Marnie

Germany
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Profile information

Reply rate

75.0 %
Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

Activities i am interested in:

In Oktober I'm going to Brazil (aahh so exciting for me). I love traveling and many different activities like swimming, exploring nature or trying out new sports. If you ask me if I want to join: yes!

My next destination:
Brazil - from Oct 2026
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Description

Hey Guys,
My name is Marnie and I love to explore the beautiful world. I am a very open minded person and I love to meet new people. I already did several Workaways and my passion is to work with animals, in nature or together with inspiring and fun people.
Interests

Performing arts

Van life

Dancing

DIY & crafts

Camping

Fitness

Self development

Vegetarian or vegan

Yoga / Wellness

Nature

Hitchhiking

Farming

LGBTQ

Outdoor activities

Sustainability

Mountain

Pets

Movies & TV

Team sports

Plant care

Music

Hiking

Gardening

Events & social

Drawing & painting

Charity work

Cooking & food

Beach

Animals

Adventure sports
Languages spoken

German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Danish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Art Projects

Charity Work

Languages

Eco Projects

Creative DIY projects

Light maintenance

Some knowledge of:

Light gardening

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Being an elderly companion

Teaching

House & pet sitting
More details about your skills

I have many experiences with different kinds of animals, for example horses, donkeys, dogs, cats and other small animals. I ride horses since i am 8 years old and i lived together with a dog my whole life. I was working in spain on a donkey farm for 3 months. In addition to that i like working in the garden. In general i am fast in learning new skills and i am open for different kind of work. I'm very connected to nature.
Age

25
What else ...

This year I finished my studies, that's why now I want to travel and enjoy my freedom. I love beeing with people, learning from each other and have fun. I am interested in Sports, painting and music (i like to sing and i play a bit of piano). In general i am a very open minded person and want to make new experiences, so you can motivate me for everything:)
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  vegetarian :)

Website Safety

Feedback

8 Oct 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with horses and garden ...)

Lisa is a great host and I had a wonderful time at her little paradise!
From the first moment Lisa and the animals made me feel absolutely welcome. I'm impressed how much freedom and trust Lisa is giving to the workaways and it meant a lot to me. I had the feeling I was very self determined; I created the day how I wanted and did the jobs that … read more

(Excellent )

8 Oct 2026

Left by host (Help with horses and garden ...) for Workawayer ()

Marnie is a confident, creative and intelligent young woman. She has been an absolute pleasure to have around. She is responsible and one hundred percent trustworthy. She is a great communicator and her language skills are impressive (her English is fluent and even in the few weeks she was with me she was picking up Portuguese, and her German is … read more

(Excellent )

28 Jul 2026

Left by host (Fun glamping project in ...) for Workawayer ()

Marnie is a very polite young woman who loves nature and animals. We had a wonderful time together. Since the weather was very hot, we couldn't do the gardening work, but she helped me in the kitchen. We went to the seaside and also did some horseback riding; she is a skilled rider. We thank her very much for choosing us and wish her all the best.

(Excellent )

23 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Fun glamping project in ...)

I had a very good time at Alev's place. I was so happy how much I could witness the Turkish culture and I
learned so much about it. My highlights were the Turkish tea, the meals (breakfast and dinner were always soo good), hanging around with the fun animals (Pablo the cat I'll always keep in mind ;)) and going to the sea with some snacks. The … read more

(Excellent )

22 Jul 2026

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Marnie stayed with us for just over two weeks during a deeply difficult period for the project and for me personally. I was carrying significant administrative, financial, legal, practical, and emotional pressure, alongside the first anniversary of my partner’s passing and uncertainty about the future of the farm base. Since losing my partner, who … read more was also the co-founder of this project and part of its daily life, I have been trying to hold together both the work and the grief that comes with such a loss. I did my best to protect volunteers from this, but I recognise I may not always have seemed as relaxed, present, or available as I would have liked. Fortunately, now most of these challenges have been dealt with and the farm and I are on much more secure footing.

During Marnie’s stay, I made a real effort to support her experience beyond the daily farm tasks. I took her and another volunteer to a shipwreck beach, organised an evening trip to a traditional dance festival, arranged for them to attend a May Day event, ran an ethical horsemanship training session because I knew this interested her, and spent a considerable amount of time answering her questions about this .I paid her quite expensive taxi fare to and from the port because she had limited funds, held daily morning meetings, and tried to be flexible when she asked to adjust start times or hours, days off etc.

Marnie was capable when engaged, good with the horses, and clearly had knowledge and experience. I appreciated her help, especially with a hay delivery- To keep the work easy for volunteers, I hired two extra workmen to lift the vast majority of the bales. The regular volunteer duties were limited to around three hours in the morning (with time for breakfast etc) and up to one and a half hours in the evening, mainly watering horses, picking up manure, sweeping yards, and walking our young rescue dogs in the spring countryside for 1 hour of work time.

Before she arrived, we had several calls and messages, and I agreed to accommodate her male friend if he came, even though he would not have been volunteering or contributing. I also remained flexible as her plans changed. However, as the stay went on, communication became strained and I felt increasingly uncomfortable on my own farm. I heard Marnie with another volunteer talking about me behind my back rather than raising concerns directly with me, which was upsetting and made the situation feel much more difficult.

Looking back, I recognise that I could have handled this better by arranging a meeting at the time so that any concerns could be discussed openly. I also think there may have been misunderstandings, partly due to language differences.

I also felt that Marnie may have wanted a volunteering experience with more flexibility than is possible in an animal-care non-profit setting. With 34 ponies, 5 dogs, and 18 cats, the daily routines for feeding, watering, cleaning, and welfare checks must remain consistent. This is explained in our project information and application form before arrival, as reliability and consistency is essential for the animals’ wellbeing but may have been misunderstood.

All volunteers receive detailed information and an in-depth application form before arrival, as well as at least one WhatsApp call. The information explains that, as a non-profit with significant overheads such as animal feed, maintenance, and general running costs, I provide breakfast ingredients and usually a home-cooked lunch that I make or good ingredients for lunch, but not an evening meal. This arrangement has worked well for many years, with volunteers often choosing to contribute a small amount towards extra supplies or towards a larger lunch that can also be eaten later. During Marnie’s stay, I became mildly concerned that she was eating food other volunteers had contributed towards without contributing herself, so I gently raised the issue. The exchange was uncomfortable and seemed to create further distance between us.

There were also infrastructure issues during her stay, including a water-pump problem and unreliable hot water after a volunteer had accidentally damaged the boiler element by leaving it on meaning a new one had to be bought and installed. These kinds of practical challenges can happen on rural Greek farms that rely on boreholes and pump systems rather than mains water. Both issues have since been resolved, with the pump repaired and new water heater installed.

At the same time, improvements were being made to the volunteer accommodation, including a new kitchen work surface, cupboards, clothes cupboard, bathroom window, bathroom door, and front door. The work had been planned for a time without volunteers, but the tradespeople’s schedule changed and they came when available. I understand this may have been disruptive, although the improvements were intended to make the accommodation more practical and comfortable and have since been appreciated by other volunteers.

There is also a wider context in continuing this work alone as a woman in a rural environment, where practical authority, negotiations, land decisions, animal care, and daily leadership require constant steadiness and resilience. I say this softly, not as criticism, but because women’s labour is so often expected to be invisible: the care, sacrifice, responsibility, emotional strength, and persistence that keep vulnerable animals and a non-profit project safe. Sometimes I feel that younger women, who are rightly used to expecting more freedom and support, may not fully appreciate the resilience older women have had to develop simply to keep going, often through grief, loss, financial pressure, and responsibility. That resilience is not hardness; it is survival, commitment, and love in action, and I believe it deserves patience, respect, and understanding and this is not always seen, understood or acknowledged by younger women until more life experience is accrued. Qualities such as resilience, and firmness are often accepted or even respected in men, yet can carry a harsher judgement when shown by a woman, particularly an older woman carrying responsibility alone.

Overall, I am grateful for the help Marnie gave, especially with the horses, and I recognise that she did contribute positively when engaged. However, I also feel there was a mismatch between her expectations and the realities of a small rural non-profit animal-welfare, conservation, and rescue project in Greece, where consistency, adaptability, and resilience are essential. I think she may be more comfortable in a placement with a stronger social element, much greater flexibility in the daily task/ times etc. I wish Marnie well on her onward travels.

(Good )

10 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer () for host (Support a project for ...)

I was thinking a long time to leave a feedback or not, but now I decided, I want to be honest and share my experience. I stayed for three weeks from the middle of April until the beginning of May.
First of all: the animals are very well cared for and the place as well as the work is really nice. I think the project is incredible important and all … read more

(Very good )

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Communication:
(3.3)

Skills:
(4.5)

Observed house rules:
(4.5)

8 Oct 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with horses and garden ...)

(Excellent)

8 Oct 2026

Left by host (Help with horses and garden ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

28 Jul 2026

Left by host (Fun glamping project in ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

23 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Fun glamping project in ...)

(Excellent)

22 Jul 2026

Left by host for Workawayer

(Good)

10 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Support a project for ...)

(Very good)

13 Jul 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Opportunity to make the world ...)

I spent about three weeks at Daniel's place and I had such a good time. As he was very easy going his house felt like my house from the very first moment. He always gave me the opportunity to tell him what I want to do or how I want to spend the day, so I felt really free and self determined at his place. The work in the garden was fun and it was … read more

(Excellent)

4 Jul 2026

Left by host (Opportunity to make the world ...) for Workawayer

Marnie is wonderful! Hardworking, open to adventure and a heart of gold. I trusted her with everything, she really was great. I hope i was a good enough host, cause she really was the best volunteer i have ever had. She is easy going and communicates clearly, she is also super chill and isnt afraid of dark caves or tall cliffs. Great great great … read more

(Excellent)

15 Jun 2026

Left by host for Workawayer

I hosted Marnie for about two weeks and we had a great time together. She took care of the things that needed to be done and there’s nothing I can complain about. Marnie was friendly, reliable and willing to support wherever needed. Her positive attitude contributed to a great atmosphere for both guest and staff. She’s welcome to come back anytime!

(Excellent)

6 Jun 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Join our spot for travellers ...)

I can definitely recommend to stay at this awesome place. Gyoko is such a wonderful host and the whole atmosphere of the hostel is great! The tasks are simple and most of them pretty flexible, so you can structure your day however you want. If you want to explore the surroundings or have a day off, just talk to Gyoko and he'll always find the best … read more

(Excellent)

17 Apr 2026

Left by Workawayer for host (Help at our beautiful family ...)

I had such a wonderful time at this place! And I can recommend everyone to experience this lovely family and place. If you need a strict routine, the place might not be the right for you. But if you want to connect to nature, experience Greek culture and a warming and open family, you'll love this place. I learned so much from them and I'll … read more

(Excellent)

17 Sep 2024

Left by Workawayer for host (Farmhouse Stay in Niksic, ...)

I spend one week with Ron and I can recommend it!:)
Ron is a chilled and funny guy who wants you to feel at home. The house was my house for the week :D we didn't spend much time together but sometimes we ate dinner and had good talks.
In general the place is perfect for coming down, being in nature and taking time for things like reading. The … read more

(Excellent)