Help at our organic family farm in rural mid-Devon, England

Details

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  Description

  I live on a 240 acre organic family farm in rural mid-Devon. I have a flock of 200 breeding sheep and a herd of 28 cows whose offspring are all fattened on the farm. The farm also grows arable crops and we have recently planted about 9 acres of woodland. We produce clean energy from an array of solar panels. If I could ever find the time I would love to grow vegetables in my garden.
  I am looking for Workaway help mainly in the springtime when our ewes are due to lamb. March is our busiest month and much of the time will be spent looking after the sheep, though there are also plenty of other jobs to do as well. There is a very comfortable holiday cottage on the farm which will be available as accommodation. Food will be provided, and while there are full cooking facilities in the cottage visitors will be very welcome to take some meals with me and any of my family that are around.
  I have one teenage son who is at home at weekends and in the school holidays, three other grown-up children who appear now and then, three very friendly dogs, a cat and a horse.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We will welcome visitors into our family and will be very happy to pass on knowledge about caring for sheep and many other aspects of organic livestock farming.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

  Host has indicated that they will pay at least the UK minimum hourly wage for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided inline with UK guidance. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.

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  Help

  The main activity on the farm is care of sheep and cattle. As it is winter all our cattle are housed so feeding and bedding them will be a daily task. Sheep also need feeding at this time of year. March is lambing and calving time, so much time then will be spent looking after lambing ewes and newborn lambs. Plenty of hands-on experience will be available for those who would like it.
  
  There will also be farm maintenance work to do including fence repair, hedge laying, wood chopping etc, and maybe some gardening work or even some cleaning in the farmhouse. Farming is not always predictable, and visitors should be willing to help out with whatever comes up.
  
  Some experience with livestock would be an advantage. A liking for animals and confidence around them is essential as is a willingness to sometimes work alone when necessary.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We have a recently converted and extremely comfortable two- bedroom holiday cottage very close to our house which will be available to workawayers. We will provide breakfast food in the cottage. Other meals may be taken with us or in the cottage by arrangement.

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  What else ...

  We are in a very beautiful part of Devon, and within reach of Dartmoor and Exmoor. North and South coasts are both about an hour's drive away. There are buses from nearby villages (3 miles) to Exeter which is the county town with all amenities. We have bikes that we can lend you for getting around locally. However, visitors should be aware that the farm is in a fairly isolated area and public transport is quite limited. There is a pub within one mile, and village shops a 40 minute walk away, but not much else, so rural living needs to be to your taste.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  25 hours a week

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