Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
16 Apr 2024
Reply rate
95.1 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
40
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Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello, my name is Hilary. I have been living in Spain for eight years restoring a 200+-year-old former Cortijo and creating gardens and a fruit orchard in this lively, thriving agricultural area of Sevilla province, Andalucia. I have three obedient and loving rescue dogs and currently, two hens.
There are two separate dwellings on the site, a main house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms and an attached casita with three bedrooms and two bathrooms for workaways. There is an 8x5 metre swimming pool in a private courtyard with pegola, and shady umbrellas as well as a large built-in barbeque. For leisure time there is outdoor table tennis as well as badminton in a converted barn, easels for painting and drawing in another converted barn, a boulle court in the orchard and a paddle board for taking to the lakes and the coast.
Surrounded by olive and almond plantations along with crops varying from wheat, oats, and cotton, the river Genil, a Moorish castle on the hill opposite and a couple of local farms the nearest town is 6kms from the house and large supermarkets in towns both a 15 minute drive away. My car would be available to borrow for careful drivers aged 25 or over!
For those who enjoy wildlife the campo is a source of joy with resident birds, migrating species who come to breed during spring and summer, bats in the early evening and the sound of ciccadas throughout the summer. We don't seem to suffer from mosquitos but there are other creepies to enjoy or scream about!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The area is very traditionally Spanish with lots of local festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Some English is spoken but not extensively. There are popular weekly markets in the towns and most local restaurants serve a traditional Spanish menu. There is the opportunity to improve your Spanish or English speaking.
Cordoba, Seville, Granada are just about equidistant from the house. There is a good train service from the local town to these and also to the coast. Granada is about a 90 minute drive and Seville and Cordoba just over the hour.
Smaller towns more local to the house have museums with Roman and Moorish buildings and many magnificent churches to explore and learn about the history of this wonderful region.
The Subbetica national park, the lakes of El Chorro and the fantastic El Torcal and Caminito del Rey are all easily accessible by car for daily trips.
I have an extensive number of guide books relevant the area.
Help
I need help with gardening - mowing, watering, weeding, sweeping and planting. I would like to create an raised organic vegetable garden at the bottom of the property. I have recycled sufficient plastic bottles in order to construct a greenhouse for more tender plants during the winter and to raise seeds and would like help in building this. There is a disused barn that I want help in converting to a chicken house with the attached run.
In terms of the houses: With properties of this age there is always an annual need to repair and paint somewhere. Help with these tasks would be appreciated.
All the necessary equipment will be provided to help with the tasks undertaken.
In the warmer months an early morning and/or evening walk with the dogs in the adjoining campo is always needed.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I would welcome Spanish speakers to help me with my learning.
Accommodation
The two houses have both been extensively restored and provide a high level of comfort. The main house has air-con in the upstairs bedrooms and sitting room. Hot water is via solar panels. The attached casita is single story, ground level with thick walls and traditional shutters so stays cool throughout the heat of summer. Fans can be provided if needed.
All bed linen and towels will be provided.
Both houses have washing machines and dishwashers. Both have fully equipped kitchens. There is wifi via a mobile system and there are tvs if required. The main house has an upstairs sitting room, tv box for films etc. and a large outdoor terrace for eating out, relaxing and star gazing.
I enjoy cooking and would be happy to provide delicious meals and snacks for all diets. I mainly eat vegetables with some fish but am not adverse to the occasional meat feast or total vegetarian or vegan menu! Water here is well water so bottled water for drinking and cooking is provided. Wine is relatively cheap and enjoyed with most meals if desired. If workaways enjoy cooking and would like to share meal preparation this would be welcomed too. I envisage us mainly eating together and enjoy a few games of cards, board games or a game of boulle on the court in the orchard if this is something workaways would enjoy too.
What else ...
In spare time off there is ample opportunity to enjoy the area, the wildlife, the white villages of Andalucia and the fabulous historical towns accessible by rail or car for day or overnight trips. I'd be happy to drive and accompany workaways to many of the places I have experienced and enjoyed and also to explore any new places that might appeal.
In the hot months, simply relaxing by and swimming in the pool with cool drinks and perhaps an evening barbeque or tapas is always enjoyable. Paddle boarding at the coast or on the lakes in the Subbetica is good fun.
Ferias run somewhere from April to October so attending one of these is always an experience.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There is space outside the casa for a large campervan or motorhome.
Can possibly accept pets
Yes, a dog would be acceptable - I have three - all rescued.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (17)
Hilary has a beautiful house and gardens and we stayed in the apartment attached to the house which is just as lovely and well equipped.
The work was as described and Hilary and her gentle dogs looked… read more
She also cleaned a lot of old pigeon loft tiles that subsequent workaways have completed into an attractive path in one of my gardens and planted up… read more
She was great with doggies, faithfully giving them good walks and care, helping with outdoor tasks, as well as occasional cooking and cleaning.
We shared vegan meals and enjoyed each other's company.
Always personable, honest, polite, and respectful of the house and… read more
Feedback
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
Hilary has a beautiful house and gardens and we stayed in the apartment attached to the house which is just as lovely and well equipped.
The work was as described and Hilary and her gentle dogs looked… read more
She also cleaned a lot of old pigeon loft tiles that subsequent workaways have completed into an attractive path in one of my gardens and planted up… read more
She was great with doggies, faithfully giving them good walks and care, helping with outdoor tasks, as well as occasional cooking and cleaning.
We shared vegan meals and enjoyed each other's company.
Always personable, honest, polite, and respectful of the house and… read more
In Hilary's place we walked the doggies and we help with other chores. And later we spend the day on the amazing pool and eating, drinking and talking… read more
We had good fun playing games and swimming and hanging out in the slightly… read more
Her dogs were a pleasure to take care of, they're so friendly and… read more
They house-sat for me, with their very well-behaved dog, for three weeks during Christmas 2023 so that I was able to travel to see family in the USA.
We had a couple of days together before I left to introduce them to the house, doggies, hens and garden. Bart kindly transported me to and from the airport.… read more
They were conscientious, honest, hardworking and supportive.
We had a good time together enjoying meals, many conversations and card and board games in our free time.
They completed all the tasks allotted to them with skill and care.
They were respectful of the house and surroundings and I would have no… read more
The property is beautiful, lots of work has gone into it.… read more
He willingly undertook all the necessary tasks assigned to him. I found him honest and trustworthy and we spent a lot of enjoyable card and board games where he was too often, for my liking, the victor!
I am happy to… read more
The house and its surroundings are very . I did a lot of gardening. Hilary has ofcourse ideas about what she wants… read more
They were very loving towards the dogs, as well as me! They redecorated some of inside and outside of the casa taking… read more
My gardens and orchard are looking well cared for. There is a new chicken run (with now… read more
Hilary is a wonderful person, at her place we felt like home from our very first moments.
She is a great conversationalist and cooks amazingly so every meal we ate together was a pure pleasure for us.
Helping was enjoyable, we saw the change that we made to the look of… read more
The wonderful meals -Hilary is an experienced cook who you easily could have found in a great restaurant- are the highlights of the day! I even got to know new friends.
Besides… read more
She is a very good communicator and gave helpful feedback with regard to the work and the overall experience of being at Ajonoz. We enjoyed each other's company and had a number of enjoyable trips to historic sites in the… read more
I enjoyed his company a lot and we shared a love of vegan food, cooking and playing cards!
I have no hesitation in recommending him as workaway… read more
