Learn handicraft and about becoming self-sufficient at our farm/school near Huedin, Romania

  • Favourited 218 times
  • Last activity: 14 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We live in a traditional, all natural, farmhouse at the foothills of the Western Carpathians (Apuseni Mountains). We work with our hands to enrich our lives with peasant wealth and submerge ourselves into local rural culture and experience. We founded a school for self-sufficient living, in order to provide the opportunity for equally motivated and interested people from all over the world to learn with and from us about the rich existing peasant knowledge and skills still used in our village. We have a young son, so we stress that this is a family and child-friendly environment.

    This is a unique opportunity to live and work on a small scale, horse powered farm within the traditional infrastructure of a peasant-life-style-oriented community. The focus of your stay (or internship) is on acquiring handicraft skills that are useful in rural life and increasing your comfort with living simply, so that you are better prepared to begin your own self-sufficient farm.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Help with Eco Projects
    Animal Care
  • 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

    By joining us with our daily tasks, seasonal jobs and particular projects, you will have a chance to experience what it feels like to live the traditional self-sufficient life. In so doing, you will learn the skills that might help you direct your own life towards more autonomy, simplicity and sustainability. Through contact with other villagers, you will get in contact with locals in ways that are normally inaccessible for regular travelers.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for persons who are interested in simple and self sufficient peaceful living and who want to submerge themselves in a rural setting for a minimum of two months (and preferably longer).

    Help on the farm:
    Daily tasks; animal care; three draft horses, dairy goats (milking), chickens, rabbits, dog, cat, cooking, cheese making, cleaning… Regular jobs like cooking, cleaning, gardening… Seasonal work; haying, planting, growing, harvesting, canning & preserving, butchering, juicing & distilling…Projects like natural building, infrastructure improvement, farm upkeep…

    Help with the village community:
    Alunisu is a peasant community struggling for its existence in the speed of modern ‘development’. Many of the inhabitants (around 100 in total) are older (though many of them still farming!) and in need of help. We very much encourage our interns to partake in the work of these villagers, help where it is needed. We ourselves do this as well. This is a great opportunity to do social service, learn skills first hand and have wonderful cultural exchanges.

    Help for the school:
    During summer season we provide courses and workshops. This brings along a fair amount of organization and work. Our interns can help to keep our farm running smoothly as these courses are happening, and at the same time have the opportunity to join and learn from the courses/workshops as well. In 2018, however, we are focusing on construction and improving our infrastructure.

    Schedule:
    Summertime is a busy season. Some days will be fuller and longer then others. We work with the flow of season, weather, ongoing projects and personal energy. Weekends are off and create the opportunity to take care of personal needs. Sundays we respect the day of rest of the community.

    In exchange for help we offer the chance to learn and to live within a lively traditional village setting, together with lodging and food

  • Languages spoken

    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    Romanian: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Our volunteers stay in our 'volunteer/intern house'. This is a traditional house in the village, with the orchard connecting to our farm. There is also possibility to sleep in a tent in the orchard, or find yourself a place in the hay barn.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our village is situated at the foothills of the Apuseni mountains (the Western Carpathians). Beautiful hikes are possible in the surroundings of the village and also in the wider surroundings. Cluj-Napoca, the capital of Transylvania and very important student city is 60 km away and offers lots of cultural opportunities. Huedin, the small local town is 10 km away from the village and has a train station. We are a family and are quite involved in many organizations and communities both in Romania and international. We do not have any extra time. We like to welcome volunteers who are already, to a large extent, self-sufficient and can enjoy working and being on their own as well as being part of a team. Our idea volunteer has a high stamina for simple, repetitive tasks, is spiritually motivated to participate in a simple lifestyle and is willing to pitch in whenever and wherever needed!

  • 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?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 769117582469

Photos

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