Austria
Favourited 460 times
Natur and Animal Lovers wanted!!! Migrant shepherd has settled down in the Mölltal in Kärnten.
I like to host people interested in sheparding and the traditional life on a mountain farm in Austria. Louis is a seasoned migrant shepherd with a herd of over 160 sheep, that he take care of year around. During the seasons i like to share with you the live of a shepherd in the Austrian Mountain world and introduce you to this magic world in the mountains. At the same time i restore two farm houses and manage my garden and fruit trees during the season with my Parents. To give you some inside into my schedule for this year the following:
February: We prepare the barn for the lambing season and start making fire wood for the next winter
March: This when the new lambs are born and need to be paired with the mothers. All lambs need to be marked and the claws need to be trimmed. At the same time we start to grow seedlings for our garden and expand our gardens. We collect fallen branches from trees and cultivate our berry bushes. General maintenance of all pastures and drive ways.
April: The herd is taken to the pastures and additional lambs are born and need to be taken care of. At the same time we work in the gardens and around the house.
May: We mainly work with the herd and fence the pastures and rotate the pastures. The garden is worked on and composting is started.
June: Now we take the herd up the mountain to the summer “Alm”, where they stay for the summer. The Alm is a remote cabin on top of the mountain, where no cars can go.
July: The Herd is still at the Alm and down in the valley we start harvesting the first fruits and make hay.
August: The herd is still on the Alm and at the farm we make hay and prepare the garden for the second planting. We harvest a lot of fruits, make jams and conserve fruits and vegetables for the winter. Cutting fire wood, to prepare for the winter.
September: By the end of September the herd returns to the Farm and we continue to harvest fruits and vegetables which need to be conserved.
October: Now we stay at the farm and keep the herd during the mating season on the lower pastures. At this time we sort out the lambs that will stay for breeding and the once that will be sold. During this time we work on the houses and buildings as well to prepare for winter.
November: Now the season is almost over and we prepare the stall for winter, while the herd is grazing on the lower pasture near the farm. This is the time when we maintain our equipment and make repairs to the building
December: This is the quiet month and the herd is mostly in the barn.
January: Again a quiet month and the herd is mostly in the barn.
Gardening
Building
Babysitting / child care
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Help in the house
Animal care
Help with Computers / internet
You will experience the traditional life on an Austrian mountain farm, that still has most the tool and equipment in place, that farmers used to life a life of self sufficiency in the Austrian mountains. You will learn about mountain farming, while living in an area that offers year around glazier skiing, rafting, Canyoning and many other outdoor activities on your days off.
In the coming month, Louis will take the herd up into the mountains and will stay there for the summer. During this time we work on the barn on the farm on maintenance and repair, make fire wood for the winter and plant in the gardens and take care of our fruit trees.
During spring and summer we like to update our web site as well and make the old Farmhouse ready for the winter. Anybody who would like to join our team for a minimum of 4 weeks and longer is welcome to share with us skills in gardening, building or animal care.
We are a working farm and take care of several hundred animals around the clock and prefer experienced volunteers that can work with little supervision.
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
We have guest rooms and plenty of outdoor space, if you like to camp outdoors. Internet is available in the main house for moderate use.
The Mölltal is an out door paradise !!! hiking, biking, swimming in a near by lake ,wake boarding in the summer, rafting canoeing, skiing and trips via bus to near by towns and cities. The bus stop is within walking distance.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Two
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(3.8)
Communication:
(3.8)
