Help with some organic farming projects in Pozega, Serbia

  • Favourited 146 times
  • Last activity: 20 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a British/Serbian couple who left our London office jobs eight years ago and started living simply and learning how to create an organic farm in the mountains of Western Serbia. We have two adult daughters who still live in the UK. We now have an established orchard and grow many fruit & vegetables successfully. We have a tractor and have corn in one of our fields - we have about 7.5 hectares of mountainside most of which is still wildflower meadows. We also make award-winning organic wine and fruit brandies, keep free-range chickens and bees. Our friendly dog, Banjo, is a big part of the family.

    Now we are anticipating spring and all the work that it brings; pruning, weeding, orchard preparations etc as well as construction of a drystone wall around the firestation and there are always multiple building and repair tasks of course!

    We would welcome volunteers who are fit, energetic, easy going and willing to get their hands dirty!

    Apart from farming we have some other projects: We run the local volunteer fire brigade and have built a fire station for our 1957 Green Goddess fire engine. We also teach local children to swim in our pool every summer and run a mobile library project for 20+ village schools in our region. We have three properties, a large chalet style house and two 'etno' wooden cabins which we offer on other site.

    Our house backs onto miles of pine forests which smell wonderful in summer, the countryside here is stunning with lots of beautiful hikes and unspoilt nature all around. Local wildlife includes many birds (inc golden eagles and 3 varieties of owls), hares, deer, wild boar, jackals, foxes. We are quite far from restaurants and shops if that's what you're looking for :)

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Learn about life in rural Serbia, meet local people and get involved in the community. And live in totally stunning countryside.
    Learn about bee keeping, wine making (fermentation) and brandy making (distillation), chicken care and organic orchard practice

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    General help is what we are after, depending on the season:
    help in the garden and orchard - watering, planting trees, weeding, harvesting and processing produce
    mushroom foraging (under guidance),
    assisting with wine and brandy making
    wood chopping, stacking, clearing woodland, help with small building projects. Winter projects also include clearing the snow, chopping and stacking wood.

    We drive the tractor and operate the chainsaw and workawayers help by stacking the chopped logs and using the wheel barrow.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Serbian: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Most bookings are for the cabins so we stay in the big house, but occasionally we rent the house so we, and any workawayer, would be in the cabins instead. Yes there’s a good internet connection! Generally breakfast is 'help yourself', lunch is the main meal with local cheese, lots of vegetables and salads and we have a light supper (usually with wine).

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Winter offers skiing at the small resort (Divcibare) at the top of the mountain, (8km away) as well as tobogganing on our hill. In summertime there are wonderful hikes and we have a huge low-chlorine swimming pool and plenty of sunbeds. We enjoy a simple life surrounded by beauty and try to live in harmony with nature,

  • 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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 669584438874

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