Family farm in the Fjords, near Stranda, Norway

Details

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  Description

  We run a family farm in the fjords of Western Norway, with dairy cows and apple orchards. We also have two cats, 7 hens, and grow fruits, berries, vegetables, and potatoes for self-sufficiency. And we make and sell cheese and juice and cider from apples. And we have a little farm shop. There is always something happening here, and lots of projects.
  
  We are an international family, with my husband being from Spain, and me having lived in many countries before moving back home. My parents also live here and are still very active farmers, and then we have three small kids aged 4, 6 and 8.
  
  We have had “working guests” on the farm for about 40 years, and we love getting to know new people and share our daily life with them. Yet the exchange programme that we have been a part of recently had to close due to covid, so now we are excited to be a new Workaway host.
  
  Staying with us involves becoming part of a busy and bustling farm and family life. The area we live in is beautiful, and here are plenty of opportunities for hiking and outdoor life. In summer you can run down for a dip in the fjord and in winter you can put on skis right at the doorstep and reach the mountains above us.
  
  Right now we are looking for a Workawayer who could join us in March 2024, and stay until May or June.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  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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  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

  You’ll get an insider perspective from a centuries old Norwegian farm, and we are happy to openly share our farm life with you. I am an anthropologist by training, and really interested in culture and cultural exchange. During your stay you will learn about many aspects of farming, artisan, small scale food production, and life in general. We live in a scenic region, with many tourists visiting the area, especially in the summer time. By doing a farm stay with us, you get to see many things tourists are missing out on, and understand more about what life around here really is like.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

  Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.

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  Help

  The tasks changes with the season, and can to some degree also be adjusted to the wishes and skills or the workawayer. Tasks on the list for the Spring 2024:
  *make cheese
  *bottle cider
  *prune apple trees
  *animal care (feeding, mucking, learning to milk if you want)
  *attend customers in the farm shop
  And there might be other things to do than the list above, but at least this provides some insight.
  You will also be welcome to cook some meals, and take part in the household chores like a family member.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Norwegian: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Japanese: Intermediate
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  We speak a mixture of Norwegian, Spanish and English at home. If you want to learn and practice any of these languages, you can here. I was also once fluent in German and Japanese, and would gladly practice these with you. This winter we are going to visit France, so have just begun learning a little French too.
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  Accommodation

  We have two guest rooms on the top floor of our house, so you can stay in one of them. You will have your own new bathroom up there. We share all meals in the main kitchen, and you are welcome to cook some of them if you like. All food is of course included with the work exchange. We have no special diet in the family, but we eat a lot of home grown and home made foods, and have our own milk, cheese, eggs, meat, potatoes, berries, and vegetables in the summer season. If you are a vegetarian, we can work that out (I was a vegetarian for a decade). Our house was built by my great-grandparents over 100 years ago, has four floors, and is in general good condition.

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  What else ...

  We are a very flexible family, and used to having an extra or two family members around us. We expect you to do your best to support the farm and family, and have a positive attitude. We also expect you to remember you are a role model for our little children, who will be very happy playing with you and learning from you. We prefer it if you are able to stay for a good while.

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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

  We have a decent internet connection in the whole house. I do quite a lot of computer work from home, and this works out well. In your free time, you are welcome to work on your online computer projects.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week