Help with a sustainable building project and get creative in the garden in Groningen in the North of the Netherlands

Details

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  Description

  Building a sustainable tiny house. We are currently in the process of building a tiny house with sustainable material with the idea to have as little as possible impact on the earth in terms of materials, energy use and ideally create a circular energy circuit throughout the next years. The building is in a nature area next to the city park in Groningen in the North of the Netherlands. Groningen is a vibrant student city where everything is done by bike. We are a young Dutch and German couple, Laurent (35) and Selena (34) with a big international community around us. This is our dream and we would have never thought that we could create our own space and garden so close to the city. We want to share the chance to be involved in a building project with as many people as possible so that you leave with the confidence to start your own project where housing has less environmental impact on the earth. We are both psychologists here in Groningen and a dear friend of ours Mark will do the carpentry work with us in the next months Mrach to July. Besides being a carpenter he has lived as a Buddhist monk and wants to specialise more and more on sustainable and circular tiny house solutions. We would love to welcome many people to be part of this journey, you do not need any skills, just the motivation and curiosity to be part of an awesome project like this. You will sleep in a beautiful Dutch flat in the center of Groningen, we will make sure to get you a bike so that you can live the Dutch life while you are with us.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We can offer you a place where solutions can be found together, where you learn that anybody can try and pick up their building dreams or simply work as part of a wider community. You will be part of a vibrant international friends community of psychologists, artists and activits. Many of us work at the university of Groningen, i.e. would love to share our knowledge of psychology but also our activism for the right of minoritised groups and the environment.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We need help in building up the wooden construction of the tiny house which includes timber work, clutting, or isolation work on top of it little task that come up like painting can always be picked up according to your liking. If you like you can also get creative and active in the garden. It is a gorgeous garden with many big trees and bushes of all sorts.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I learned Russian in the past and would love to fresh it up as well as Portuguese or Spanish :)
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  Accommodation

  Your own private room in a beautiful city flat with two floors in the center of Groningen next to a cannal with houseboats. Shared bathroom with one other person.

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  What else ...

  In your time off we suggest exploring Groningen and the beautiful green lands around Groningen. A day trip to the Northern Islands to Schiermanikoog is really recommended. Additionally, there is often music concerts or other sustainable housing communities and projects around that can be visited.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  If you need to work while being here, we have a nice living room that can be used as an extra space as well with fast internet. This is a student city, i.e. there are also many freely available working spaces with fast internet like the Forum of Groningen.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  You can park your van right on our piece of land.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This should be possible, yet, we need to discuss if the flat you will be staying in is suitable as it has very steep stairs and many plants around. But this is for you to decide.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week