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Host rating
90 %
Last replied
24 Jan 2025
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Details
Description
Hi I'm Christina. I live in Belgrave in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges - a popular tourist destination in Victorian. I have a cat, a dog and 5 chickens. I try to grow our own food and live as sustainably as possible.
I live on a normal size block on the north side of a small hill and overlook a beautiful treed suburb. I live in a unique house we renovated with curved walls and ceiling, lovely views and lots of timber features. I have a bright and airy spacious house.
I work as a private support worker for people with disabilities and I co-ordinate a local community bulk buying group. I also work as an End of Life Consultant, Death Doula and Sacred Ritual Practitioner. I enjoy conscious dance, Kirtan, african drumming, camping and hiking.
I provide a warm, inviting, inclusive space and love sharing my home and lifestyle with new visitors and learning about other cultures and traditions.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live near beautiful forests and gardens on the quiet side of the mountain of a very popular tourist destination. We have beautiful bird life, local parks, lakes for swimming and live in a vibrant, connected and creative community with lots of amazing events and local activities. We practice a permaculture lifestyle where we can and can share lots of knowledge and wisdom around living sustainably, homesteading,, deep ecology, rites of passage, eco parenting and many other topics.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
There is a large range of tasks both indoor and outdoor to suit any skill level. There is always plenty of weeding, raking leaves, composting, planting seeds/seedlings, watering the garden and feeding the animals.
There are general cleaning tasks, lots of decluttering and many handyman tasks.
Larger building and maintenance tasks are available for skilled people.
There are lots of homesteading type tasks: preserving, repairing, upcycling etc. and decanting goods for a community bulk purchase group.
Any technical, computer skills and administrative type skills are welcome also
The minimum stay is 14 days due to the time it takes to wash sheets/towels and show you around and go through all the information with you. Occasionally I make exceptions for only 7 days (if you have a professional trade that compliments work I need done or I am going away and need someone to mind the house or just need some immediate help as help has been lacking) so feel free to ask but usually I only accept a minimum of 14 days.
The exchange requires 3 hours work contribution per night spent. However due to the unreliability of Workaway guests post-lockdown I am now requesting that you work 4 hours per day for the first 5 days and then that 5 hours will be subtracted from your hours after that. I am trialing this because several Workaways have taken other offers or received work and left after 1-3 days and it is very inconvenient and frustrating as I have usually turned other Workaway guests away and it can be hard to replace them at short notice. I have also bought food and materials for projects so please understand that if you accept an offer you are committing to stay a minimum of 14 days and hopefully for the duration of the agreed time. Working extra hours the first 4 days means that you will be ahead of your hours and it encourages you to stay the minimum time required and not break the agreement as you will be rewarded with the hours deducted after that. Please ask questions if this is not clear.
After the first 5 days I am flexible as to how these hours are spread throughout the week. If you want to help with more hours per day and have more days off that is fine. I have a timesheet to record hours and I keep track of the work done as I have had a few Workaways try to take advantage of this in the past.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
I have 2 bedrooms available.
One has a King Single bed a small desk and empty cupboard and drawers. This room has its own entrance to the front porch. There is a spare trundle bed that can be used in this room for a second person if needed
The other room has a queen size bed so I use it for couples. There is a large desk and empty cupboard and drawers. It also has its own entrance to the front porch.
I also have a spare room with an office station where I can set up mattresses on the floor as a last resort if the rooms are booked out. It is only on rare occasions that someone ends up in here as I don't like to have too many Workaways at once. If there is a bit of crossover for one Workaway coming and one leaving or you have a friend needing a space or someone skilled applies when I have already booked out the other rooms then this is the room used. Often it is only temporary and you can move into the other room as soon as it is available. I will always communicate this in advance.
Bedding is provided. There are more mattresses if any extra bedding is needed for children or extra friends.
We have a 4 bedroom open plan living space with a large lounge room and a balcony overlooking forest views. The front porch is an outdoor 'lounge' area with chiminea. There is a shared bathroom available.
Food produce is provided for vegetarian meals only. Occasionally I cook evening meals which can be shared with you if I have time/capacity. Sometimes I am super busy and do not get to cook meals for you but there is sometimes leftovers and plenty of food to prepare for yourself. Breakfast is 'help yourself' and lunch will mostly be help yourself (usually leftovers from dinner) but there may be occasions I am making something. You are welcome to cook your own or contribute to shared meals as well.
This is a non smoking household and I prefer non somkers, however smoking is acceptable well away from the house.
We are generally a quiet household. We do not have a television or sound system as I like the peace and quiet.
There is room to park vehicles in the driveway. If the rooms inside are full but you have your own van/camper etc. you are still welcome to apply and stay in your own vehicle
What else ...
We live in a quiet peaceful neighbourhood near Puffing Billy - a popular steam train tourist attraction and walking distance to bus stop and train station. There are many amazing local sites to visit within half an hour drive/bus. I am heavily involved in my local community and am very active in organising local events and gatherings. You would be welcome to join us in connecting in with our community.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Every room in the house is hardwired as I don't like to use Wifi too much but it is possible. There is an office space in the public area and one of the spare rooms is set up with an office space and the other has a small desk.
Space for parking camper vans
Small vans are OK but really big motorhomes may have trouble on my narrow dirt road and driveway.
Can possibly accept pets
Your animal would need to be OK with a cat, border collie dog and chickens. The property is fenced but not necessarily pet proof - depending on your pet!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (32)
She also showed interest in Japanese, and she shared… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
She also showed interest in Japanese, and she shared… read more
She'll often find time to give you a lift in your downtime despite her insanely busy schedule. To say she has a well-stocked fridge is an understatement and she's generous as with her food, often cooking for you as well.
She'll find ways for you to be useful, with no pressure and easy to follow instructions. Can't… read more
Kind regards Caroline & Jonas
I spend great time with Christina, she involved me in many activities, such as walks near lakes where I could see kangaroos and going out with her friends.
Her house is surrounded by nature.
There… read more
Unfortunately it was cold and raining very often so I couldn't do the gardening as planned, I mainly helped Christina in her food shop business which was new and very interesting for me
Christina also gave me time to visit the city and the surrounding area. She is a very pleasant, flexible and… read more
She is very independent and even looked after the house, animals and garden while I was away. She is reliable and responsible and very warm and friendly and got on well with other Workaway guests and visitors.
She enjoyed working outdoors and reclaimed much of my overgrown garden for me.… read more
Most of the time I was free to arrange the work hours as I preferred. The jobs are often many different little tasks for example cleaning or decanting things and help in household and… read more
