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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
15 Apr 2024
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Description
**COVID-19 notes**
I take the virus risks very seriously and will ask all guests to do the same. You will be free to do whatever you like on your days off, but you must follow all current Queensland restrictions, practice social distancing and take great care with your personal hygiene. If I feel that guests are being reckless, I will end the hosting arrangement immediately.
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I bought my home in Darra over six years ago and I'm excited about continuing to develop it as a suburban permaculture farm. I need some help with ongoing projects, and maintaining the farm. Jobs include creating compost, maintaining garden beds, animal care (goats, geese, chooks, bees and cats) and yard work. If you're interested in permaculture, I'll happily teach you about the principles and practical skills. I also enjoy cooking and making fermented food (like sourdough, pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut) and can teach you techniques and share the treats! The suburban village is surrounded by bushland and very welcoming. Kangaroos can be seen behind the back fence and there's lots of native birdlife around. The local shops and train are a short walk away.
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**Local volunteers**
If you happen to be local and would like to learn about suburban permaculture without the live in part, we welcome day volunteers every Saturday. We start at 8am and finish at 4pm. You will be 'paid' in vegetables, herbs and possibly honey and eggs if we have excess. You'll learn how to make compost, care for animals, look after worms and grow fruit and vegetables. Lunch is included. You just need to bring a water bottle, clothes you're happy to get dirty and a willingness to listen and learn.
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Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will learn about permaculture, community-sufficiency, and low impact living. I cook delicious vegetarian food (or vegan if required), and I'm happy to teach you new meals and techniques. You will gain experience with all aspects of urban farming in a subtropical climate, animal care, composting, and so much more. Sometimes I like to have little craft afternoons on Sundays where we make things like homemade toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser) and natural cleaning products and do basic clothing repair. I can also teach you to knit and sew.
Nearby you can walk through beautiful natural forest, dip your feet in the creek and visit local Vietnamese restaurants. The area is close to bushland, friendly and welcoming. Kangaroos can be seen behind the back fence; if you're very lucky, you can spot a local dingo, koala or platypus and there's lots of native birdlife around.
Help
I need help maintaining the permaculture garden and caring for the goats, chooks, geese and other animals. It would be fantastic if you have permaculture experience but not essential. General building experience would also be a bonus, but not required. A willingness to listen, learn and to live a low impact life is really all you need. My project is more than just a hobby, I am building a way of life. I run my suburban permaculture farm as a demonstration site and education centre, teaching people how to live a low impact life with what they already have - so you'll get the chance to really help contribute to something big!
I work a four days a week (Monday to Thursday) as an ecologist to bring in enough money to feed the animals and pay the mortgage; Friday and Saturday, I work on the farm. Ideally, you would do morning and afternoon chores a few days during the week and then assist with project and maintenance tasks on Friday and Saturday (approximately 8 hours with breaks). The daily chores which take about an hour in the morning and half an hour to an hour in the evening each day include feeding animals, walking the goats, collecting eggs, watering the plants). You're then free during the middle of the day. Cleaning up after yourself is expected and not included in the 20/25 hours; that’s just being a respectful guest. You're welcome to take two days off per week (generally Sunday and Monday works best - you’re free from Saturday afternoon).
Please bring closed shoes that protect your feet, a hat and a lightweight long sleeve shirt to protect yourself from the sun. You should be happy to get these things dirty. It is hot much of the time from September to April.
I choose to live a very low impact life. This involves composting, reducing my waste, collecting local food waste from stores, trying to bring very little plastic into the home, diverting waste water etc. The farm doesn’t generate any real income as I mostly swap things I grow for other food. Any cash I get from selling eggs, honey or vegetables goes to the high cost of animal feed and care.
Upcoming projects include:
- building a new storage space
- developing the food forest
- expanding the greywater system
I would love to host guests with basic carpentry/plumbing/building skills, experience with wood fired oven building or videography/film skills.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Darra is a multicultural suburb, about 15km from the city centre. I have a garden hermit called Simon who lives in a little backyard cabin that he is renovating; we share our space with goats, chickens, geese, bees, and two cats. We have a double room available (in exchange for 25 hours help), and a single room (in exchange for 20 hours help). You would have your own room (unless you’re a couple who wishes to share the double room - 20 hours each) and a shared bathroom. The rooms are comfortable, with a bed and everything else you'd need.
Food is included - it's help yourself for breakfast and lunch. Usually for evening meals I cook for us (or you're welcome to cook if you'd like); ingredients for breakfast and lunch are readily available for self-catering. It's a vegetarian home so no meat in the house. There is also no smoking in the house or on the farm.
What else ...
I have two bicycles to borrow.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I have a fairly decent wifi connection but it's not super fast.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Approximately 20-25 hours a week (1-2 hours a day Tuesday to Thursday, plus two full days on Friday and Saturday). There is flexibility in these hours with discussion, and you'll usually get Sunday and Monday off.
Feedback (20)
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
I stayed in her little house and farm for 2 weeks, and time went flying by.
You can tell that Lucy is very thoughtful about everything, and very passionate about the permaculture lifestyle, which I learned a lot about.
Doing the daily chores and 2 days of farmwork a week is very reasonable for giving us a peek into her way… read more
I stayed at Lucy's place for 2 weeks for my first step in Australia. The little farm she is running is a real inspiration of low impact life and there's so much to learn around here. The work during the weekend may be hard sometimes, I have never felt overwhelmed and it always makes sense, I was happy to help. The native trees… read more
My time there was incredibly educational, productive, and, most importantly, deeply interesting. During my stay, I acquired a wealth of knowledge and skills. I developed a basic understanding of permaculture, learned to live… read more
Lucy is a great teacher and likes to give people projects that they find personally… read more
Lucy is incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in many areas of permaculture, urban farming, food sovereignty and ecology. I was lucky to have her as my mentor this year.
I… read more
The accomodation was very good, a lovely small room in the house. The surrounding… read more
I stayed there during holiday time in the end of December, for 2 weeks, and I learned so much there : permaculture skills (banana circle, veggie bed, composting, growing,...), animals care (chooks, geese, cats, dogs, frogs, bush turkeys - ahaha...), sewing, zero waste solutions, cooking,… read more
Be prepared to work really hard during the weekends and/or her days off. But, if you work hard you get to do a lot of fun activities and learn a lot about sustainable living.
Lucy was a great host and gave us a nice insight on Australia and Brisbane. All the… read more
I had a nice talking with her.She lectured me a bit about real aspects of Australia.Besides,so many topics about farming,culture ,etc... . it was so meaningful.
Also she thankfully showed me lots of places/suburbs during driving for the jobs.
I have a totally positive impression on Lucy and her place.
Thank you… read more
Thank you for the lovely… read more
