Help renovate my farmstead, grow delicious veggies and build stuff near Moletai, Lithuania

Details

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  Description

  Heya! I'm Donald, a Dutchie rocking it in Lithuania.
  
  Early 2019 I bought a Sodyba (Farmstead), Its a 2.5 ha piece of land, On top a 120m2 Log house, 3 Barns an Orchard and a Pond occupied by frogs and toads. I'm renovating the house with Traditional an Natural techniques and i have turned one of the barns into a Woodworkshop.
  
  I have my background in Furniture and Interior. In my Traveling Workaway years I learned a lot about Natural Building and Tiny Houses, A little bit of Gardening and Permaculture. With all gained knowledge I'm now trying to realize my own little dream: to life on the countryside, Have a Woodworkshop to build stuff, A nice Orchard and Garden for treats and to become as sustainable and independent as possible.
  
  The Sodyba is located in the countryside of Moletai, about 65km from Vilnius and 100km from Kaunas. The area has a lot of Lakes and Forests. In summer Moletai becomes quite touristic with events, markets and festivals, though the winters are quiet. From my village there is a bus once a week, but a daily school Bus you could hitchhike. From Moletai buses go anywhere regularly
  
  I like to dance Lindy hop, occasionally some Blues. As staying on the farm you end up a bit more Isolated, the dancing keeps me Social. Since Covid times I lost my weekly addiction to Dancing, But I still find myself at a social once in a while, Of course any Lindy or Blues dancers are still very welcome to visit. We can do home socials or Visit one of the weekly socials in the city!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I can teach you about Carpentry, Natural building and some basic gardening things., Take you on Walks in the nearby Forests or lakes. In the dark winter months I like to do Full Moon hikes at night, I Dance Lindy hop and Blues. If you are dancer we could check out some of the Weekly Socials in Kaunas or Vilnius. In my Workaway Years I learned one recipe of every country I volunteered in and could teach you each classic dish. Or show you a bunch of stars and constellations on a clear night sky.

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  Help

  A small summary of Works i am currently doing Have planned or have completed. Most of the work I can do alone, but its much more fun and easy to do these things together, especially taking care of the Garden and applying Natural Clay Plaster. Whatever I know, I can teach you. Whatever you know you can Teach me.
  
  Sodyba:
  - Removing, sanding, oiling and Insulating ceiling boards.
  - Mount wooden Laths and Clays plaster on walls
  - Remove old non working Stoves and clean bricks for rebuilding
  - Sanding and Painting Windows
  - Construction of bathroom space
  
  Barns:
  - General Cleanup/Maintenance
  - Basic renovation works
  
  Garden: 🌱🌱
  - Maintaining / Prepare Veggie garden for growing season or Harvest veggies!
  - Move young / Plant new Trees and shrubs
  - Water Plants / Greenhouse, give some love and chat with them :)
  - Chill with chickens, collect eggs,
  - Eat Delicious Veggies!!
  - Chop and / or stack Firewood
  
  The workshop has been completed and is in use!!
  
  Any experience with Woodworking tools (Manual or Electric) and/or Experience with Gardening is very helpful and appreciated but not Necessary.
  
  I need to improve my understanding of Lithuanian language, are you local and interested to spend a Calming weekend in the country side once in a while? in exchange for bootcamping me in your language? Let me know!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Beginner
  Lithuanian: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Two rooms have been renovated. One is the bedroom, the other a Living area/Shared space. There is a sleeping area on top of the Traditional Bread oven. Back in the days it was used in colder winter months for sleeping, Now is for guests, (Its very cozy:) The property is 2.5 ha, so if you like you can pitch your tent anywhere or take a hammock and occupy the Orchard or Barn if you are into that :)
  
  Currently there is only access to cold running water in the kitchen. Hot water from the water cooker. Garden water is collected from the Roofs or from the old Well.
  
  There is a Outdoor shower for the summers, and once in a while the possibility to use a public shower on a local Camping or a neighbor. (Bathroom is in process)

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  What else ...

  I believe moderation is key. I don't eat meat daily, but once in a while I do. If I can, I try to avoid buying processed meat and go for Local produce. I try to minimize my refined sugar consumption and avoid artificial sweeteners, Yet every once in a while a big cake, Bag o Biscuits or a bar of chocolate is devoured! I avoid buying products from Nestle, Unilever or with Palm Oil, but sometimes I do groceries for somebody else that does want them. I don't take pills or common medication. Yet occasionally you end up in a situation where there is no alternative. I try to be as Aware as possible of what I buy, what I eat, the products I use and the effect it will have on me and the environment.
  
  The above was written on my Volunteer profile and I lived by this for many years. But times change, Even though I still avoid many brand and basically don't take common medication. I am less strict to myself when it comes to meat and sugar consumption. There is just so much Tasty things in Lithuania.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  If you need Internet for Work related purposes, Its all good! its very fast and works well, Even in the greenhouse :) Just be aware that this is the village and there are power outages once in a while (more often in winter), Sometimes for a few hours, Sometimes for a few days. In case of emergency we could always pass by a public space with Wi-fi in Moletai

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  Space for parking camper vans

  You can basically park you Van anywhere you like, Close to the house, around the Orchard or by the pond. There is Road access until the house, after that its pasture and grass. no problem to drive if the soil is dry.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

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

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