Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Oct 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
15
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Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Welcome!
I am Fern & I live together my 3 year old daughter on our small, off grid and very humble farmlet Heartwood in Guildford, Central Victoria. Guildford is home to one of Victoria's largest river red gums. It is over 500 years old. It's a very small town with only a general store, primary school & pub, half way between Castlemaine & Daylesford. We have been on this land for a short time & have started using permaculture principals & design. We are still very much in the beginning stages of this undertaking. So far, we have completed the fence line, (to keep the rabbits out) & joyously have begun some planting both in the fruit tree area, a cottage garden & in the 3 large veggie patches.
We always have seeds growing in our tiny green house, & seedlings to plant out. Fern has a background in floristry & plant nursery work and has completed a PDC. Currently a full time Mama, her interest lie in walking softly on this earth, while my little one loves watching the abundant birdlife- she knows all the different names! I love kirtan & am busy immersing myself in the local community.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Mountain
DIY & crafts
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Plant care
Photography
Hitchhiking
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Hiking
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live a simple life & try to get back to basics as much as possible. The property is off grid, so there would be a different experience from a regular home. We are very water wise & have a wood fire heater. Waste is managed by a worm farm compost system. Grey water from the shower is also diverted. We are striving towards community sufficiency and participate in the gifting & swap economies, as we harvest from our garden. We would welcome earth wise discussions for living more in tune with the cycles and seasons of nature & we are happy to share our skill set as well as learn from you!
We have quiet time in the afternoons while I try to put my daughter down for a nap. Dinner is early around 5pm, as my daughter goes to sleep early & the house is quiet, so you can read quietly after 8:30, or retire to your space. Please bring your own books or feel free to borrow ours.
Please note we have no wifi, & phone reception is only on the Telstra network. It's a great opportunity to rely less on your phone, though there is free internet at the library and Optus phones work a short walk up the hill.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
There maybe a project we are currently on, however we would be happy to work with your interests and strengths.
Some examples include
*garden art/ features
*upcycle projects, chairs
*small construction tasks, an example steps, or stepping stones
*mulching & making compost
*harvest & preserving
*bread making
*planting seeds, seedlings & plants
*We have recently set up an Instagram & Facebook page so photographs and video for this would be amazing. Ask us for the link.
*no animals as yet but hope to get quails or chickens soon!
*Always grateful for an extra eye on the little one, so I can cook dinner etc
*Sewing / mending
*Interior design- advice welcome!
Send us a message with your interests & we can outline the week / weekend together.
4 hours per day, weekends free. Like a flat mate you would help with dinner prep, setting the table & dishes on a rotation. .
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
German: Beginner
Accommodation
We live in a small house of two bedrooms. There are a few options for sleeping, We have a 2 small caravans that could sleep 2. There is also half an acre for a double air mattress in a tent if you prefer to spread out. (we can provide) If you have your own van there is plenty of space.
We would share meals. We are generally vegetarian, though since the arrival of our little one we have had some feast day exceptions with locally sourced meat. We shop as much as we can at the local market & bulk food stores.
What else ...
There are some great walking tracks in the surrounding bush & Vaughan Springs. Great for cold plunging or cooling off in summer. We would likely travel to either Daylesford or Castlemaine every second day, & you could come along for the daily activities &/or time for site seeing. If you would rather longer days and whole days off, we are super flexible. I can pick you up from Castlemaine train station. There is also a 'V line' bus that operates once a day along the Midland highway. We do not have a TV or Wi-fi. We do have a great selection of books and an odd movie night on our projector
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There is a gravel drive for when there is wet weather & plenty of room to park when the ground is dry.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (6)
He surprised us by making a delightful apple cake one day, my daughter was super excited. He absolutely… read more
I spent about a month with Fern and Saoirse and had a really good time. From the beginning, they were both friendly and welcoming. Fern in particular was very attentive and regularly checked in to make sure I was comfortable and everything was going well. That made me feel cared for and appreciated.
The work… read more
They helped me plant some seedlings, seeds and weeding as well as watering with the 'juice' from the worm farms. We had dinner out at the local bakery for soup, before taking them back for the evening.
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
He surprised us by making a delightful apple cake one day, my daughter was super excited. He absolutely… read more
I spent about a month with Fern and Saoirse and had a really good time. From the beginning, they were both friendly and welcoming. Fern in particular was very attentive and regularly checked in to make sure I was comfortable and everything was going well. That made me feel cared for and appreciated.
The work… read more
They helped me plant some seedlings, seeds and weeding as well as watering with the 'juice' from the worm farms. We had dinner out at the local bakery for soup, before taking them back for the evening.
There were many seedlings & plants (flowers & veggies) to plant and tend to with daily watering. We also made a dent on the weeding! Inside Emilie was super helpful with cleaning and… read more
Fern is doing an amazing job living sustainably. She has a worm farm, recycles shower water for the garden and relies entirely on solar energy. It’s truly inspiring to see how… read more
Both of them are really welcoming and have a lovely little daughter who is adorable to play with. They took me to a wonderful little market and tried to… read more
Right from the get go, they were switched on & hands on. It was a breeze to share projects, as they had fantastic ideas to share. From gardening, painting & sanding, to delicious baked sweets & jam. The days I had errands with my toddler it was so incredibly easy to leave them with a task and not have a… read more
