Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
76.6 %
Usually responds within 12 days
Feedback
16
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello there and welcome to my eco friendly timber frame house in the heart of West Cork, about 2 mins drive from Dunmanway town. I have two adult children who have left home and live on my own these days with my cat Gizmo.
I would like some help with my half acre permaculture project, forest, organic fruit, veg and herb garden and some DIY maintenance of my polytunnel, sheds and raised beds.
I love to share and exchange cooking healthy meals, mainly vegetarian using my own produce where possible and can cater for vegetarians or vegans.
My mum was a chef in Germany in the fifties, which has influenced my cooking together with my study of Macrobiotics and the Chinese Five Element Principles back in the nineties.
I work mostly from home as a therapist and may disappear into my treatment room for the odd session. Depending on Covid restrictions I may teach a few local Yoga classes and you can join me if you wish or stay at home with Gizmo.
I have lots of books to look at, mostly in English, some in German and plenty board games for wet evenings, also love arts and crafts, always something in the making... and maybe skills to share? And stories...
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I speak fluent English and German so there will be plenty opportunity to practice your language skills.
Learn about medicinal herbs for teas, oils and ointments, foraging, food for medicine.
Learn about regenerative organic gardening and working with the land and the seasons.
Join me in my daily yoga and Do-In practice or at my Yoga classes only if you like of course.
Get to know the locals, depending on covid restrictions in pubs, at local music gigs or at my yoga classes
Help
Help in my 1/2 acre organic permaculture garden and polytunnel with regenerating soil microbes and fungi, composting, fertilizing brews, green manures, mulching, weeding, mostly no dig and a few raised beds, planting, harvesting and preserving, fruit, veggies and herbs for home use, I make oils and ointments from my own dried herbs, a great variety of tasks, all depending on the season.
Help with extending my forest garden and ornamental wild flower garden with spiral/labyrinth.
Help with general outdoor maintenance for existing flowerbeds, grass cutting and strimming.
DIY maintenance with a few outdoor painting jobs and small repair jobs (raised beds and compost surrounds).
Help with website and social media maintenance.
We will also share doing the daily chores around the house.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: FluentThis 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
You will be sharing my eco-friendly timber frame house with me and my cat Gizmo (although he is used to staying outside most of the time)
I have two small and basic spare bedrooms, one with a futon and the other with a double bed, shared bathroom with flush toilet, bathtub and shower (heated by solar panel and solid fuel in the winter months).
We also share the living area and kitchen. I will provide food and produce, and we can share some of the cooking if you like. My house is clean, warm, bright and spacious.
I have good mobile reception and use my phone to hotspot my PC and laptop for Zoom/Skype meetings and to watch the odd movie/documentary/TV show. I don't have any WIFI as there is no fibre connection to my house on top of the hill.
My house is 2 mins drive away from Dunmanway, (20 mins down town and 30 mins up home by foot). You can also borrow one of my two bicycles.
Dunmanway has bus connections to Cork city and Bantry/Glengarriff.
What else ...
Get to know surrounding areas on foot, bicycle or by bus during your time off.
If you wish you may join me to visit local markets and towns, and occasionally castles, lakes and other nearby scenic attractions, like the Gearagh, Gougane Barra, Glengarriff/Kilmurry Woods or the local beaches.
During the summer/autumn I like to go swimming in the sea (about half an hours drive away) or in the river pools and you can join me if you like. Dunmanway also has an indoor 25m swimming pool including steam room, sauna hydrotherapy and kiddies pool.
The Camino de Cork, the two day St Finbarr's Pilgrimage is practically on our doorstep starting in the nearby Drimoleague, Top of the Rock to Gougane Barra (ca 30k). I can drop you off there if that's your idea of spending a weekend.
Although I am new to Workaway, I've had positive experiences with hosting wonderful volunteers through another website for a number of years prior to Covid.
You may have heard of our rainy Irish weather, so please don't forget to bring raingear and wellies or good sturdy boots. And some work gloves for the garden work would be very helpful.
Please let me know if you have any specific requirements regarding food intolerances, allergies etc
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
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (7)
I already miss the experience in her place, I stayed for a month and it wasn't enough! She's such a kind soul, she loves to share her knowledge and her passions such as gardening, swimming, herbalism, yoga, macrobiotics and… read more
Feedback
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Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I already miss the experience in her place, I stayed for a month and it wasn't enough! She's such a kind soul, she loves to share her knowledge and her passions such as gardening, swimming, herbalism, yoga, macrobiotics and… read more
The weather was still astonishingly good. So we did a good bit of work in the garden, went for swims in the sea. Margaret also took me to her yoga lessons, for some great trips to Bantry market, to a lively acoustic session in Clonakilty where I joined in… read more
The house is lovely, bright and comfortable, it is on the top of a hill, in the middle of the nature, so it can give you a sense of peace in any moment, from the… read more
