Learn about permaculture and enjoy nature near Höxter, Germany

Details

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  Description

  After having travelled the world quite a bit, we decided to finally settle on a piece of land. Leaving behind the city life, we found a lovely 19th century timber-framed house on the outskirts of a small village in one of the least densely populated areas of Germany, surrounded by beautiful nature.
  
  As a family of 5, we've since been growing a food forest on roughly 3000 square meters which so far includes more than 250 edible, perennial species of plants (and many more varieties). While we do grow all the fruits, nuts and herbs that are native to our area, we also like to push the limits of what is possible to grow in our climate zone (officially 7a, although our location in a valley next to a major river probably makes it more like 7b or even 8ish). As the climate crisis escalates, we like to experiment with growing lots of figs, pomegranades, kadsuras and many other plants that are both cold-hardy and drought-resistant. Next to our garden is a vast meadow where our neighbours' sheep and cattle graze. There, we grow lots of fruit trees together with our neighbours and friends to reestablish the fruit orchards that once surrounded the village.
  
  Our (perennial) veggie growing in raised-beds are the heart of the garden, designed with regard to permaculture principles which, for us, includes chickens, ducks and geese which eat slugs and gras while fertilizing our soil. We practice no-dig gardening with heavy mulching and zero to little watering.
  
  We like to grow and preserve as much of our food as possible, always keen to try out new techniques and recipes.
  
  The kids go to school and kindergarden during week days while we work (part time) mostly from home (as an educational scientist and a journalist).
  We like to have friends over at our place or visit them. You are invited to join but of course feel free to find time for yourself if you prefer. We can provide you a bike to explore the surroundings, either alone or with us :)
  
  You are warmly invited to live and eat with us. We mostly cook vegan or vegetarian meals and rarely eat meat or fish, always flexible to adjust to our guests' preferences.
  
  We can offer either a guest room inside the house (winter months) or a freshly refurbished 1975 trailer in our garden for the summer (you can check it out in the photos).
  
  Especially during the summer months, we also have quite a few cyclists coming by to set up their tents for a night in our garden (1NiteTent). We also host people via Wwoofing.
  
  We live right by the "Weserradweg" R99 (Germany's most frequented and most popular biking and hiking path). Hiking is also very good in the surrounding low mountain ranges and forests. There are several lakes nearby which are great for swimming (a small one is even in walking distance if you like a quick morning swim). Göttingen and Paderborn (old cities with student life) can both be reached directly via train in around 45min (we have a train station right in our village). The next bigger city Höxter, where you get anything you may need, can be reached by bus or bike within 20min.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Van life

  

  Photography

  

  Beach

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Events & social

  

  Farming

  

  Writing

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Art & design

  

  Books

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Team sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Dancing

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We do most things in the garden together and are happy to exchange knowledge about many things, not just gardening :)
  The help changes with the seasons but also depends on the skills and interests that our guests bring with them. Help us and learn sowing/transplanting/seed saving/make fertilizers... harvesting/cooking/preserving food... Anything really that we do from day to day. Happy to exchange knowledge about permaculture, organic farming, agroecology :)
  
  We have travelled quite far and wide, like to learn languages and to learn from other cultures. Like to talk politics and party every once in a while...

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We are looking for people to help us with working in the garden. Easy tasks, no professional gardening skills required. See above

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  A trailer in the garden for the summer months (see photos). Or a room inside for the winter. Own bathroom with shower.
  
  Food storage and kitchen are always open and accessible in the house.

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  What else ...

  420 friendly but smoking only outside :)

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Can park on the meadow outside the garden and use kitchen/bathroom etc. as described above

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  Can possibly accept pets

  If you have a chilled dog or any other animal who will not dig up our garden :)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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