Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
8
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hi, I'm Joy, I am a full-time volunteer at the foundation in Thomastown, Ireland. The Foundation has been created to give spiritual guidance to families who have experienced great challenges such as the loss of a child or a diagnosis of an incurable illness. Donors have helped the foundation to purchase this land and property so that we can help people and their families in a safe and secure environment. The property includes several homes sitting in a 100 acres of farmland, ancient forest, cultivated lands and a thriving walled garden where we grow fruits and vegetables. There is a main Georgian home, a caretakers cottage and a period lodge with 6 rooms. The main house has been meticulously restored and now holds spiritual retreats in the summer months. This is a special land with a very spiritual energy.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Interests
Pets
Farming
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Plant care
Writing
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Cycling
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have two full-time gardeners and 3 full time maintenance crew so you will have skilled people to learn from. Most have worked on this land for 4-5 years and have many projects and guidance to share with you. One of the gardeners is a musician and we will enjoy some evenings with him sharing Irish music and dance.
Help
We are looking for support to clear land, to plant and tend some of the organic gardens during February and March 2025. The work will mainly be outdoors so you would need to be ok in all elements! We also have painting jobs (windows/doors), repair jobs, signage and artistic projects so anyone with painting or woodwork skills would be ideal. Anyone who is particularly creative also needed for small creative jobs around the property.
Generally we need willing hands and those ok to be outside in the winter. We will be doing tasks together and we have full time gardeners and maintenance crew to support and lead us.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We will stay in the lodge which is a house dating back to 1807, it is fully furnished with mostly twin and triple rooms - some with their own bathroom, others will be sharing a main bathroom. The accomodation is guest house standard. There is a large communal dining room, kitchen and living room. The house has wooden floors so noise travels easily. We are looking for workawayers who will be respectful of noise levels so everyone can enjoy their stay. We will provide vegetarian food, some food will be prepared for us by the chef from the main house, other times food will be provided and we will cook together. We have a big bbq in the courtyard and an Arga in the house which will keep us lovely and warm during the winter months.
What else ...
We are looking for those who will appreciate the spiritual nature of this property and be a willing hand, fully engaged in the activities. We will have nights with games, cooking and reading. Some activities will be arranged so you can share in the warm hospitality of an Irish home. We are not far from Kilkenny and some day excursions will be arranged including hikes to local sites. Thomastown is a 20 minute walk. We are a non-drinking and non smoking community so whilst we don't need you to be a non drinker, drinking on property is not permitted.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
If you have a campervan/motorhome we have a designated area with some electricity and water supply.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (3)
On each day we knew what we had to do depending on the weather and the staff needs: gardening, painting, cleaning, ... A typical day work would be 10am-4pm with 1 hour for lunch between 1 and 2pm.
We spent most of our time outside… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
On each day we knew what we had to do depending on the weather and the staff needs: gardening, painting, cleaning, ... A typical day work would be 10am-4pm with 1 hour for lunch between 1 and 2pm.
We spent most of our time outside… read more
The weather was amazing so we essentially worked in the garden with James and Orsi who were amazing. It was all kinds of tasks for 5 hours a day I’d say.
The food… read more
