Learn to build a sustainable life in Galicia, Spain

Details

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  Description

  Stop press - Mandy has injured her back, which has left her in severe pain for the forseeable future, so Jobs needed to be done include many of the things she cannot do, like housework, dog walking etc. REVISION - having solved her back problems by online physio and pilates, Mandy has now fallen off her bike, breaking her elbow! So still needs help!
  
  OK enough of the hand-wringing - back to our normal programming...
  We are renovating a house in Galicia, northern Spain, with the idea of being as self sufficient as possible. We are 70 ish years old with family living in England, ride triumph motorbikes, renovate Range Rovers bur are passionate about EVs. We LOVE love all things edible!. We need help with our food growing, harvesting and preserving, and Roy needs help with building projects. Come and help us with building and labouring, building gardens, hugelbeds and a food forest and we promise you good food in fantastic surroundings, including a river beach only 8 kilometers from the house with a lovely bar and restaurant on a bend in the river Mino. This placement would particularly suit anyone wishing to keep fit and healthy, and the food we provide will fit actively working volunteers!
  
  BIG PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR
  I want to start a YouTube channel to help fund our rescue dogs insurance and upkeep now we are retired. I need help with filming and editing as I am a total IT moron. Help with this would be so appreciated.
  ALSO Roy needs help fitting new kitchen units and doors, fitting the rest of the underfloor heating upstairs, pointing stonework and cementing walls for painting, but please see below for our major project requirements.
  
  Previous workawayers have helped to repair dry stone walls to keep in our two insane boxer dogs and chickens and keep out jabali, deer and hunters, restore and develop our pig field and tiny wooded area, and develop our wildlife pond and surroundings. We are preparing more areas for the growing of beans for canning and drying, and areas for vegetables in the cabbage family and root vegetables, along with other plants to develop a polyculture to keep us all supplied with natural, nutritious food.
  
  We have a garden suitable to camp in, a large caravan for the less adventurous and space for a motor home with electric hook up, although be aware that, because we are completely off grid, we are strict about the use of power. We are not vegan but eat a plant-based diet 90% of the time so vegetarians and vegans are very welcome.
  
  We offer help with English if that is not your first language, help with Spanish if you wish to learn the basics and walling and gardening skills along with knitting and canning and sewing slow fashion if your passions tend towards self reliance.
  
  We have included art projects as we want to make pieces for sale and also knit and sew accessories for the home.
  
  Ask us for google maps link. People in the past have said they'll come only to not arrive cos its further than they thought!
  
  We're waiting for your messages!
  Un saludo, Mandy and Roy

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  History

  

  Cooking & food

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cycling

  

  Nature
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Life here is very rural and learning to chill out and cope without supermarkets and nightlife is essential. You will learn country skills and self reliance skills, including prepping. It is a Spain that few travellers know about, and once seen, they usually want to stay! Previous workawayers have come to live here...For learning other skills, Roy is a rabid handyman and Mandy is a permaculture nut so pick a side!
  We will take you to local markets and museums, nearby towns, the river beach as well as hold bbqs at home with friends for company. We also go to archery practice twice a week, and volunteers are welcome to join in.
  We will be having craft mornings, where you could knit, draw, sew etc, or learn to do any of those things, with like minded people.
  If you would like to join us, please leave details of what it is about our project appeals to you , especially on your pointing andcrendering skills, and how you will be travelling in your message.
  Ciao!

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  Help

  As we head into spring there is a great deal of heavy work to be done, and we need people who can point stonework, render outer walls and frame walls ready for taking windows and doors, and help levelling the courtyard and laying paving.
  Having said all that, we would welcome anyone prepared to get stuck in and have a go at whatever is going on! Our only conditions are up and start early, (so we can finish after lunch) and no discussion of politics or religion! OR BREXIT.
  
  BIG PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR
  1. I want to start a YouTube channel to help fund our rescue dogs insurance and up-keep now we are retired. (I need help with filming and editing as I am a total IT moron.)
  2. Renovation of the upper floor, to include frames for windows, underfloor heating, spiral staircase.
  3. Moving solar panels to more effective positions, so building of framework to take them
  4.Levelling and paving the courtyard.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Roy needs to learn basic Spanish! I can teach beginners Spanish but Roy needs to learn from someone he is not married to.....!
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  Accommodation

  We have a large caravan which has a double bed, sitting area, cooking facilities and storage for clothes and other belongings with a cassette toilet (which you will have to empty every other day or so!) and shower.
  
  *****IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT VOLUNTEERS HAVE SOME FORM OF TRANSPORT**** due to the isolated nature of our finca.
  
  The nearest villages and towns arearound 5km round trip for the nearest, and 15km round trip for the main town with facilities. The plus side is that the walks are beautiful, and if you take a dog with you, you count it as work....
  Use of internet for general messaging and keeping in touch only as we have limited bandwidth, but the local towns have libraries with good internet. We are looking at Mr Musk's satellite thingy, in which case this would improve.
  3 good meals provided on work days, Breakfast on days off but meals with us if spending free days on the finca.
  BOXER DOGS HAVE NO BOUNDARIES. Just sayin.....

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  What else ...

  There are wonderful walking trails to follow, local towns to visit and one of the Santiago caminos runs past the end of our driveway and the rivers offer good fishing and beaches. There are many churches and monasteries in the area - really just come to relax, read and go wildlife spotting!
  PERMACULTURE ENTHUSIASTS PARTICULARLY WELCOME!

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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

  We have satellite wifi which can be slow. But there is a bar with exellent wifi in the town 6 km away.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We can squeeze a large campervan in and are able to supply minimum power if our solar is working hard enough. Gas bottles are super cheap compared to UK and are easy to get hold of. We do have access to our septic tank for emptying caravan waste (but we ask that you do it!!!)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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