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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 Oct 2023
Feedback
37
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Description
Thank you for reading about us and our place. We moved here in April 2012, swapping hectic lives in the UK for a more natural pace of living, in a beautiful part of the world.
Our main criteria for helpers is enthusiasm and a general willingness to 'muck in', those bringing laughs with them have gifts we will welcome
We are a (mainly) organic small holding attempting to be self sufficient. We are growing our own fruit, veg and animal feed, preserving food by various methods, have lots of fruit trees. Currently (Nov 2020) there are no livestock on the premises.
Lomtsi is a beautiful village halfway between Popovo and Razgrad. Most of our neighbours are Bulgarian self sufficient farmers and everyone is really friendly and welcoming. There are beautiful walks all around the village and a couple of bars and shops.
We are ex-helpers ourselves, during which time we learnt a lot and met some great friends. Having experienced the other side of the coin we offer to provide you with good wholesome evening meal (we rarely eat breakfast and lunch, with the emphasis being on the evening meal, breakfast and lunch materials are available though), the opportunity to join us on trips out, the use of our bicycles, internet access and most importantly - an enjoyable experience. We can pick you up from Popovo or Razgrad when you arrive.
We still use a long drop toilet when working outside, but have a fully functional kitchen, bathroom, and washing machine.
It is really good fun and hopefully you will learn many life skills, mind you hopefully you can teach us a few also.
We are native English speakers but Paul speaks some French and German. We are learning Bulgarian slowly.
We look forward to welcoming you to our home.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Any helpers enter our home as guests, and as such are invited, whenever possible, to join in any social activities we undertake.
Because we are a small holding and doing renovation works there are a wide range of opportunities available. We try our best to make sure people achieve their goals, as well as helping us build our dream
Help
We ask volunteers to give a 25 hours per week, normally over 5 days, and help with meals and cleaning up. Help involves assistance with house renovations, planting/harvesting crops, helping in the garden, processing food, house and animal sitting if we go away.
Sadly after a long illness Paul died August 2020, now Tracey needs help catching up and getting things back on track,
Ideally 2021 will see more areas of the garden, brought into attractive productive areas, rather than squeezing crops into random cleared areas. This is going to involve much earth moving, the construction of pathways and hopefully the construction of a greenhouse . However, at this time, I'm still taking things day by day
Internally, insulation and plasterboard needs attaching to ceilings. Some walls need battening and plasterboarding, There is also, possibly a wall to tile. Various finishing touches need adding to those past projects which were completed to a stage that made our home liveable.
At certain times of the year we would ideally like to host someone we are comfortable enough with to leave as caretaker in our home a few days at a time, this would require someone with excellent animal skills, responsible, mature and capable of showing initiative. Any helpers we do feel comfortable enough to leave in our home will not be asked to do additional jobs during this period, although we won't say no if you insist.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Bulgarian: Beginner
French: Beginner
Russian: BeginnerThis 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.
Accommodation
Own room in main house. All other facilities shared. We are unable to accommodate vegans.
Please note we do not have a television but do have lots of books and music, as well as good internet connection. I do not have a smart phone so whatsapp/viber are not valid ways of verbally communicating before arrival. I do have Discord, Skype or FB messenger
What else ...
Please when contacting us, list what and where you feel you can be of assistance and we will tailor our days to suit your talents and expertise....!!! It also assists us in making sure we have materials necessary on site.
We look forward to welcoming you to our home.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
max 25 hours per week
Feedback (13)
The work I had to do was physicly hard but the most time Tracey was there to help by herself.
Some more updated photos would been nice.
Thank you for the nice 3 days,
Anton
The 3 days he spent here he worked hard and completed some projects I had been unable to finish off myself.
Anton was… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
The work I had to do was physicly hard but the most time Tracey was there to help by herself.
Some more updated photos would been nice.
Thank you for the nice 3 days,
Anton
The 3 days he spent here he worked hard and completed some projects I had been unable to finish off myself.
Anton was… read more
Initially we requested they clear the fodder field of weeds, which we had let get out of control, not only did they do a fantastic job cheerfully they worked faster than we expected… read more
They are very open and you can talk about everything with them and there will always be a topic to talk about.
Tracey cooks really really good and we stole a few of her… read more
It was impressive how quickly Nicky understood new , to her, techniques to such a level she could explain the process to others. Nicky was also a pleasure to have around as she pushed herself to her limits but accepted sometimes others could achieve things better than she… read more
Although he seems somewhat reserved this is not shyness as he is more than happy to share ideas and ask for clarification, when needed. Once he knew what a job entailed he tackled it with quiet confidence and the end results exceeded our hopes.
While here Ameer expressed… read more
This place is for those who are delighted with… read more
It has been a smooth week helping them -me a little bit around the house- and Brendan building a tile roof with Paul-
Tracey is often busy in the kitchen cooking delicious meals ;) they are both always up for a laugh and a chat. Hope everything is super with the work… read more
I learned from them how to live in a more relaxed way. Enjoying the day by day.
But also how to work with wood (Paul is a very good teacher). He has every single tool you can imagine for it!
And how to cook delicious meals...thank you Tracey for all the lunchs and dinners! I think in few days my weight was 2 kg… read more
Kate first contacted us 6 months ago when she was many thousands of miles away and we mutually agreed she would visit/help us in June. During those 6 months she maintained contact, updated us with any potential changes and we were looking forward to her… read more
Whilst here, he cleared rubble, and the manure underneath, from the destroyed barn area, leveled the area and helped lay a… read more
We felt really fast as a part of the family.
As we worked together we were involved in everything.
After the 2 weeks Julie and I stayed, I continued for 2 weeks with a lot of ideas of what to do there and the feeling to live here.
We learned a lot : mud plastering, making a fence, making concrete,… read more
Thanks to their hard work we now have rain collecting guttering, a concrete pool base, outside solar lighting, organised computers and enjoyed a month of great company.
The mud plastering… read more
When Adam wasn't working away giving our home some fantastic features he was great company involving himself in some challenging conversations.
Where… read more
Not only is Sarah a hard worker, she is confident enough to ask questions and make suggestions, often very helpful ones.
Sarah… read more
James and Thirzah are a lovely couple who not only mud plastered but also helped us help a neighbour move and stack their winter wood supply.
We wish them well in their adventures
The only downside of having Katerina staying with us was how lazy and tired she made me feel. Even when told she was not allowed to do any more work that day she would be pottering around, in between making full… read more
The work was hard, but we enjoyed playing with the mudplaster and hope the rabbits enjoy their new house!
If you are willing to give up your luxury, you will see the real Bulgarian… read more
