Estonia
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We are Imbi and Andres and we've been living in the countryside with our two sons for 6 years. We have a small farmstead and enough land to grow food for ourselves. Our farmstead is in the southern part of Estonia 4.5 km from the Latvian border. The nature is beautiful of course.
Our main goal is to develop our handicraft cottage and be strong community members. There's a video on youtube where you can see a bit of the surrounding nature: Tule kuidas tahad by Tulekuidastahad Valgamaa.
We are experimenting with permaculture and hope to be someday as self-sufficient as possible. We have vegetable garden, goats, chicken, cats and a German Shepherd. Our food is 70% organically grown (more during the harvesting period, less in the winter and in the spring). We would like our food to be 100% organically grown and most of it from our garden. We use meat (rarely), dairy and eggs in our food.
Besides growing our own food we are occupied with crafts and all kind of dealings with the farmstead. We've been teaching different crafts in workshops for years (e.g. wood crafts, pottery, glass, metal). We study and revive old crafts and other skills. We really appreciate traditional folk music, dance, culture.
Our mother tongue is Estonian. Andres speaks Russian fluently, a little English, understands a bit German. Imbi speaks English fluently, a little Russian, understands very little German and French.
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
You can learn about Estonian culture, nature, living in the countryside, native crafts. We can teach you some basics in wood and birchbark crafts (e.g. carving a spoon, weaving a salt cellar).
We are looking for short term volunteers and for long term volunteers (preferably a couple because our neighbour can offer one room for long term volunteers). One long term volunteer would be helping mainly Andres (e.g. with building projects, chopping wood, harvesting materials for crafts) and the other would be helping Imbi (e.g. gardening, cooking, housework).
You might like being a volunteer with us if you want to try living a simple life in the countryside, if you like to work individually and with the family or other volunteers.
Bigger projects:
building traditional lath fence
building a little guesthouse by permaculture principles (probably not this year anymore)
insulating the main house
starting with a new permaculture field
new compost toilet
Smaller projects:
chopping, collecting and stacking firewood, harvesting natural materials for crafts, harvesting berries and mushrooms, canning food, smaller repair and building projects
Daily tasks:
taking care of animals, gardening, housework, cooking.
Actually the list is endless when living in the countryside.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Estonian: Fluent
Russian: Fluent
German: Beginner
This 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.
Dry toilet outside. Water comes from a well. Washing in sauna (no running water for shower), clothes can be washed in the family laundry machine.
Long term volunteer/volunteers(if a couple) have a private room in neighbour's house with their own entrance.
Short term volunteer/volunteers can stay above our workshop.
The meals can be arranged together (NB! we are not vegans and the food we buy is not yet 100% ecologically grown; we don't have coffee at home, please bring your own!)
Wifi in the main house.
Fishing, hiking, horse riding lessons, taking part in local social events, swimming in lakes/rivers.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
This host can provide space for campervans.
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
