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Description
Hobby farm stay! Care for a variety of animals and help fix up an older property while you immerse yourself in a suburban setting close to historic downtown Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
Interests
Movies & TV
Pets
Events & social
Charity work
Plant care
Gardening
Animals
Outdoor activities
Sailing / Boating
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have social activities on weekends where you can learn from and help people with a visual-impairment.
We are internationally dually qualified Guide Dog Mobility Specialists and entrepreneurs. We have past professional experience in the equine and fishing industries and have lived in 3 countries.
We hope to learn about different cultures and different ways of doing things. We get caught up in busy schedules and would like to connect with new people and have new experiences.
Help
Hello! We are a small hobby farm on 2 acres, about 18 minutes from the historic downtown of Ipswich in Queensland, Australia. We are immigrants (USA) and have lived in NZ and now AU. We normally have one or two horses, parrots, rare breed heritage chickens, roosters, and working dogs. Our horses are working and in-training school horses. Our working dogs are guide dogs in training.
We work with the vision-impaired.
The main help we could use and which you could learn valuable husbandry skills are toileting dogs, picking up after them, cleaning the kennel office building, picking out stable & chicken coop, tending to horse paddock (removing rocks and sticks), walking dogs, cleaning water buckets & bowls, brushing horses, grooming & washing dogs, and general animal husbandry.
Other help might be tending to gardens, planting natives, weeding, putting grain bags away (20kgs), helping out on classes (we teach cooking and crafts), and general help around the farm.
Some house help is always welcome too! There is always vacuuming and sweeping to do!
Horse riding may happen with those who can handle a horse and have a weight limit of under 100kgs.
We work with the vision-impaired. They work with our dogs, horses and attend our classes. They also work in administrative roles with us. We hold many classes throughout the year that would be great experience.
Typical volunteer shifts are from 7:00-12:00 or 1:30-6:30 PM and 8:00-8:30 PM. for final checks on the animals and locking up.
You have access to the entire shared modern cottage with your own bedroom with key lock, separate private tv room (Apple TV) and own bathroom. There is plenty of parking . There is no immediate public transport but we can give you a lift to the train or bus locally.
If you like fishing, we have a Hobie ProAnglerT kayak and all the gear with Jason as your guide.
We supply food and accommodation. Anything in the fridge or pantry is fair game.
For some help around the farm and with our community we aim to make your visit to Australia a special one.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
We’re happy to help those wanting to become more fluent in English and to help us to learn more how to communicate best with you. We have had some people really struggle with the language barrier, so this is seriously something to consider.
Accommodation
We provide a clean and secure place to sleep.
If you’re interested in camping, we can provide tents and bedding (let us know in advance).
Breakfast usually is self-driven. We have coffee & tea, whole milk and always plenty of eggs. There is usually also oatmeal, grain bars and cereal.
Lunch is usually self-driven as well. There may be sandwiches, ramens, fruit, nuts or leftovers to choose from.
Dinner is generally prepared around 6:30-7:00 or there are leftovers. We are not vegetarian but are considerate of all types of diets.
What else ...
SAMPLE AM SHIFT
6:30 get up, get ready to go outside
7:00-8:00 toilet dogs, open rooster pen, open hen coop, remove roosters in there, feed horses, tend to parrots, feed dogs
8:30-9:30 have breakfast & coffee
9:30-12:00 finish up outside tasks for animals, walk dogs, help with horses, pick out chicken coop, etc.
12:00-1:00 have some lunch
SAMPLE PM SHIFT
1:30-6:30 walk, groom or wash dogs, help with horses, fed horses and dogs, lock up animals, refill water, etc.
SAMPLE HOUSE HELP
folding laundry, dishes away, vacuuming, watering gardens, grocery shopping, rubbish bins in/out, raking leaves, picking up palm fronds, sticks, etc
SAMPLE TIME OFF
Head into downtown Ipswich CBD, eat out at one of the many restaurants, go to the cinema, shopping, thrift stores.
Have a bbq or picnic at Colleges Crossing.
Go hiking.
Head into Brisbane CBD (about 1 hr away).
Use Bell St Station at Ipswich or Dinmore Station at Bundamba.
HOUSE RULES
If the main gate is closed, keep it closed and vice versa.
Bring farm shoes to wear outside (that are good in rain). Bring slippers for the house.
Bring raincoat & sun hat.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Outdoor electric outlet for camper van. Have had a motor home here before. Several options.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Prince William (1 year)
William is a Brahma rooster and part of our heritage flock.
Possum (22 years)
Possum Creek was an exceptional Standardbred harness racing mare, winning her last race in 2019 at age 16! She is retraining as a pleasure Instructor’s horse, learning to assist in lessons. As she is in her senior years, Possum only is ridden at the walk up to 3 days per week. She is learning to accept leg.
Matilda (15 years)
Matilda is a Shire x Clydesdale mare. She has been with us since she was 8-yrs-old. She is our student horse.
Gretel
Gretel is a female Eclectus. She has a red breast and blue wings. She has a big vocabulary.
Jindi
Jindi is a Rose-breasted Cockatoo aka “galah.” This is a pink-breasted bird with grey wings. He is male.
Lens (4 years)
Lens is a released guide dog German Shepherd. He likes being taken for walks. He lives in the house in our master bedroom suite, often is loose in the yard and is well looked after.
Photos
