Join me and learn about permaculture in Geraardsbergen, Belgium

Details

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  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.

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  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
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  Interests

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Books

  

  Gardening

  

  Nature

  

  Winter sports

  

  Dancing

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling
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  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.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  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.

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  Languages spoken

  French: Intermediate

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  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.

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  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.

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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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  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.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  chickens and turkeys

  We have 4 chickens and 4 turkeys. We are vegetarian so we do not eat them

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