Help our family around our farm, garden and kids while learning from each other in Overath, Germany

Details

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  Description

  Klefhof is a small organic farm where I live with my three children (11, 15 & 18 years old). It is located in the middle of the wooded hills of the Bergisches Land. I keep various animals on the farm: 3 mother cows plus their offspring (Glan cattle; an old breed of cattle), sheep, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, 1 donkey, 1 pony, 2 dogs and a cat. Spring is all about the offspring! Every year there are a few lambs that we bottle raise and that need to be fed several times a day.
  
  The farm also has a small nursery for young plants: Thanks to careful manual work, a colorful assortment of different vegetable plants, insect food plants, summer flowers and herbs grows in two foil tunnels between February and May - from the seed to the finished young plant! These include tomatoes, peppers, chili, physalis, eggplant, cucumber, zucchini & pumpkin, but also salads and cabbage. The plants are then sold at small regional markets.
  The plants are sown, potted, tended and cared for by hand. Solid seeds, peat-free soil, our own vermicompost and nettle manure are the basis of our work. It is really important to me to live cycles in as many areas as possible. In the so-called "Wurm-Turm" (“worm tower”) many hard-working helpers ensure that harvest residues and kitchen waste are converted into valuable worm castings, which is then used in the cultivation of young plants. This year we are doing an exciting experiment: Instead of using gas, we keep the foil tunnels frost-free in spring with a manure heater!
  
  The nature education with a focus on "education for sustainable development" is currently being expanded and renovated. School classes, kindergartens and other groups of children regularly visit the farm. I also offer courses and workshops for adults (like balcony gardening courses). It is important to me to give children and adults an insight into sustainable agriculture and to open their eyes to responsible meat consumption, which enables the careful and respectful handling of farm animals.
  
  I try to produce as much food as possible for the people on the farm myself: We have a vegetable garden and we keep chickens, geese and ducks. If time allows, we will also bake our own bread or make cheese.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  While staying with us you will gain insight in our daily life here at the farm - including the lively family life and also all the spontaneous changes of plans that come along with keeping as many different kinds of animals as we do. Even the best plan will be destroyed when a lamb is being born or the goats have jumped the fence...
  
  Depending on what you are interested in you can learn a lot about gardening, animal care, growing plants and the way we are preserving the biodiversity on our meadows. You also can take part in our markets and the pedagogical field; the education for sustainable development.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  I am always looking for help around the house, especially cooking. We have great vegetables here and are happy about people bringing their own ideas for creating meals. We do appreciate help in the kitchen a lot!
  
  Help is also needed with the animals, in the garden, the nature education, around the house and with the children. There are also numerous challenges for those with manual or artistic talents! :-) The work is varied and interesting and you can learn a lot in the different areas. I look forward to interesting exchanges, new ideas and the community that is created thanks to the different people!
  
  For me it is very valuable if you are responsible and can work independently once you have learned how to do a job.
  
  So, if you enjoy
  - working in a nice, international team
  - living in a community that varies between three and nine people of different ages
  - laughing & also having good talks
  - having kids and animals around
  - taking over some responsibilities in daily life
  - and don't mind creative chaos...
  
  ...please contact me!!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Russian: Intermediate
  Italian: Beginner

  This 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.
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  Accommodation

  We have two guest rooms available for your stay, one with a double and one with a single bed. There is also space on the farm for putting up a tent in the summer, if you like to.
  
  The bathroom and the kitchen are shared. We are having our meals together with everybody who is currently staying here. Mostly we are cooking vegetarian, but that can be adjusted depending on your preferences and/or allergies.
  
  Smoking isn't allowed inside or around the house. There is a little fireplace a couple of meters away from the house, if you want to smoke. No consumption of any other drugs allowed (except for alcohol now and then).

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  What else ...

  The Klefhof is located idyllically in the region called Bergisches Land. The farm is surrounded by forest and meadows, about 25 km east of Cologne - between Bergisch Gladbach, Overath, Lindlar and Kürten! Our hamlet consists only a handful of houses; there isn't even a village... and yet Cologne is quite good to reach by public transport.
  
  You can reach the next bus station by walking on a nice path trough the forest for 25 min. From there the public transport will bring you to Köln in around 45min. (we can also give you a lift to the bus station)
  
  There are many different hiking routes close to the farm, so you can go on longer or shorter walks trough the forests and meadows around here. We can also lend you a bike, if you want to explore further. In the summer, you can enjoy the little river just 300m down the hill.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Etwa 5-6 Stunden am Tag, 5,5 Tage die Woche

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