas around the land but there are no power points there and at the furthest places (pond and platform) the signal can be dodgy.

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  You can not park on site but there is lots of space on the road outside (which is slopped) and the nearby cul de sac (which is level). There is little/no shade at either points.

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  Hier sind Haustiere in der Regel willkommen

  All animals would be welcome however this is dependant on their interaction with Girtrude, Lilly and Merva the Chickens, Bella the dog and growing biodiversity (various lizards, snakes etc) on the land.

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  zwei

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