Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
28 Jun 2025
Reply rate
86.7 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
6
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
I live with my 16 year old son on a suburban 900m2 block in an 1950s suburb in Albany that I bought in July 2017. We have chickens, food forest, fruit trees and vegie gardens. I did my Permaculture Design Course in 2013 and have attended several Permaculture Convergences. I practice permaculture in my gardening, finances and socially in community engagement (for example, the swap station on my front verge). We keep a radical low waste household and I teach and write about living plastic free. I run Non Violent Communication workshops and can teach you NVC. I am interested in gift economies and have set up several initiatives in my town. I am also a part-owner of a health food business in town. I train BJJ and MMA four or five times per week.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Events & social
Culture
Writing
Plant care
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Books
Blogging
Art & design
Nature
Hiking
Fitness
Camping
Dancing
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can learn how to make fermented foods, including kimchi, kombucha and sourdough bread. I can share ideas for living with less waste, and explain why we should avoid single use plastic. I can demonstrate and walk you through NVC tools for compassionate communication and conflict resolution. I can show you how to make natural beauty products and simple herbal medicines. My son can teach you how to build a cubby with pallets, fold really good paper planes, shop for groceries plastic-free, shoot arrows, salvage an old computer and build Lego spaceships.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Some of our current backyard projects include sheet-mulching to establish orchard areas, planting herbs and vegies, fixing fences and gates, making a duck pond and integrated apple orchard, building garden structures, plant propagation and division, seed saving and storage, and preparation works for an earthen walled goddess garden with trellises. Building projects might include painting murals, repairs, designing an attached greenhouse, small garden structures/trellises, outdoor benches and installing weatherstripping. Other chores might include cleaning, preserving, making fermented foods, making sourdough and low-sugar baking.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We have two bedrooms with a bunk or double/queen beds available to travellers inside the house. We have hosted volunteers via other websites since 2014, so we are used to international travellers and have a collection of local maps and brochures for your days off. Volunteers not from Workaway usually join in with the meals, and can bring extra ingredients or help to cook if needed.
The house has a wood fire and a bath. There are spaces to relax outside and an interesting library.
It's 2km from town, and less than 1km from the supermarket. There is a bus 50m from the house, but the bus only runs for Monday to Saturday with limited stops.
There is broadband internet available. There's no house phone.
It's a shoes-off house.
Smoking is permitted outside the house. No additional pets are allowed. We run a radical zero waste household, but we can show you how to minimise your plastic purchases for common use.
Local food is prioritised over distant, organic over conventional. Organic backyard produce is the most valuable! Low sugar kitchen, lots of ferments, vegetables and homegrown food. We mostly eat local ethical meat. Vegetarian meals are welcome.
There's no microwave, electric kettle or TV; we watch movies on laptops instead.
Dumpster diving is encouraged; needs at least two people.
I ask guests not to use aerosol deodorants, flyspray or highly scented products like candles. I can suggest natural substitutes for all these. Dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent and unscented toilet paper is bought in bulk. Soap is handmade, once or twice a year. Cleaning products are mostly bicarb and vinegar.
What else ...
Albany is home to many attractions, including National Parks with magnificent hiking trails, the Porongurups and Stirling Ranges (50kms and 100kms away), beautiful beaches for surfing and fishing, good coffee shops, the oldest farm in WA and the National ANZAC Centre. You can find local beer, wine, cheese, milk, fruit and vegetables at local shops, farm-gate sales or markets. We have a great Farmer's Market run by local growers on Saturdays, and lots of live music around on weekends especially in summer. The Albany Shantymen play twice a month. Festivals include Green Fair in early November, Denmark Markets from December-April and Sustainable Living Fair & Expo in March.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I have unlimited Wifi but it's not very fast and sometimes drops out.
Space for parking camper vans
I have space in my driveway for a small campervan.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Feedback (5)
She didn't follow instructions… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
She didn't follow instructions… read more
This is a peaceful place, adapted if you need to… read more
My plan was to stay for one week, in the end I stayed for a month. I think that says it all!
In the end I felt like Rachels flatmate and if I would live in Albany, I would definitely move in her unique and creative house.
I am also full of new and different inspirations, which I want discover back… read more
