South Africa
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We are a family of 4 on the adventurous path to self-sustainability. Our 8ha farm is on the edge of a rural village and we are building a straw bale house with all means of alternative power. We are planting orchards, a vineyard, a food forest, medicinal herb garden, and other land crops. Our chickens supply eggs and clear new planting land. Our daily work is varied and interesting.
We are on the fynbos route to the southernmost tip of africa and have many artists and free thinkers in the area.
We have enjoyed having volunteers from around the world as part of our family for 8 years.
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Farmstay
Help with Eco project
Animal care
Language practice
Volunteers will be immersed in and have a true experience of setting up a self-sustaining homestead. We are camping while we build our off-grid farm so feel like pioneers most days! Our work is physical and if you are not fit, you soon will be. That said, we like to have fun and this is not boot camp but we are constantly stretching our minds and bodies to live a full balanced life. There are many skills to learn from growing crops- preparing land to harvesting seeds- to chicken welfare, eco-building, cooking on a fire and art projects.
Skills are welcome but most important is a willing attitude. Firstly, we would like help to complete our house /barn/studio/workshop. This means plastering the exterior right now.
The greenhouse needs foundations dug and filled, cob and glass bottle walls built. The empty dam needs alien vegetation removed. Fire breaks need clearing, fences repairing, alien vegetation removing, trees need planting - the list is endless. Just something for everyone here.
Introducing our 11 year old to your culture/ country is an important part of his education.
English, Afrikaans, a little French and German
We have a small private timber cabin which needs finishing but is comfortable with a queen bed and linen provided. The caravan we used to call home is now available for volunteers. It has 2 double beds but we treat it as 1 private space. There is also a campground under trees for summer and we have tents and some sleeping bags for that. Ablutions are shared with the family although we are working on making that independent too. Thankfully we have hot- if short -showers and sawdust bucket toilets.
Our food is mostly vegetarian. We provide a weekly basket of dry goods and share garden veggies when available. You can self-cater most meals. We like to have a weekly dinner together.
Eggs are from our hens and we sometimes buy /trade ethical meat. Keep in mind that our fridge is small. We charge electronic goods by solar in the middle of the day and can run out of light some nights.
Bring your own data link. There is good cellphone signal in the area. It's a good place to detox from technology.
There are good walks through forests and up mountains nearby. The beach is 15kms away and volunteers hitchhiked there regulary. If we go, then you come too! We have many small wild animals to see and night time skys are floodlit with stars.
We can collect you from Gansbaai or Hermanus with some prior arrangements. More travel advice on request in our volunteer document.
If you book a space and cannot make it please let us know so we can fill your place as we have a long waiting list.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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Cultural exchange:
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Communication:
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