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Last replied
15 May 2026
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Description
We are a young and growing intentional community, founded by two families – each with years of community living experience. In autumn 2025 we moved to a beautiful property in Vellach, Carinthia (Austria), right next to the river Vellach and surrounded by forests and mountains.
# Who we are
Four adults and four kids (ages 3–10) share this place and this vision. Most of us are around during the day, only one person is working full time – someone is usually with the kids, and the kids are sometimes in school and often around. They love meeting new people, and they're pretty great company.
Our core values: nonviolent communication, sustainability, independence – and doing right by the next generation.
# Where we're headed
Our goal is genuine self-sufficiency. We have 2 hectares of land – enough for a huge food forest, extensive vegetable garden, and much more. We're just getting started, and there's a lot to build, plant, and figure out together.
This is not a finished, polished place – it's a living project, and we love it that way. If you're someone who enjoys getting your hands dirty, thinking creatively and being part of something real, you'll fit right in.
# What's coming up – May & June 2026
We have a packed season ahead:
Construction & Infrastructure
- Wastewater system renovation + natural treatment pond with water plants (May)
- New pond outlet – a small stream across the property (June)
- Well drilling + full drinking water installation (June)
- Outdoor composting toilet (June)
- Fiberglass internet connection – being laid along the road right now (May)
- Long-term: tiny house prep, duck shelter, chicken coop
Garden
- Potatoes with hay mulch method – no-dig, all by hand (May)
- Kiwi berry trellis structure (May)
- Raised bed dismantling & repurposing (June)
- Ongoing: weeding, wood cutting, charcoal production, soil improvement with hot compost, EM & Bokashi
# Other important things:
We want to be upfront, because life here might be quite different from what you're used to:
Food – We eat little to no meat, no dairy, no sweets or alcohol provided. You're very welcome to bring your own and store it in your space or the guest fridge – no judgment. But please join community meals anyway. That's where the real connection happens.
Communication – We practice nonviolent communication: honest, direct and kind. It might sound a little unfamiliar at first, but it comes from a good place.
Bodies – You might occasionally see naked people, especially around the river. We are not a nudist community – but we don't bother too much about covering always. Please don't feel uncomfortable, and please don't make others feel uncomfortable either.
Hygiene products – We have a biological sewage system. Please bring certified biodegradable shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant etc. Not sure what to get? Don't worry – we can provide alternatives. Just let us know in advance.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Gardening
Hitchhiking
Carpentry
Cycling
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Beach
Nature
Camping
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Carinthia is stunningly beautiful – mountains, forests, and the river Vellach right at our doorstep. Swimming in the river is a daily ritual in summer. Some of us do it in winter too. You'll understand when you're here.
But beyond the scenery: you'll get a real look at intentional community life. How do people actually make decisions together? How do you practice nonviolent communication when things get tricky? How do you build systems – water, waste, food – from scratch, with your own hands?
You'll leave with practical skills (construction, gardening, natural building, composting) and maybe a few new ideas about how life could look.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
# How we organise the work
We don't count hours – we trust each other. We have regular evening meetings where we talk through the next day's plans, share updates and match jobs to skills and interests. We recommend joining these – it's also just a nice way to connect.
# Kitchen
- All food is organic
- Almost always vegan (meat occasionally, always with a vegan option)
- No sugar, no sweets, no dairy provided
- Cooking together is very welcome – and very normal here
- You'll still enjoy the food, we promise
Garden
- Large vegetable garden + open field
- Lots to do: planting, weeding, soil care, composting, wood cutting
- Current focus: hay mulch potato setup, kiwi berry trellis, soil improvement with EM & Bokashi
Construction
- We're in the middle of several big projects this season (see description for details)
- Construction help is very welcome – no experience necessary for most tasks, skilled hands even more so
- Projects range from earthworks to carpentry to water systems
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Swedish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Day-to-day, we switch freely between German and English – sometimes mid-sentence. You'll get to practice both naturally. Almost all adults are able to speak some French too, though it's not our everyday language. Dutch, Swedish and Spanish are also spoken to varying degrees within the community. Don't worry if your German is basic – we're patient and happy to help you practice.
Accommodation
#DigitalDetox
In our kitchen/living room, the smartphone usage is restricted. You can use your phone in your room or outside.
#biologicalShampoo
Since we have a biological wastewater treatment only, you are NOT ALLOWED to use non-organic shampoo or toothpaste anywhere on our property (this also applies to makeup and other products that enter the sewer system). We provide acceptable alternatives upon request.
What else ...
# About our references
Two of the adults ran a community farm in southern Germany until 2022, where they hosted a large number of workawayers over several years. We moved to Austria to start fresh – and we're genuinely excited to have that energy back.
We write references on request, or when someone leaves one first. Just ask – we're happy to do it.
# Time off
The area is fantastic for hiking, cycling and swimming. Klopeiner See and other lakes are nearby. The town of Völkermarkt has everything you need for supplies. We're happy to give tips!
# Tags
sustainability, ecological, permaculture, no-dig, composting, biochar, bokashi, EM, food forest, natural building, earthworks, water management, well, composting toilet, tiny house, intentional community, community living, self-sufficiency, vegan, organic, gardening, farming, woodwork, carpentry, construction, upcycling, recycling, open source, linux, attachment parenting, nonviolent communication, wwoof, wwoofing
nachhaltig, Nachhaltigkeit, Gemeinschaft, Permakultur, Selbstversorger, biologisch, ökologisch, Kompostklo, Lehmbau, Naturbauen, Wasserversorgung, Brunnen, Teich, Klärteich, Tiny House, gewaltfreie Kommunikation, bedürfnisorientierte Erziehung, Bokashi, Kompost, Heißrotte, vegan, vegetarisch, Garten, Feld, Holz, Zimmermann, Baustelle
# Privacy:
Faces on our profile are blurred for privacy reasons, especially those of kids and people who couldn't be asked.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
📶 Internet: Good WiFi on the property – fiberglass connection coming in May 2026. Cell reception is poor, so don't count on mobile data. 🚬 Smoking: One community member smokes occasionally (always outside), so we're relaxed about smokers – as long as it stays outdoors.
Space for parking camper vans
Since we have a biological wastewater treatment only, you are NOT ALLOWED to use non-organic shampoo or toothpaste anywhere on our property (this also applies to makeup and other products that enter the sewer system). We provide acceptable alternatives upon request.
Can possibly accept pets
Yes, but: Animals are generally not allowed inside the house. If you're travelling with a dog/cat/frog/rat/owl, it can stay in your tent/van or in the garden – as long as it's family-friendly, well-trained, and you manage their waste responsibly (we're an organic farm, so this matters to us).
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (23)
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)
Claudia is helpful, interested, artistic, eager to learn a lot and very sociable. It was really… read more
First of all I send you all great hugs and kisses to all the durnau community, so happy to hear that Marcus is now joining you definitely!!!! Than to all the workawayer or person who wants to visit this mystical natural place I would just suggest DO IT!!! Everybody is extremely nice and respectful not… read more
The place is really great with a lot of thing to visit around (lakes accessible by bikes, somz cities etc). Katarina is less often at home but still welcoming when she is there. Their daughter, Leandra, loves to share with people and you can't be bored… read more
When he came here we´ve been quite a lot of people, but he… read more
I really enjoyed the community, learning quite a bit on construction, gardening and cooking and of course the… read more
He is a really motivated person and wants to finish what he started. Even if that means working until late in the evening! Conor did a LOT on the construction (like helping with all the… read more
Moritz and Katharina are some of the most relaxed Workaway hosts you can meet, very welcoming, they don't mind if you input just two hours a day or as much as eight hours, to them it's still helping with renovations and construction.
Edda, also relaxed but equally knows what to do and a lovely and… read more
Unfortunately he couldn´t deal with the food we had around that season and that we… read more
Moritz, Katharina and Edda are kind and wondrful hosts.
The food was so good(!), the work really intersting and the community was so welcoming, generous and fun.
I learned so much in my time there, met really good, smart and interesting people and really enjoyed my staying.
I hope I… read more
The stay was enjoyable, cool new people and a warm welcome when we arrived! The profile was an accurate description and you guys have good hearts! The food was tasty and the applejuice was heavenlicious haha!
About the work:
Did some bricklaying and woodwork. The working hours were perfect for me… read more
Anna did a great job in playing with our daughter while kindergarten was closed due to corona lockdown. My daughter loved it and she still sometimes says things like "when Anna was here, we… read more
Both families were really nice, friendly, an helpful. It has been for me the occasion to discover and experience a different way of living, more relaxing.
The place is always full of life thanks to the kids, and the others workawayers.
It was maybe because of summer, but there was at least between… read more
Our experience with them was intense and really rich in exchange. Moritz and Katarina are extremely generous people and will always make sure you feel like home and have everything you need.
Davina and Harry are very courageous and full of energy, always ready for exchanging and deep… read more
From the moment I arrived I felt very much at ease and was more than happy to put myself at their disposal, using my efforts to help support them and… read more
the first day she came I told her to arrange some hose (leading to our outdoor shower) and showed her where it was planned to go along. She continuously worked on it for some hours, arranged everything perfectly and asked me when she was not sure. That was a perfect start - being able to decide things on your own and… read more
With two families managing several parallel projects and responsibilities (including three young kids), the… read more
Anders was a great person, open minded, friendly, patient, polite .
I also liked the children ,they are playful, happy and nice .
I always felt welcomed since the very first moment, i felt part of family and… read more
The 3 kids, all ~3 years old, being such fun, energy, and aliveness into the home. We played, ran around outside, and all shared meals together as a family. They are incredibly cute and… read more
It was a great time. Awesome. Rob is such a frienldy and polite person! He loved to play with our kids(ooooh, they loved him!), he took over the kitchen from the first day and spontaneously cooked things he's never seen before - just by… read more
