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Description
Please read the whole profile and check our calendar to see availability before contacting us!
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We are a family of three. Julie is working in a pre-school, while Jens is working part time, helping other farmers, and our daughter goes to the local Waldorf School.
We are the 7th generation living on this old family farm, although the history goes even further back. We are living, and transforming the small residence on the farm, renovating it and making it our little homestead, where we keep our animals for private consumption.
The house is over 150 years old, and we started to renovate in 2017, as the house was condemned. Our house is very small and rustic - the renovations are not finished, and the living room is obviously occupied by a little girl, Julies sewing and knitting, and Jens' tools. On the positive side - it keeps us dry and warm. The renovation is done with reused materials as far as possible - and we tend to collect anything that can have a purpose.
We have a few goats, pigs, chickens and cats at the moment. We want to grow some vegetables, but up until now, the goats and pigs have eaten it all. In the summer and autumn, we pick berries and mushrooms in the forest and make jam. There is always a lot to keep busy.
We are based in Norways biggest agricultural area - the beautiful countryside of Østfold (centre of central Norway),
Types of help and learning opportunities
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Come and experience slow Scandinavian living and get close to nature.
We will give you an experience with Norwegian day to day family and farmlife. You'll be a part of our family during your stay, come with us to family occasions etc if you want, and come close to the Norwegian way of life.
One workawayer described Julie as a Victorian Housewife (young granny, who knows forgotten, basic skills)
We do things the old fashioned way, and more basic and natural. We use a lot of maual tools, and our animals live outside the whole year. We also reuse a lot of stuff to save both money and the environment. Norway in general is huge on DIY, and you might learn something new, or get inspired.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We would like to welcome ONE volenteer over age 20 who will stay for at least three weeks. We don't accept couples.
We're looking for an open minded, self going, positive and handy person, which has no trouble getting their hands dirty.
You can expect a rustic and simple life in the country - we're 10km away from any town or village.
You must be friendly with children (and tolerate some tantrums, although no babysitting, but she would love to play when she gets to know you).
You will be a part of our household - you are living here too - which means that sweeping and empty the dishwasher isn't work. You need to clean up after yourself, dishes, bathroom etc.
We have boots and a small selection of work wear available for volunteers to borrow. You need to bring with you clothes for all weather (and temperatures considering the season).
Some tasks is manual labor, so there is no need to go to the gym! You will help on some tasks alone (which mean you should show initiative, be responsible and hands on) and some tasks together with us. You need to be prepared to help outside in ALL kinds of weather and temperatures, as most of the tasks is outside work. Help is ANY suitable task that needs to be done.
Contact us to get a link to a video of Jason's help routine which is on YouTube. (He did workaway with us in winter 2020)
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Whole year.
Our house is old, and any handy person would be welcome. Fixing small things that are broken, gather firewood and cut it for the winter, as our main source of heat is three fire-ovens. Putting up fences and general maintenance like fixing huts for the animals and paint the house.
In the summer, we need help with the upkeep of the garden (rake leaves, mow lawn, weeding, some planting). There is also a great wish to have a vegetable garden at a suitable place, wich need to be set up from scratch.
Tidying up outside (a lot of tidying up that needs to be done as it's very messy for the time being).
HOUSE AND YARD RENOVATION
Whole year - especially April-September
We are in need of someone who knows how to use tools, as we need help to finish the in and outside of the house, as well as building new huts and fences for the animals. There is also a lot of painting inside and outside to be done.
HELP IN THE HOUSE
Whole year includes tidy up the kitchen every day (as the housewife needs to work). The cats makes a mess at night.
September-May, tasks include a maximum if 1 hour housework (a list is already made for this and the housework is spread out through the week to lighten the burden) you may be asked to help with some housework during the summertime too, on rainy days.
ANIMAL EXPERIENCE
Daily tasks all year around includes feeding and watering the animals, collect grass and branches for the goats. Mucking out when necessary (daily care of the animals take max. 1. hr), other than that, assist with all care of the animals (setting up and fix fences, build new huts, assist with care of the goats and pigs) We hunt and keep animals for food - vegetarians are welcome, but you need to keep in mind that our animals will be slaughtered one day. Our animals live out the whole year, and are antibiotic free - which are satisfying and focused on animal welfare.
YOU MUST NOT SCARED OF PIGS, CHICKENS OR GOATS! Some of our pigs are quite big (250kgs) - and the goats do have horns. You can't be allergic or afraid of cats either, as they also live in the house.
During slaughter and hunting season, we also need help to divide and pack meat
HELPER HOURS
25 hours pr week, 5 days pr week 0900-1430 (this includes 30min lunchbreak),
Days and hours are somewhat flexible, to be agreed on when you arrive.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Norwegian: Fluent
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Julie is a c1 level English after working and living in Ireland, and can help with English. We can both teach Norwegian. Germans are much welcome.
Accommodation
Shared bathroom and showers, kitchen and livingroom in the house. Also shared Laundry as electricity in Norway is crazy expensive, air dry inside or outside.
We provide in-house meals - at least dinner is a shared meal pr day, depends on our work schedule - breakfast and lunch is usually something you have to make on your own, unless we have a day off work. Any junk or snacks etc you have to get yourself.
We have bike(s) available, as you might be stuck in the country.
SEPTEMBER - MAY
Simple sleeping arrangement inside the house - in a SMALL alcove in the upstairs hallway - on the staircase landing - mattress on the floor with curtains for privacy (there is electricity)
SEE PHOTO!
MAY-SEPTEMBER
Voulenteers have their own cabin across the road (no water, but possibility for electricity trough a extension cord)
What else ...
Our farm is remote, and it is 10-15 min drive away from ANY small village/town.
We have bike(s) available. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to drive volunteers around - please keep this in mind when writing to us, as you may be "stuck" in the country. We can sort out pick up points, but this is not to be relied up on.
The forest is just outside our door. If you love to spend time in nature, this is your place to be. There is a lake not far with a bike, where it's possible to swim or fish (we do have some fishing equipment).
A small town nearby has everything you need by stores, and in our nearby area you will find folkmuseums, music hall, cinema, restaurants, pool, gyms, cafes, bar/pubs, horse riding, golf, fishing, library, gocart, etc. (Aprx 40 min with the bike)
Public transport to Oslo (1hr trainride from Askim st.), one hour by bus from Halden, Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad and Moss, and 30-40min drive from Sweden border. Car rental 15 min drive away.
There is some old viking graves and a lot of local viking history around.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a 4G broadband with limited data, digital nomads have to follow our schedule and fit their work hours into that.
Space for parking camper vans
Summer only.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
25hours pr week (SEE DESCRIPTION)
Feedback (22)
Matt stayed with us for a week. He helped feeding the animals, some gardening (straighten out lawn, planting and weeding), and putting up roof boards on our greenhouse, and it was nice to have a pair of extra hands available.
We had some interesting conversations about Africa and… read more
Aurelien stayed with us for a week. He spent most if the time chopping up wood, wich he did a very good job with. He also helped to care for the chickens.
He is easy to get along with, funny, his english is very good, and we had some great conversations. We would not… read more
Sydney had some active weeks with us, experiencing goat birth and bottle feeding, castration if pigs, kittens being born, as well as the day to day life of the animals, helping out where it was needed. Sydney also helped with housechores, cooking, chopping wood, and painting the kitchen. In… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
Matt stayed with us for a week. He helped feeding the animals, some gardening (straighten out lawn, planting and weeding), and putting up roof boards on our greenhouse, and it was nice to have a pair of extra hands available.
We had some interesting conversations about Africa and… read more
Aurelien stayed with us for a week. He spent most if the time chopping up wood, wich he did a very good job with. He also helped to care for the chickens.
He is easy to get along with, funny, his english is very good, and we had some great conversations. We would not… read more
Sydney had some active weeks with us, experiencing goat birth and bottle feeding, castration if pigs, kittens being born, as well as the day to day life of the animals, helping out where it was needed. Sydney also helped with housechores, cooking, chopping wood, and painting the kitchen. In… read more
She assisted with the daily care of the animals (goats, pigs, chickens, cats), cleared away snow and kept the house in order.
She is self going, positive and polite and has a sence if humor - we got along well. Her english is very good. She also played with our daughter a couple of times. She made… read more
Because of his skills, he got the job helping to finish a huge project started last year, and because of that we managed to finish everything ; change cladding, put up railing on the veranda, he built stairs,a planter, and did the finishing touches on… read more
Julie cooked some delicious Norwegian food, though I think we had more (equally tasty) Greek food, during my stay. As other workawayers have… read more
He is a polite person and taught us about Hungary as we didn't know much about the country. He is clearly interested in sports and culture.
His English is alright and we had some good conversations.
Bence helped feeding the animals, and did a lot of paint jobs and made a fence of twigs.… read more
Grietje kept the house tidy and clean, helped a little in… read more
I helped with the household and taking care of their chickens, pigs and their goats which love to escape haha.
We took a lovely walk in the forest, the area is really beautiful and we had such good conversations. Communication goes really well here. I learned some more… read more
She helped feed and give water and straw to our pigs, goats, chickens and cats. You can easily tell She is used to animals and farmlife. She helped fix the goats fence as well as some painting and cleaning inside and outside. She also helped… read more
She fed and helped with our animals, did some cleaning, as well as she made a logo for our new business, helped Julie with German and made a birdhouse.
We would definitely recommend her to… read more
Colin stayed with us for one week. She is a pleasant girl to host, always up for a chat. She tidied up after herself, and helped keep the kitchen clean.
Her job was to feed the animals and bottlefeed the kid goats (wich she fell in love with). Coline also assisted… read more
I truly recommand to be a workayer on their little farm. They were always make you feel confortable.
The job is not to hard, you have to feed and take care of the animals (goats, pigs and chickens). You may have some other tasks ( I helped with painting the bathroom).
The other feedback are true, they… read more
Sylvie took good care of our aprx 20 pigs and piglets, and made a new pallet hut for a farrowing sow - She also took… read more
Once I arrived almost immediately I could realize what good people Jens and Julie are. They welcomed me with a barbecue, many anecdotes and lots of laughs.… read more
If you're considering him to stay with you - Don't hesitate and just say yes straight away.
Ale is a very social person - we had great conversations about everything, and he was friendly and curious about everyone he met, leaving you with a feeling that he really wants to get to… read more
Julie speaks exellent english, Jens speaks fluent. The food was really good.
Work consists of feeding the animals, doing some construcion work, repairs and… read more
He was pleasant to host- friendly and very talkative, conversation came easy, and he took any job seriously.
Richard chopped up a whole lot of firewood, and stacked it very neat. He is used to farmworker and manual labour.
We were sad to see him leave. We… read more
We didn't really see her, as she was excellent at entertaining herself - it feels like we've only seen her a maximum of two days, and saw her usually at meals only. We believe her heart belongs to pulsing citylife, and that the work at our place and lifestyle were a bit boring for her.
Jaimie fed our pigs… read more
She was always polite, positive to the tasks and new experiences, and always had a smile on her face. She was very friendly to everyone she met, and our daughter just adored her.
Camilla fed our pigs and goats, and helped to bottlefeed one of our kid goats. She also helped with… read more
All thumbs up for the decission of solo travelling. We wish her… read more
i learned about taking care of the goats and the pigs and how to look after the newborn goats. i also learned how to chop… read more
I arrived on Saturday so had the weekend to get settled in, the family took me out to see the local wonders of Trøgstad…. There are a few viking… read more
Her jobs included feeding and taking care of our pigs and goats, housework, bring in firewood, some cooking, organizing the yard and help a little planning and preparing our daughters birthday party - wich she did very well.
Anna is very friendly (also with kids), open minded,… read more
His daily duties was to feed our pigs, goats and rabbits, as well as to… read more
Conversation came easy, and we loved to lear some about her country and her life as a student in Norway. She also got on very well with our daughter (3yo).
She sewed some fabric baskets for us, wich was very neat and a job well done!
We wish her the very best for… read more
He was a pleasant houseguest, cleaned up after himself and helped us keep the kitchen tidy. He is friendly and easy to talk with, and we were sad… read more
Very kind and helpfull family, I could easily fit the work I needed to do and my university work online.
I totally recommend :)
Thank you for everything!
Her tasks was to help with all care of the animals (water - feed) and housework. She also helped to put up electric fencing for a new pen- wich she did very quick (:
Elodie got along with us in the family (adults and child) and some of our friends that she met - she is polite and… read more
Maude fed our animals, helped to clear a new area for our pigs, did housework and cooked us a lovely, french meal.
She did a very good job by hemming our livingroom curtains on a machine.
We were pleased to house Maude, she is tidy and easy to… read more
The farm is nestled in the Norwegian countryside with beautiful views of the rolling landscape that surrounds it. It's quiet and a very relaxing place close to nature.
In terms of the work I loved looking after the animals an Jens… read more
His daily tasks was to feed and water our rabbits, goats, chickens and pigs, which he did in a very good way.
Other tasks was to mow lawn, chop wood, build a new hut for the pigs, and strengthen the old ones, started on a new chicken coop and… read more
Julie cooked amazing Norwegian… read more
Her main tasks was to take care of our rabbits, chickens, goats and pigs - feeding, watering and mucking out. She also helped to give medicine to the rabbits who unfortunately got sick while she was here. Although no previous experience with animals, she learned quick, and… read more
She seems a bit shy, but opens up when you ask her questions and get the conversation going. We were also impressed that she has learned a lot of Norwegian in only one year.
She is very enthusiastic about nature and spending time outdoors. She spendt a lot of time on… read more
Julie is easy to talk to, and since she has lived with a host family herself she knew how to make me feel welcome and at home.… read more
She is hands on, effective, reliable and not afraid to try something new. She is also very eager to learn. She fits the Pippi Longstocking saying "I've never done that before so I'm sure I can do it", very well.
Tuva helped us feed and muck out our rabbits, goats, chickens… read more
It was not only my first Workaway, but also my first ever time travelling solo abroad - and let me… read more
Emma helped with daily care of the animals and some housework. Julie taught her to use the sewing machine, and she made a fabric bag for shopping bags.
We had a great time with Emma, and we learned… read more
Would recommend them as a… read more
His daily tasks was to look after the animals (food, water and comfort, including mucking out), fixing/checking that the electric fence was working, bring in firewood, and keep the yard and garden tidy. He also helped out on a few paint jobs inside. It seemed like he… read more
Communication and the organizing of her stay was very well done, and we got the feeling that she really wanted to come stay with us. A+ for this!
Alba is very kind with animals, although no previpus experience with farmyard animals, she can be tough - as she showed by being the Sherrif of the mommy… read more
As a first workaway experience I couldn’t have wished for better !
From the moment I arrived Jullie and Jens made me feel at home.
As the daily tasks I took care of the animals and did housework, after that I did some painting, helping renovate, helped… read more
Our daughter (23months) adored Noa after a few days, and was always looking for ways to interact with her. We can confirm she is very good with kids, and… read more
Julie is a very warm and charming individual. From the moment we met, conversation came very easy. She is a traveller herself and is always up for a chat… read more
My work was to feed the animals and clean the garden. They are starting a big project and I'm glad to helped them to begin!
I slept in a caravan which is 50 meters away from the house, so I had my private and quiet… read more
