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Cherry picking and more in Bulgaria's cherry paradise

  • Favourited 25 times
  • Last activity : 28 Sep 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a laid back and open minded couple with a one year old little boy. I am a Belgian born language teacher, musician, reiki practitioner and tarot reader. About 10 years ago I got attached to Bulgaria and its amazing nature, and in 2015 I bought a property in a small village, surrounded by cherry trees and snow topped mountains. My hubby David is an electrician and produces electronic music and one-of-a-kind lamps in his spare time. We moved here end of 2021 and are now in the process of making this place better and better. Hopefully we can gradually develop some interesting social and/or cultural activities here, inspired by permaculture.

    Space and freedom are of utmost importance to us. We are also super busy taking care of Rumi and the household. Count on spending time without us and entertaining yourself in the free time. We don't exclude the possibility of doing some fun things together, but you need to be independent enough to take care of yourself.

    The Kyustendil area is amazing. Besides from the mountains there are numerous mineral springs and baths. The nearest town, Kyustendil, has several. There is also a market, and a lively center with a lot of bars, restaurants and shops. Great second hand shopping! There are some folk festivals in the summer. In June and July it's cherry picking time: my garden has about twenty trees and the cherries are just wonderful. Too much to eat, great for jam and compot. For those who enjoy horseback riding there are opportunities in the surrounding. Hiking and mountain biking are also perfect pass times in these parts. I don't have bikes here (yet) but they are for rent for very cheap in Kyustendil.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    If you are willing to be part of a starting project and deal with the trials, errors, the falling and getting back up again, great! Woodworkers and builders also warmly welcome! My husband is an electrician and will be glad to teach you what he knows if this is something you would like. We will live and learn together. Musical and mineral medicine, open(ing) hearts and minds, and a stunning nature await you.

  • Help

    Help

    We want to find ways to generate income, and one opportunity is the cherry orchard we literally live in: we can pick the cherries and sell them, make preserves, wine, ice cream... But the baby keeps us busy so we could use extra hands with the care of the baby, the cherry picking, the making of the preserves etc. Also with the renovating of the structures on the premises we could use some help. If you have experience with cob houses, stone garden paths, roofing, building doors, windows etc, you would definitely be of great value here.

    The accent will be less on growing vegetables this year and more on creating more sustainable beauty in the garden: some seating area's, rose beds, lavender beds, perennial herbs... We do have some tomatoes and some guerilla pumpkins I transplanted from the compost pile.

    Right now we are about to have a vacation at the seaside but after this it is time to clean up the garden: pruning the cherry trees, sorting the wood, piling the logs for the stove. About 30 trees we have here. Ideally we host a couple who can help us about four to six hours a day, and who get full room and board in return. You can stay either in our guest room or in the smaller house in the garden, and use the compost toilet and the bathroom with shower in the house. You can join us for meals three times a day. We can also provide a gas stove to cook on in the old house on the premises that also has a sink with drinkable water. It's all about transparency and agreement so we will discuss the wants and needs of both sides before you come over. After you sent us an email we shall speak over the phone or have an online interview, so we can both figure out whether it is a good match.

    I am a recording singer-songwriter and David plays guitar and has experience with protools and Ableton. Musicians with experience mixing and mastering, players of guitar, bass, violin, cello, cajon, brass instruments... you might be that special extra touch we are looking for! I must add there has been very little space for music since Rumi was born. We still play but there is (for now) no recording.

    If you love kids, orchards, jamming, and/or you are a yoga teacher, roof worker, plumber, gardener, a musician or all of these at once :) please come and join us! And let's have an awesome, healing, creative and constructive time together!

    Thank you!
    Namasté

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    German: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    I can help you with English, French and Dutch

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You are also free to peg down your tent in the garden in case you enjoy camping and like the extra privacy.
    We share the bathroom with toilet and hot shower. There is a compost toilet in the garden and we plan to install a sink and shower there as well so we don't crowd our inside bathroom too much. There is an old house on the premises that also has a sink with drinkable water and soon a gas stove for cooking.
    You get breakfast, lunch and dinner unless we agree otherwise. I usually cook one hot meal a day, except on weekends. Then we see what works best, depending on everybody's plans. Some days I am not feeling it and then the kitchen and fridge are open for your inspiration :) I am quite flexible and expect the same from my guests.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There is public transport from Sofia to Kyustendil. I can pick you up at a meeting point before Kyustendil.

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have a regular wifi connection in the house. There are power fallouts sometimes, which then also stops the router from working and cuts the internet connection, but these fallouts usually last no longer than an hour, usually even just minutes.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Just in front of the house there is a big parking space along the street, it is grassy and there are trees, so it's in the green.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    3-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 827873442196

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Natural coastal and rural home and help with daily projects in Varna, Bulgaria
Join me and help with carrying out a self-sufficient lifestyle while exploring unique places in Bulgaria