🌳 Food forest and homeschooling family with horses, young children and aim to self-sufficient in the Netherlands

Details

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  Description

  *2024 update: we just got pregnant goats; we'll have baby goats soon and we'll also be getting baby pigs a little later.
  
  This year we'll focus even more on self-sufficiency, with the vegetable garden, lots of fruits, preserving a lot, baking our own bread from our own rye and using our own goat milk for yoghurt, cheese and butter*
  
  We, Rein (36) and Charlie (35), are constantly inspired by our shining lights, our daughter Astara (5), boy Emrys (2) and baby girl Serafina (1). We do homeschooling and love to involve other people and their culture and experience into their lives. We love to host people who are kind to children and willing to teach them.
  
  In 2024 we switched from horses to goats & pigs. We also have chickens, cats and a friendly dog.
  
  We have our own 5-hectare farm with food-forest and three lakes in the Netherlands, of which one hectare is a food-forest started in 2020, and we have two separate paddock-paradises (one for male and other for female horses). We have a 10+ horses (not all ours), at least 15 adult chickens (and sometimes chicks too), a dog, 3 cats and lots of small wildlife in our food-forest.
  
  We have a podcast on our life in our family domain on YouTube, ask us for the link.
  
  We share our plot with Charlie's mother, who lives in a separate part of the farmhouse. And my mother in a separate little cabin. We used to have a group accommodation that included rooms upstairs and a large living space, of which the latter has unfortunately burned down. The good news is that we still have a few of extra bedrooms upstairs that guests can use.
  
  We'd love to host individuals or families who want to enjoy, learn and give back by working with us (see below). Very likely you'll have your own room. We can eat together (vegetarian and gluten free). We don't drink alcohol, do drugs or smoke and would appreciate to find like-minded people.
  
  Note that in the winter the bedrooms are not heated and can be cold. Obviously there's extra blankets and downstairs it's always warm. You'll probably want to share the common space more on the cold season :)
  
  Don't forget that especially in the wet seasons you'll need good clothing and good (rain) boots. We have some spares, but not all sizes

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We love to share our vision on how to create a food-forest and self-sustainable farm, keep a vegetable garden, take care of animals, financial freedom (ask us), how to raise children and how to find happiness and keep it close :)

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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

  Depending on what you like to do you can help out with:
  - our permaculture garden and food forest;
  - general farm maintenance work and beautifying the space;
  - taking care of the goats, pigs and/or chickens (optionally includes milking goats);
  - babysit our children (who are an absolute pleasure to play with);
  - help cook meals (vegan & gluten free);
  - general help around the house (cleaning etc).

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We have several rooms upstairs, able to house up to 5 guests. You'll have to share the shower with us. You'll have enough space to create your own breakfast in our main living space. Lunch and dinner are together. We have high-speed internet with WIFI that reaches upstairs.

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  What else ...

  We are located 3 minutes by car from Langeveen (cafe, snackbar, restaurant) and 5 minutes from Geesteren (closest supermarket and other shops). It's 10-15 minutes to other bigger towns/cities. We have bikes, with which you can reach the supermarket. The place is hard to reach with public transportation, but we can get you in Geesteren bus station if needed. There's a bunch of tourist stuff to do in this area. It's a great area for walking and hiking. By bike you can see even more. Within 30-40 minute drive there's some great things like Preston Palace (tropical swimming paradise + bowling + more), great sauna, big public lakes, great natural parcs, horse-back riding and more. A bit further you can go to things like the zoo in Emmen.

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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 high-speed internet and enough room upstairs to work quietly. Not advisable in the cold season, as it is cold upstairs.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There's enough places to park your campervan.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

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

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