South Africa
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We are a husband and wife team living our dream on our small organic off-the-grid farm in the scenic Klein Karoo region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. One hectare is cultivated, surrounded by natural areas, open spaces with hills, valleys and distant mountain ranges. There is wildlife in the area, including many different bird species.
We developed this former derelict farm from scratch, initially doing all the work ourselves. We are mostly self sufficient, eating from the variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs, and nuts we grow on the farm. We also keep honeybees and free range chickens and plan to have sheep in the future.
Together with other local organic farmers we have hosted two well attended weekends to promote sustainable living. Apart from organic farming, our interests include processing our farm produce naturally, alternative energy, walking, educational documentaries, reading non-fiction, making music and art/crafts.
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Animal Care
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Travelers will benefit from an off-the-grid, organic small holding experience, learning from all the activities they are involved in and enjoying the benefits of physical activity and organic eating. Healthy meals are harvested and prepared mostly from the garden. They will also be able to learn about sustainable living, farming and alternative energy systems.
There is an enclosed equipped rustic kitchen with a crushed stone floor, three plate gas cooker, wood burning stove, barbeque facilities and firewood. A coolbox will be provided with ice bricks. You may use our deepfreeze and washing machine on request.
Fit and healthy nature loving non-smokers who enjoy manual farm labour (some of it physically challenging, especially for men) and are interested in organic farming/gardening. Couples welcome (man to do the heavier work - woman the lighter work) Tasks will involve a mix of working alone or with us.
Jobs include the following depending on priorities/season :
Dig and prepare tree holes and vegetable trenches
Planting and sowing
Mulching
Organic feeding of trees and vegetables
Weeding
Thinning of vegetable seedlings
Irrigation
Prune fruit trees
Harvest and process farm produce in season
Erect fences
Landscaping
General light construction/maintenance
Eradicate invasive plants
Bush clearing
Preparation of fire wood
Cleaning small dam
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
Two luxury, permanent tents on wooden decks, each sleeping two persons with double or single beds and solar electricity. Ablution facilities consist of a flush toilet and bucket shower with hot and cold water (not en-suite).
Volunteers can enjoy the abundance of fresh air, peace, walks in nature, hiking in the mountains, bird watching and swimming in our small dam (in summer). We do have a small library of non-fiction books and articles on sustainable living available for Workaways to borrow to read. They can also visit the small town of Vanwyksdorp nearby (3km), with a few shops providing basic supplies as well as an interesting art/craft gallery and a restaurant and coffee shop. There is Wi-Fi in Vanwyksdorp as well as the Rooiberg Lodge 10kms away.
For tourist attractions in surrounding areas they would need to have transport. There is no local public transport in our area. We do provide bicycles for the use of Workaways.
The closest large town is Riversdale on the N2, with a daily bus service between major cities. Workaways making use of this bus service can be fetched/returned in/to Riversdale Monday - Friday.
We prefer to hear from potential Workaways well in advance to their planned stay with us.
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Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
5 hours per day, 5 days per week
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