Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Last replied
15 Aug 2025
Reply rate
83.3 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
-
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
About 20 years ago, we started creating a permaculture garden of approximately 1 hectare. Many fruits, vegetables, and nuts are now growing and blooming there. We live very quietly on the language border, but still just within Flanders, on the edge of the Flemish Ardennes. It's a very peaceful area, in a beautiful, gently rolling landscape. Camping is also possible in the garden, and part of the house is sometimes rented out as holiday accommodation. Workawayers are not supposed to help with that.
I am 75 years old and live alone.I am in a live-apart relationship and my partner visits regularly. My children do not live near by.I see them occasionally.
We eat mainly vegetarian and eat as much as possible from the permaculture garden.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Books
Gardening
Nature
Winter sports
Dancing
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I can teach Workawayers about permaculture and self-sufficient living. I can also explain to them how it becomes more difficult to live self-sufficiently as we get older.
Every Wednesday evening we gather with a group of folk music lovers in Gooik (20 KM) to make music, jam, dance, sing or do something cultural.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
You'll primarily help with harvesting and processing vegetables, fruits, and nuts to replenish the winter supplies. You'll also maintain the chicken coops (4) and turkey coops (4), and sometimes repair fences. We almost always work together. During the winter months, we chop, saw, and split wood for heating. We use machines for this, but they also need to be operated. But volunteers will never be asked to use chainsaws. In the near future, we plan to build a clay stove, working with a specialist, but help is certainly welcome.
Languages spoken
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
You'll be staying in a private house with a living room, bedroom with a bathroom and toilet, and a kitchen with Wi-Fi. There's no TV.
You'll cook for yourself, but you'll be provided with everything you need, primarily from the garden. No meat or fish. Sometimes we can eat together.
What else ...
We live in a quiet, secluded area. You can use a bike to get around. There's a bus stop 1 km away and a train station 3 km away. Brussels (30 minutes) and Ghent (50 minutes) are accessible by train. We live in a small village. Geraardsbergen is the nearest city, 8 km away. The garden features a natural swimming pond with rainwater. For other recreational activities, you'll need to go to Geraardsbergen or Ghent. We're fans of folk music ourselves. You can walk and cycle to your heart's content here. We really appreciate it being quiet at night so we can sleep well. No loud music.
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 room for one small campervan. There are sanitary facilities with a shower, hot and cold water, a dishwashing area, and an outdoor dry toilet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
chickens and turkeys
We have 4 chickens and 4 turkeys. We are vegetarian so we do not eat them
Photos
