Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
13 May 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
27
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Country info
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Hello and welcome to our beautiful property! We are a couple, and we live in an old house with a beautiful garden, in a small town in northern Germany only 18 kms from the Baltic Sea.
We‘ve been on Workaway for a few years now and still enjoy having guests from around the world and listen to the stories they bring into our home.
The projects we‘d love to have help with include DIY, gardening, painting, general maintenance and preparing firewood . All depending on your experience and preferences. That’s the short form, if you‘re interested in more details read on!
About us: I’m Karina, an architect, and most of the time I work from home. I enjoy not only designing but if I have the time also building things with my own hands. My husband Volker is retired and you‘ll find him either outside in the garden, on his little gem, a newly planted sustainable fruit orchard or in the kitchen cooking.
We love being outdoors ,walking, riding our bikes, birdwatching, home cooked meals, wine, good coffee, meaningful conversations as well as storytelling. In summer we love watching the sun go down from our backyard. Or just sit around a camp fire.
The house we live in is from around 1880 and it always needs attention somewhere.
We have an organic garden with fruit trees, nuts, all sorts of berries, vegetable garden, flower beds, lawns as well as a little green house (and not to forget some weeds…). We don’t keep animals but there are lots of native birds around and with a bit of luck you can also see deer and hares in our backyard.
We also own a hectare ( 2,5 acres) of grassland that we’re slowly converting into a sustainable meadow orchard with a variety of fruit trees and also other native plants. This has been our dream for a long time and we want it to be a refuge for wildlife. The trees were planted late last year and there are also two new little ponds that will hopefully be home to frogs and other little creatures in the future.
If you happen to come to our place you’ll always be able to find a secret spot to yourself (in a hammock, with a book, a drink or whatever…). You can explore the area with several lakes, nature reserves, woodlands and forests and opportunities to get away from the hustle and bustle.
Short stays (1-2 weeks) work well for us. Longer stays might be possible as well depending on the circumstances. We just need to discuss.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Culture
Sustainability
Carpentry
Plant care
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Architecture
Cooking & food
Languages
Gardening
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Camping
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We host Workawayers because we enjoy sharing our home, ideas, skills, and garden — and because we love the cultural exchange that naturally grows from living and working together.
After hosting on Workaway for about 4 years now we still enjoy having guests from around the world, listen to the stories they bring into our home and we’re truly grateful for all the help and kindness we’ve received.
Help
We live in an old house from around 1880 that always needs attention somewhere.
This year we’re planning to build a larger wooden gate between front and backyard and also want to replace a small wooden shed (only 2x3 meters). But the list is long and we have a wide range of projects happening. Therefore we would love to hear from people with DIY and general handy skills.
Besides that there are some areas in and around the house that need a bit of new paint, so if you love painting we’ve you covered!
In winter, generally in January and February, we go to a nearby forest to get our firewood for our two fireplaces at home. We have a small, old tractor that we take to the forest where we cut and split the logs and take them home. After 3-4 hours of help in the forest it feels good to relax in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea or coffee 😃.
Over summer we cut and chop the firewood and help is much appreciated!
Apart from the tasks around the house there is always something to do outside like general maintenance and of course in the garden. For instance we plan to revive a garden bed where we actually need some input in terms of landscape design.
Skills/experience in the following areas are more than welcome:
- DIY
- painting
- landscaping
- gardening
- planting
- weeding, pruning
- harvesting fruits and veggies
- cutting, chopping and stacking fire wood
Help will be diverse and we'll figure out what your preferences are. But it would be ideal if you know how to use power tools such as drill, saw and grinder.
Your own ideas are also welcome!!
Helping hours are 4 hours per day.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
If you are interested in learning German we would be happy to talk to you in German and help you improve your language skills. Native English speakers are more than welcome as we don't have many opportunities to speak English and it would help us improve our spoken English.
Accommodation
We offer clean and comfortable accommodation in a private bedroom with a double bed and an extra single bed (or day bed). So we can host single travellers, a couple (plus one child) or two travelling friends. There is plenty of shelving, coat hangers, hooks, a table and a chair (see photo). You will also have access to all other parts (kitchen, sitting room, etc) of the house. You just need to share the bathroom with us.
What else...? Home cooked healthy food, shared meals (usually lunch and dinner), super fast and unlimited internet, and a relaxed, home-from-home atmosphere where you’ll feel part of everyday life.
What else ...
We live in a rural area. Our town is quite small and there are no shops. But you'll find all kinds of supermarkets only 6 kms away. We usually go there a few times a week and can always give you a lift. We‘re also happy to take you to nearby places to do some sightseeing around the area. There are a couple of bikes for you to use as well.
In case you’ve had enough of the tranquility in our village and garden:
Things to do in the area:
-- Swimming--
At first, there is the Baltic Sea of course! In summer it’s quite busy but early in the morning or in the late afternoon it’s great to cool off and relax at the beach. We also have several lakes in the area where you can find a quiet spot for a swim.
-- Bike riding--
There are no steep mountains around us, just soft hills and we can show you a lot of great rides. You may then discover one of many manor houses of the area and you are welcome to use one of our bikes.
-- Walking/hiking--
We enjoy hiking ourselves and have discovered many walks of different length in the area
-- Birdwatching--
We are hobby birdwatchers a never go for a walk without our binoculars. There is always something in the air to watch, even sea eagles!
-- Sightseeing--
Lübeck, a medieval UNESCO heritage listed city is only 25 kms away. It’s really beautiful with lots of historic buildings and churches.
Around us there are several towns, all of them with a hidden treasure: Eutin 20 kms (Castle where Catherine the Great came from), Bad Segeberg 15 kms (Limestone caves and home of an open-air Western theatre), Plön 25 kms (castle).
And Hamburg is just 1,5 hours away in case you are keen to visit a big city...
There truly is something for everyone.
ON A FINAL NOTE...
...our usual diet includes some meat. We eat quite healthy though with lots of veggies and salads. If you are a VEGETARIAN, we would like you to help us cooking. Dear VEGAN, sorry but that's too much of a challenge and we won't be able to offer you a stay with us ;-).
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
As I work from home you can join me in my office room. There is enough space and a spare desk. Internet connection is super fast and WiFi is available throughout the house. If you prefer you can also sit in the garden to do your work.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (13)
Work was varied and included going to the woods which was fun despite the cold time of year.
I was helped to explore this interesting area and would love to go back to see even more birds. It would also be a great place to stop on the way… read more
The work was reasonable and we had the opportunity to discuss what we… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Work was varied and included going to the woods which was fun despite the cold time of year.
I was helped to explore this interesting area and would love to go back to see even more birds. It would also be a great place to stop on the way… read more
The work was reasonable and we had the opportunity to discuss what we… read more
From day one she helped in the kitchen, set the table, cleaned up… read more
Perhaps about the framework: Communication and arrangements were always detailed and tailored to all needs in advance and on a daily basis, the room… read more
Flynn mainly helped us with pruning trees in our backyard but also with chopping firewood (even though it was January and rather cold). On top of that he helped with some… read more
We were really thankful for Pablo to come to our place. We had some renovation projects going on and he assisted us with various tasks. It included making concrete foundations, using a drill hammer, some earthworks, seeding and painting - which he actually loves! Since painting is his most favourite… read more
She is a lovely and cheerful person and always has a smile on her face.
We had a variety of work we needed help with. Even though Valentine didn’t have much experience in… read more
She needs minimal supervision… read more
I you go there you'll meet two very generous people with whom you'll have great discussion at lunch and diner. Karina is very interested and easy to talk to and Volker has a very playful personality.
They will help you in any way they can… read more
I can only advise you to stay with Karina… read more
We had long conversations at… read more
They're open minded and sincerely wanted to communicate with me and also respected my privacy during the stay.
I felt at ease when I had dinner with them, and… read more
Within a week… read more
In the… read more
