New permaculture land in the lovely village of Rocevici, Serbia

Details

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  Description

  Hi there! My name is Irena (26)
  
  It's just me living here in a small house, with regular visits from my boyfriend, friends and sisters. My father that died recently was my greatest help and biggest supporter on our exciting journey of rebuilding our beautiful 2-hectare land inherited from our ancestors.
  
  The whole story about my project started three years ago, when I moved back from the capital of Serbia, where I studied art history, to this small lovely place. I live in a little house where I dream of welcoming volunteers, friends and anyone interested in visiting. My vision is to turn this place into a space where we can learn from each other, exchange knowledge and skills, and ensure there's always new energy around, especially since the village is sparsely populated.
  
  This summer, I started many small projects that I had been dreaming about for years. With the help of my friends and father, we built 2 outdoor showers and two compost toilets, cleaned many overgrown areas, planted new trees and flowers, and created four small garden beds. We used natural materials like wood, stone, mud, and straw for repairs, always being mindful of Mother Earth and all living beings. My dream is to over years transform our heritage into a permaculture land where biodiversity can thrive and people can slow down and enjoy life.
  
  I want to welcome anyone who feels drawn to this project and has the experience or will to support me since I need help with preparing the place for 7th of August of 2024, when I will host around 30 young people from different parts of Europe. The youth exchange will last until 17th of August, and we still have many small projects to complete to get the place ready.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing

  

  Adventure sports

  

  Hiking

  

  Carpentry

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Photography

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Books

  

  Plant care

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Art & design

  

  Events & social

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Sustainability
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  From August 7th to 17th, we will host a youth exchange in our village, bringing together 30 people from five European countries to learn about biodiversity protection, permaculture, connecting with nature, and teamwork. This is an opportunity to be one of the participants, enjoying the company of other young people aged 18-30 years.
  
  The youth exchange will focus on cultural heritage and the revitalization of rural areas. Volunteers will learn about our culture as well as the cultures of other participants from Germany, Spain, Greece, and France. Before the exchange, volunteers can gain knowledge about permaculture, gardening, and preparing a place to host a large group.
  
  Spending time in Serbia will naturally open opportunities to experience Serbian culture, explore the surrounding areas, and learn about local recipes, language, and history. I also want to ensure that whenever I go somewhere, volunteers are invited to join me, whether it’s going for a swim in the river, visiting a nearby community, or heading to the city of Kraljevo.

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  Help

  Starting in mid-June, I am open to hosting volunteers interested in helping with various tasks around the house. These include maintaining the area around the house, cooking and collecting materials for building and repairing our little house, creating chilling area in the forest, hanging hammocks around the trees.
  
  I'm currently working on making one more compost toilet, and if it's not completed soon, I'll need help with that as well.
  
  Additionally, I would appreciate someone who knows how to draw and can create artistic signs or cards with the village's visual identity to indicate areas such as the camping site, kitchen, forest and garden.
  
  One of the main tasks that remain will be building an outdoor classroom (pillars are already in, but we have to put waterproof fabric over it). Therefore, we prefer someone with experience in these kinds of projects, though it’s not necessary. Someone comfortable with woodwork and construction would be especially helpful now.
  Also a person that is into making everything pretty and taking care about small details I would appreciate a lot.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Serbian: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am interested in improving Spanish language
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  Accommodation

  We can provide tents, blankets, and mattresses for your stay. I sleep in an old house that can accommodate two additional people, but we prefer guests who are comfortable staying in tents as the house is small and undergoing repairs, so it’s also used temporarily. We use compost toilets here and outdoor showers.
  
  For volunteers coming to live with me, I will provide free meals. Sometimes I might ask a volunteer to cook, but three meals a day are always available, and volunteers are free to eat whenever they're hungry. Our meals are primarily vegetarian, although occasionally there might be meat if, for instance, my grandmother brings lunch. We don’t buy meat as we don’t want to support the industry, but you’re welcome to eat any that’s available or buy and prepare your own. Our diet mainly consists of vegetables, fruits, rice, pasta, lentils, beans, nuts, oats, buckwheat, seasonal salads, and traditional Serbian dishes in vegetarian variations such as sarma, along with local cheese, kajmak, and eggs.

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  What else ...

  We have beautiful mountains and rivers nearby that you can visit. The city is only a half-hour ride from the village, with several buses running to and from it each day. We can provide plenty of suggestions for places to explore, and on weekends or after help hours, you are welcome to discover the area at your leisure.

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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

  We have a good Wi-Fi connection, but it's limited and may not support highly demanding tasks. However, it works well for regular calls and check-ins.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have a spot where you can park your campervan. It's right next to the house!

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  Can possibly accept pets

  I have a dog and occasionally foster others while finding them homes. If your dog is friendly with animals and likes to play, we would be happy to welcome you with your pet. My dog usually needs a day to get to know someone and fully relax, and since she can be anxious, we want to ensure that any new dogs coming are friendly and not into showing domination or agression.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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