Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
7
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
WE'RE NOT TAKING VOLUNTEERS UNTIL AFTER THE SUMMER FOR HEALTH REASONS. Apologies to everyone that has sent enquiries recently. I'm trying to keep up with replies but that's the message.
I have a 2ha farm and half-restored farm buildings in a beautiful rural area of hills and farms near the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. I produce my own olive oil, pomegranates, figs and oranges, and do the maintenance work, grow vegetables and work on rebuilding projects when I get time off from my job as a journalist. There's a mature garden which needs overhauling. I'm often here on my own but part of a close-knit Spanish-speaking community. My neighbours are all farmers who are doing interesting things too.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I'm English but all neighbours are Spanish and have worked the surrounding land for centuries. I've learnt a lot from them - about farming, nature, food, life - and so will any visitors. The area is quiet and deeply rural but close to two villages with plenty of cultural events (long walk, short drive) and a language school. We are just under 1hr from Jerez, 40 mins to Ronda and Arcos, and just over 1hr from Seville.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Help would be appreciated with gardening and landscaping (watering, weeding, clearing ditches, creating a raised garden, planting, fencing, pruning) to maintenance (painting, plastering, chopping wood) and maybe fruit picking depending on the season. If you have any experience in carpentry, building, plumbing, electrical work or know about building outside ovens or designing compost toilets, even better!
Some months I travel for work and so sometimes need mature, self-reliant, responsible house-sitters who can look after the farm, house, dog and cat for short periods.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
A big bed-sitting room with open fire and two beds, and sometimes a double room. Shared bathroom, shared kitchen, but plenty of outside space with tables and outdoor cooking in summer. I write for a living so it's best for people who are quite independent and like their own space. I don't have TV - unless you can put the aerial back up - but there are lots of books and DVDs. Internet access is steady but limited ie its for emails not streaming.
What else ...
This is a fantastic area to explore with good walks straight from the door, and river walks and mountain walks a bit further afield. Jerez, Ronda, Arcos and Sevilla are all easy day-trip distance. The nearest villages are Zahara de la Sierra (officially named one of the most beautiful in Spain) and Algodonales (famous for hang gliding). There's a reservoir nearby with kayaking available, and plenty of adventure companies offering canyoning.
Although best with your own car or mountain bikes, even if I'm not here, it's easy to arrange lifts into Algodonales (15 mins drive away) and from there you have good bus routes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
It's a different dynamic having a couple on the farm, but it worked well from my perspective. And this was also the… read more
Jobs were varied (hoeing, weeding, planting, pruning, painting, potting, brick-laying...), and Sorrel was happy to let Workaway volunteers work… read more
The work wasn’t too hard and we could work very independently/by our own organisation. Because of many concrete-building-work in our last… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.3)
Communication:
(5.0)
It's a different dynamic having a couple on the farm, but it worked well from my perspective. And this was also the… read more
Jobs were varied (hoeing, weeding, planting, pruning, painting, potting, brick-laying...), and Sorrel was happy to let Workaway volunteers work… read more
The work wasn’t too hard and we could work very independently/by our own organisation. Because of many concrete-building-work in our last… read more
She did a really good job, pruning many, many olive trees, walking the dog, helping me fetch wood, and on the days when we had apocalyptic weather, re-painting the floor, keeping the fire going and making cakes. It's a bit like… read more
