Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
19 Apr 2024
Reply rate
86.7 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
36
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a newly retired English couple who want to live a more sustainable, close to nature, eco lifestyle. We have a beautiful old Andalusian farm house on the outskirts of Orgiva but within walking distance of town. We have been renovating the house for the last 4 years and have just installed two solar systems, one for hot water and one for electricity.
We have less than one acre of land with 40 olive trees and a wide variety of other fruit and nut trees. We also have a vegetable patch, wild flower area, wildlife pond, swimming pool, and several terraces. We try to maintain the land organically, using permaculture principles and garden in line with the moon cycles.
There is also the option of helping with our 2 grandsons (Louie 2 & 1/2 and Luca 9 months) who live nearby and visit regularly.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Orgiva is an alternative, multi-cultural community located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains (the Alpujarras).
We enjoy meeting new people, sharing and learning for mutual benefit. By staying here, we hope you will learn together with us more about permaculture principles and how to live off-grid.
Help
We would do tasks together on the land, doing whatever projects are ongoing at the time of your stay. Each morning we would look at what needs doing and give you options (wherever possible) on what you would like to get involved with, as we want you to enjoy your time with us.
This could include:
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening using permaculture principles
Watering and Irrigating the land
Food preserving
Pool maintenance
DIY and painting
Preparing family meals
IT support
Child care
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are both trying hard to learn Spanish and can engage in basic conversations
Accommodation
We have a double room and a twin room, pictures attached.
We would provide your food on your work days and in addition to your 4 hours work on the land, we ask that you get involved in all mealtimes. We either all prepare, cook and clean up together, or we share tasks and take turns.
But on your days off we ask that you provide your own food for your main meals. You are welcome to use the facilities and cook for yourself, or enjoy days out!
Please note this could also be time off for us and we like to have days out and eat out sometimes.
What else ...
We are situated 20 minutes walk from Orgiva town where there are many bars, shops, restaurants, a large variety of wellness classes, activities and community groups.
There are plenty of walking, cycling and horse riding opportunities in the beautiful surroundings of Orgiva.
We are 1 hour from the vibrant, historic city of Granada with regular buses to/from the city.
There are also buses up into the pretty white mountain villages of the Alpujarras.
The beach is 40 mins away by car but currently no public transport unfortunately.
We are mainly vegetarian though we do also eat fish sometimes.
We have one outdoor cat, Rosa!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a patch of land, where you can park a large campervan, which is next to the vegetable garden and wildlife pond. You would have use of a basic outdoor kitchen, compost toilet, shower, washing machine, electricity for charging etc, swimming pool (when in season), food from the garden when available and a plot to grow your own vegetables (for longer term workawayers). This would be in exchange for 2 hours work a day per person, 5 days a week.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
4 hours a day, 5 days a week, plus involvement with all meal times.
Feedback (17)
The meals we shared were delicious and the house itself is lovely. The garden was my favourite part of the Cortijo - a really… read more
Thank you for this time. Especially I liked the hiking trips to the mountains. Both of them showed us a lot of the surroundings and took us to the markets.
Regarding work, we were always able to… read more
Photos
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
The meals we shared were delicious and the house itself is lovely. The garden was my favourite part of the Cortijo - a really… read more
Thank you for this time. Especially I liked the hiking trips to the mountains. Both of them showed us a lot of the surroundings and took us to the markets.
Regarding work, we were always able to… read more
My experience with them was amazing! I really enjoyed the tasks in the garden and in the kitchen. I worked with another girl, with whom I really got along! We prepared the soil and planted differents vegetables for the winter, did daily tasks in the garden, helped with the meals,… read more
I spend three weeks in their amazing house in which there… read more
I felt comfortable and welcome here from the very beginning. Here I not only worked with Michelle and Phil, but also lived with them. For a month, I became part of their wonderful family, and for that I… read more
We… read more
It was my first workaway experience-but it couldn't have been better. I also really enjoyed staying in Orgiva, which is a very… read more
We… read more
They had clear expectations regarding work, but it was not hard at all. It was a pleasure for me to work in the garden in the sunshine, with… read more
If you are looking for someone to start work early in the morning, she is perhaps not for you but once she starts, she works very hard, often doing hard physical work, e.g. clearing large cacti and rubble, with great enthusiasm. We often had to tell her to… read more
Loved the healthy living doing yoga on the rooftop, drinking spring water and fresh vegetables every day! Cooking… read more
Michelle and Phil are the most caring, adventurous, fun-loving humans I have ever met. They make sure you feel at home from day 1 and they make you feel part of the family. They encourage you to share ideas, thoughts and opinions, fostering a collaborative and creative atmosphere.
I spent… read more
They are very warm and kind people who will make sure that you feel welcome and comfortable trough out your whole stay.
The 3 hours of work which vary between help in the garden or diy projects were always nice and interesting, they always make sure you’re okay… read more
I don't even know where to start. Maybe with a big THANK YOU!!!!
I spent two insanely great, varied weeks with the two of them and I would have loved to stay longer if I hadn't already had plans. There is still so much to discover and learn!
Michelle and Phil are two very warm, well-organised and generous hosts who have… read more
