Organic smallholding with a small family in Kerry, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  ****April 2025 for next workaway help needed. Thank you for your interest****
  
  We live near Castlegregory village on the Dingle Peninsula, fortunate to enjoy beach and mountain surrounds. Rural location, equidistant from Tralee and Dingle towns.
  
  Nik is a woodworker and gardener. He has studied organic horticulture & permaculture. I (Olive) am a food enthusiast with an interest in biodiversity. We both work and share the care of our two sons - 5 and 2. It's a busy household, and we could do with your help.
  
  We enjoy being outdoors and with friends, and have a close-knit rural community around us.
  
  We bought the farm 4 years ago. We hope to develop it in line with what nature wants for it, along with some gentle cultivation so that we can live as sustainably as possible....
  
  ... you are welcome to join us and share in this experience together.
  
  Míle Fáilte!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Lots to take in around Dingle, with great social aspects and rooted in Irish culture - art, music, festivals and Irish language Gaeltacht areas nearby.
  
  Natural environment around us has varied habitats with lots of activities you can do such as mountains to climb, Atlantic ocean to enjoy and miles of quiet beaches about 15 mins walk away. Surfboards, wetsuits, snorkels all here.
  
  While experience is not necessary, it would be great if you came with some experience of growing and/or building, and we'll facilitate you to use the time on our small farm to further your learning of organic horticulture, permaculture, tree and land management, woodwork and child care. We've a lot of books to read on these subjects as well as sharing our own experiences of putting these things into practice, failing and learning and trying again!
  
  We hope to learn from you as well, particularly if you have experiences with gardening, farm or holistic management and supporting children to be curious, creative and explore the world.

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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

  - Help in the small holding of about 5 acres with a few garden spaces, chickens, a river and 2 fields, hedgerows and trees to plant and maintain.
  - Gardening is on our organic fruit and vegetable garden, preparing, developing and maintaining, sowing and planting. All tools provided, bring your own if you want.
  - Building and eco projects arise from time to time, especially a temporary movable hut for people, such as yourselves, to sleep in, with other ideas for building temporary spaces for get togethers, sauna, sleeping and creative projects - we just need the help to do it.
  - Babysitting our sons while we are doing the above or working in our other jobs. Both love to draw, craft, read, do lego, bake, and be outdoors, engages in fun imaginative play. Safely supporting them to help with garden and housework also great.
  
  Ideas for improvements in all of these areas are welcome.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Irish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We've a spare downstairs double bedroom with wood burning stove, and access to bath or shower and toilets.
  
  However, with very young children, our preference is for someone who is self-sufficient, with their own camper van or mobile, which we can accommodate on our land as close or far from the house as you like. Reason being it's not always good timing to have people in the house with two young boys, so you can have a chance to sleep even when we don't!
  
  While Local link has improved the transport around this area, it is also good to have your own transport, though of course we'll help out with lifts when we can and cal lend a bike for local travel. We can also insure you on our car if you have a full licence and you're over 25.
  
  Food is provided, you're welcome to join family meals. And to cook if you like!

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  What else ...

  Kerry is the Kingdom County of Ireland, located on the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast, and a beautiful place to be. Although we are near two towns, it is rural so it might feel remote - if city life is needed Cork and Limerick are about 2-3 hours away on public transport. Airport in Farranfore is closest, then Cork and Shannon, with Dublin farthest away.
  
  There's lots to learn in the area - Irish language and music, yoga classes, meditation, surfing and kitesurfing schools...
  
  Public transport links are infrequent but improving; there's a Local Link bus to/from Tralee which is great, although you need to get a lift to the bus stop in Camp to travel to Dingle. Otherwise journeys can involve a car journey, long walk, bike ride or a hitch hike. Castlegregory village is close by - a long walk or short cycle ride away.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  There is a small office in our home with desk, computer and printer.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Ideal! Large concrete pad which has had a caravan previously.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Dog or cats ok if they if stay outside our house due to allergies.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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