Create some things with an international artist and cuddle the cats in Southern Crete, Greece

Details

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  Description

  Update: The caravan will be free by 20th May, and there is probably room for more with some building skills. I have been hosting a dream workawayer for a week and am expecting my limit of 4 wonderful people from midApril-to mid-May. I need to focus on this first group and a renter coming in mid May who will occupy one room until the end of September, so I cannot commit to any more for the moment , but feel free to get in touch and give me a moment to see how this goes and we can see what is possible later in May or beyond. That said, if you are a professional builder, i will make space even if it means i sleep in a tent or my car. haha...but reallly, Carpenters, welders, masons.. please consider swinging by! Here we are 10 minutes from the mountains and 10 minutes from the Lybian Sea. Help me set up the garden while i find the organizations and funding to work with so we can make this a space for creativity, community, empowerment, organic food production and learning.Big dreams, but that's how things start, right?
  
  I'm a California born artist and teacher . I came to Europe to study in Berlin in 1998, so I am now officially German, more importantly an EU citizen, too. I've also lived in Mexico and France, but only large cities until this relatively new adventure which began with finding the ruin and neglected garden in 2020.
  
  Although my property is full of fruit bearing trees which were neglected for years as the old stone house had fallen to ruin, It is more of a large garden than a farm and not a business. In fact, the work I have done alone has taken nearly all my resources and because of my recent operations on both thumb joints and because I am still learning Greek, I do not have any stable income, which is why i am unable to pay anyone.
  
  I have however been a freelance artist and teacher living my life as an immigrant for over half my life. i raised my daughter almost alone and now would like to eventually be able to offer support for those who need it as i did in any way i can. i will be applying for grants and funding to try to make this a reality.
  I have put all my energy and resources into this project since 2020, and it has been quite difficult and isolating at times in a place where many would consider me insane for taking on such a project and i have sometimes wondered if they might be right, but the nature and the natural and human history here are so very inspiring. My village sits atop the dramatic Portella Gorge in Southeastern Crete. 10 minutes drive to both gorgeous mountains and to the Lybian Sea. old trees, new trees, and some helping hands please.
  
  I am planning to establish a place for creativity and to exchange all kinds of knowledge that welcomes diversity, nature and cat lovers, builders, permaculture enthusiasts, DIY skilled, kind, curious sharers and learners.
  
  March-April GARDNERS SUPER WELCOME for Spring selective weeding , clearing overgrowth and planting. I am open to your ideas. interested in a medicinal garden, amongst many other things,including rainwater harvesting (see next paragraph). There is clay to make an outdoor oven with. wood to be built into a weight bearing deck over the cute 1970's French caravan (ideally at least one educated carpenter or engineer type to be sure it's stable, but i could maybe hire a local to consult) Other garden building projects include building a shed and completing the outdoor kitchen .
  
  I'll be doing a workshop in building with pallets and clay next week, so perhaps that would be an option. There is a well with stairs that i'd like to build a beautiful and acoustically designed structure over, for collaborative sound performances with the underground river. There are things to do with stones and metal, and whatever natural materials we can find. i am a fan of beautiful repurposed salvage material. I have plenty of ideas but welcome creative collaborations, if that's your thing and even if you have no gardening expertise , there are also some things where i just need physical strength. I have just returned from Tucson where i did a rainwater harvesting designer course. i am interested in seeing how these desert techniques can be applied here - using old wine barrels and terracotta pots for tanks maybe, but mostly shaping the land with shovels a little. and creating some shallow basins. i welcome your input to combine with what my elderly neighbours have taught me. it's all about learning and growing together, and, of course, having fun while doing it. I also have a flat in Berlin that needs some renovations, if we get along and you'd like some city time.
  
  My hands have both had an operation recently, October and December 2025 so i cannot do everything i am used to managing alone. I am a good cook, open-minded, relaxed (except when i get a little overstimulated and ADHD frazzle, but i try to go away and organise my thoughts then)., and I have a lot of international experience . i am really happy to give a safe space to people who might feel vulnerable travelling alone- women, LGBTQI+, POC, and i especially welcome refugees.
  
  The nature is insanely beautiful in the South. A love of cats is a must, there are some new kittens running around the neighbourhood. I have a Spanish guitar, a casio keyboard, an amp, a mic...if you like to dabble in music in the evenings. a few hours of help and i can often take you for afternoons by the sea or for hikes in the mountains,when i am not working on trying to generate some income I've just invested in my first new car ever, a 4 wheel drive hybrid Dacia Bigster, so i will be delighted to take you on some adventures in exchange for your much needed helping hands.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Hiking

  

  Videography

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Events & social

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Pets

  

  Sustainability

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Plant care

  

  History

  

  Art & design

  

  Books

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Languages

  

  Architecture

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Performing arts

  

  Writing

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Astronomy

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  My culture is an international artist's culture. as i said i really welcome diversity. you must only be authentic, good-hearted, and honest. I'm really pleased to share what i have learned about the culture and to introduce you to locals. The future intension of this place is to be aplace for sharing knowledge and building community. It will begin with you and your much needed and appreciated help!

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  Help

  someone who can turn soil, garden a bit (or who is a permaculture genius!), be an extra set of hands, or two sets. Also any DIY skills are super appreciated. Creative thinkers and people particularly interested in sustainable idea for irrigation and water features, making a clay outdoor fireplace, a bit of masonry, carpentry are very welcome- but interest and openness are the best characteristics.
  
  Anyone who gets involved and likes it can have many future opportunities here. i respect people and will not exploit you. i expect the same. I do have quite a lot of random knowledge and experience in various things from ancient history to practical skills.
  
  I am also a very experienced English teacher but i am learning about farm stuff as I go. i would also be grateful for some online marketing help to gather support for this project and all it can be.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  trying to learn Greek, so i would love to have some exchange. I am a great English/Arts teacher, so they say ;), but need some people I can communicate on a basic functional level with. i prefer multicutural constellations to all of one foreign culture, so i hope you do too.
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  Accommodation

  there are 3 spare rooms with double beds ( 1 is made of two parts and can be two single beds) , although one is a trailer, with an additional single bed- very cute! there is a single trundle bed and a fold down sofa in the kitchen/living room AND i have a couple of tents and good camping mats too, as well as a mosquito net for those who like to really be outdoors.. there are two bathrooms, and an outdoor bathtub with hot water.

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  What else ...

  there is no bus here, so we have to work out me driving you, or you need to rent a scooter or a car. i will drive a few people to to the beach most afternoons when it's hotter, just get in touch with questions. i need help as soon as possible, and you can see more about the place and me on my website. Ask me for the address. i also have a website with some history of this house and my other activities but i am not allowed to share it here.

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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

  we might need an extention for the 5G- depending on where you sleep because my stone walls are thicK i think we can work out putting the modem in a good place though.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  there is an outdoor bathroom/shower building and with a little help we can have a nice outdoor kitchen as well., so welcoming campers and more than my current limit of 4 people will be possible in the future.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Worm (3 years)

  Worm, the furry ginger in between one year old kittens Mouse ( black in the back) and Rat (the grey and white one) was very wild and frightened when i met him, but he is a total love and a bit of a mystical guy who gazes and the moon and he is much loved by these younger ones and their two sisters, Squirrel (Calico) and Gerbil (stripy with Calico undertones) who were all born her- to their Mom, Sardine (who mostly hangs out with a neighbour now. These were all strays who i have had sterilized and who are delightful to have romping around you while you work in the garden. I'm really not sure exactly when he was born but it was in 2023, when the main construction rennovating this old ruin was done. He joined the gang of orphans whose Mom was my first cat friend here when i still lived in the Caravan. i regret not having been able to save her, even though she was my neighbours cat, so i do all I can for those who are at home in my garden. I will also be bringing my lovely 13 year old guy from Berlin, who has visited before and is maybe more into people than cats,although they seemtorespect him as an elder

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