Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
29 Jan 2020
Feedback
34
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are living on our caring renovated historic homestead close to Berlin and Potsdam together with our three dogs, four horses, one cat and one rabbit.
Our horses are not ridden, so it won't be possible for you to do horseback riding. But if you like to know more about this wonderful creatures, I will be happy to tell you a lot about them, while you are here.
Our place is ideal for people who are looking for a break and love being outside with animals. Out here you find everything you need to clam down. Please recognize that reliability, thoughtfulness, personal responsibility, humor, creativity and cleanliness should be natural qualities for you if you write us.
Our homestead is situated in a small village with 340 residents, located in a wonderful natural preserve. There are cranes, storks, brants around - and not far away, you can find wolfs. We love to live quiet, but if you like to have a break in a big town, there is a bus stop right in front of the door, which carry you to Potsdam in 45 minutes. Berlin is possible to reach in one hour.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
When we where younger we loved to travel. Now we settled down and will be happy to welcome people from other countries for cultural exchange. We are really interested in other cultures, their traditions, their daily routine and their history. We like to discuss about social values, different history and personal responsibility for live and the world we are living in. So we will be happy to meet people which are interested in the things happening around them and who are curious to learn more about life in Germany.
Since we are very interested in Portugal, we will be very happy to welcome people from there!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The daily work consists stable service (mucking and feeding), helping to put the outside facilities in order and taking care about the horses in the late afternoon.
Our day with the horses need’s to start early. So, if you like to sleep long, you might not be too happy in our place. Beside you need to be a kind of enthusiastic of being outside and it will be a benefit if you are strong, cause mucking is physical work ;-).
It´s nicer for the animals to get aquainted with people that are going to be around for more than a few days, so please plan on staying around four weeks.
We prefer people which are interested in horses or already have experience with horses.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
You will stay in your own apartment which is situated in our house with own sleeping room, kitchen and bath-room. You will find pictures below. We are sure, you will enjoy your stay in this lovely flat, which is excellent for spending a timeout.
Since we had have some bad experiences with the neatness of volunteers please only contact us, if it is naturally for you to really clean the rooms you are living in. We expect that you return the apartment in the same deep clean condition to us, like you find it by your arrival!
What else ...
We are a couple in the middle of the 40's. My husband is working as a screenwriter - as I did in earlier times, too. He is working in Leipzig. So he is off the whole week and only returning for the weekends.
Cause Berlin is not directly in front of the door, it will be a benefit, if you are a person who like to spend time by reading, writing, or other things to do by yourself, or in the great nature around.
If you really dislike being by yourself and expect daily interaction you might not be too happy with us as hosts. But if you want to look at the bright side: We won´t be in your hair constantly :-).
Don´t get us wrong, we do like hanging out and talking. But we appreciate living with self-sufficient people not expecting a long talk every time we meet in the house.
One thing to consider: Cause of our dogs, we can't host children!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Five hours a day, five days a week against free lodging and food
Feedback (18)
Dirk and Silke are great hosts, very laid back, and endlessly interesting—both can talk to you about anything from current events to life in… read more
I was taken amazing care of, in fact, better than I could have ever asked… read more
We were looking only for a new useful experience, instead In Rieben we’ve found an amazing family of friends and a safe refuge where the quiet landscape tells your intimate secrets and give… read more
Photos
Feedback
Dirk and Silke are great hosts, very laid back, and endlessly interesting—both can talk to you about anything from current events to life in… read more
I was taken amazing care of, in fact, better than I could have ever asked… read more
We were looking only for a new useful experience, instead In Rieben we’ve found an amazing family of friends and a safe refuge where the quiet landscape tells your intimate secrets and give… read more
Since she has a degree in english and literature her english is perfect! She is really interested in german culture and her surrounding and therefore the conversations with here have been a pleasure.
Lorena has… read more
Silke and Dirk are amazing hosts, very respectful and polite, always willing to help and making you feel comfortable. I highly… read more
Dirk and Silke are really nice and warm people, both always willing to help in anything they can and trying to make you as comfortable as… read more
They are both hard workers. Very self-dependend and respectful against the privacy of their hosts. Especially Iris is a very powerful young lady. Always with a smile on her face, no matter how hard… read more
This Workaway was one of the most unique and amazing experiences of my life! I had the absolute pleasure of living with Dirk, Silke, Lynn, the beautiful dogs and the wonderful horses for 5 weeks in the gorgeous private apartment in their home in… read more
She is a very… read more
We love the nature so that’s the main reason that we decided to do this volunteering. And we were not mistaken. We perform all our expectations and MORE! I didn’t know ANYTHING about horses and in our first day working, Silke started to explain me about them.… read more
Raquel is like a little sun, shining all the time. She did the work with some much passion and you could see that she enjoyed every moment she spent with the animals. They loved the little conversations in spanish, Raquel had every morning with them. It was so tender, like a mum, talking to her… read more
She did the little field for us, so thank's to her, we could harvesting veggies in the late summer. She even did a plan, how to protect the little plants… read more
I was so happy to be a part of this huge homestead for 6 weeks.
Especially with Pian, I felt as if he were my actual friend. haha
I have never been so close with horses before, so these experiences were so special to me.
Also the beautiful neighbourhood and nature in Rieben are really… read more
She fell in love with Pian and it seems like they have some little morning talks, while standing close together side by side.
She was the first women doing this hard work in the stables… read more
Highly recommended :)
The accommodation is beautiful, the work is sensitive, but basic - but you have the… read more
She undertook the not particularly exciting, but necessary tasks around farm and household and fulfilled them superbly.
In the afternoon she helped us lovingly while working with the horses. Deluxe was a real fan… read more
They provide you with a lovely little apartment and are very generous with food. The work is… read more
It is a very peaceful location and Berlin and Potsdam are nearby for weekend visits.
The horses are well looked… read more
They are both really hard workers, absolutely reliable, well organized, very independently and fast learners. They transmit a unique calmness which made them a real enrichment for our horses.
Alex cared with so much responsibility for them, that we… read more
Thanks so much for hosting me for my first work away experience.
It was fun to explore the county side for a week and help with the horses each morning. Dirks cooking was amazing and I really enjoyed sitting down to dinner each night and practising my average German with you : )
The accommodation was incredible… read more
We learned much about Melbourne and it was so kind that she took her time to help our daughter Lynn to plan her trip… read more
The work is hard and you have to be very fit and healthy. But after… read more
And even if you said all the time your German is not so good: It is brilliant!
You surprised us… read more
You are the nicest and most cheerfull family a person could ever know. I always received what I needed without asking, even if you're busy worker, and your open-minded education made me feel good and comfortable; as I said to Dirk, I felt home since the first week.
I know I shouldn't say… read more
Our animals where real friends for you and it was wonderful to see, how you treat them with respect and… read more
You took the inconveniece of the wether with humor and did the work with joy. You surprised us with funny and awesome pictures you did while working… read more
