Profile information
-
Host rating
100 %
-
Last replied
16 May 2018
-
Feedback
29
-
Facebook verified
-
Email verified
Country info
Badges (4)
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
-
Description
We are a Dutch-speaking family living in a semi-rural area in Flanders, near Brussel. We are creating a cohousing project and a transition centre.
Actually we live with 7 people in 3 units. And there are regularly guest staying for longer times here too.
We want to grow to a cohousing of 16 people, living in 6 units. At this moment we are finishing unit 3: a straw-bale house for 2 families. Foundations, wooden structure, straw bale and loam walls are already built. Ground floor and second floor are finished.
The permaculture garden offers us a wide range of fruits for our own use.
We have two lovely outdoor living cats.
Looking for help with:
- finishing works on first floor: installation of electricity, construction of floors, inner wooden walls, kitchen
- finishing works in existing buildings
- maintenance of the permaculture garden
- maintenance of the house
- child care
We offer:
- All meals
- Accommodation for volunteers in a separate house, with own bathroom
- Organic and vegetarian/vegan food, meat or fish can be provided
We ask you:
- To help 4 days of 6 hours, so 3 days/week off
- To take turns in the cooking and dish washing
- To keep tidy the volunteers' house
- Not to bring pets
Please only contact us if you are able to stay for at least two weeks or even a month or longer. Our experience is that it takes time to find a good working and living rhythm together with the volunteers ;-)
We especially invite couples and families to contact us! Of course others can contact us too...
We hope to welcome you! -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Light maintenance
-
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
-
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We speak 5 languages, so travellers can practice their languages with us.
We are experienced vegetarians, almost vegan, so travellers can learn to prepare vegetarian meals.
We have hosted over 40 volunteers. We know how to get along with differences.
We have advanced knowledge, practical experience and books about sustainable living.
Train station Heizijde down the street takes you directly into Brussel, so travellers can easily visit the rest of the country. -
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
-
Help
We are looking for help for:
- Build a house in an ecological way -
+ May 2015 - fase 2: brick walls
+ June 2015 - fase 3: wooden structure
+ from 17th August 2015 onwards - fase 4: placing of the strawbales
+ Autumn - fase 5: inside plastering with loam, electricity, water connections,...
- Maintenance of the permaculture garden
- Finishing works in existing buildings -
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I speak Duth, Elglish, French and German and would like to learn more French and German. -
Accommodation
We have different options:
- A guest room in the common house, with a bed of 140x200
- The attic of the common house with 4 single beds
- A caravan for 2 persons, during summertime -
What else ...
Excellent train connection to Brussel (only 35min), station Heizijde at 800m from our house.
Also close to Antwerpen and Gent (35km).
Old bicycles available for volunteers.
You can participate in activities we occasionaly organise (a party, a workshop, or whatever comes to our mind ;-)
You can learn about permaculture gardening, ecological construction and renovation. -
A little more information
-
Internet access
-
Limited internet access
-
We have pets
-
We are smokers
-
Can host families
-
-
Can host digital nomads
Good Wifi available
-
Can possibly accept pets
Please don't bring dogs barking at night.
-
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
-
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (13)
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
We wish you good luck with your … read more
The place is in a quiet and nice area and the accommodation options are really good.
The location is great. It is easy to access Brussels and it is not far from Ghent and Antwerp.
Also, I could learn a lot about co-housing and ecological construction.
As it was a great … read more
She can work independently. She has a positive attitude … read more
However, we were disappointed with this workaway as we were asked to work much more than agreed on to meet timelines for the construction of their … read more
Michael helped us a lot with the construction of our house. He has building experience, is strong and handy. We give him an excellent feedback.
We feel sorry to give Georgia a neutral feedback, because she was not reliable. If you are not able to do a task, or are afraid (spiders, wasps), or have … read more
They are still very young, looking for what they need and want in life.
This is the place to stay and work if one is interested in learning about:
- Eco building and eco-thinking
- Permaculture
- Co-housing planning
Bruno and Helene are very good at listening to the needs and wishes of the volunteers and adjust the work to that. … read more
You made such beautiful films, played with our son. Helped building our house, even without words you saw how to help.
We wish you all the best. Always welcome.
You have made an effort due to my bad English and now I can improve my English skills.
Meeting and living with foreigner volunteers has been an excellent experience for me.
They were very kind and caring people.
I think that because your family too.
I hope to your dream!!
Thank you Kai!
We also liked their short visit some time afer the volunteering period to show around their relatives, and made us tea so we enjoyed a break.
THANK YOU, Jo and Tim. We hope to see you again!
I strongly recommend this host for any volunteer whether is traveling alone or accompanied. I felt welcomed since my arrival in a charming atmosphere with them and with the others volunteers.
Helen and Bruno were always really concerned about my preferences for helping and so give me the chance … read more
He is an easy going social young man, open to learn new skills, discover new food, new people. .
Good luck with your studies and … read more
Best wishes.
Denny,Daisy,Charlene.
We really liked your stay with us.
Christian cooked delicious food, is good with wood and stone, and garden work.
Yos is like a ray of sunlight, good with kids, patient, keen to learn, has designed and painted our porch...
From deep in our heart: THANK YOU!!!
With cooking, gardening, painting, construction work, mozaic, artistic painting, installation of our pump, playing with our son,...
As they are young, it is important to show them and explain them well what needs to be done.
They don't mind doing big jobs … read more
Good food, beautiful barn, good people.
Good luck with … read more
They bring a good atmosphere. We had a good time together and are looking forward to seeing you again.
Helene en Bruno
We experienced you as a quiet and happy guest. Nice to have you here!
Greetings,
Helene
