Help a family with gardening and building chicken coop in Liebenwalde, Germany

Details

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  Description

  Hi there, we are Rudi (61) and Imke (56), originally from South Africa, but living in Germany since 2014. We have acquired a little piece of land in Liebenwalde, a small town about an hour away from the center of Berlin, and are in the process of renovating the house and barn on the property. The garden is large and divided into 3 different areas, all happily waiting for some action. We have had one summer here in which we grew an array of vegetables, shrubs and hedge plants (to create privacy and to attract insects). trees on the property include Apples, Cherries, Plums, Pears and Walnuts.
  We have 3 children, 2 of which are in their late twenties, and currently living in South Africa, and our youngest son age 20 spending a year in Nuremberg until the summer of 2024, but visiting us quite often.
  Our whole family is vegan, and we all have a great interest in the well being of the planet, so try to live as sustainably as possible. We have lived in many different types of situations, from a large farm in South Africa, to a simple cottage without power in Botswana, to a tiny apartment in central Berlin, and are interested in how other people live from all over the world.
  Rudi is a cabinet maker/carpenter and general handy person, Imke is a self taught ceramicist. We work a lot, because we love it, and because we need to create an income.
  We have experience with building (not really in cold climates though) and some gardening too, but would love to create a permaculture garden, which we would need help with.
  We have various projects in mind, our most imminent one being the construction of a green house out of recycled materials.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are a South African family living in Germany, having travelled fairly extensively in both Africa and Europe, so feel that we have a bit of German culture as well as plenty of South African culture to share.

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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

  Apart from any projects that are happening on the property, which we would need practical help with, we are very open to good ideas, and input from prospective workawayers that may have experience in that particular field.
  We would appreciate anyone with some experience in wood working, permaculture farming, gardening, building, chicken and duck keeping (in a kind and friendly way). But first and foremost on our wish list is a creative spirit, with a can do attitude.
  We would expect a workawayer to help with food preparation sometimes, as well as general living stuff, such as taking turns with the dishes, the laundry, or basic cleaning help in areas used by everyone.

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  Languages spoken

  Afrikaans: Fluent
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We have a bedroom for a workawayer, plus a shared bathroom, (maybe your own bathroom, depending on how much we manage to get done by spring). We feel that it would be nice to share some meals, probably the main meal of the day in the late afternoon or early evening, and would like it if everyone took turns to plan a meal and take responsibility for it while the others on that day would be the assistant cooks, chopping veggies etc. In our family we have a plan that whoever cooks the meal for everyone, is not responsible for the dishes afterwards. But we are also flexible and open to other ideas.
  The kitchen situation is similar to the bathroom situation, we may have another kitchen ready by spring, but if we don't, we would all share the same kitchen.

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  What else ...

  We are surrounded by Fields and forests, with ample opportunities to swim in Lakes, and exploring the countryside by bicycle (we have bicycles that can be used by visitors).
  We have a canoe which can be used to paddle on the various canals surrounding us.
  We are also within 90 minutes reach of Berlin city centre, which I think would be of interest for many people.
  We either take you to the closest train station, or you can catch the bus from here to the nearest train station.
  Liebenwalde is situated in the old east Germany, so there is a fair bit of old east german culture around, including a museum right across the road from us. Also, if it is of interest to people, one of the german concentration camps, Sachsenhausen is fairly close by, awful yes, but very much a part of German history.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximal 4-5 Stunden am Tag, 5 Tage die Woche

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