Help at a plant Nursery near Kruger National Park, White river, South Africa

South Africa

updated Last minute

Favourited 229 times

Host rating
Feedback
29
Last activity
16/10/2019
Nº of Facebook friends
1344
Reply rate
100.0 %
Average reply time:
within 2 days
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This listing is a Last minute host. They have let us know that they are looking for help immediately as well as at other times of the year.

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Availability

2019

Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are wholesale growers for the plant nursery industry located in the pictures Lowveld area situated next to the Kruger National Park. I live and work on a small family farm close to White River Mpumalanga , I'm single but have 5 big Dobermans and a cat that lives in the house with me so you will have to be comfortable with close contact with them but not to worry you won't have to share a room with them ,We are constantly upgrading and expanding our nursery and various other jobs are available. If you love plants and getting your hands dirty and a bronze tan then this is the workaway position for you.
Type of help
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Other
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will learn a great deal about propagation ,cultivation of plants while being outdoors in a very beutiful area in south africa. If I can give potential workawayers some advice is to start with a host close to home to get some experience with the whole concept of workaway and then building on some good references that would make me accept you much easier , good references on your profile is 100 times more important then 10 pictures of yourself on a beach.
Help
No skills are needed
Description of help- volunteers will assist planting cuttings and seeds , the planting of various types of plants from seedling size into bags and pots , they will assist in fertilising of plants , maintenance on irrigation systems ,general maintenance and construction of nursery
Languages spoken
English, afrikaans, learning Dutch
Accommodation
Accommodation is on the farm where the nursery is located next to a river . You will have a shared room with bathroom hot water and electricity with wifi , we have a maid taking care of the cleaning , washing of clothes and tiding up. You will need to help with preparing the food that I will provide. There's is no maid on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays and cleaning will be required by yourselves.
What else ...
Take travel insurance when traveling to Africa its not called a 3rd world country for no reason. The Lowveld area is well known for its beutiful landscapes and the world famous Kruger national park being close by ,there's some really nice hiking trails and waterfalls, botanical garden , historical towns and fishing on the propery. There is various ways of local transport to most of the places in the lowveld area , collecting and dropping you of for your stay will be arranged in the Nelspruit and White River area. I highly recommend Citybug for means of transport direct from O.R. Thambo International airport to Nelspruit. If you would like to spend only a few days you can send me a request on Coushsurfing
Pieter Steenkamp
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

Baking time with Emma

Tina , rain or sun she was always ready to work

Erik and Christian having a swim in dam and a wel deserved beer after a hard days work

Georg helping out with moving plants to the newly constructed area that he helped me with

The Dobermans

Show all photos

Daniil learning about drying meat into Biltong

Gus building new raised vegetable garden

James grinding up chickens for dogs

David catching some big fish on farm

Carmen preparing cuttings

Tony / hard worker

The accommodation

Feedback left by and about host (29)

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:
(4.5)

Communication:
(4.5)

05/10/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Sophie)

It was an absolute pleasure having Sophie volunteer on our farm ,she fitted in very easy with the work and the rest of the team and handled the sun and heat pretty well. She was very helpfull in the house and always eager to give an extra hand without me asking. You will always be welcome back should you wish so. Hope to see you again in the near… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Morgan & Kayla)

Morgan and Kayla worked with us for a month and it was an absolute pleasure having them here ,they worked well as a team alone and with my workers and eagerly worked extra hours helping out on various jobs on the farm. We spent many evenings chatting and preparing meals together. I would highly recommend them to any hosts looking for a hard… read more

(Excellent )

22/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Miriam) for host

Staying at Pieter's nursery was my first workaway. In the beginning he promised a cultural experience and when I left after a month I can say that this was definitely accurate, not only during working hours alongside his staff but also after hours when Pieter introduced me to various friends and other local people. White River is a nice area and… read more

(Excellent )

19/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Miriam)

Miriam stayed for a month and she is a gem in workaway terms ,she worked good with the team and also on her own tackling any task given and completing perfectly. She was fun having in the house with plenty of nights chatting and playing board games. I would highly recommend her to any host and will always have my doors open for another visit.

(Excellent )

16/06/2019

Left by Workawayer (Tina) for host

So this was my first Workaway experience but definitely not my last. I have had a great time in Pieter’s place in White River. Out of my 3 month travel around in Africa, Pieters Farm is among one of the best thing I have done.

Pieter is a good host :thumbsup:
The food is good and healthy and it is easy to feel at home in the beautiful house with… read more

(Excellent )

01/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Tina)

Tina helped with us for a month. She tackled all kinds of work from the very easy planting cuttings under the shadenet to doing hard landscaping jobs in full sun and blistering heat ,she struggled only the 1 day and came back the next day full of energy ready for more work. She was an absolute pleasure having on the team and blended in… read more

(Excellent )

24/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Emma)

Emma worked for me for a month ,she was really very helpfull in everything i asked her to do ,from planting cuttings ,recycling thousands of plantbags to baking banana breads and helping with the birth of 10 Doberman puppies. She even offered to help me out at night looking over the newly born puppies for a few nights ,i really appreciated her… read more

(Excellent )

16/01/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Georg)

Georg worked with us for 2 weeks. His main reason for comming was to see the Kruger national park, i told him that a minimum stay of a month would justify me making the effort of taking him there ,he understood and he suggested to put in extra time to make up for only being here for 2 weeks. I admire him for that and could see that he is willing… read more

(Excellent )

16/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Georg) for host

I had a really great time at Pieter's place! I only stayed two weeks at his farm, but during this time, there was a lot to see and learn.

He is living at an absolutely peaceful, relaxed area. We had some great swims at the dam next to his house and great evenings with a lot of talking and drinking. His dogs are the cutest dogs ever and always… read more

(Excellent )

04/01/2019

Left by Workawayer (Whil) for host

Pieter is a very generous host. He provided the necessary gear, gloves, eye protection even mosquito repellent to make your time and work safer and easier.
His mother's hearty food is not to be missed.
The work is hard, mainly because of the heat ( so be warned ), but fair.
Pieter's property is set in one of the most beautiful parts of South… read more

(Excellent )

04/01/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Whil)

Whil worked with us for 1 month helping with various maintenance work on the farm. He worked very wel with others and took the lead when working with other workawayers that needed guidance in getting the jobs at hand done. He has a vast knowledge for work in his past that got the work done fast and proper , he worked good with the team or on his… read more

(Excellent )

26/12/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Cristian)

Cristian worked with us for 2 weeks helping me erecting shadenet. He is a fast learner that used his own initiative doing the work fast and proper , he worked good with the team or on his own. He was always very willing to help when it was not expected of him. Real big thanks for helping clearing a tree from the electric fence after a big storm on… read more

(Excellent )

04/12/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Richard & paulina)

Richard was an absolute pleasure having working on the farm ,he blended in seeminglisly with the work and adapted very well to the harch African climate hallelujah for aftersun lotion:) no task was to big or small and executed it very well and proper. I would highly recomend him for any task cause I think he is endless in his capability to do what… read more

(Excellent )

25/11/2018

Left by Workawayer (Richard & paulina) for host

This was my first workaway experience and i absolutely loved it, Pieter was an amazing host. He is very funny, kind, generous and open minded. We had many great nights talking, laughing, drinking, exchanging cultural differences and playing yatzee ( check the dice because i'm sure he has tampered with them.) The location is wonderful, its very… read more

(Excellent )

17/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Scott) for host

I had such a great time in White River at Pieter’s place. It was my first workaway experience and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. The work was pretty varied which is nice. I helped to take down some trees to make way for shade nets for the plants, planted seedlings and cuttings, digging, etc. Pieter was also great about showing me the… read more

(Excellent )

17/10/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Scott)

Scott worked with us for 4 weeks doing various hard labor work and did it with a smile in extreme weather conditions. He is a very pleasant person to have had on the team and the team thoroughly enjoyed his company. I would rank him as one of the top workawayers to have volunteered here and would highly recommend him to any host. Hope to see you… read more

(Excellent )

23/09/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Daniel)

Daniil worked on farm for a couple of weeks helping with various tasks on the farm , he is reliable fit and able to tackle any job big or small by himself , he was a great person to have on the farm and I enjoyed his company forrowly and would highly recommend him for positions with hosts and you are always welcome back should you ever wish to… read more

(Excellent )

15/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Daniel) for host

I've stayed with Pieter for only two weeks, but I've had a really great time there, it's defenetely an experience to remember!
I've helped Pieter with various tasks and it was always exciting to learn and experience something new. Since this is a plant nurcery, there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about plants, gardening and landscaping… read more

(Excellent )

13/09/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Christian)

Chris worked with us for a week but got into the hard work with no problem and endured the sun with a smile , I would recommend Chris highly for his eagerness to get into the hard work and for his good company. Thank you Chris

(Excellent )

08/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Christian) for host

I had a great time at the farm working with a lovely team. The work was simple and the hours flew by very quickly. Thanks Pieter, for all the effort u did in accommodating me and Daniil and entertaining us by driving us around. Also a great opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. Highly recommended!

(Excellent )

29/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (James) for host

Pieter is a very generous, genuine individual. He is also very knowledgeable and passionate about plants and horticulture. I stayed with Pieter on his farm for about two weeks and learned a great deal about herbs, flowers and the rudiments of agriculture as practised in South Africa. Pieter is open, friendly, approachable and helpful and is happy… read more

(Excellent )

20/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (Fergus) for host

This was a great workaway experience. Pieter has an apparently limitless knowledge of the lowveld plants & growing methods (as well as some rare international varieties), and is synced with permaculture principles, sustainability & non-traditional cultivation. He looks after his workaways amazingly well, and can teach you a lot about horticultural… read more

(Excellent )

19/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Fergus)

Thanks Gus , you give the workaway concept great justice , I have lately learned a great deal about sticky situation with previous workawayers but i can say with all onasty you are the best by far and would gladly have you back here to help with the hundreds of projects I have lined up for the future. I would highly recommend Gus to Hosts. Hope to… read more

(Excellent )

16/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (Carmen) for host

The work I did here was wonderful, I learnt so much and there was a great structure and routine for everyone involved! Pieter has so many ideas for future projects, offers the greatest accomodation and is really open minded - I stayed for only a short time but it was perfect!

(Excellent )

01/05/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Carmen)

Carmen was such a pleasure having on the team, always laughing and smiling while getting in a good days work either working with the team or by herself. She was always eager giving a hand with extra work not expected of her and a delightful soft hearted person to have in the house and learn more about eating and preparing vegetarian dishes. I… read more

(Excellent )

18/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Tony)

Tony was a pleasure meeting and having on the farm , we had some great conversations and is a real easy going guy. From the start he worked very hard doing various jobs with the farm team and assisting me with the more complicated work , he was always eager helping with preparing nice food for us when I asked him. I would definitely recommend him… read more

(Excellent )

18/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Tony) for host

I've been one month at Pieters place and this time can simply be described as amazing!
The plant nursery is a beautiful and comfortable spot in a great landscape.
I've had my own room and bathroom with electricity, warm water and there was even Internet.
The work I did included leveling a construction area, setting up shade nets, cutting down… read more

(Excellent )

11/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Colleen)

Colleen is a hard worker that endured the sun and heat with a positive attitude. She lifted the spirit with the woman on the farm with her knowledge and experience. She was always willing to lend a hand with extra work after hours and also worked more hours than was required. I highly recommend her for any position with any kind of work as she was… read more

(Good )

22/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Colleen) for host

Thank you Pieter for hosting me at the nursery for the past two weeks. I had lots of fun working with the ladies in the plant nursery! I was involved with re-potting, making cuttings as well as planting the cuttings.
I got three meals a day - if Pieter wasn't cooking then I had access to the food and could could for myself. I had a room of my own… read more

(Good )

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Host ref number: 829831834675

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