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Help our family with some natural home projects and creating an energy garden in the woods of Groningen, Netherlands

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are Bart and Justine, living here in the woods of Ter Apel (the north of the Netherlands) with our three sons Aramis (7), David (3) and Isar (0).
    We've got a small house surrounded by green and a plot of land (4000m2), where we are in the process of creating an energy garden for young and old.
    Our goal is to build beautiful places where others can also come to retreat and re-establish or re-enforce their connection to nature and themselves.

    The land that will be turned into the garden had been neglected and we are working it small bit by bit. We have already created a beautiful vegetable garden, a meditation labyrint, placed two yurts, planted a birch (fairy)forest, and are now working on the area around the yurts, creating a small tea terrace for hikers and re-wilding the space behind our house.
    There we will one day build a common area and 3 places for people to retreat.

    We love how our place is surrounded by nature, but yet close to the village. It is a place of connection, stillness and openness and live at the same time. Our dream was to create a place where people feel welcome and this is what we have done and are doing. A dream come true.
    We also have absolutely lovely neighbours, with a sweet couple and their son on the left and on the right a big eco community (Land van Aine). However there is a lot of space and trees between us and both neighbours.

    It is bursting with potential and there is space for endless creativity. Because it was so neglected and we are only 2 adults, it is still a bit disorganised in some areas. A work in progress. That being said, we make sure nothing is neglected and we have envisioned how we will recreate those rewilded areas.

    At the moment we facilitate workshops for adults, children and families in our yurts ( for more information) and receive clients for 1:1 sessions in our herbal room.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Babysitting and creative play
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are a Dutch family (eldest son is half American), so in terms of culture the Dutch culture is what we can offer (including sunday morning pancakes).
    We are building a retreat center and have many skills in herbal wisdom, coaching, accessing and working with multi-dimensional fields, energy work, increasing your intuition, heart-lead living. All these skills we merge in how we work in the garden and how we do our building, and creating. We "communicate" with the land first and take our time for it to reveal how it wants to look, what plants want to be planted, what energy is there, or what still needs to be processed. So in coming here you could learn about heart felt building, instead of mind determined.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    Because we are a family with young sons who love to observe all that we are doing and help as much as possible (sometimes), it is important to us that the person who comes here has an affinity with children.

    Aside from that on the practical work, there are a few options (so feel which describes your abilities and wishes best):
    - there is a lot of gardening that needs to be done
    - there is some construction work that is happening or will happen. We are making a parking space, renovating an old shed into a small tea house, stripping the old barn.
    - it is also possible to help us with the kids, so that we have our hands free to work the garden etc ourselves
    - a combination of the above

    Lastly, since we are creating an energy garden here, having an affinity with spiritual practices, is a bonus. We do feel it is important that those who work here can feel and connect to the land in what it wants to become.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    German: Intermediate
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This is not our primary goal, but if you are a match for us and this is your goal, we'd be happy to cooperate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have a cute gypsy wagon available (with wood stove for heating) and in the winter we have a yurt available. Both are located at the edge of the forest and have their own kitchen.
    We have a compost toilet outside, and you can use the shower in our house.

    Food-wise, we would like to offer meals on the days you work. Due to school schedules we take breakfast by ourselves and lunch and dinner with you. You are of course very welcome to join us for Sunday morning pancakes. On the other days we can see how we like spending this time together or if we desire privacy with the family (or you by yourself)

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We prefer no smoking on the property (and minimum of alcohol. We drink a beer every now and then, but don't like the energy of too much alcohol in the field) and can both be very social, but also deeply enjoy our hermit time.

    We are mainly vegetarian (meat every now and then from a local farm).

    We live close to Emmen, have a bike available for you, and often go swimming at a nearby little lake.
    At the eco community next door they sometimes have open space days as well, or ecstatic dance events. We also host workshops ourselves where you are welcome to join.

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    Internet access is limited, but you could use the modem in our house.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    The camper can be parked across from our house. We have electricity available

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    we have cats ourselves, so anything that likes cats.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 612234847276

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Help me with organising and making my house a home in Zaandam, Netherlands
Help me out with my beautiful garden and house maintenance in the vibrant, student city of Groningen, Netherlands