Permaculture garden and forest near Zelhem, Netherlands

Details

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  Description

  We are a retired couple. After working around the world for 35 years we have settled in the eastern part of the Netherlands. We have bought an estate of 25 acres where we have built a energy-neutral home. We are now embarking on creating a permacultural garden\forest.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Technology

  

  Sustainability

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You can learn about permaculture and about Dutch culture. There is a fairly large city at about 10 kms away (Doetinchem). There you can find a good cinema and a theatre.

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  Help

  Help with planting and creating the permaculture garden. This is ongoing, there is always an odd job here and there, cutting hedges, sowing, weeding, harvesting.
  
  We have put up a fence around the garden to keep roedeer, rabbits and hares out. We will need to lay irrigation to/in the garden. None of these are great and lengthy but all in all there are enough tasks to do to keep a few people bussy. Digging for the irrigation will be done with a machine.
  
  To make space for the flower-garden we have made different pastures to keep our pigs. They are truly happy in the forest. We now need to plant flowers!
  
  From May 2026 till September 2026 we will be building a studio, all materials either wood or somehow reclaimed.
  
  Another project is to re-arrange the books in the library. This room still needs some work, mainly painting.
  
  There is always something to do in a garden!

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  You will have a bedroom with bathroom attached in our newly built energy-neutral house. We provide you with 3 meals a day. Mainly meatless but not vegetarian. We can do your laundry alongside with ours. After dinner you can make use of the library to read or simply lounge.

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  What else ...

  This is a highly popular area for bicycle tours. The landscape is very diverse, mostly flat, suited for a push-bike (which is available). In the vicinity there are a number of castles, some of which date back to the early 1300's. Some of these are open to the public, others open up their gardens.

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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

  You can work in the library. We have fibre-optic internet. We have 1 cat. He is outside most of the time, when it rains he prefers inside! He is not allowed in the bedrooms.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  Tinus (3 years)

  Tinus was found abandond in the forest by our neighbour. We botle-fed him, he survived and is now a happy, healthy cat who's core-business is being cute.

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