Join our family home and discover Clare Valley, South Australia

Details

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  Description

  We live on a 6.8 acre bush block on the edge of the small town of Clare in the beautiful Clare Vallery wine region of South Australia, a two-hour drive north of Adelaide. The house, guest cabin and my wife’s art studio are set in a tranquil location surrounded by mature gum trees and plenty of wildlife including kangaroos, deer, and many species of birds. We live mostly off-grid using solar power and rainwater.
  We are older, retired householders looking for assistance with some DIY projects around the block. We prefer people who are practical, willing to work and learn new skills, though it would be helpful if at least one person had some basic DIY skills or even some carpentry / joinery experience.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Fitness

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Self development

  

  Culture

  

  Writing

  

  Performing arts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Photography

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Nature
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Steve has worked in education, occupational psychology and statistics, while Moira has worked in visual arts education, museums, writing and magazine editing. We have both lived and worked in several countries: Scotland, England, the USA, Australia and Seychelles. We travelled a great deal in our younger years backpacking in the UK, North America, SE Asia and Papua New Guinea. We have always enjoyed meeting people from different cultural backgrounds, gaining insights into other cultures and lifestyles.
  As we are now less able to work and travel, we appreciate the quiet beauty of the surrounding bush and visiting cellar doors to explore the wines produced in the area. We feel that hosting travellers is a great way to meet people from around the world while also gaining some assistance with DIY on our property.
  We enjoy music and food from various cultural traditions, and would love to share some of the cooking and meals, and swap favourite recipes. We like to support local arts, businesses and community activities. We enjoy attending film nights at the volunteer-run cinema in nearby Blyth, exhibitions in local galleries, and musical events at wineries and other small venues in the area. We also attend some of the local footy games (Aussie Rules) to watch our teenage great nephews play in the North Clare teams.
  Moira continues to create artwork and teach occasional workshops in textiles, wet felting and encaustic. You might like to join her in her art studio and try your hand at felting with wool, water, soap and a little elbow grease!

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  Help

  We are looking for helpers who are willing to assist us with renovations around the house and garden, in particular the removal and rebuilding of the old wooden veranda and, if time allows, rebuilding a pergola, erecting a shade structure outside the studio, and creating a small access ramp to replace three awkward steps. For these tasks, we would prefer someone who has some basic DIY skills, especially woodworking / carpentry. You would be doing task alongside me, so would learn from my past experience on a wide range of projects.
  
  If time allows, other tasks might include helping around the garden with planting, path layout, positioning two new water tanks, installation of an irrigation system, low rock walling, and repair of steps.
  
  Help will be part-time on a voluntary basis in exchange for bed and board. Suggested time commitment is 25 hours per week, which can be arranged flexibly - perhaps over four or five days - allowing plenty of opportunity for you to relax, explore the region and local wineries, or to undertake remote study or work.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  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.
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  Accommodation

  Self-contained accommodation will be provided in a lovely guest log cabin with two adjoining rooms, one with a queen bed and comfy chairs, and the other with two single beds and kitchenette. The cabin has a WC and shower room, a TV and radio, and reliable internet and mobile coverage, as well as air-conditioners in both rooms for heating and cooling. There is plenty of space outside to park a campervan if you have one.
  Breakfast provisions will be provided and cooking facilities in the cabin enable self-catering of main meals too (we will provide food) as well as sharing some meals with us in our home. Moira and I both enjoy cooking and eating foods of different cuisines and would be happy to share some cooking with our guests, exchanging knowledge of different cultural food traditions.

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  What else ...

  The Clare Valley is one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions located 2 hours north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. If you do not have your own transport, public buses run to / from from Adelaide four times per week and we can meet you from the bus stop in Clare. The centre of Clare is only 1.5km away from our home and offers good facilities.
  There is limited public transport to some other towns and public , but a vehicle will be needed if you want to explore the greater area. However, we have two bicycles which you are welcome to borrow and there is a lovely 35 km walking and cycling track – the Riesling Trail - and the 100 km Clare Valley Wine & Wilderness Walking Trail winding through the valley. Both are accessible within 2 km of our house and pass through lovely scenery, providing off-road links to several wineries and to other small towns in the area.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Fixed wireless

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Plenty of parking options for campervans

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Callie (9 years)

  Callie is a beautiful calico cat. As is very common in Australia, she lives indoors to keep the local small wildlife safe. She was a rescue cat and must have had a difficult start to life as she is easily scared and very shy around strangers. We are trying to socialise her with gentle introductions to guests.

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