Help around our house and experience a cosy and rural way of life in Westport, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  I am Holly, my family and I live on 11acres of rugged land consisting of fields and woodlands. We have Connemara ponies, chickens, two dogs and cats. We need help maintaining fencing and our woodlands, as well as general small scale farm type help. Someone with riding skills will be welcome as we need one of the ponies to be ridden as often as possible. But this is not a requirement as my daughter returns home from time to time to go on hacks.
  
  Our main house is an old building that needs occasional maintenance too. We need a few outbuildings built. There is also the outbuilding that will need a few panel walls knocked down and we are looking for someone with architectural and or building interests to help us better utilise the 32sqr foot space.
  
  The garden is a blank canvas that could do with someone with a creative eye for garden projects and landscaping. We like to use what we have so there is plenty of opportunities for upcycling projects.
  
  It is very important that you are made aware that I run my business from home. This involves house clearances. We have to pack up household items, load this and furniture into a van. We then take them home, sort them out, clean them up and display them in various outbuildings around the property for a bimonthly sale. (This is done by ourselves and a paid helper) You will not be required to help with the business.
  
  We have all the tools you may require and we encourage workaway's to come up with creative out the box projects and we will try our best to help you with your ideas.
  
  We have space for two people or small family and we also have space for campervans. I forgot to mention that we have 3 caravans on sight. One is my daughter's residence, the other a vintage caravan rented out and the third caravan is used as a showroom for linens and curtains (as part of the business that i run)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  My family and I have a cosy and rural way of life. We are an open and friendly, enjoy each others company and are always open for any kind of good conversation. We especially like the social aspect of our shared meals as it is a great opportunity to connect with each other. We like to spend our evenings in the living room, watching interesting stuff on TV, playing board games or occasionally making music (There is a guitar and an electric piano). Work-away's are more than welcome to participate in that lifestyle.
  
  Furthermore, you will get the chance to improve on various skills as there are many different tasks that need to be done around here. You are welcome to try out different things and explore your creativity.

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  Help

  We need help with various projects and activities which vary from time to time. Example like: gardening, landscaping, fencing, forestry, upcycling furniture, handy-man, horsemanship,

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  Languages spoken

  Afrikaans: Fluent
  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  A separate apartment close to the main house (and the road) with 2 bedrooms, a toilet, tea and coffee facilities, microwave, fridge and freezer. Currently there is no running water or shower facility, but there is a working toilet. Hopefully after a few work-away's there will be running water. In the meantime you have unlimited access to the main house with shower and bath facilities. There is WiFi in the apartment but because of the rural area, it is mediocre. But enough to watch Netflix.
  Breakfast is at 10am in the main house and we all make breakfast together, usually eggs and toast, If you prefer then there is a selection of cereals and or oats.
  We all eat dinner together and everyone in the household gets a turn to cook a meal, including my exchange student and my teenage daughter. So you will only be required to cook once a week. We don't expect culinary geniuses, we just see food as a cultural or sociable exchange. You choose the dish, we will buy the ingredients. You will have your own fridge and freezer in your apartment with the basics like milk, tea/coffee, butter, bread, jams, cheese and yoghurts. This is for your lunch break.
  Someone in this house is always baking so there is usually sweet treats. If you like baking we encourage it.

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  What else ...

  There are walks around the area, time for you to read a book or write a novel. Work-away's will get the chance to enjoy the beautiful nature of Ireland's Westcoast. There will be enough free time to discover the surrounding landscape like the holy mountain Croagh Patrick or the beautiful town of Westport with lots of little craft stores, restaurants, cafes, pubs and good music. There is a bus stop right outside the house. The bus from there runs six times a day. The town of Westport is only a 5min car or bus journey away. The bus goes between Westport and Clifden another arty town) so there is that side to explore too.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have 3 caravans parked on the property, there is space for a campervan too.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We absolutely love animals, but bare in mind that we live on the main road and there is fast moving traffic. We do not have sufficient fencing (which is a project for workaways) Our animals are trained not to go on the road and if you are confident your pet will not stray, then yes we welcome pets.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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