Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
227
Facebook verified
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We currently have slots with fixed arrival and leaving days.
AVAILABLE SLOTS
SLOT A
Mon 27th Mar 2023
Wed 26th Apr 2023
SLOT B
Wed 17th May 2023
Wed 31st May 2023
SLOT C
Mon 19th Jun 2023
Wed 5th Jul 2023
SLOT D
Mon 24th Jul 2023
Wed 9th Aug 2023
SLOT E
Mon 11th Sep 2023
Wed 27th Sep 2023
In theory longer stays of over a month are possible but only after a successful short stay.
Last year we had a wonderful Canadian girl who stayed for ages.
NOTE:
Every word of our profile is a true and accurate description of reality. We also require that your profile is truthful.
The volunteers that we might be interested in would have these characteristics: actually interested in growing food, self-sufficiency and alternative technologies. Don't mind about being isolated and in the middle of nowhere. Sociable and fun to be with.
We will be planting, growing and harvesting vegetables and preparing to be as self-sufficient as possible.
We are an English couple who have lived in Spain for over 30 years. We are in our late 50's early 60's. Our business is on-line so we can work anywhere as long as we have an Internet connection. We spend our time between Granada, the coast and our cortijo in the mountains. We are mainly interested in some help up in the mountain house. We have 36,000 m2 with about 160 olive trees, 800 grape vines, 100 almonds, almost all the fruit trees you can think of, a vegetable plot, about 5 springs, solar-powered electricity, solar water heating, and 10m x 5m swimming pool. We are 1300 metres above sea level. The nearest village is 6km up a non-asphalt road. We don't have any children but have a dog named "Shep"and a cat called "Meg".
We have hosted more than 330 workawayers over the last 12 years. We welcome hardworking people who like being in a beautiful remote mountain setting. It is especially important that you are a pleasant sociable person with a good sense of humour who likes good conversation and can appreciate eating good healthy food.
Note: If you are a French, German, Spanish or Italian native speaker we often ask you to do translations into English.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you have any question about the Spanish language we can give you a good answer because we are fluent in Spanish and also have spent many years as language teachers, if your level of Spanish is good enough you could speak to us in Spanish however the main language at our farm is English. We have our own hiking group and we often organise hikes on the weekends when it is not too hot for hiking, there are usually around 10 Spanish people. You will probably learn a lot about growing your own food and self sufficiency.
Help
The most important thing is that you like gardening and helping outside.
Here are some examples of the help. Skim the dead insects off the swimming pool, sweep up the terraces, weed the flowerbed, weed the vegetable plot, plant out lettuces, go with me to collect mulch on the tractor, plant trees and bushes, repair the irrigation system, pick peaches and other fruit, staple paper bags around the apples to stop the birds eating them, paint a wall, varnish a door, clean out the barbecue, cut the grass on the lawn, pick walnuts, crack almonds and walnuts for the muesli. Pick broad beans. Plant seeds. Help with fencing. Let the chickens out. Shut the chickens up. Collect horse manure. Teach us something we don't know.
Sometimes during the week we go and do chores in a house on the edge of Granada doing painting and gardening help.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
There are 2 self-contained independent apartments for the volunteers and we shuffle the people around to get the best combination.
For breakfast we normally eat our delicious healthy muesli which has our own nuts in. For midday meal we try to eat stuff that we have grown ourselves with either fish or meat. In the evenings in the summer we have gazpacho or other ways of eating the abundance of really nice tomatoes, pepper, aubergines etc that we grow. We often cook outside on the barbecue. We have a wood oven for pizzas, bread and roasting etc. We eat mostly vegetarian food but we are not strict vegetarians. If you have special dietary requirements you must tell us when you contact us. We don't take vegans or people who don't eat eggs.
What else ...
The cortijo is 6km from the nearest sleepy village which has a population of about 1000. We have a good 22 mega per second internet connection. Wifi is available in the main lounge and in outside areas but not everywhere.
As the electricity system is solar you have to be careful to switch off lights and not waste electricity. We have 2 mountain bicycles. There are lots of interesting walks all around the mountains. It would be very unsuitable for a city person who hates the countryside.
Andalucia is very hot in August, as we are 1200 metres high it is much more pleasant than lower down.
Important: There is plenty of time to connect to social media and keep in contact with your friends via internet when you are here. However, if you are so addicted to using your iphone that it prevents you from interacting with new people then please don't come here.
Very shy introverted people who almost never say anything don't tend to enjoy it much here, if you are in that category you should choose a less sociable workaway place. We have volunteers to do some work and make life more fun. There is nothing wrong with being a very quiet person but we want sociable people.
What you can do on your days off: As most of the workawayers don't have their own transport we have often taken everyone out on excursions. In the past we have taken people down to the beach and a few times we have let everyone stay in a house we have in Granada. There is a lake about 6km way which is good for swimming, we often take everyone down there on Sundays. Most weekends we go on hikes with a walking group.
It is is necessary that you like eating vegetables. We don't take people who don't like tomatoes, who can't eat perfectly good things just because of the texture or fussy eaters in general.
We don't take volunteers with pets or children.
Almost everyone who comes here leaves more healthy, more relaxed, fitter and happier than when they arrived.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This option would only be a good idea for long term stays.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours per day, 5 days a week
Host ref number: 26273942294c
Feedback (110)
21/12/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Angela)
Angela is almost as old as us but she also is physically fit, very capable and would probably come out on top in any competition with someone half her age. In the first 3 days of her stay we had another problematic volunteer who was very difficult to get along with and she endured being with her like a saint and was a model of diplomacy. We spent… read more
(Excellent
)
20/12/2022
I have just enjoyed a brilliant Workaway experience at Sarah and John's helping with the olive harvest. They are incredibly welcoming, kind and generous hosts.
As well as harvesting the olives I got to visit the processing site & see how the oil is extracted. It was fascinating and such a treat which I really appreciated.
Sarah and John are… read more
As well as harvesting the olives I got to visit the processing site & see how the oil is extracted. It was fascinating and such a treat which I really appreciated.
Sarah and John are… read more
21/12/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Will)
For the first week of being here Will was alone and we only spoke in Spanish together. This was a good experience because he has a good level of Spanish and has a high level of enthusiasm to learn even more. He was the first volunteer to say he wanted to learn Spanish and actually meant it. We did a lot of pruning and wood shredding using the… read more
(Excellent
)
25/11/2022
My stay with John and Sarah was amazing! They are very welcoming and great communicators. I enjoyed the work a lot - cutting and chipping wood, planting and harvesting vegetables, making chili powder and pickles, and whatever else was needed. Nothing too demanding, and I really appreciated the reliable work schedule throughout the days. I learned… read more
07/10/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Kathleen & Paul)
Kat and Paul stayed with us for just over 2 weeks in September 2022. During their stay we picked grapes and then later on we pressed the grapes to make wine. We also did a lot of gardening tasks such as planting carrots, weeding, picking apples, food preparation, bottle cleaning, cutting up firewood etc. They are a fun couple,
cheerful, punctual,… read more
cheerful, punctual,… read more
(Excellent
)
01/10/2022
My husband and I had the most wonderful 1st Workaway experience with Sarah and John. They set the bar high for our future Workaway experiences. First of all, they are just wonderful humans!...fun, interesting, helpful with travel info and generous in spirit. Their profile is very accurate. The days are structured in a way to give breaks, share… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)
21/12/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Angela)
Angela is almost as old as us but she also is physically fit, very capable and would probably come out on top in any competition with someone half her age. In the first 3 days of her stay we had another problematic volunteer who was very difficult to get along with and she endured being with her like a saint and was a model of diplomacy. We spent… read more
(Excellent
)
20/12/2022
Left by Workawayer (Angela) for host
I have just enjoyed a brilliant Workaway experience at Sarah and John's helping with the olive harvest. They are incredibly welcoming, kind and generous hosts.
As well as harvesting the olives I got to visit the processing site & see how the oil is extracted. It was fascinating and such a treat which I really appreciated.
Sarah and John are… read more
As well as harvesting the olives I got to visit the processing site & see how the oil is extracted. It was fascinating and such a treat which I really appreciated.
Sarah and John are… read more
21/12/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Will)
For the first week of being here Will was alone and we only spoke in Spanish together. This was a good experience because he has a good level of Spanish and has a high level of enthusiasm to learn even more. He was the first volunteer to say he wanted to learn Spanish and actually meant it. We did a lot of pruning and wood shredding using the… read more
(Excellent
)
25/11/2022
Left by Workawayer (Will) for host
My stay with John and Sarah was amazing! They are very welcoming and great communicators. I enjoyed the work a lot - cutting and chipping wood, planting and harvesting vegetables, making chili powder and pickles, and whatever else was needed. Nothing too demanding, and I really appreciated the reliable work schedule throughout the days. I learned… read more
07/10/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Kathleen & Paul)
Kat and Paul stayed with us for just over 2 weeks in September 2022. During their stay we picked grapes and then later on we pressed the grapes to make wine. We also did a lot of gardening tasks such as planting carrots, weeding, picking apples, food preparation, bottle cleaning, cutting up firewood etc. They are a fun couple,
cheerful, punctual,… read more
cheerful, punctual,… read more
(Excellent
)
01/10/2022
Left by Workawayer (Kathleen & Paul) for host
My husband and I had the most wonderful 1st Workaway experience with Sarah and John. They set the bar high for our future Workaway experiences. First of all, they are just wonderful humans!...fun, interesting, helpful with travel info and generous in spirit. Their profile is very accurate. The days are structured in a way to give breaks, share… read more
20/09/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Owen & Judith)
(Negative
)
17/08/2022
Left by Workawayer (Owen & Judith) for host
20/09/2022
Left by Workawayer (Geetika) for host
I had a wonderful time with John and Sarah. they accepted me on a short notice (reached out 2 days before).
it was nice of Sarah to give me a heads up that I'll be the only volunteer and it turned out amazing for me! I got a big spacious 1 bedroom and had some good quality time for myself :) it was my first farming workaway and learnt a lot… read more
it was nice of Sarah to give me a heads up that I'll be the only volunteer and it turned out amazing for me! I got a big spacious 1 bedroom and had some good quality time for myself :) it was my first farming workaway and learnt a lot… read more
08/05/2022
Left by Workawayer (Douglas) for host
I had a really good time staying with John and Sarah, for many reasons. They're a great couple; kind, funny, helpful and generous in every way. They have such a wealth of experience of living and working overseas on a small farm, and will happily teach you everything that they know; a hugely valuable source of knowledge if you hope to live in this… read more
26/04/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Douglas)
We just spent a pleasant month with Doug. He is very talkative and fun to be with. He is different from many people who talk a lot because he does not hog the conversation, he is very amusing and pretty much everything he says is worth listening to. He has many funny stories and has a cheerful pleasant personality and a good sense of the… read more
(Excellent
)
28/04/2022
Left by Workawayer (Amandine) for host
I spend a lovely month with Sarah and John! We spend three weeks in the farm. And one week at the beach house. In the farm we did some planting, panting, weeding, pruning, shreding. At the beach house we did a lot of cleaning and painting. The work is nice because you have several tasks in the day and you change your task often. The accommodation… read more
26/04/2022
Left by host for Workawayer (Amandine)
Amandine was a very good volunteer. She is very good natured, always cheerful and pleasant to be with. Shep our dog was very sad when she left because she took her out for many walks and always threw many sticks. She planted a large amount of cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and kale which will supply us with many months of coleslaw and other… read more
(Excellent
)
22/02/2022
Left by Workawayer (Celia) for host
My time with John and Sara at Cortijo de la Plata was amazing! I joined them for almost three weeks during the olive harvest and had the pleasure of learning about how it was processed as well as more information about farming as a whole. They prioritized showing the other volunteers and I the beauty of their home, taking us on many hikes and… read more
03/01/2022
Left by Workawayer (Natasha) for host
Sorry this is late (I have been away on other adventures) but better late than never! I had such a brilliant time at Sarah and John's beautiful farm in Southern Spain. The house is perched on a steep slope with incredible views over the valley, you will also get very fit walking up and down the gardens! Sarah and John were very good at… read more
09/10/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Natasha)
During her time with us Natasha picked almonds, did almond cracking, weeding, grape picking, food preparation, cleaning, food processing, nut sorting etc. She is a graduate of Oxford university and some of her descendants are Gurkhas so we had joint benefits of interesting intelligent conversations and also good lifting power to transport the… read more
(Excellent
)
24/12/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Tedda)
Tedda was going to be with a Turkish girl who got COVID at the last minute. It is lucky that Tedda is an interesting person who likes good conversations so the fact that she was alone with us for the first 2 weeks was not a problem. In fact if I was assembling the crew of a spaceship to leave Earth forever to settle on another planet I would… read more
(Excellent
)
05/12/2021
Left by Workawayer (Tedda) for host
I had a fabulous time with Sarah, John and their lovely family members Shep and Meg!
The first 2 weeks of 3 weeks I stayed there with no other workawayers. But I always had lovely company from their dog and cat and occasionally from John during my working tasks, such as picking walnuts/ almonds, pruning olive trees, cutting fire wood, planting… read more
The first 2 weeks of 3 weeks I stayed there with no other workawayers. But I always had lovely company from their dog and cat and occasionally from John during my working tasks, such as picking walnuts/ almonds, pruning olive trees, cutting fire wood, planting… read more
01/12/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Sabrina & Djen)
Sabrina & Djen were very good volunteers. They came as last minute and stayed just over a week. Djen is a robotics engineer and I was expecting a robot of his to do most of his work but it turns out he had left it in Switzerland. Djen was especially good at removing errant rose and bramble bushes by the root with a fork. He used his excellent… read more
(Excellent
)
01/12/2021
Left by Workawayer (Sabrina & Djen) for host
We spend eight wonderful days with Sarah and John. They are lovely, caring hosts and heartwarming people. Sarah is a great cook and John always took care that we didn't work too much or get bored with our tasks (and gave us things to do inside when it was cold or rainy). We enjoyed to have a clear schedule and to change tasks in every slot so work… read more
09/10/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Cleo)
During her time with us Cleo picked almonds, did almond cracking, climbed trees to pick damsons, weeding, grape picking, food preparation, cleaning, food processing, nut sorting etc. She is very fit and healthy and I always chose her when we needed to do a difficult physical task. She is an enthusiastic worker. Her level of English is very good… read more
(Excellent
)
09/10/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Inès)
During her time with us Inès did garden maintenance, painting, translation, cleaning, weeding, food processing, watering, nut cracking, picking blackberries and processing blackberry mousse etc. She is a very good house painter, she painted constantly and steadily and managed to achieve very good results. She has a pleasant personality and was… read more
(Excellent
)
31/08/2021
Left by Workawayer (Inès) for host
Sarah and John were very nice hosts, kind, funny and very very helpful. I am gluten intolerant and they managed to adapt every meal for me.
They are welcoming people, and the amount of work was exactly as described.
I also loved the good atmosphere, always with good music in the background.
And the view of the cortijo was amazing, so all of… read more
They are welcoming people, and the amount of work was exactly as described.
I also loved the good atmosphere, always with good music in the background.
And the view of the cortijo was amazing, so all of… read more
31/08/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Giulia)
During her time with us Giulia did garden maintenance, translation, cleaning, weeding, food processing, watering, nut cracking, picking blackberries and processing blackberry mousse etc. She has a pleasant personality and was always cheerful and optimistic. She is punctual and is a hard worker. She has a lovely Italian accent and has a good level… read more
(Excellent
)
24/08/2021
Left by Workawayer (Giulia) for host
I have spent with Sarah and John two Amazing weeks. We have spent together a very good time, working, listening to music, eating delicious food and speaking about a lot of things. The work Is not hard, because you have also free time and you can do whatever you want around the cortjio.Sarah and John are so nice and funny, i liked so much been with… read more
24/08/2021
Left by host for Workawayer (Emilio)
Emilio was a very good volunteer. In his time with us he did garden maintenance, translation, painting, weeding, food processing, watering, post removal, nut cracking etc. He is punctual and is a hard worker. He has a pleasant Italian accent and has a high level of English. He entertained us by playing the guitar. He got along well with the other… read more
(Excellent
)
23/08/2021
Left by Workawayer (Emilio) for host
I spent with Sarah and John only 10 days, but it has been a wonderful experience!
Communication was perfectly clear, and the work was exactly what expected reading the profile.
Not to mention that the cortijo is surrounded by nature and the accomodation was more than comfortable.
We always ate excellent fresh food in both lunch and dinner ( y… read more
Communication was perfectly clear, and the work was exactly what expected reading the profile.
Not to mention that the cortijo is surrounded by nature and the accomodation was more than comfortable.
We always ate excellent fresh food in both lunch and dinner ( y… read more
28/12/2019
Left by Workawayer (Micha) for host
Actually my stay with John and Sara is about 5 months ago, but I am writing this review now, because I catched myself thinking about my stay from time to time. Right from the beginning everyone was super friendly and made this workaway heartwarming. The work routine was fair and not too hard and just what I expected. The best thing about my stay… read more
19/11/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Alice & Thomas)
Tom and Alice are a fun loving laid back couple with a good sense of humour. They participated in the debut of the wood chipper and helped to shred several cubic metres of branches which will be incorporated into the earth as mulch and eventually eaten by worms rather than being burned and releasing their smoke into the atmosphere, so their carbon… read more
(Excellent
)
19/11/2019
Left by Workawayer (Alice & Thomas) for host
We had a wonderful time at John and Sarah's! They are a hilarious couple.
The work was extremely well organised with a good variety for everyone. They also provide old clothes if you don't want to ruin your own too! We enjoyed the hard work and LOVED the amazing lunch spread Sarah would cook, super nutritious and basically everything from the… read more
The work was extremely well organised with a good variety for everyone. They also provide old clothes if you don't want to ruin your own too! We enjoyed the hard work and LOVED the amazing lunch spread Sarah would cook, super nutritious and basically everything from the… read more
19/11/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Juliane)
Juliane has a very good level of English and has a pleasant slight German accent. She enjoyed socialising with everyone and had fun playing games in the evening. She is mature and level headed for her age. She is very cheerful and friendly. She did a very good job of pruning the unwanted shoot from the bottom of the olive trees as well as working… read more
(Excellent
)
21/10/2019
Left by Workawayer (Juliane) for host
I spent 4 weeks with John, Sarah and four other workawayers on their farm. It was my first workaway experience and I couldn’t have a better host for the beginning! Our main tasks were the almond harvest and cutting the olive trees and I did interesting translations about Granada every day. We became a great team and had always a lot of fun while… read more
20/10/2019
Left by Workawayer (Vitali) for host
Being long time hosts Sarah and John got everything well organised , punctual working/break hours rest and entertainment , socializing time . Well planed and explained work need to be done , right tools and material provided .
Good sense of humor and relaxed atmosphere , wonderful huge garden with delicious and plentiful variety of fruits and… read more
Good sense of humor and relaxed atmosphere , wonderful huge garden with delicious and plentiful variety of fruits and… read more
20/10/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Vitali)
Vitali and ourselves are some of the most high rated places on workaway. So when two high rated people get together is it a match made in heaven? Well for our part Vitali earned his michelin star rating easilly? He is about 80% muscle and he used them to do many tasks involving concrete and many more tasks that have needed to be done for years. So… read more
(Excellent
)
29/08/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Maroussia)
Maroussia was a great volunteer. She realised the advantages of some of our neglected assets, for example she saw our Rhubarb and decided to make Rhubarb crumble, which was amazing. When we went to the coast she looked after the Danish boys on their crazy night out, without her they probably would never have got home. She did some very good French… read more
(Excellent
)
03/06/2019
Left by Workawayer (Maroussia) for host
My experience at the Cortijo was my first Workaway experience, and it has been an amazing one. I spent 5 weeks with John and Sarah. It has been the perfect place to disconnect while contributing to a great project in the nature. John and Sarah had been very welcome and kind. Special mention for the delicious food prepared by Sarah!!! The work was… read more
29/08/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Sin Mei)
Sin Mei was with us in the hot August period. We started work at 8.15 am and Sin Mei mainly did weeding for the first two hours but she also did vegetable picking and mechanical bug extermination with water jets. In the third hour she worked mainly in the kitchen preparing vegetables, washing jars and other tasks. In the final two hours she… read more
(Excellent
)
29/08/2019
Left by Workawayer (Sin Mei) for host
I spent 17 days with John and Saran and 4 other workawayers. It was my first Workaway so I wasn't completely sure what to expect but I'm glad it was here. The day is structured well and expectations are set. This makes it easy to know when you need to be ready to work but also when you have free time. John and Sarah are strict with the 5 hours of… read more
30/07/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (SAMUEL)
Sam was a great volunteer. He had worked on farms before and could work quickly and effectively with tasks on the vegetable garden. He could work very well on his own and got good results. He did a fair amount of strimming with the powerful petrol strimmer which was very useful. He is a the best swimming pool cleaner we have ever had, after 25… read more
(Excellent
)
29/07/2019
Left by Workawayer (SAMUEL) for host
I spent 18 days with John and Sarah and had a truly wonderful stay. I cracked almonds and walnuts, cleaned the pool, strimmed around the huerta and property, picked berries, pruned and tied tomatoes, weeded beds, and helped with meal prep, cleaning, and maintenance projects. The work was fair and fun, and all tasks were clearly explained. During… read more
23/05/2019
Left by Workawayer (Daniel & Jørgen) for host
We stayed with John & Sarah for 6 weeks and cannot imagine having a better first experience with volunteering. They are extraordinary people. While working with John we found out that he has an extremely good sense of humour. He can always make people laugh. Also Sarah is really witty, but one thing that caught our attention is that she make the… read more
03/05/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel & Jørgen)
Daniel and Jorgen have spent the last 5 weeks with us on their farm. They are now looking for another workaway place in a city. They have written to over 25 places and have been turned down by several hosts and receive no reply from the others. Well, the hosts that turned them down need their heads examined. Of the 280 volunteers that we have had… read more
(Excellent
)
05/02/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Zuzana)
Zuzana spent about 3 weeks with us. First she spent a few days getting accustomed to our cat and dog. Then she looked after them for 10 days when we went to France. When we were in France Zuzana sent us lots of photos of Shep (the dog) running along the beach and having adventures on long walks. She looked after the animals very well and the house… read more
(Excellent
)
05/02/2019
Left by Workawayer (Zuzana) for host
I've spent with Sarah and John 3 weeks. They were such an amazing hosts. Very friendly and helpful. I looked after their dog Shep and a cat Meg one week while they were on a holiday. The rest of the time I did some painting or cleaning. John also took me hiking with his friends. I couldn't ask for better people. :blush:
31/01/2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Catherine)
Catherine was with us for about 5 weeks. She carried out many different tasks such as, cleaning, picking olives, gardening, painting, moving firewood, planting onions etc. For about 2 weeks of her stay she was the only volunteer. We got on with her very well and she is good company with a good sense of humour. She was brought up in a place just… read more
(Excellent
)
24/01/2019
Left by Workawayer (Catherine) for host
John and Sarah were only my second experience of workaway and great hosts and I would recommend anyone to go stay with them. I helped with the olive harvest but arrived a few weeks early and helped with gardening and matinence type jobs. The structure of the day was planned out well and I never felt bored. My favourite part of the day was sitting… read more
04/09/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Anneke)
Anneke spent about 3 weeks with us in Spring 2018. She did lots of different tasks such as, gardening, nut cracking, sweeping up, weeding, food preparation etc. She got on very well with the other volunteers and we had a lot of fun in the evenings, playing games, talking, having a couple of wines etc. She is chatty, helpful, intelligent with a… read more
(Excellent
)
27/06/2018
Left by Workawayer (Anneke) for host
I spend two weeks with John and Sarah and had a great time! Actually, they 'saved' me from another workaway that was not turning out as I expected, and agreed to adopt me in their little family on short notice.
Staying with John and Sarah was a very good deal to me; they have a lot of space for volunteers to stay (in seperate apartments with… read more
Staying with John and Sarah was a very good deal to me; they have a lot of space for volunteers to stay (in seperate apartments with… read more
04/09/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Will)
Will and Abi spent almost 3 weeks with us in August 2018. They did lots of task such as, gardening, swimming pool maintenance, sweeping up, weeding, nut cracking, food preparation, canning tomatoes etc. They did all tasks diligently and well. They were good company, chatty and sociable. They got on well with the other volunteers and have pleasant… read more
(Excellent
)
01/09/2018
Left by Workawayer (Will) for host
Sorry we've taken a while to leave feedback! Will and I spent a lovely 3 weeks in the cortijo, and a great final workaway before we head back to England. The work is fair and varied, during our stay we enjoyed both the periods of work and relaxation to (almost, haha) the same degree, as being outside in the garden with John or processing tomatoes… read more
04/09/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Emilijus)
Emilijus spent almost 3 weeks with us in August 2018. He did lots of task such as, gardening, swimming pool maintenance, sweeping up, weeding, nut cracking, food preparation. He is tall which came in handy a couple of times. He did all tasks diligently and well. He is not particularly talkative but when he does speak it is interesting and… read more
(Excellent
)
25/08/2018
Left by Workawayer (Emilijus) for host
I spent 17 days with Sarah and John. The main job was in the garden, cleaning pool and small jobs around the cortijo. Everything was really well organised, between work we had tea or lunch breaks and you never get tired. Sarah and John were great hosts. John was always ready to talk about different topics and Sarah was making amazing food. We were… read more
04/09/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Kasper & Oscar)
Kasper and Oskar were excellent volunteers. They were with us for about 3 weeks, which was a very pleasant time for us. They were very good helpers and did everything enthusiastically and to the best of their ability. Kasper has green fingers and all the things that he planted such as peanuts, courgettes, peppers etc have come up very well. They… read more
(Excellent
)
19/08/2018
Left by Workawayer (Kasper & Oscar) for host
The stay with Sara and John was amazing and the best start on workaway that we could have ever imagined. You need to be prepared for hard physical work and getting tired if you are not used to physical work and also the place is very remote, but you will also get strong and have time to relax. Sara and John are amazing people who are open and… read more
04/09/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Moritz)
Moritz stayed with us for three weeks in the spring and while he was here, he helped with planting out the vegetables, weeding the vines, making some raised beds, carpentry and woodworking, erecting a solar panel etc..
He was hard-working, big and strong, capable and always undertook any task with enthusiasm and energy. He has a good level of… read more
He was hard-working, big and strong, capable and always undertook any task with enthusiasm and energy. He has a good level of… read more
(Excellent
)
22/05/2018
Left by Workawayer (Moritz) for host
I stayed 3 weeks with John and Sarah and had an amazing time! Both of them are really kind, relaxed and overall cool people. They made me feel welcome from the very first minute.
Also the other workers were really nice and everyone got along with each other well. I appreciated the familiar atmosphere!
I enjoyed preparing the extremely delicious… read more
Also the other workers were really nice and everyone got along with each other well. I appreciated the familiar atmosphere!
I enjoyed preparing the extremely delicious… read more
24/08/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Philipp)
Philipp spent about 17 days with us at the farm. He did lots of tasks
which included weeding, cleaning, sweeping, chopping up tomatoes,
gardening, fruit picking, swimming pool maintenance, wielding a
Spanish azada in the burning hot sun, etc. etc. His level of English
is very good. He is chatty, amusing, pleasant to be with, funny,
enthusiastic,… read more
which included weeding, cleaning, sweeping, chopping up tomatoes,
gardening, fruit picking, swimming pool maintenance, wielding a
Spanish azada in the burning hot sun, etc. etc. His level of English
is very good. He is chatty, amusing, pleasant to be with, funny,
enthusiastic,… read more
(Excellent
)
24/08/2018
Left by Workawayer (Philipp) for host
I spent 2 weeks with John and Sarah and had a really good time. Their cortijo is quiet, peaceful and the natur around is just beautiful. While the work is not too hard, you can learn a lot about gardening. I really enjoyed the time we spent together at lunch and dinner with interesting chats. On the weekends they took us workawayers to an amazing… read more
21/06/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Benedict)
Benedict known as Italian Ben due to their being two Bens is a interesting character. He was brought up in Italy by English speaking parents so he is culturally Italian but speaks English perfectly. As we had a enough manpower at the time we took advantage of Ben's bilinguality and asked him translate some website content into Italian. The page… read more
(Excellent
)
09/05/2018
Left by Workawayer (Benedict) for host
This was my first Workaway and I was with John and Sarah for a month. Both of them were really nice and the work they had for us volunteers was always enjoyable. They have a really great place to get out from the city, noise and pollution. The other volunteers were also super nice and we had a really good friendship going on.
They have a really… read more
They have a really… read more
21/06/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)
Of all the Australians I have ever met Ben is in the top five and definitely a "good bloke". He has some knowledge of architecture and buildings so he was the overseer, main protagonist and man of knowledge when we poured a concrete floor. I am sure that piece of concrete will outlive the human race. Ben performed a whole series of tasks such as… read more
(Excellent
)
12/06/2018
Left by Workawayer (Benjamin) for host
I stayed with John and Sarah for 3 weeks. I really had such a great time. John and Sarah are hilarious. They had me in stitches a few times. Couldn't ask for better hosts to a work away program. Never a dull moment with these two! Three weeks went very quickly. The working days are structured well. I finally got the bikini body I always wanted… read more
21/06/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Leslie )
Leslie has a really good profile and lived up to the the high expectations we had before she came. The way she describes herself is well written and true, for example "a chilled and positive person" is a good way of describing her. We spent a pleasant five weeks with her this Spring. Lots of the things she planted are now growing very well. She is… read more
(Excellent
)
06/06/2018
Left by Workawayer (Leslie ) for host
I stayed with Sarah and John for 5 weeks, a week longer than planned because I liked it so much! They are brilliant workaway hosts, it's well organised and you are welcomed into their home.
The work is varied, the schedule is fair and you get an amazing view while working! I did loads including planting vegetables, bottling olive oil, painting… read more
The work is varied, the schedule is fair and you get an amazing view while working! I did loads including planting vegetables, bottling olive oil, painting… read more
21/05/2018
Left by Workawayer (Aida) for host
Apologies for the late feedback.
I spent 3 awesome months with Sarah and John recently. 2 month at their mountain farm that is so freaking beautiful and peaceful, and one month at their house in the south coast, 5 minutes walk to the beach.
I enjoyed every minute of my stay and had no problems about the jobs I did which started from helping with… read more
I spent 3 awesome months with Sarah and John recently. 2 month at their mountain farm that is so freaking beautiful and peaceful, and one month at their house in the south coast, 5 minutes walk to the beach.
I enjoyed every minute of my stay and had no problems about the jobs I did which started from helping with… read more
06/05/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Lisanne & Roberto)
Lisanne & Roberto spend 3 weeks with us in Spring 2018. They performed many different tasks including painting, putting up tomato support structures, pumping olive oil, erecting a greenhouse, cleaning, solar panel placement, planting things, weeding, cracking nuts, writing articles on nutrition and food products etc. They tried hard at all tasks… read more
(Excellent
)
30/04/2018
Left by Workawayer (Lisanne & Roberto) for host
We spent 3 weeks here and really enjoyed our time. John and Sarah are lovely hosts and super nice couple. We really enjoyed our interesting conversations with them during (super delicious) lunch and dinner- they are both very knowledgeable and funny!! The work was enjoyable as well. Everything was explained very clearly and the schedule was… read more
28/04/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Francesca)
Francesca stayed with us for 3 weeks in September 2013. We had a very pleasant time with her and her two friends. We picked almonds, did lots of general gardening, preserved tomatoes etc. She was a good worker. We got on with Francesca very well and we would recommend her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
04/04/2018
Left by Workawayer (Francesca) for host
My two friends and I spent four weeks here back in August 2013 and safe to say it was an incredibly enriching experience. John and Sarah are brilliant hosts; incredibly kind, welcoming and just generally awesome to spend time with.
We spent most the time harvesting the fruit/veg and trimming the olive trees during the mornings and then we would… read more
We spent most the time harvesting the fruit/veg and trimming the olive trees during the mornings and then we would… read more
11/03/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Harry)
Harry was with us in December 2017. At the time we were picking olives. It is fairly hard work and we managed to pick a record harvest of over 2000kg. Harry got on well with us and all the other volunteers. He was enthusiastic about what we are are doing and he did his best. He researched some recipes and eventually perfected a hot chocolate drink… read more
(Excellent
)
24/02/2018
Left by Workawayer (Harry) for host
Sorry for the late feedback! I spent 3 weeks staying with John and Sarah for their olive harvest in December and had an amazing time on their farm. The food was absolutely incredible for the entire month and the location was fantastic; hiking through forests and the mountains on days off was amazing. John and Sarah had a good work schedule and… read more
20/01/2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Alice)
(Good
)
20/01/2018
Left by Workawayer (Alice) for host
13/06/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Luke)
Luke is a very good volunteer. He has been here two times. He has done lots of different tasks around the farm and also at our house in Granada. He is always punctual, hard working, conscientious and polite. He has even volunteered for difficult jobs such as cleaning 20cm of sludge out of a plastic water tank, he actually enjoyed this task because… read more
(Excellent
)
30/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (John)
John was a very good volunteer. He is very big and strong and he put a lot of effort into picking the olives and blasting away at a solid rock wall with pick axe and electric hammer in order to enlarge a car parking space. He is amusing to be with and he got on very well with the other volunteers. Highly recommended.
(Excellent
)
13/04/2017
Left by Workawayer (John) for host
Words really can't describe my time at the cortijo. I spent 3 weeks with John and Sarah during the olive harvest, and it was absolutely incredible. There is a perfect balance of work and fun with them, and Sarah is an unbelievable chef. I look forward to hopefully seeing them again soon, thanks guys...
30/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Bennet)
Bennet was a very good volunteer. He has a pleasant personality. He has a very good level of English, he got on very well with us and the other volunteers. He was very good at picking almonds and he put a lot of effort into all the other tasks he performed.
(Excellent
)
23/10/2016
Left by Workawayer (Bennet) for host
I stayed at John and Sarah's cortijo in the mountains for about three weeks and definitely had an amazing time. The days were really organised and there was always something to do so that the tasks were very diverse and interesting. The other workawayers and I had a lot of fun harvesting the almond trees and going to the pool before lunch or just… read more
30/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Seraina)
Seraina is a very pleasant person. She has a lovely accent and we enjoyed having here stay with us last summer. She is a good worker and is good company. She got on very well with us and the other volunteers. To date she is our only Swiss volunteer. I was disappointed to hear that she does not have a cuckoo clock but apart from that she was… read more
(Excellent
)
21/09/2016
Left by Workawayer (Seraina) for host
I spend two amazing weeks at the cortijo with John & Sarah, such a lovely couple by the way! It was my first workaway experience so I didn’t really know what I had to expect but one thing is sure: I’d never imagined such an amazing stay. Work was very well organised & a good mix of different things to do. Sometimes a bit sweaty, but hey – just a… read more
30/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Linda)
It is now almost 2 years ago since Linda was here. Her level of English is very high. She works well. She is very good with computers and translated a lot of things into Italian for us. She got on very well with us and the the other volunteers. She is cheerful and amusing. She likes sausuages on her pizza.
(Excellent
)
21/09/2016
Left by Workawayer (Linda) for host
Sorry for the late feedback, I only just renewed my subscription to the Workaway website!
I spent a month with John and Sarah and had a wonderful time! The place is absolutely gorgeous, we also had the chance to visit Granada a few times and John and Sarah were always friendly and helpful in suggesting nice things to do and visit. I fell in love… read more
I spent a month with John and Sarah and had a wonderful time! The place is absolutely gorgeous, we also had the chance to visit Granada a few times and John and Sarah were always friendly and helpful in suggesting nice things to do and visit. I fell in love… read more
29/05/2017
Left by Workawayer (Heather & Samuel) for host
Oh my, life changing and inspiring. John and Sarah are really cool both with a fantastic sense of humour.
The farm is beautiful, the food is amazing, the conversation is interesting and the work is satisfying.
We were lucky enough to stay for 6 weeks, and in that time we did so much that we could right a book about the all the interesting and fun… read more
The farm is beautiful, the food is amazing, the conversation is interesting and the work is satisfying.
We were lucky enough to stay for 6 weeks, and in that time we did so much that we could right a book about the all the interesting and fun… read more
09/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Heather & Samuel)
Heather and Sam are 5 star volunteers. Both of them were professional chefs and the combination of the two of them plus Sarah has resulted in absolutely exquisite food. They are very inventive in the kitchen and will turn any ingredient into something special. Both of them are very good workers and will become very enthusiastic about almost all… read more
(Excellent
)
23/05/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Donald)
Donald plays the guitar and sings well and it was very entertaining listening to him in the evenings. In Donald's profile he says that he can work hard. He did not let us down and during his time here we buried a 20 mm diameter tube about 25cm deep in difficult steep berain with an uphill increase of about 20 metres, the tube was 280 metres long.… read more
(Excellent
)
22/05/2017
Left by Workawayer (Donald) for host
I will briefly add to the already glowing praise on this page. John and Sarah are great and staying at their farm was such a rewarding and life enriching experience. The work was very interesting and the tasks were varied. It's clear that John and Sarah were both good teachers as they are very organised and explain things very clearly. Anyway, I… read more
29/03/2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Fanny)
Fanny was a great volunteer. She is hardworking and intelligent, very helpful in the kitchen, enthusiastic about everything, good fun to be with, very friendly. She has a lovely French accent, just hearing her read out a car mechanics manual would be a pleasure to listen to. She was with us in the summer and performed a wide variety of tasks such… read more
(Excellent
)
07/09/2016
Left by Workawayer (Fanny) for host
Yesterday was very cloudy in Paris so I was just thinking how I missed life in the cortijo with John, Sarah and the others workaway. That was a really really good experience. It was my first workaway and it was just perfect, I couldn't have imagined a better one. Sarah and John are really welcoming, fun and good teachers too. I've learned a lot of… read more
10/09/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Jayne)
Jayne was a really good volunteer. She grew up on a nursery and she has an excellent knowledge about plants. It was wonderful for me to have someone who actually knows what they are doing in regards to horticulture. In her own time, Jayne made many cuttings from plants such as lavendar, firethorn, calendula, curry plant etc - five months later… read more
(Excellent
)
21/07/2016
Left by Workawayer (Jayne) for host
An amazing and very rewarding workaways. There's a lot to be learned from a self sufficient, sustainable, healthy organic lifestyle, and John and Sarah have just about got it to perfection. They both care passionately about their farm and the land, their animals and the people they host.
Solar power, wood fires for cooking and heating, water… read more
Solar power, wood fires for cooking and heating, water… read more
05/09/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Filip)
Philip was a success as a volunteer at our farm. He considered that swinging a heavy azada (Spanish hoe) for an hour or so in the baking hot sun to be a challenge and a work out to be enjoyed rather than a chore. He cleared the weeds around the olive trees with a powerful desbrozadora (weed wacker) while listening to music, got covered in dust and… read more
(Excellent
)
05/09/2016
Left by Workawayer (Filip) for host
I stayed at John and Sarah's cortijo for five weeks and had an awesome time. If you're looking for a workaway that will leaving you feeling fit, healthy, and strong this is the place for you. The work is varied - both in type and physical demand, which is nice because it keeps things interesting. Days are well organised, the accommodation is… read more
05/08/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Jade)
It is now a year ago since Jade was here. Although her review took a long time coming, better late than never. I always review anyone who reviews us. Through the fog of time we still remember her very well. She was very amusing, good humoured and fun. If this had been Big Brother (Cortijo version) her presence would have boosted the ratings by… read more
(Excellent
)
27/01/2016
Left by Workawayer (Jade) for host
John and Sarah, I am such a terrible person for waiting this long to leave feedback! Spending two weeks with you in your lovely home was an amazing experience that I will never forget! The work was hard in the summer heat, but so rewarding. The cortijo is beautiful. I learned a lot about cooking and different vegetables. I didn't enjoy cooking… read more
05/08/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Sebastian Aaskov)
Anna and Sebastian are a couple who stayed with us for 16 nights. They were a part of a particulary good group of volunteers who worked hard and got on well together. There was a very good atmosphere during their stay. They were very interested in gardening and all the things we do here including cooking etc. They taught us some interesting Danish… read more
(Excellent
)
15/07/2016
Left by Workawayer (Sebastian Aaskov) for host
John and Sarah are absolutely amazing! I planned to stay with them for two weeks with my girlfriend, Anna, and ended up staying additional three days because it was so wonderful.
John is an excellent bloke with a great sense of humor and willing to share his knowledge on gardening if you show your interest. On top of that Sarah is an absolutely… read more
John is an excellent bloke with a great sense of humor and willing to share his knowledge on gardening if you show your interest. On top of that Sarah is an absolutely… read more
05/08/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Anna Udby )
Anna and Sebastian are a couple who stayed with us for 16 nights. They were a part of a particulary good group of volunteers who worked hard and got on well together. There was a very good atmosphere during their stay. They were very interested in gardening and all the things we do here including cooking etc. They taught us some interesting Danish… read more
(Excellent
)
20/07/2016
Left by Workawayer (Anna Udby ) for host
I spent two weeks at John and Sarah's lovely cortijo and it was absolutely amazing! After one and a half months in Spain it's still the weeks with John and Sarah and the other great workawayers that stands out. Days were well planned and organized, work in the garden was great and even if we did a lot of weeding, I still learned a lot about… read more
15/07/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Frankie)
Frankie stayed with us for 17 nights. She is friendly, talkative, well mannered, polite, helpful and fun to be around. She has a good sense of humour and amused us with her puns. She got on well with the other volunteers and is a pleasant person. She worked hard, was at good at following instructions and carried out all the tasks to the best of… read more
(Excellent
)
07/07/2016
Left by Workawayer (Frankie) for host
Spending two and a half weeks at the cortijo with Sarah and John was even better than I had hoped for!! The work was really enjoyable, and I definitely learned many things during my stay which I will take away with me. Meal times were definitley one of the highlights, it was always nice to sit down and have a good chat with everyone with plenty of… read more
20/06/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)
Daniel was a very good choice of volunteer for our farm. He has a lot of experience of permaculture type agriculture, he is good with machines such as the petrol strimmer, he has a lot of common sense, can work independently and conscientiously. In our house in Granada he did a good job of putting up wooden panelling. Also he is good in the… read more
(Excellent
)
16/06/2016
Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host
John and Sarah were definitely in the top tier of hosts I've encountered in my two years of traveling. They truly understand what the hospitality exchange community is about.
The work can be hard but fair with the amount and quality of food you receive in exchange. Sarah is an amazing cook! We had wonderful nights around the dinner table… read more
The work can be hard but fair with the amount and quality of food you receive in exchange. Sarah is an amazing cook! We had wonderful nights around the dinner table… read more
06/05/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Dale)
Dale was an excellent volunteer. He both worked and played hard. I explained the basics of working with cement (including the safety angles) Within an hour or so he was perfecting filling tecniques that even Bob the Builder (Roberto el Albañil) would be proud of. Every afternoon as we were watching Game of Thrones he would study German on his… read more
(Excellent
)
05/05/2016
Left by Workawayer (Dale) for host
I am so happy to have met John and Sarah, I learnt so much from them both, John is a fountain of knowledge and he has some great stories to tell, and the same with Sarah she knows so much about the area and she is a master chef.
The help schedule is very structured which is great so you know exactly when you're working and the instructions are… read more
The help schedule is very structured which is great so you know exactly when you're working and the instructions are… read more
14/01/2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Jone & Niki)
Jone and Nikki were excellent volunteers. They were very good workers and did very well at tough tasks such as boring holes into the ground in preparation for grape vines, banging poles into hard ground, garden clearance, making a dry stone wall, picking grapes etc. They are some of the best workers we have had, Nikki even did some work on his day… read more
(Excellent
)
14/01/2016
Left by Workawayer (Jone & Niki) for host
Jona and I spent the winter olive harvest with John and Sarah, although the harvest itself was short, we found plenty of other work, which for us, was our favourite part of the workaway. We can't say anything that hasn't already been said in previous reviews, they all stand true and this is a great way to spend a few weeks of your life. You'll… read more
19/12/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Kate)
It is interesting that Kate has waited exactly one year and a day to leave feedback. Is this a fairytale? This evening we are making cheese with the current volunteers but it was much more fun a year ago with with Kate, Roeli and Anya who liked to have a few wines. The truth is that we like volunteers with some "Joie de vivre". We had a nice time… read more
(Excellent
)
19/12/2015
Left by Workawayer (Kate) for host
I couldn't have asked for more from my first workaway experience!
The cortigo is nestled in beautiful mountains which we were free to explore when we had free time. The work was physical but rewarding, I felt in good shape when I left, and so I should as we made a record olive harvest!!
The property is beautiful and has an extensive veg patch… read more
The cortigo is nestled in beautiful mountains which we were free to explore when we had free time. The work was physical but rewarding, I felt in good shape when I left, and so I should as we made a record olive harvest!!
The property is beautiful and has an extensive veg patch… read more
15/10/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Ania)
Ania and two other girls did the olive harvest in December 2014. We were very lucky that all three of them were very hard working and also good fun to be with. Ania is enthusiastic about food, cooking and the other activities that we do here. As well as picking olives she helped us make 100 litres of pear wine and helps us make goat's cheese… read more
(Excellent
)
28/08/2015
Left by Workawayer (Ania) for host
I stayed with Sarah and John for the Olive picking season (December 2014). It was a fantastic experience, one that i still often reminisce about. Not only did we pick a record olive harvest but we also made goats cheese, pear wine and cooked amazing feasts everyday from ingredients from the garden.
I loved working with John and Sarah and the… read more
I loved working with John and Sarah and the… read more
15/10/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Lara)
Lara was with us for about 3 weeks in the summer. She got on well with the other workawayers. When she was here there was a very pleasant combination of people with a good atmosphere and she contributed to this. Her level of English is very high and she participated in conversations which are difficult for a non native speaker. She made a meal for… read more
(Excellent
)
29/08/2015
Left by Workawayer (Lara) for host
I stayed 3 weeks with Sarah and John in the beautiful Spanish mountains. When I look back I'm very happy that I did my first Workaway here. The first week it took me some time to get in to the work and get the hang of everything but after a bit I really enjoyed everything. Sometimes the work is hard but always rewarding, you feel great after… read more
15/10/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Ruth)
Ruth stayed with us in the summer for almost three weeks and we really enjoyed having her to stay. She was an amazing workaway, very capable and extremely modest. She kept us entertained with her hilarious stories and life experiences. She was an excellent worker and while she was us she helped us with the vegetable garden and many other jobs… read more
(Excellent
)
12/08/2015
Left by Workawayer (Ruth) for host
I stayed with John and Sarah for just over 2 weeks and loved every minute of it! They were fantastic hosts, very welcoming, and the work was hard but enjoyable. There was a brilliant atmosphere, and meal times especially were great fun. If you like the outdoors you could not be bored here - it is a beautiful setting with lots to do. The food was… read more
30/08/2015
Left by Workawayer (Catherine) for host
A big thank you to John & Sarah for having me stay at their cortijo in the mountains (and at their home in Granada twice). The peace and tranquility and amazing scenery was the perfect start to a great month. The accommodation is also great.
Sarah's food was second to none every lunch and dinner, delicious. Definitely using some of your… read more
Sarah's food was second to none every lunch and dinner, delicious. Definitely using some of your… read more
26/08/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Catherine)
Catherine stayed with us for a month in August. She used to be a postwoman and she definitely got the message of what was wanted here at the cortijo. We loved having her stay and we enjoyed her company. She was an excellent volunteer. She did all tasks diligently and tried her best. She was modest about her abilities in the kitchen but when she… read more
(Excellent
)
10/08/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Joshua)
Josh reminded me of Desperate Dan from an English children's comic except that he didn't sleep with a pillow filled with building rubble, he didn't shave with a blowtorch and he couldn't lift a cow with one hand and he wasn't desperate. However he probably could have pulled a tree trunk out with his bare hands or bent our street lights over if we… read more
(Excellent
)
10/08/2015
Left by Workawayer (Joshua) for host
John and Sarah should write the book on workaway. The endless number of comments all speak for themselves- you wIll have an amazing experience! My favorite part was the conversations at lunch and dinner. It could be the script for a TV show..or a podcast! When it's time to work, it's business as usual. When it's time to relax John and Sarah are… read more
27/07/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Joe & Kate)
We really enjoyed having Joe and Kate to stay with us and were sad to see them go. Joe is a competent, creative cook and a great help in the kitchen and Kate is always willing to lend a hand. They would always pop their heads round the door in the evenings to see if anything needed to be done.
They are sensible and hard-working and totally… read more
They are sensible and hard-working and totally… read more
(Excellent
)
25/07/2015
Left by Workawayer (Joe & Kate) for host
We had a great time getting to know John and Sarah on their farm in La Peza. We spent a couple of weeks there working mainly in the fields weeding/planting. The working day is split into a bit of work in the morning and the rest in the evening.
Sarah's food was always delicious, during our stay they were experimenting with vegetarian recipes… read more
Sarah's food was always delicious, during our stay they were experimenting with vegetarian recipes… read more
25/07/2015
Left by Workawayer (Amanda) for host
Staying with John and Sarah made for an amazing first experience travelling through Spain. There was always great food and company in a beautiful location. I am still trying to recreate some of Sarah's amazing meals! It was a nice blend of spending time as a group chatting and having your own time to wander or make travel plans. I was interested… read more
23/06/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Nadezda)
The most difficult thing with Nadezda is pronouncing her name. I must have said it in 60 different ways. When she was here she did painting, flower planting, meal preparation, weeding, car cleaning and lots of gardening. She is a good worker and can work unattended with no problem. She is always pleasant and cheerful and she gets on well with… read more
(Excellent
)
23/06/2015
Left by Workawayer (Nadezda) for host
It's been such a pleasure and a true luck that my first workaway has been at John&Sarah's - I've had absolutely brilliant 3+ weeks with them! Breathtaking views, superdelicious meals, comfortable accomodation, fabulous time working and chatting with John, Sarah and other workawayers - I enjoyed every minute of my staying there. Sarah is a true… read more
17/06/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Kayley)
Kayle was a very good volunteer. I was happy with her as a worker. When I asked her to do a task she would do it to the best of her ability and she would use common sense to get a good result. The peppers and aubergines she planted are doing well and she was capable of following my instructions so that the irrigation water flows from plant to… read more
(Excellent
)
10/06/2015
Left by Workawayer (Kayley) for host
It's only been 3 days since I left the cortijo but I miss it already! The location is beautiful and the work is rewarding! I learnt so much working alongside John from planting vegetables, pruning tomatoes, a little landscaping and fruit and nit picking. Now the food, be prepared to eat like a goddess (or God)!! Everyday I would wonder what Sarah… read more
08/06/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Paul)
Paul was a very good volunteer. He worked hard, got on well with the other volunteers and was fun to be with. I would strongly recommend him to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
01/01/2015
Left by Workawayer (Paul) for host
Staying with John and Sarah was an excellent choice for my first workaway experience. The location of their home is absolutely stunning. I was there for 2 weeks in September to help with the Almond harvest (I think we ended up collecting twice the mass of the sun).
Sarah and John are both very welcoming and great fun at both work and… read more
Sarah and John are both very welcoming and great fun at both work and… read more
08/06/2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Roelie)
Roelie is a very pleasant girl, her level of English is very good and we had a lot of fun with her in December. She works very hard and is good at climbing trees. She got on well with the other volunteers. I would strongly recommend her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
09/01/2015
Left by Workawayer (Roelie) for host
During december 2014 I stayed with John and Sarah for the olive harvest, which I very much enjoyed! It's physically a hard job, but not too hard and when the weather permits, varied with other tasks. John and Sarah enjoy having people around in their livingplace which is a kitchen, living-room, cosy fireplace, office, cookbook-library,… read more
11/11/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Aine)
Aine was a very good volunteer. Very cheerful, fun to be with, intelligent, reliable, hard working, interesting to talk to, she liked gardening and working on the land, friendly, good sense of humour, works well on her own without having to be watched, enthusiastic, sociable, has self initiative, physically fit. Of the 135 volunteers we have had… read more
(Excellent
)
10/11/2014
Left by Workawayer (Aine) for host
I can't say enough good things about my three weeks with John and Sarah. They are incredibly generous with their time, knowledge and wine
03/10/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Sara)
Sara was with us for 3 weeks doing the olive harvest. She taught us some of her mother's very good recipes for saukraut which was very interesting. She worked well and got on well with the other volunteers. She was a good workawayer.
(Excellent
)
09/01/2014
Left by Workawayer (Sara) for host
Coming to workaway with Sarah and John is as good as it seems to be on their profile! I learned so much at the cortijo and enjoyed getting my hands dirty with some farming and with the olive harvest. They are truly gracious and accommodating hosts. I want to come back someday because I miss Sarah and John and the cat Meg.
03/10/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Michael)
Michael was with us for about 2 weeks. He does competitive running and cycling at home and is probably the most physically active person we have ever had. He even ran down to the village to get croissants for the other volunteers before breakfast. At the time he was here we were planting vines into very hard ground and he did well. He was a good… read more
(Excellent
)
01/07/2014
Left by Workawayer (Michael) for host
This was my first workaway and it was brilliant. The scenery is beautiful and the work was varied and very enjoyable. John and Sarah are both great to work for. The best way to describe my experience would be, great people, great food and a great place.
03/10/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Timothy)
Tim's profile photo is one of the funniest one I have every seen. We chose him in part just because of the photo. He was a good workawayer. He was good very handy with the rotovator and the petrol strimmer. He was the first person to every arrive on a bicycle. He got on well with the other volunteers and I would recommend him to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
24/06/2014
Left by Workawayer (Timothy) for host
My first workaway farming experience was made to be perfect by Sarah and John. Excellent accomodation and food, I learnt many things about gardening and farming and was trusted with a number of machines which was great fun. John was excellent at explaining what needed to be done so i could finish my tasks always with a good sense of… read more
03/10/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Olivia)
Olivia was a very good volunteer. She worked very hard, was always enthusiastic, got on very well with the other people, was very pleasant to have around. Although not perfect she has a very good level of English. I would recommend her to any other host.
(Excellent
)
26/07/2014
Left by Workawayer (Olivia) for host
My first workaway experience and it could't be better! Everything was perfect from the beginning to the end of my 1 month stay. I had a great time with really inspirational funny people and delicious food. Thank you so much Sarah and John.
I learned a lot from the hard funny work. The funniest part was the killing operation in the morning ;)… read more
I learned a lot from the hard funny work. The funniest part was the killing operation in the morning ;)… read more
22/06/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Gregory & Desiree)
Greg and Desi spend 4 weeks with us. They did a large variery of tasks including planting a vineyard, shovelling goat manure, planting onions etc. Desi was very good in the kitchen and even added a post to our blog, some of her girl guide skills came in handy such as first aid and nursing. It was interesting to hear from people brought up in post… read more
(Excellent
)
03/06/2014
Left by Workawayer (Gregory & Desiree) for host
Sarah and John were our 4th Workaway hosts and have best epitomised what we've expected from the Workaway experience. John shared with us his boundless knowledge of gardening with enthusiasm that was highly contagious. We learnt a tremendous amount from him. Likewise, Sarah was a genius in the kitchen (and with her chickens and cheese making) and… read more
22/06/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah)
Sarah was a great volunteer and she ranks in the top 10 people who have been here. She is an excellent worker who uses her common sense and puts effort into all tasks. She enjoys being outdoors and is not afraid of hard work. She was very good at making friends with the other volunteers and always has something interesting to say. She is a good… read more
(Excellent
)
22/06/2014
Left by Workawayer (Sarah) for host
What an inspirational experience. I learned countless things from Sarah and John, I ate ridiculously good food every day. I leave healthier and stronger and bolstered by fresh mountain air. Couldn't fault this experience, what an amazing first workaway.
22/06/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Harriet)
We spent a very pleasant 3 weeks with Harriet and her 2 friends. She was pleasant to be with and was a good workawayer. Some of the work we did was quite hard and invlolved digging trenches in the sun but there were no complaints. I would highly recommend her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
04/01/2014
Left by Workawayer (Harriet) for host
John and Sarah, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to work out how to leave feedback - Alex had to tell me!!
I think back to the wonderful experience I had this Summer every day.. all of the things I learnt, the beautful things I saw. You were both such interesting people to learn from, and so generous with your time knowledge and wonderful… read more
I think back to the wonderful experience I had this Summer every day.. all of the things I learnt, the beautful things I saw. You were both such interesting people to learn from, and so generous with your time knowledge and wonderful… read more
12/05/2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Miranda)
Miranda stayed with us for a week. She is a pleasant, helpful, intelligent, easy to get on with person and a good worker. She got up early one day and climbed the mountain above our house so she has ample enthusiasm and initiative. It was a pleasure to have her stay.
(Excellent
)
06/05/2014
Left by Workawayer (Miranda) for host
John and Sarah were very welcome and generous with sharing their knowledge. John, a great teacher in the garden, Sarah, a great teacher in the kitchen.
Good people, good place, fantastic food!
Good people, good place, fantastic food!
15/11/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Natalie)
Natalie is a really pleasant person who we were lucky enough to spend 3 weeks with. She gets a very high score on almost any personality trait such as likeableness, cheerfulness, good company, amusingness, good naturedness, intelligence, sense of humor. She scored very high on work related characteristics such as punctuality, hard-worker,… read more
(Excellent
)
15/11/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Alex)
It was really pleasant having Alex here. He is a professional skateboarder and it was fascinating to hear about the world of skateboarding first hand. It is a good thing to be passionately interested in something. We took Alex to a skatepark in Granada and in no time he was doing double flips, flying through the air 3 metres off the ground, it… read more
(Excellent
)
16/10/2013
Left by Workawayer (Alex) for host
John and Sarah's was my first work away trip and it was brilliant.. more than what i'd hoped for. They are both very lovely and me and my friends didn't want to leave the mountain side! We worked 6 hours a day with various jobs that were all good fun and we got fed very well.. There cortijo was great with our own little flat to stay in with the… read more
27/10/2013
Left by Workawayer (Lorrae) for host
Please excuse this really belated feedback one and all. I am now back at home in South Australia thinking about the brilliant experiences I had in Spain. One of the best was my workaway at John and Sarahs. I was also lucky to meet some other fantastic workawayers there too. The work was varied and well organised and the meals were sensational.… read more
21/09/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Moa)
Moa was a very good workawayer. She was enthusiastic and interested in what we are doing which I liked very much. Her level of English is very high and it was hardly noticeable that she is not a native English speaker. There was a good balance of people during her stay and she got on with everyone very well and even met up with them afterwards.… read more
(Excellent
)
16/09/2013
Left by Workawayer (Moa) for host
I had a great time at Sarah and John's. The cortijo is set in an absolutely beautiful, very tranquil environment made for running/hiking/meditating/yoga/relaxing. The work was varied and sometimes physically challengeing. It was also fun and easy, and the fact that I shared the experience with a group of awsome workawayers made it all so much more… read more
20/09/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Clare)
Clare was a good workawayer. She worked well and did not even have a problem with more demanding tasks such as collecting stones in the hot sun. She got on very well with the other volunteers and I would recomend her. Some words to describe her are :- friendly, cheerful, helpful, intelligent.
(Excellent
)
06/08/2013
Left by Workawayer (Clare) for host
Sarah and John are lovely, considerate hosts who I would recommend to anyone. They were always clear about what they wanted us to do and positive about the results. They are both organised and easy going. They are very funny and interesting, successful people who are happy to share their experience and advise. I learnt a lot from them as… read more
06/09/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Amanda & Matt)
Amanda and Matt were wicked, sick and bad workwayers! In non slang English this means excellent, very good, very pleasant workawayers! At the time of their stay we were doing some serious prisoner style hard labour, digging a trench through rocky ground to lay water pipes. Matt was a very good worker and managed to sever a 3 inch thick pick axe… read more
(Excellent
)
06/09/2013
Left by Workawayer (Amanda & Matt) for host
This was a wicked workaway. We spent a great two weeks chatting, cooking, laughing, walking and digging. The work was nice and varied, and the food was off the chain.
Sarah & Jon are good teachers and have a lot of interesting stories to tell. We had some splendid evenings sitting exchanging life notes against a beautiful backdrop.
The only… read more
Sarah & Jon are good teachers and have a lot of interesting stories to tell. We had some splendid evenings sitting exchanging life notes against a beautiful backdrop.
The only… read more
05/08/2013
Left by Workawayer (Odette) for host
I have just spent 2 wonderful weeks at this workaway and as it was my first time I didn't know what to expect. I need not have worried. John and Sarah are 2 of the nicest people I have ever met. They are welcoming, friendly, patient and show a genuine interest in each of their Workaway volunteers. I liked the set routine and we had plenty of free… read more
03/08/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Odette)
So far we have had over 100 volunteers. Odette at 60 is the oldest. However she does not show her age at all. She is fitter, more enthusiastic, more cheerful, has more common sense than most people in their 20s. It was a pleasure to have her here for 2 weeks. In her time here Odette milked goats, handled horses, did a lot of weeding, helped in the… read more
(Excellent
)
30/07/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Tomas)
Tom was a very good workawayer, he did the work diligently and integrated well with the other volunteers. He worked very well without supervision and successfully installed an irrigation system, he could cope with DIY tasks such as mending a puncture on the wheelbarrow. He has common sense. He has a pleasant personality was was liked by everyone.
(Excellent
)
05/06/2013
Left by Workawayer (Tomas) for host
I had a brilliant workaway with Sarah and John who couldn't have been more welcoming. The cortijo was in a beautiful setting and very comfortable to live in. Sarah is an amazing cook so the food was delicious, healthy and varied with lots of homegrown ingredients.
The work was well scheduled, nearly all outdoors and there was so much going on we… read more
The work was well scheduled, nearly all outdoors and there was so much going on we… read more
30/07/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Nicole)
Nicole was a good workwayer. She is good at gardening and was especially good at making irrigation chanels for the plants. At the end of the stay she gave all five of us a half a hour very professional massage which was absolutley wonderful. She is talkative, cheerful, easy going, pleasant company and she got on well with the other volunteers.… read more
(Excellent
)
30/07/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Karin)
Karin was a very good workawayer. She did the work diligently and integrated well with the other volunteers. She is likable, easy to get on with and has a good sense of humour. Her level of English is very high and we forgot that she was not a native English speaker. As she is a trade unionist I was afraid that she might bring the volunteers out… read more
(Excellent
)
30/07/2013
Left by Workawayer (Karin) for host
Sarah and John are very good hosts. Easygoing, relaxed and generous. As they´re used too host new people on a regular basis and Sarah is a very good chef (making healthy food) and the gardening-work´s semi-hard, they could actually start doing business on this: turn the cortijo to either a rehab or a healthcamp! So, you better go there before they… read more
23/07/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Nicola)
Nicola was a very good workawayer, she has a good sense of humour, is interested in gardening, got on well with the other workers, she is enthusiastic, chatty, sociable, she adapted herself well to the French volunteers, she is hard working. It was pleasant to have someone who is interested in milking the goats and who was interested in new… read more
(Excellent
)
26/06/2013
Left by Workawayer (Nicola) for host
I had a great time with Sarah and John and the other workawayer's nr La Peza. The work was good and varied and I loved being outdoors in the sunshine with a fantastic view of the mountans.
John was a good laugh and Sarah is an inspiring cook and makes wonderful meals which we all helped to prepare. Sarah taught me how to milk the goats! I loved… read more
John was a good laugh and Sarah is an inspiring cook and makes wonderful meals which we all helped to prepare. Sarah taught me how to milk the goats! I loved… read more
02/06/2013
Left by Workawayer (Aleksandra & Martyna) for host
I had a wonderful time with Sarah and John and all of the other volunteers during my two week stay in their beautiful home! I acquired many new skills, such as potato planting, horse manure shoveling, and flapjack making, ate so much delicious food, went on great hikes in the mountains that took my breath away, camped beneath the stars, and met an… read more
15/05/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Aleksandra & Martyna)
Alex always seemed to be in a good mood and was always happy and cheerful. She is a good worker and during her 2 weeks here she performed many tasks such as shovelling horse manure, planting vegetables, cleaning, preparing food etc. She got on well with all the other workawayers. I would recommend her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
01/06/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Penri)
Penri stayed with us for a couple of weeks. During this time he carried out a lot of tasks including, digging holes with a pick axe, shovelling manure, weeding, painting, rotovating, preparing food, writing a text about his native Wales etc. Although his past work experience did not involve much manual work he fully applied himself to all tasks… read more
(Excellent
)
22/05/2013
Left by Workawayer (Penri) for host
My first WorkAway couldn't have been a better experience. The location is stunning and John and Sarah are lovely people who made me feel at home from the start. They have a clear schedule of work and whilst some of the work was relatively physical (e.g. digging holes for grapevines) it is broken up to slots of no more than a couple of hours, so… read more
01/06/2013
Left by Workawayer (Tess) for host
John and Sarah were fantastic and extremely generous Workaway hosts, and they do a lot of hosting-- during the summer, there are always at least three workawayers at their cortijo. It makes the work more fun, and also things go relatively quickly, so we didn't spend too much time on any one task. While I was there, we dug holes for and planted a… read more
26/05/2013
Left by Workawayer (Robbie) for host
I had a great few weeks staying with John & Sarah, they are very friendly hosts and food & accommodation were amazing.
Though their experience with so many volunteers it definitely seems like they have perfected the way workaway should be used.
You get the chance to meet a lot of cool people and go on some beautiful walks around the… read more
Though their experience with so many volunteers it definitely seems like they have perfected the way workaway should be used.
You get the chance to meet a lot of cool people and go on some beautiful walks around the… read more
15/05/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Robbie)
Robbie was a very good workawayer. He is very strong and he can even walk on his hands. He knows how to use the rotovator, petrol strimmer and other tools. He is an above average worker and can handle heavy tasks and works on his own initiative. He is very good company, has a friendly personality and a pleasant Welsh accent. He got on well with… read more
(Excellent
)
15/05/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Lucy)
Lucy was a very good workawayer. She spent about 3 weeks with us both on her own and with a group of other volunteers.
She performed many tasks such as shovelling horse manure, planting vegetables, weeding, cleaning, preparing food etc and she did everything very well. She has a pleasant personaity and she got on well with all the other… read more
She performed many tasks such as shovelling horse manure, planting vegetables, weeding, cleaning, preparing food etc and she did everything very well. She has a pleasant personaity and she got on well with all the other… read more
(Excellent
)
13/05/2013
Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)
Hannah helped us with the olive harvest and the preparation of the pig after slaughter. She is a good worker. She got on well with the other workers, has a pleasant personality. She has a good knowledge of music from the 1960s to the present day and was a good DJ when background work music was required. I would recommend her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
25/01/2013
Left by Workawayer (Hannah) for host
I had an absolutely wonderful time working up in the mountains at Sarah and John's cortijo. I was there for almost 3 weeks in December, helping with the olive harvest. Overall, Sarah and John have completely understood the purpose of Workaway and really have perfected the whole experience. The work was a perfect amount, and varied from… read more
19/11/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Joe & Elizabeth )
We spend a pleasant 2 weeks with Joe and Lizzie. Joe had worked as a professional chef and the combination of our ingredients and his cooking skills led to many enjoyable meals. They were also very good at incorporating the food that we had available into the meals such as chestnuts. They would make a very good team for looking after people in… read more
(Excellent
)
19/11/2012
Left by Workawayer (Joe & Elizabeth ) for host
John and Sarah were our first workaway hosts and we felt like we were very lucky! Every day was different, and we came away feeling like we'd learnt a lot of new skills. We ate like kings; perhaps the secret ingredient is eating the vegetables which you have grown. We definitely plan to return (if they'll have us!).
28/09/2012
Left by Workawayer (Ligita) for host
Sarah and John were perfect host! Everything was very high level: food, conversations, knowledge they shared with us, place, work, everything. John was the one always messing around in a garden with us, always having those extremely funny comparisons with something. Remembering his trying to pronounce my name correctly still makes me smile. Sarah… read more
24/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Ligita)
Ligita was with us for almost 4 weeks. She was the first person ever to use the video presentation method with her profile. After seeing her video I didn't hesitate in choosing her immediately. Fortunately the fun loving, slightly cheeky girl that appeared in the video was no disappointment. She is very cheerful, extrovert and fun to be around.… read more
(Excellent
)
24/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Joseph & David)
Joe was a good workawayer. He was good at making bread and cooked us some good meals. He was the one to choose for slightly more complex or critical tasks. I was happy with the way he worked. I liked the fact that he is interested in what we are doing and I imagine that one day he will set up his own vegetable garden or even a rooftop garden. The… read more
(Excellent
)
24/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Sam)
Sam is a pleasant person to have around, he is positive and cheerful and got on with everyone very well. He has a good sense of humour. He undertook all tasks with enthusiasm and he was a good workawayer.
(Excellent
)
24/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Allyce)
Allyce stayed with us for just over 3 weeks. She was a good workawayer and carried out all the tasks very well. She got on with all the other volunteers very well. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
24/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Anne)
Evelien was our first Dutch volunteer. I had difficulty pronouncing her name and hopefully she didn't mind to much. She was a good worker and did all her tasks well. She was always cheerful, is pleasant to be with and has a good sense of humour. She took advantage of our bicycles and went for several strenuous excursions so she must be very fit.
(Excellent
)
22/09/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Norma)
Norma was one of our longest staying volunteers. We were sad when she left after spending almost 5 pleasant weeks with her. Although she is over 50 years old she is very fit and strong and also she has more sense of fun, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and good humour than most women half her age. We were very happy with her as a workawayer and would… read more
(Excellent
)
15/09/2012
Left by Workawayer (Norma) for host
What an absoutely fantastic time I had with John & Sarah, I had no idea what to expect as this was my first workaway experience and it was amazing, I couldn't have wished for a better welcome & 'induction' to the Workaway experience.
John & Sarah were friendly, caring and great company, and Sarah is a great cook so we were fed marvellously. The… read more
John & Sarah were friendly, caring and great company, and Sarah is a great cook so we were fed marvellously. The… read more
17/08/2012
Left by Workawayer (Chelsea & Spencer ) for host
Working for John and Sarah was our first experience with work-away, and I have to say it has made memories we will never forget. They are such an honest and open couple. They make conversation easy and enjoyable to engage in. I'm no green-thumb, but John is a great teacher in the garden. Sarah too! She showed me how make cheese and yogurt. I think… read more
09/08/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Chelsea & Spencer )
Chelsea and Spencer have a very high level of expertise with horses. Chelsea is obsessed with horses and is always talking about them so we have learned a lot from her. When they arrived we had two mares and a foal who were all almost wild. The only time they would have anything to do with humans would be if you bribed them with oats. It only took… read more
(Excellent
)
29/07/2012
Left by Workawayer (Steve) for host
Working with John and Sarah was really more than I could have ever expected. They were friendly and open, always incredibly interesting and engaging in conversation. This was my first workaway experience and it really changed my life in many ways, I could not imagine a better first experience. It makes me excited to see what's up ahead!!! The… read more
07/07/2012
Left by Workawayer (Ashley) for host
I couldn't have asked for a better experience for my first workaway - I had a brilliant time.
John and Sarah are both excellent company and treat their guests very well, supplying great accommodation and delicious food. They've fully embraced the ethos of workaway and integrate all the volunteers into their lives so that you really feel like part… read more
John and Sarah are both excellent company and treat their guests very well, supplying great accommodation and delicious food. They've fully embraced the ethos of workaway and integrate all the volunteers into their lives so that you really feel like part… read more
06/07/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Ashley)
Ashley spent two weeks with us. He is good company, easy to get on with, cheerful and a good worker. He has a good brain and enjoys intelligent conversations about diverse topics. I would welcome him back and recommend him to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
27/05/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah)
Sarah was with us for a about 2 weeks. She is cheerful, enthusiastic, a good worker, friendly and pleasant. She makes good humous and her home-made lemonade filled me with awe. (Sarah would have said totally awesome)
(Excellent
)
27/05/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin)
We spent a pleasant 3 weeks with Ben. He progressed from fitting together IKEA furniture at the start of his stay to designing and making his own bespoke rustic wooden furniture from almond tree prunings by the end. His bench is now placed half way up a steep hill and anyone who sits on it has a great view. So far everything I have wished for… read more
(Excellent
)
27/05/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Elisabetta & Anna)
Elizabetta has a lovely Italian accent, she is always smiling and cheerful and is a pleasure to have around. Her level of English is advanced, she manages to contribute and follow the conversation when native English speakers are talking together around the dining table which is a very difficult thing to do. She is a good worker and coped very… read more
(Excellent
)
26/05/2012
Left by Workawayer (Elisabetta & Anna) for host
I'll never be able to forget this experience
I have been very happy to share the whole time with these new friends
John had always great ideas about the work and it was funny and never too hard
Sarah is an excellent cook,
I loved all her recepies!
Both of them were very patient with my difficultwith the english!
I really want to go back some day… read more
I have been very happy to share the whole time with these new friends
John had always great ideas about the work and it was funny and never too hard
Sarah is an excellent cook,
I loved all her recepies!
Both of them were very patient with my difficultwith the english!
I really want to go back some day… read more
22/05/2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
Jamie was a great workawayer. He is physically strong and it was very useful that he is good with a sledgehammer. He was always ready for work at the agreed time and carried out all tasks very well. I liked the fact that he went exploring in the vicinity of the cortijo and discovered some excellent walking routes. He also encouraged the other… read more
(Excellent
)
21/05/2012
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
My time at John and Sarahs was amazing, great company, great food, great house and amazing mountains!
The work was very varied which was great and was everything from DIY to gardening, fencing, and looking after animals.
John and Sarah were great hosts, and can give a lot of good advice about Granada and the area for when you leave or have a day… read more
The work was very varied which was great and was everything from DIY to gardening, fencing, and looking after animals.
John and Sarah were great hosts, and can give a lot of good advice about Granada and the area for when you leave or have a day… read more
27/12/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Victoria)
Vicky and Lee were excellent workawayers. In order to rate them in comparison with all the other volunteers it would be necesary to break the scales and give them about 14 out of 10. Vicky took several of our ideas which we had talked about for a long time and turned them into reality so we had Apple Mint jelly, Quince jelly, Rose hip syrup,… read more
(Excellent
)
25/12/2011
Left by Workawayer (Victoria) for host
We've just had 3 weeks with Sarah and John picking olives. It's been absolutely fabulous! John and Sarah were immediately including and we felt like part of the family from the word go. Their place in the mountains is idyllic. We walked out of our cozy little house onto the terrace with sweeping views down the valley to the plain beyond. To a… read more
05/11/2011
Left by Workawayer (Lily) for host
John and Sarah were so nice and hospitable!! I enjoyed every minute of working, cooking, eating, and talking with them and the other work-awayers! As my second work-away experience, it was by far my favorite and one of the highlights in my trip to Spain! Sarah is an amazing cook and both Sarah and John are great for interesting conversation! We… read more
06/10/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Briana)
Bri (pronounced Bree) is a very good worker. She gets on with well with other people and is a good source of amusing and intelligent conversation. She is a medical student which could come in handy in many different situations. I would have no hesitation in recommending her highly to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
23/09/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Katie)
Katie is a great worker, we went to get some logs and she carried twice as many as anyone else and didn't even seem to break into a sweat. Is she some kind of superwoman? She is cheerful, talkative and popular with the other workawayers. If I wanted to make certain that something was done right I would choose Katie to do it. I would highly… read more
(Excellent
)
23/09/2011
Left by Workawayer (Katie) for host
John and Sarah were great! They made us all feel right at home and made my first experience as a workaway a geat one.
18/09/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Laura & Tsana)
Tsana and Laura both have good jobs and if they had wanted to they could have spent their summer holidays sipping cocktails in a plush hotel, lazing on some exotic sun-kissed beach or one of many other extravagant locations. However we were very pleased that they decided to spend some time with us. They were both great company and fun to be with.… read more
(Excellent
)
11/09/2011
Left by Workawayer (Lucy) for host
I spent a very good two weeks with John and Sarah. They were very friendly and welcoming and the accomodation was very comfortable with beautiful views across the cortijo. We ate together twice a day and the food was delicious. I especially enjoyed waking up each day and picking a fig from the tree just outside my window :)
The house was very… read more
The house was very… read more
25/08/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Lucy)
Lucy spent 2 weeks with us in August 2011. During this time we were visited by 2 separate lots of friends with families as well as other workawayers. She managed to fit in well with all the many varied situations, got on well with everyone and did well in many different roles. When things were too hectic to even tell her what to do she went off… read more
(Excellent
)
27/08/2011
Left by Workawayer (Sinead) for host
This was our first work away, and I have to say we completely lucked out! We had an amazing time with John and Sarah at their beautiful home. Not only did we enjoy the work, their home, but their company was second to none. Although the work was fun, and we have now become pro painters, we particularly enjoyed our chats over dinner, swapping our… read more
25/08/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Sinead)
We spent a great week with Sinead and Sarah. As well as being good general workers we discovered that they are good painters. They painted everything in sight and made the place look good for our party. We also put up a fence which required digging in many fence posts. They have excellent senses of humour and we spend many hours giggling about… read more
(Excellent
)
07/05/2011
Left by Workawayer (Caitlin & Joshua) for host
John and Sarah were one of the very best workaway experiences i have every had! They were welcoming and friendly and always made us feel welcome. The work was diverse and John made a point of moving around tasks so that nothing ever got too tedious. The food was great and the land was beautiful. Truly a life to admire!!!
Thanks so much guys!!
Thanks so much guys!!
07/09/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Caitlin & Joshua)
Caitlin is a good worker, gets on very well with other people, has a good sense of humour, is extrovert and is fun to have around. After handing back to me some money I dropped on the floor which she could easilly have kept I know she is honest. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to other hosts.
(Excellent
)
02/03/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Ashley)
Ashley was with us for 2 weeks in Feb 2011. We started off with snow and ended up with sunny weather. Some adjectives to describe Ashley are: hardworking, conscientious, friendly, easygoing, pleasant, likeable, stable, dependable etc. She got on well with the work on the land and seemed to like gardening. I would have no hesitation in recommending… read more
(Excellent
)
02/03/2011
Left by Workawayer (Ashley) for host
My stay with John and Sarah was my first Workaway experience and I would have to say the standards have been set high! We had very comfortable apartment at the Cortijo and the work was great! Sarahs cooking was amazing and we were fed VERY well! John and Sarah both know the area very well and even took us on a couple day trips. I am going to miss… read more
01/03/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Kevin)
Kevin and James were excellent workawayers. I spent 5 minutes explaining to them the basic concepts of olive tree pruning and in about 20 minutes they had understood perfectly. They went on to prune over 100 olive trees in the next 2 weeks. They are strong and fit and can provide lots of raw muscle power to any task. They are well brought up lads… read more
(Excellent
)
01/03/2011
Left by Workawayer (Kevin) for host
John and Sarah were wonderful hosts. Even if they hadn´t fed us, we could have survived on laughs alone. Thankfully, that wasn´t the case. The food was delicious, the company very enjoyable. The work was fun and interesting. A great couple. A fantastic experience!
05/02/2011
Left by Workawayer (Charlotte) for host
I spent 3 weeks helping harvest olives with John, Sarah and two other workawayers. The work was fun and I enjoyed my time spent up in the mountains!
27/12/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Charlotte)
Charlotte spent most of December with us doing the olive harvest.
We picked 1450 kilos of olives between 5 of us. She is pleasant, cheerful, friendly, sociable, enthusiastic, easygoing and got on well with us and the other workawayers. She is better at the more methodical, delicate tasks rather than heavy brute force work. She was a good… read more
We picked 1450 kilos of olives between 5 of us. She is pleasant, cheerful, friendly, sociable, enthusiastic, easygoing and got on well with us and the other workawayers. She is better at the more methodical, delicate tasks rather than heavy brute force work. She was a good… read more
(Excellent
)
16/01/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Alice)
Alice spent most of December with us doing the olive harvest and also some garden clearance.
We picked 1450 kilos of olives between 5 of us.
She is a very good worker and had no problem with fitness and stamina in the more demanding tasks.
She worked very well even when unsupervised. She likes working outside.
She is not a "yes" woman and she is… read more
(Excellent
)
13/01/2011
Left by Workawayer (Tom) for host
I spent 3 weeks with John & Sarah, primarily olive picking but a few other assorted tasks. They are both generous with their time, knowledge & hospitality, and I enjoyed my time immensely. You get the feeling that they genuinely love the idea of workaway & try to combine the work/free time aspects to get the perfect balance. Food, drink, banter &… read more
04/01/2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Tom)
Tom was a brilliant workawayer. He was with us for 3 weeks doing gardening work, property maintenance and picking olives. He started work as agreed at the appointed time without even having to be asked. He worked really well all the time in a variety of tasks. Even if I had been paying him I would have been happy. If anyone had asked me to give… read more
(Excellent
)
18/09/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (SIX)
Coline came with her Brazilian friend Dina. We got on very well with them. There are enthusiastic hard workers, good fun, likeable and pleasant I would have no hesitation recommending them highly.
(Excellent
)
16/09/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Ayana)
When Ayana first arrived I though she must have come to the wrong place or that she hadn't understood our profile. She was immaculately dressed with wedge heels and sparkly make up. I didn't expected her to last more than one day. Thankfully my first impressions proved to be false, she worked in the garden and did all the other tasks very well and… read more
(Excellent
)
09/09/2010
Left by Workawayer (Morten) for host
I had an absolute brilliant time with John and Sarah, who are relaxed and have a great sense of humour. Liked the conversations at dinner. the times we went to La Peza, the bicycle rides (and walks) in the mountains. The place itself is beautiful. John is a great "boss" - cheerful and enthusiastic about the projects. The work was varied and… read more
07/09/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Morten)
I liked the way Morten got enthusiastic about some of my more odd projects such as making a frog pond. He has a very good level of English, gets on well with other people, is cheerful, works hard. I would recommend him.
(Excellent
)
08/09/2010
Left by Workawayer (Hadley) for host
John and Sarah were fantastic hosts. I really enjoyed my time as a workawayer with them both. Their beautiful cortijo is set in the lovely Mountains on the edge of the Siera Nevada. It is the perfect place to relax and reflect on life.
After two weeks of workawaying, I left Sarah and John feeling happy, healthy and fulfilled. They are both… read more
After two weeks of workawaying, I left Sarah and John feeling happy, healthy and fulfilled. They are both… read more
20/08/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Hadley)
Hadley scored top marks in all categories: Hard worker, easy to get on with, cheerful, good cook, good with children, works on own initiative. A perfect workawayer. We spent a pleasant 2 weeks with Hadley and she would be welcome back anytime.
(Excellent
)
27/08/2010
Left by Workawayer (Tiffany) for host
John and Sarah were amazing to work for, so welcoming and laid back.Tthe day I arrived was a BBQ with a group of their friends from all over the place followed by five days of helping in the garden and cooking outside on the open fire. the accommodation was luxurious, I had my own self contained flat under the house with some great views over the… read more
01/07/2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Tiffany)
We have enjoyed having Tiffany as our first ever workawayer. She is a hard worker, good cook and has a sociable, pleasant personality. No negatives at all.
(Excellent
)
