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 will be 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 9 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 were 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.
Skills are welcome but most important is a willing attitude. The list of tasks is endless but the top 2 are as follows. Firstly, we would like help to upgrade the volunteer homestead. It requires some carpentry skills and landscaping. Next we are building a timber cottage for granny which we need to complete.
In between is general farm work and animal care.
This summer will be fencing and clay plastering the exterior of the house.
The greenhouse needs foundations dug and filled with rocks and cob and glass bottle walls built. The empty dam needs some alien vegetation removed so we can fill them. Fire breaks need clearing, fences repairing, alien vegetation removing, Just something for everyone here.
Introducing our 12 year old to your culture/ country is an important part of his education.
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
German: Beginner
French: Beginner
We have a small private timber cabin which needs finishing but is comfortable with a double bed and linen provided. The caravan we used to call home is now available for volunteers but needs renovation. It will have 2 double beds. 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 - solar showers and sawdust bucket toilets.
Our food is mostly vegetarian. We provide a weekly basket of dry goods and fresh produce. We share garden veggies when available. You self-cater most meals. We like to have a weekly dinner together. Keep in mind that our fridge is small and we provide a cooler box for volunteers to use. We charge electronic goods by solar in the middle of the day only. No sun= no power. Water is critical and limited here.
Our volunteer document gives more details on everything. If you are seriously considering joining us, I can mail it to you.
Bring your own data. There is good cellphone signal in the area but its a good place to detox from technology.
There are good walks through forests and up mountains nearby. The beach is 15kms away and volunteers hitchhike 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
Can host families
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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