Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Sep 2024
Reply rate
96.3 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
17
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Details
Description
Our family resides at Solar Village, Humpty Doo, 35 km from the tropical city of Darwin. We live on a sustainable bush block that was created as a citizen science experiment and we keep the bush in pristine condition and are building a legacy library. Solar Village began in 1980 with members choosing to live 'off grid', experimenting with new independent technologies, and co-inhabiting 320 acres of bushland divided into 13 blocks. It is set in the citizen science project of a fire exclusion zone within the highly flammable landscape of the top-end savanna with the last of the annuals fires ceasing 1979. As a result, many rare plant and animal species have returned and are now flourishing and it serves as an important ongoing experiment in sound ecological landscape management.
Largely the block now looks after itself in an ecological sense as its had 40+ years of rehabilitation and the residents of the 13 bush blocks in the solar village live largely independent lives coming together to manage fire and having shared values of living in the bush and off grid. We all have regular jobs in town or out bush (and increasing from home), therefore it's great to have help around the block.
We have a seasonal creek and spring, jungle, tropical woodland, and a floodplain with rare small mammals and birds as we have kept the bush block fire and stock free there have been a number of ecological studies undertaken here and currently, we have a nest box and camera trapping project. There are great opportunities for bushwalking, bird watching, spotlighting, bike riding and on the flood plain cooking around the fire and moon and star gazing.
Our lives are a little busy at present with kids and work, so helpers will need to be pretty self-reliant and able to work independently at times, but always coming together at meals to discuss the day and the world and anything in-between. The work may be a variety of things, from weeding/ reducing fuel to maintaining buildings such as the library, to domestic work, to a bit of help with the kids.
We look forward to meeting you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live in Northern Australia's most successful fire exclusion project and it is an example of pristine Australia Savanna. Have extensive knowledge of local ecology and the different environments and travel to work and visit out bush regularly. The library has a collection of writing and books that focus on the local knowledge, culture and the environment. Events and workshops take place at the library and on the flood plain. We live a healthy outdoors lifestyle regularly going on bush walks, fishing, swimming preparing meals and foods for staorage. We go to Darwin town often on weekends for markets and events. Love hosting visitors from near and far, cooking on fires with local food.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We need assistance with bush regeneration; landscaping, weeding, garden maintenance, checking nest box. At the library finishing building and cleaning, there maybe filing, scanning cataloguing. Help around the domestic house and other camps there can be maintaining solar panels, water maintenance, repairs and cleaning.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Haitian Creole: Fluent
Accommodation
bush hut or safari tent with power, beds, comforts.
guests can eat with our family for exchange for help on the block and in the house for about 2-3 hours a day, plus helping out at meal times.
What else ...
We live on a bush block in the rural area and there is bush walking and mountain bike riding are close to swimming and fishing spots, there will be limited local use of vehicle, there are buses that run from Humpty Doo to Darwin few times a day.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
plenty of space
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (10)
The land they are living on is so beautiful. The accomodation they provided was a very cute standalone bush hut which was bug proof and breezy (not too hot) during the nights. We also had access to their library which had kitchen facilities and plenty of space for chilling, yoga, etc.… read more
The environement of the forest is quiet and peacefull it was amazing to stayed there for two weeks .
That was a pleasure to help to take care about the bush I've learning thing who will be usefull for my future .
the familly and the community are lovelly and it's very easy to communicate with… read more
Anna and Liam are very open, helpful, warm, fun-loving and understanding people. They were very flexible, had no problem accommodating our wishes and when one of us had health problems they made sure we could see a doctor.
The work was very varied and adapted to us. We weeded, tidied up… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
The land they are living on is so beautiful. The accomodation they provided was a very cute standalone bush hut which was bug proof and breezy (not too hot) during the nights. We also had access to their library which had kitchen facilities and plenty of space for chilling, yoga, etc.… read more
The environement of the forest is quiet and peacefull it was amazing to stayed there for two weeks .
That was a pleasure to help to take care about the bush I've learning thing who will be usefull for my future .
the familly and the community are lovelly and it's very easy to communicate with… read more
Anna and Liam are very open, helpful, warm, fun-loving and understanding people. They were very flexible, had no problem accommodating our wishes and when one of us had health problems they made sure we could see a doctor.
The work was very varied and adapted to us. We weeded, tidied up… read more
Richard contributed to farm work, livestock and orchard work and did house maintenance.… read more
We had a lot of good conversation.
I have enjoyed every minutes. The place is very beautiful, the work is not so hard and the neighboor farmers are kind as well.
I can just recommend to everyone this place!!!
It is amazing!!!
Thanks Liam and Anna!
