Jim

& Georgina

Travel information

We are currently

Activities we are interested in:

Arriving in Costa Rica in February and planning to work our way south from there. Hoping to explore, learn and share skills, immerse ourselves in nature, and find opportunities in ecology/conservation

Description

We are a scientist and a craftsman from England who have joined workaway hoping to see incredible places, contribute to worthwhile endeavours, share and learn new skills, and improve our Spanish. We are both friendly, intelligent, hardworking, creative and caring people with an adventurous side. Whether in a tiny garden or a huge forest, we love exploring the beauty of the natural world and investigating the plants, animals and fungi we can find. As a couple, our skills range from the soil to the sky, and we each enjoy working with both our brains and our bodies.

Us as individuals...
Jim:
My background is in construction and fabrication. I run my own roofing business, often working alone or managing a small team. My skills include roofing, woodwork, stonework, carpentry, and more. During Covid I was also half of a 2-man team overseeing a 45,000-acre Scottish estate. Prior to this I worked for my family’s marquee business for 15+ years, designing, fabricating, rigging and renting big top tents for a huge variety of festivals and events, so I am used to working non-stop outdoors in all conditions, often in charge of a team. At the UK's biggest music festival - Glastonbury - I manage the cellar and inner workings of a busy bar within one of our own marquees. I also worked for a marquee and events company in New Zealand when I spent 6 months travelling there in 2017/2018. I'm proficient with most hand and power tools, adapt quickly, and look forward to learning to use different construction methods with new materials.

In my heart, I love working with and looking after animals, having spent 20 years (on and off) on our family farm (where we've had sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, a pony, a few cats and a lot of dogs). I also regularly work voluntarily with a local arts and youth support charity in a variety of aspects including music, arts, events, youth support and construction. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, reading, music, games, and getting my teeth stuck into new projects. The more thought required, the better!

Georgina:
Plants are my passion and forests are my happy place, especially tropical ones. My love for them has shaped my life and career and led me to visit many incredible places, predominantly in South America. In my youth I volunteered in the Brazilian Amazon (building) and Ecuadorian cloud forest (tending rare fruit trees). During my Masters I ran some very remote fieldwork and learnt about tropical taxonomy in Madagascar. In 2017 I spent 6 months living in Ecuadorian coastal forest as an 'apprentice' in tropical field research, during which I also completed a Permaculture Design Certification course (I’m a little rusty but I am excited to refresh and share my knowledge).

My academic background is in plant science, ecology and conservation. In 2024 I completed my PhD investigating the impacts of climate change on reproduction in Brazilian Cerrado trees. This involved designing experiments, designing/testing novel equipment, working with sensors, scientific writing, planning and logistics, and presenting my research (including at a conference in Colombia). I also lived in Brazil for 3 months while carrying out fieldwork (directing a small team). In June/July 2025 I worked as a research assistant in Australia studying the thermal safety margins of tropical rainforest trees. However, I am unsure about a future in academia and I am eager to return to Latin America with Jim to share its beauty with him, contribute to more direct conservation efforts, and potentially find inspiration for the future.

In addition to studying plants I have spent some time helping my family run a small public garden and café, so have some skills in hospitality. I am a great grower of vegetables (since I was a child), I enjoy cooking (particularly baking), crafting and making things, and have painted a mural or two. I love singing and dancing, and attempt to play the guitar and hoola hoop (not at the same time).

Interests

Culture

Architecture

Books

Winter sports

Camping

Cycling

Vegetarian or vegan

Movies & TV

Farming

Events & social

Drawing & painting

Art & design

Yoga / Wellness

Outdoor activities

Hiking

Dancing

Beach

Nature

Sustainability

Pets

Charity work

Plant care

Photography

Music

Gardening

DIY & crafts

Cooking & food

Carpentry

Animals

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Portuguese: Beginner

More details about my language interests
Georgina has learnt some Spanish/Portuguese during previous work in Ecudaor/Brazil, but still considers herself at beginner level. We have both been actively trying to learn Spanish for the past year and are eager to immerse ourselves in the language to learn as much as possible. Also very happy to swap knowledge of English language for knowledge of Spanish.

Find a language partner

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Languages

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Some knowledge of:  

Eco Projects

Charity Work

Animal Care

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping with Computers/ Internet

General Maintenance

Helping around the house

Life at a Farmstay

House & pet sitting

Being an elderly companion

Art Projects

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

More details about your skills

Jim:
Roofing and construction, project design and management, woodwork, stonework, carpentry, fabrication, working with hand tools and power tools, (anything practical involving use of my hands), working at heights, working outdoors, climbing, cooking, bar and cellar management. I also recently learned to use Sketchup for 3D modelling construction projects. I love to work with animals in most capacities, enjoy cooking with lots of spices, and play a little on a few different instruments.

Georgina:
Botanical and ecological knowledge, research and fieldwork planning and execution, analytical thinking and project management. Proficient in Microsoft Office and data analysis (using R), scientific writing and presentation. Gardening and plantcare (particularly growing vegetables), knowledge of permaculture theory and practice, also good with tools and construction (though not professionally like Jim). Arts and crafts, painting, singing, cooking and baking.

Age

33 & 34

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Kiwi/agave

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  Special dietary requirements