Help in our non-profit permaculture project in Brakel, Belgium

Details

• 

  Description

  ~ ABOUT US ~
  "Taste a different life."
  
  We run a small educational non-profit organization with a permaculture farm. We offer people the chance to experience a simple life in connection with nature. We hope this will inspire and motivate people to become less dependent on ending resources.
  In the permaculture garden, we try to build up fertile soil with organic material from the surrounding. We grow most of the vegetables we eat, which means the cook must be creative from time to time. Surplus vegetables and fruits are sold occasionally or brought to Poverello Ronse, where volunteers cook free meals for the poor.
  The place is gradually built out by the volunteers, using low-tech ecological building techniques such as rocket-stove, clay from the land, wood from the forest.
  The big transformations are already made, but from time to time there are still small projects undertaken.
  The project is ran by the owners of the place (Sylvie, Ben, Kena (15) and Gonde (12)), sometimes helped by some long-term volunteers.
  The 2 ha domain has orchard (meadow), and agricultural land. There are sheep, dogs, cats, chickens, and donkeys.
  We work together with a similar family-farm at 8km distance. One day, usually on monday, our volunteers go to work at their place, another day usually on friday, their volunteers come to our place.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ×

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Depending on your capacities and ongoing projects, there might be some eco-building work. We have a pile of logs ready for an adventurous volunteer that wants to make a log-house sauna out of it.
  
  We are worried about the way the current generations are consuming all the abundance of this planet. Although we, by far, don't know the answer to this, we believe a closer contact to nature, a reduction of consumption and a fair distribution are essential. On the one hand, we try to live this life, in a world that is not (yet) made for it. On the other hand, we want to keep talking and searching for ways to contribute to the change of the society to a system that makes this kind of life the easier one. Also with this (searching and acting), volunteers are welcome to help.

• 

  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

• 

  Help

  ~ HELP NEEDED ~
  It's always great to have people who stay a bit longer (one month and longer) and can take up some responsibility such as making bread, take care of some of the animals, help the garden (with supervision), organise the kitchen, the laundry, the bikes, the tools, help with communication or accountancy, ... If you stay longer, you can learn more and really 'land' in the rhythm of the land-life.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Dutch: Fluent
  English: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
• 

  Accommodation

  ~ ACCOMMODATION ~
  We have reconstructed a former barn. There's a spacey kitchen with a rocket stove, where life mostly goes on. If the 'polyvalent room' is not used for activities, it's available for volunteers. In summer, it's a cool, shady place that we also used for drying herbs.
  
  The accommodation is simple. Take into account that this kind of life takes a bit more time than in a house in the city. Compost toilets need to be emptied and sawdust supplies need to be filled. It takes more time to light a wood stove than it takes to turn on the gas. Vegetables need to be harvested and cleaned before you can start preparing dinner. Laundry needs to be hung, water kettles and hot water bottles need to be filled (winter) or hot water needs to be hauled in from the solar boiler, etc.
  
  If you want to try/share this kind of life for a while, this is your project. If not, it might be frustrating.
  
  Food
  Our food is:
  - seasonal (so no cucumbers in April, eggs in December, or pumpkins in August),
  - local (so no coffee, chocolate, or peanut butter),
  - organic,
  - mostly vegetarian
  - we cook on a wood stove
  
  We mostly have unprocessed products. We buy some basics such as oil, grains and legumes and we grow fruit, veggies, and herbs. It’s up to volunteers to turn these into meals, bread spreads (jam, hummus, pesto, veggie pâté, etc.), and other tasty things like pickles or sauerkraut. We buy flour from a local mill using grain from local, organic farmers and bake sourdough bread with it.
  
  Typically, there are oats and sourdough bread with home-made jam for breakfast at eight, soup or salad and bread with home-made spreads for lunch at twelve, fruit or smoothy in the afternoon, and a cooked vegetarian meal for diner around six. In the season, there are, of course, always fruits and berries to be picked from the land.
  
  Washing
  There’s an outdoor shower with hot (solar heated, so depending on availability) and cold water. In winter, water is heated on the stove, and you have to wash from a bucket.
  
  Heating
  All heating is done with wood stoves. Usually, only the kitchen is heated. The sleeping area is not. We have plenty of blankets and warm water bottles for wintertime.
  The stove in the kitchen is heated once or twice per day for cooking and/or warmth. During this time it is possible to heat water for drinking and washing, which then can also be put into thermoses for later use.
  When it’s warm outside and the sun is shining the solar cooker and electricity can also be used to heat water.
  
  Sleeping
  We have a wagon, caravan and a sleeping room. Beds, sheets, pillows and blankets are available. Volunteers can bring a tent. We also have a place for a 'camping car' available.
  
  Transport
  The place is easily reached with public transport. Every hour, a 20 min walk will take you to a bus stop, which will take you to a train station, which can take you directly to Brussels and Gent. Please don't come by car. There are some bikes, but they are only borrowed to longer term volunteers that are able to take care of them or want to learn that.
  
  Other things
  - We only invite non-smokers.
  - There is wifi.
  - Compost toilets only.

• 

  What else ...

  The Flemish Ardennes is one of the most beautiful regions in Flanders, with a hilly and often surprising landscape.
  At four kilometers, there is a small town with shops, a swimming pool, and a library.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Feedback (7)