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Host rating
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Last replied
6 Sep 2024
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Description
Our suburban property is turning into a productive, sustainable space applying permaculture, organic and recycling principles to show that it can be done in a suburban environment. We try to involve our community and grow food on the sidewalk. We grow a variety of herbs, veggies, fruit etc. and we have some ex-battery hens.
We've also converted our huge pool into a greenhouse. We need help with day to day garden chores like composting, weeding, planting and maintaining the chickens as well as with structural projects like rain water collection, irrigation etc. and we'd like to experiment with setting up a donated aquaponics setup. There are many ideas we want to implement and we learn as we go! We are members of our local Talent Exchange and run a craft studio, which occasionally means you can join us at craft markets doing tie-dye with kids.
There's plenty DIY which needs doing, so if you have skills in that field, that would also be useful.
We run a Food Rescue not-for-profit, so there is often food processing and preparation involved. We are a vegetarian household, most of the food comes from what has been rescued and we supplement meals from the garden where possible. We'd also love you to spread the word about what we do to your own networks on social media, so be prepared to think and write a bit about your experience here!
We'd like you to work about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, but tasks change from day to day and hours can be pretty flexibly distributed which leaves plenty of time to explore Johannesburg.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
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
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will get intimately acquainted with how broken the global food system is and learn more about food rescue and diverting produce from landfill. Don't underestimate it, it is a shock to the system!
Johannesburg is a cultural melting pot and will more than likely be nothing like you expected - be prepared to be surprised!
Help
Volunteer work over and above the daily house, greenhouse and garden chores pretty much depends on what projects are on the go at the time, but we also try to plan things according to the skills our volunteers have and what they like doing. There is often a fair amount of food prep needed.
We are passionate about permaculture and sustainability and are learning as much as we try to teach. Suggestions are always welcome. If you happen to teach a craft, please let us know and we can try to schedule a class in the studio!
Languages spoken
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Accommodation
You sleep a dorm-style room with two single bunk beds and a queen-size sleeper couch. The bathroom is in-suite and shared. There is a separate volunteer kitchen and fridge although most of your cooking etc. will be done in the Nosh kitchen.
What else ...
We are located in the Western suburbs of Johannesburg. Public transport is predominantly by the local minibus taxis, but there are other options such as metro buses, Uber/Bolt and the Gautrain train and Gautrain bus system. Johannesburg has many good art galleries and museums, and is home to the famous (and excellent) Apartheid Museum. There are many other activities a little further afield and even a day or so away, for which we normally recommend renting a car for a day or two. There is an excellent yoga studio in our road which offers amazing monthly specials and there is a rock-climbing centre and sports fields within walking distance.
It is hard to describe what you would learn when you come here. There are always lots of things going on, our to-do list is a mile long and we are involved in many projects not on the premises, you definitely shouldn't get bored!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have an uncapped fibre connection wit pretty good connectivity.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 x 5 days
Feedback (17)
During my stay we 'saved' food and we would prepare meals with the other volenteers. I have never seen so much joy of the inhabitants in Soweto that day as I have seen in my entire life. Thank you so much Hanneke :-)
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Feedback
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During my stay we 'saved' food and we would prepare meals with the other volenteers. I have never seen so much joy of the inhabitants in Soweto that day as I have seen in my entire life. Thank you so much Hanneke :-)
Thank you Hanneke and may all the good you do for others come back to you .
I stayed just 2 weeks at Hannekes place, but there was a lot to see and learn.
She lives at the suburbs of Jo'burg in a really engaging, relaxed atmosphere together with four wonderful dogs and the volunteers. The volunteers have their own area, with everything you need to live.… read more
everything in her place(house, garden, food, projects, Hanneke, and super cute dogs!) inspired me.
if you stay and work here, you can learn many things!
Super recommend!!
We spent three weeks at Hanneke's home and it was a nice experience. They were several people on the project and they were very friendly and now we have new friends.
Hanneke has got many projects :- Collect the food wastes in the supermakets,
- Distribute a part of this food to the people in the townships,
- Make some praparations with… read more
Well worth your time and effort
