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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
13 Oct 2024
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Description
I am gradually rebuilding an old stone house in the beautiful island of Andros. The place is located in the unspoiled wetlands of Achla and belonged to my great-grand father, so I'm the fourth generation.
My place is located next to the beach (where there is also a famous lighthouse), above a river and between two mountains.
My place would be ideal for anyone that would like to be close to the nature, be it a couple, a company of friends, or solo travellers.
My place has no modern infrastructures, besides a power generator that is used mainly to power electric tools, a fridge, to enable us reduce car transport and a gas stove, to enable us to cook without fires on a daily basis during the hot season.
One can experience the way of living that existed decades ago, which is pretty much like a free camping, but in an agricultural home environment.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Events & social
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Culture
Writing
Gardening
Photography
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Architecture
Mountain
Beach
Hiking
Water sports
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Fitness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The surroundings are so beautiful and pure, especially during off-peak months (peak months are July and August).
You can stay for as little as two weeks and for up to two years after making certain legal arrangements, rent free of course.
Pets are welcome. My place is ideal for dogs and cats, as they have plenty of space to run to.
From a cultural point of view, Andros is a great place to be, as it gives one the opportunity to engage in different activities, from contemporary art, to folk music, theatre, as well as the recently re-established paths that date back to previous centuries.
To that extent, Achla is a great place to start, as it is "hidden" from civilisation (at least for 10 months / year).
If you come to my place at this point, you'll have the opportunity to experience how to start a huge project from scratch, living literally off the grid, w/o electricity and modern amenities, surrounded by nature.
The lighthouse "Gria" (means granny in Greek) is around 1,5 km from my place.
The monastery of Agios Mamas is the nearest monastery and is short hike (around 2,5 km).
The monastery of Agios Nikolaos is one of the most well known monasteries in Andros. It is a good hike (around 5 km) and the surroundings of the route are beautiful.
My place is a 10 min walk from the amazing beach of Achla, the best beach of Andros and one of the greatest in Greece.
Help
The help varies and I'm pretty open to types of help according to your will and experience.
- fishing (be it with a fishing rod, a speargun, or another legal method)
- washing and laying out clothes etc (in the river, with olive soap)
- pruning wild berry bushes
- fencing
- keeping the building and garden tidy and clean
- various DIY tasks, like collecting stones from various parts of the plot, using a cart
Provision of a small boat to assist in fishing might be possible to arrange once you exceed two months and wish to stay for longer.
At this stage of the project, it is likely that if you see yourself fit in any of the 2 skillset profiles below you could make a very valuable contribution to the project:
a. The Fisher
• able catch and prep sea fish on a daily basis
• happy to undertake (or guide) the ideal fish BBQ
• passionate about food and cooking
b. The Caretaker
• happy to undertake the cleaning tasks a rural home requires w/o using modern amenities
• good at keeping places tidy and clean
• DIY savvy & keen
• happy to occasionally help with other tasks, such as shopping, carrying drinking water, etc
In any case, it is likely you'll be able to both enjoy the stay and contribute to the project, if you (or at least one of you if you are a company of two) are in great physical condition, due to the lack of modern amenities, the state of the project and on.
Work-awayers will act as additional power to this, big project and will not replace the will and need for local scientists and craftsmen, such as civil engineers, stone masters, blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and on.
Languages
Languages spoken
Greek: Fluent
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
If you'd like to learn some Greek I'd be glad to help.
Accommodation
The best place to sleep is the first floor of the two storey stonehouse that consists of two rooms, which is getting new doors and windows very soon, that include insect meshes.
Additionally, the ground floor is also suitable for hosting people, but requires a bit more work than the first floor, in order to be dust-free.
You can have your own private room (considering there will be no more than 4 of us) and can take a shower in the river (or under our camping shower). A dry toilet will also be available. We will cook with gas and will also hold BBQ's with real wood (I try to avoid industrially produced carbon when possible, especially when wood is available).
The environment and the lack of modern infrastructures make it easy to sleep a little after it gets dark and wake up a little after the sun rises. You can easily sleep till 08:30
Apart from the described accommodation, I will offer transport to the town of Andros at least once a week and 3 meals per day:
• a good breakfast with bread, tea, coffee & local eggs
• a small mid-day meal, consisting of an apple and a small sandwich, a toast or a small salad (such as a potato salad with spring onion and florina pepper)
• the main meal of the day as an early dinner (19.00 - 20.00ish) that will sometimes be:
- meat and/or fish, at least twice a week (or daily if you can catch fish)
- legumes, at least twice a week
- pasta, twice a week
- a vegeterian Greek dish, at least once a week
Pescatarians are not as common as vegetarians and vegans, but if you are a pescatarian and you love the nature, it is likely you'll love my place.
What else ...
If you want, you can create your own fruit and vegetable garden, you can hike, you can swim, you can read, you can ride a horse or a donkey, you can document the different species of birds that live in the surroundings, you can enjoy your company. You can relax and experience a true "back to nature" lifestyle. You can eat wild berries straight from the bush, which is something I do with every opportunity I get (be it in Greece, Italy or Norway). Υou can even pick a spot to install a hammock under some plane trees!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
