Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
90.9 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Hello, my name is Bianca. I am 39 years old and I have just made my dream come true by buying a house in a rural area of Transylvania, for my dog, Kira, a 9 years old Great Dane. I have spent half of my life in Sibiu, my hometown and the other half in Bucharest, where I studied Economy and Communication. My summer holidays as a child, however were spent in the countryside, with my grandparents, in a village called Slimnic. It is there that I chose to move 8 years ago, with a strong wish to start living in the countryside and to begin my downshifting journey.
I am part of a peasant association fighting for the peasants rights to land, seeds and market opportunities, based in Cluj-Napoca. In my free time I volunteer in an after-school project based in Sibiu, that helps children coming from disadvantaged families stay in school. I have started being a migrant worker in agriculture, 7 years ago. I work in a vineyard during the winter, somewhere in the south of France. I love my work and the people I work with.
The idea of buying a house of my own started 7 years ago. I have saved up for this reason and looked for a house that would allow me to be far from the city, in a community of people that still cherish human relationships above all. I have found it in 2018, in August, in a village. The village is a bit remote, with no asphalt road, no sewer system and beautiful vineyards and forests surrounding it.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am a curious type of person and love learning new things. I have a high level of energy, most of the days. I wake up early and go to bed early. I have traveled a bit through Europe, visited the US and Canada, as a student, and love learning languages. I travel in my self-converted VW Sharan nowadays, together with Kira, the Great Dane.
I like to bake, knit and read. I have some knowledge about homesteading, cooking, preserve making, fermenting, soap making, cosmetics making. I would like to learn more about using (power) tools, construction, mushroom picking, beer making, gardening and permaculture, nonviolent communication and conflict management, music and dancing.
I wish to start this journey in good company and make real connections to people that will come and visit as the years pass by. I would like to keep my habit of making friends and sharing the joy of life. I need a bit of push to go out and explore the surroundings of the village more. I love the forest and hope to get to know the one nearby much better.
I am a patient teacher and have some experience in practicing languages. I would be happy to share my knowledge and time.
Help
The household I found has two houses, a big barn, a wood shed, a well and, most importantly, a 2000 square meter garden. One of the houses needs some attention and restoration – specially for the main room facing the street. And the garden needs planting and caring. For this reason I will be here for the summer and autumn, working on the house and the garden.
I would appreciate some good company and some help, when needed. I have a little bit of experience with the restoration of a house, using traditional materials. I have a bit of experience with gardening, compost making and preserve making. I am passionate about agroecology and I want to try some ‘no-dig gardening’ and respect some permaculture principles that I have found out about.
The ‘let’s not make a plan but try to accomplish’ for 2023 is:
- Making a rainwater harvesting system out of 1000l reservoirs
- Building the main compost toilet
- Building a lean-in greenhouse on the small house using reclaimed windows.
- Building new 'no-dig' garden beds and planting the vegetable garden
- Cleaning and maintaining the rest of the garden: grass cutting, trees pruning, replanting, general design
- Designing, digging and planting the grey water 'pond'.
- Turning the old stable into a guest bedroom - we are halfway there :)
- Restoring and repainting some of the old furniture found in the house
- Laying a brick patio in front of the stable-room out of reclaimed bricks.
- Reinforcing the barn structure pillars
- Checking and replacing the electrical system of the big house, as to make it reliable.
Whether you master some specific skill or have work experience is not really important as long as you have a willingness to adapt and learn the homesteading ways.
I believe that any person can be useful and any skill can bring contribution to the life we live together.
We just have to take the time to communicate our needs and understand each other.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Romanian: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Polish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
The small house of the household is hosting me and Kira, the Great Dane, at the moment.
The big house of the homestead has one room ready to receive guests this summer. It has a double bed.
There is plenty of space to put hammocks in the barn and enough green grass to set tents in the garden behind the barn.
The stable is being transformed into a 'summer guest-room'. Although it is not quite done, it can be a cool place to sleep. We have managed to clean the barn and transform the upper part into a sleeping space as well.
There is a compost toilet and a 'solar' shower available. Possibility to use the washing machine if necessary. No fridge available in the summer kitchen. We use the cellar as a cool space in summer.
We can cook and share food, learn about each other’s favorite meals, keep is simple and nutritious.
There is limited (Orange network only) mobile phone signal in the village. But we now have wi-fi in the small house.
As this are the first years that I am a host, there are no set 'rules' yet.
However, here is some general information on our habits:
- I am having a vegetarian (towards vegan) diet and Kira, the Great Dane, has a very strict (only kibble) diet, due to her allergy.
- I am stupidly and highly allergic to cats and get asthma attacks when exposed to cat hair, dust and some more.
- I am a bit crazy about keeping things in order. I clean as I go and keep all spaces as clean as possible, without dedicating special moments for cleaning. I try to exercise tolerance and empathy, any occasion given.
- Kira, the Great Dane, is not really great with other dogs (not at all with other female dogs) but she, too, tries to exercise tolerance, any occasion given.
What else ...
The village is set in the very heart of Transylvania, in an old and well-known wine region.
The nearby village, Cetatea de Balta prides itself with the newly restored Jidvei Castle.
Kindly note that there is no store in the village.
The closest towns where you can find supermarkets are Blaj and Medias, tiny medieval towns, perfect for short walks and second-hand shopping.
My hometown, Sibiu is less than 70 km away and so is the famous medieval citadel, Sighisoara.
As I have one available car, at all times, we can organize ourselves and make trips upon request.
Hitch-hiking is also a good option for such small distances, in the area. However, read more about hitchhiking in Romania, before you decide to try it.
Public transport is not great, to say the least. Buses are rather scarce in the area.
The closest train station is Cetatea de Balta. I can pick you up from there, upon my availability.
Blaj has good connections to Cetatea de Balta. Also, Blaj has good connections to Budapest and Vienna by train.
Nearest airport is in Sibiu.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is finally wi-fi in the small house and the yard, due to the optic fiber in the village. Sounds crazy considering the no-asphalt road in front of the house. But it is true and it is working. I use it already for the online afterschool classes.
Space for parking camper vans
The garden has a back-entry 'mud road' mud free in July and August, when it is dry for longer periods of time. It gives access to the garden which is still mostly grass, with a side line of plum trees and apple trees. deppending on how high the vehicle is, it is a possible opption.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (17)
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
-Bianca has a huge knowledge about gardening and use of tools to refurbish, so it is a good place for a beginner like me, where I could learn a little bit, despite my inexistent skills.
-The place need plenty of work, but the potential is huge and it is good to learn and see the process… read more
I am very happy that I could meet her and spend time with her. She is that kind of person that shares everything with you, so generous and caring and you never feel like working, more like helping your friend. I really liked that she included me also in family gathering (it was easter that… read more
Seriously, she is an amazing woman and I am so grateful for the memories shared.
I spent one week there and she had so many different projects to choose… read more
The food is very healthy and delicious
I learn a lot
The host is very nice
The scene from the shower is very beautiful
It's a peaceful and quiet place and we laugh a lot
The street dogs have flees so don't pat them
I am not good at writing but it is worth to come here if you are flexible and adaptable
Bianca is a lovely person, very warm and empatic, We had a lot of fun & laughs together.
And Kira! She's special -not perfect when it comes to coordination, but it makes her even cuter! She is like a puppy in a huge body (still sleeping with her plush bunny :)
We've spend wonderfull time there helping… read more
