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Help out on a permaculture inspired small holding in Central Victoria, Australia

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Come help in the beautiful gardens of our 5.5 acre hobby farm in Taradale, Central Victoria. We grow most of our own organic food and aim to live as sustainably as possible.

    After leaving a frantic city life 12 years ago (London and Melbourne) we are now living the country life, contributing to the building of our ethical and healthy local community. Jane is a Yoga Teacher and Glenn a Shiatsu Practitioner and Teacher.

    We have recently opened our Retreat Centre where yoga and health and wellbeing workshops and retreats are offered.

    The volunteer role is to help in the garden, not the Retreat Centre business.

    Particular skills we are after:
    - gardening, and a deep willingness to getting your hands dirty!
    - admin and organisational skills to assist in garden projects including seed collection, labelling and sorting etc
    - labouring learning and helping with small farm building projects

    We love to share the cooking of the main meals with volunteers. There is plenty of garden produce to inspire our cooking.

    This role would suit someone (or a couple) who are autonomous and likes to have quiet time alone and also enjoys working together collaboratively with others living on the property.

    We ask that volunteers have travel insurance that covers volunteering.

    We are open to applications from volunteers to stay for a whole garden season (up to 3-months). That way you can learn the whole seasonal cycle of growing food. Our busy seasons are Spring and Autumn in the garden. We are also open to short term stays, minimum 10 days.

    We ask for an initial 3-day trial period, to ensure both parties are happy with the arrangements.

    Please get in touch if you are interested, and please let us know what interests you in volunteering with us.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Hands on experience to learn about permaculture-inspired organic gardening. How to grow food. How to make compost. Local weed identification.

  • Help

    Help

    There are a variety of tasks on our permaculture inspired garden and around the house.

    In the Spring, the main work includes weeding and maintenance of the vegetable and fruit trees and berry beds, propagation and planting of vegetables, making compost, mowing etc.

    In the Late Summer and Autumn, the main task is harvesting and preserving the abundance from the garden as well as propagation and making compost.

    All year round there is the care of the chickens, ducks and sheep.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have a range of accomodations available, depending on current retreat activities and bookings.

    - A cosy cabin with a separate adjacent bathroom
    - A self contained blue tiny house with kitchen and bathroom

    Both of these are located in the back paddock of the property - see photo, and have a compost toilet. If staying in the cabin, volunteers can use the community kitchen in the retreat centre.

    Food is provided with one main meal per day is shared in the evening. Self-catering, with food provided, for breakfast and lunch. We eat as much as we can from the garden and local seasonal produce. We enjoy multicultural food and welcome volunteers to share cooking and recipes!

    Please note we are omnivores, and eat meat and eggs from the garden. But we also love vegetarian and vegan cooking.

    WIFI is not available in the Tiny House and cabin. Although they have good mobile reception. Unlimited WIFI is available at the main studio, and in many of the seating areas around the studio.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    About Taradale : it is a small town in Central Victoria. We are 15 km from Castlemaine which is a thriving and culturally rich town (including artist and environmental sustainable communitiies) in Central Victoria Goldfields region. There is limited but very connected public transport with a local bus during the week between Taradale and Castlemaine; and a train line with easy access to Melbourne (approx 1 hour away) and Bendigo 1/2 hour away.

    Taradale itself has an eclectic mix of locals, with many interesting social events and has its own local Wine and Produce store that serves coffees, wines and pizzas. There is also the monthly Taradale Produce Swap which we go to and take excess produce and plants from the garden to swap with other avid gardeners and cooks.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 482286779114

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