Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Feedback
-
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
In 2024 Agnes and James left Sydney, buying a 25-hectare plot near Krambach, in the beautiful Mid North Coast region of NSW. Not long after, Claire, Agnes’ sister and agronomist joined, together with Olivier a compost enthusiast and passionate cook. Together with the help of regular visitors and friends we’re slowly bringing our patch back to life, restoring soil health, reintroducing native plants, and finding better ways to grow our food.
We are applying Syntropic farming, an innovative approach to regenerative agriculture, to our plot of land . Thinking holistically about regeneration including water sustainability (keyline design, creek restoration, maximise water retention in soil), energy sustainability leveraging solar and gravity, food self-sufficiency, maximise biodiversity and life, investing in the community and having fun !
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Interests
Technology
Sustainability
Farming
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Gardening
Cooking & food
Blogging
Writing
Hitchhiking
Fitness
Nature
Camping
Mountain
Beach
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are active members of our local Landcare services group. We attend monthly meetings locally which you might be interested to attend alongside us. These meetings are at no cost and bookings are available up to a day prior.
We also often visit or receive visits from nearby regenerative farmers we have befriended: checking each others progress, exchanging ideas and advices, sharing seeds and plants, sharing tools and social life (dining at each others place, etc)
At the farm we always gather for dinner at the main house. Sometimes, we dine or have a drink at our local Pub, just 3 km away. In summer we first jump in the public swimming pool which conveniently is adjacent to the pub and for which we have a season pass .
When it's too hot to work we escape to the many nearby beaches or rivers. Every now and then, if the weather permits we also organise camping and kayaking weekends where we go explore the many wonderful rivers, lakes, estuaries, and national parks, taking our kayaks , surfboards and camping gear for all to enjoy.
So far we have had the chance to welcome all kind of nationalities at the farm: French, German, English, Swede , etc. and love the diversity!
Help
Of the subtypes within permaculture were especially fans of the Syntropic method designed for regenerating soil in challenging climate. Its philosophy is to use families of plants that live well together because they protect and encourage each other to grow better. Just like people, plants thrive more when they’re growing in communities or consortia. Ground plants, low bushes and shrubs under the shadow of emergent trees together form an ecosystem, some shaded, some full sun, but all benefiting each other. This maximises photosynthesis per unit area, increases biomass and microbes, and leads to accelerated formation of soil rich in organic content. To make this happen we accumulate plants and their biomass in rows one metre wide, irrigated and laid along contour lines with swales and mounds to concentrate the water available underground.
We complement this with composting to accelerate microbial activity available as a kick-starter for new rows. We use Berkeley and Jonson composting methods and we gather manure from our friendly neighbouring farms – we don’t have animals of our own other than Indy our most useless but wonderful farm dog.
Agnes is a data and AI expert and we’re keen on making it as digital enabled as makes sense. We use FarmOS, an American designed open source platform to record our activities and measurements so we can track and document progress. Claire is a 30 year veteran agronomist who is making it a regeneration research project, so data capture is an important addition to her intuitive knowledge of botany, biology and soil science. James is also a Geologist and avid earth scientist, so between us we’re always intrigued not just by what we see above ground but by what’s going on in the soil and why – we’re geek farmers doing our best to bring useful explanation and evidence to permaculture and organic practices.
The only chemicals we use are sodium bicarbonate, vinegar, and yes, reluctantly Glyphosate hand applied to the invasive Lantana, Privet, and Crofton weed we clear from the forest. We do this because its effect is isolated and clearing these plants is the only way to liberate native plants on the forest floor and regenerate an ecologically appropriate bush on the property.
Finally, we’re seeing wildlife flourish, especially insects, birds and life in the dams and creeks.
As Work Away volunteers you will participating in all the activities above and thus learning skills such as :
Organic practices & techniques
Permaculture design practices & techniques
Biodynamic practices & techniques
Regenerative Agriculture practices & techniques
Syntropic farming practices
Gardening
Composting
Soil conservation
Propagating plants / Mulching/ Pruning
Environmental recovery/regeneration work
Worm farming
Using & caring for tools
Mechanical : tractor, quad, wood chipper, mower/ mulcher, etc.
Fencing
Natural Building techniques
Fermenting foods
Marketing produce
Off Grid Living skills
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
German: Beginner
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Agnes, one of the owner, is French originally so speak French natively. As a long time Australian she also obviously speaks english fluently. James is British origin so perfect English speaker. Claire, our agronomist and Agnes' sister, speaks French (native), English (fluent) and Spanish (fluent) . Her Spanish is probably better than her English as she spent many years in South America (Argentina, Chile) . So overall a spread of language . Having said that none of us are qualified to teach languages. So expect exposure but not anything like organised learning.
Accommodation
We offer multiple types of accommodation : from a fully equipped independent unit (we call it the studio) with kitchen, bathroom, your own entrance and deck, to a guest unit part of the main house also equipped with a kitchenette, your own bathroom and your own entrance. We also have a fully equipped caravan, and a converted stable with dry toilet solar powered hot shower, and a camp bedroom. All comes with beddings. There is also multiple wifi access.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Agnes is a technologist , working on and with AI . Also developing agentic AI for the farm . Happy for anyone with this kind of interest to potentially contribute.
Space for parking camper vans
Plenty of spaces and amenities for travellers with their own campervans. We actually are also listed on Hipcamp
Can possibly accept pets
Dogs
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Indy (7 years)
Brindle greyhound cross staffy. Very active dogs, goes running with Agnes, loves swimming, the beach, playing football. Our social , useless farm dog ;-)
Photos
