Learn about our way of living on a small hobbyfarm, surrounded by Icelandic horses, in the Netherlands

Details

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  Description

  We, mother and daughter, live on a 15-acres smallholding/hobby farm in the southern part of the Netherlands.
  On our farm we have lots of fruit trees, a vegetable garden, Icelandic horses, some chickens (for the eggs), some sheep (our weed controllers), dogs and cats. Some years I may have one or two pigs. Also we have beehives, the little inmates of which help in the pollination of the fruit trees.
  
  Our farm borders on the woods; the environment is beautiful and quiet. A nice starting point for long walks and cycling trips, while yet we are less than a mile away from the nearest village.
  
  My daughter living next door, runs a small Icelandic-horse training business. The horses she trains are kept on part of our property, where they graze one of the fields and somewhere else have a ‘horses' paradise' with adventurous paths to roam.
  This horse business is my daughter's, though. You'll find quite a few horses here, and of course Workawayers are invited to watch, but they can not help in the several training programs.
  However, there will always be some horses that can do with a little extra TLC, such as grooming or maybe taking them for a walk in the woods.
  
  I, the mother, (a linguist by education,) run the hobby farm, which entails tending the other animals, the fruit trees and vegetable garden, sawing/splitting wood for the wood stove, and doing most of the other farm-related chores.
  
  There is always a great variety of things to be done around here, and it will be obvious we are looking for Workawayers who like animals and who are used to - and like to do - outdoors work.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Staying here you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy our beautiful Dutch nature and countryside, while at the same time the bigger cities with their cultural input are within easy reach.
  
  The farm itself borders on the woods, where you find walking trails, ponds, and if you are lucky you may spot deer, buzzards and other wildlife.
  
  There are several nice little villages within walking/cycling distance. And if you like some more ‘cultural’ or big-city input, you can there catch a bus to one of the larger towns close by, like Helmond and Eindhoven, where also there are railway stations and trains to other cities like ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the beautiful old capital of this region- or to any other city in our country.
  
  You will have a good bicycle at your disposal. Also you may sometimes want to come with either of us when we go somewhere by car, to shops, some other city, to the movies or other places we visit.
  
  As regards the more personal culture, customs and habits:
  
  Being in our country and at our place, you will most probably find that many things here are different from what you are accustomed to at home.
  To experience this is, I think, one of the main ideas behind going to and staying in another country and culture.
  We absolutely love to hear and learn more about our Workawayers' cultures, but also we expect from our guests a certain openness and willingness to adapt a little to life here, to show some respect for our values and our way of living.

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  Help

  We very much like to have some help now and then, for a week or a few weeks at a time.
  In general, the work here will involve sundry farm chores, such as helping with the animals (only mine, not the horses), cleaving/stacking wood, maybe work in the vegetable garden, cutting hedges, anything you can think of that needs to be done on a (small) farm.
  (Also cooking and/or baking once in a while, is very much appreciated!)
  And if you think up something else: feel welcome to share your ideas with us!
  A few years ago we acquired some 12 extra acres of land, Not only did we here create the "horses’ paradise", but also - with the help of several nature organisations - I am here developing 2 nature projects on what was formerly a dull and rather lifeless cornfield. We planted some thousands of trees and shrubs; these now divide the land into several smaller fields, and also we created an 'Ecological Zone' along the little stream on our South border. My main work here now is tending the (young) trees that in some years struggle with - and often do not survive - the summer droughts, whereas in winter they have to fight hard not to drown in the then often extremely wet soil.
  
  In short: a lot of exciting and creative things to do!
  For all this, we very much appreciate help from Workawayers who really like to be physically busy - and have some experience in outdoors work.
  
  We start work every day at 9, with a coffee break at about 11. Lunch is at about 13.30 or 14.00 o'clock, which for our Workawayers means the end of their working day.
  Also, of course, you are welcome to have dinner with us early evenings.
  After dinner we usually like to spend the evening having some time to ourselves.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner
  French: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Staying here you will have your own room, and there is also a special “Workawayers’ den” or 'sitting room' to make yourself comfortable. Of course you will also outside on the property, find nice places to sit quietly and enjoy the surroundings.

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  What else ...

  I have been a Workawayer myself on several occasions, and with those experiences in mind we hope to be able to help you with whatever you , as a foreigner, would like to see and do here in Holland. There will always be things we ourselves do not think of; please feel welcome to ask questions and discuss whatever you would want to talk about.
  
  Please take note: you need to have your own insurance, working here!
  Also, we are explicitly looking for non-smoking Workawayers.
  And please read the Workaway 'rules' to see what's generally being expected of Workawayers.
  
  In these difficult Corona times we follow the rules as issued by the RIVM, so please find out what they are, and think about what they mean for a stay at our farm.

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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

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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