Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
At home
Description
Hello!
I work as a mental health social worker in a hospital crisis team in east London, and I need a break! My work is important to me, so I try to take a 3-4 month break every year or two, to avoid total burn-out. I also have the opportunity to retrain as a psychotherapist, which I am considering at the moment, as it would allow me to work remotely in the future.
Outside of work, my dream is to one day have my own land, where I can grow my own food, rescue animals and feral children, host other travellers...so I need to start moving in this direction, and learning from others who have already started living like this.
I recently spent a year living in a rural community in Serbia; all our water came from mountain springs, we didn’t step inside a shop for months; old women aged 95 are still herding their goats over the hills; there were things I didn’t like, things I missed about London (the people!!), but I fell in love with the freedom and self-sufficiency of the lifestyle I experienced there. So I realised that I love living in nature, but I also need community - I do not want to be all alone in the forest!
In London, I volunteer regularly at a local city farm, helping with animal care and food growing. I have lots of experience growing food, and I have just completed a beekeeping course and will soon manage the hive at the farm.
I like spending time in nature, working with animals, with good people, getting my hands dirty, learning new practical skills and new languages, so that one day, I can start up a project of my own...
I will be keeping an eye out for affordable land while on my travels!
Also very interested in increasing my knowledge of medical herbalism - unfortunately courses in the UK cost thousands of pounds, so I am hoping to just teach myself and learn by experience from others!
Interests
Art & design
Books
Yoga / Wellness
Writing
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Plant care
Pets
Outdoor activities
Nature
Languages
Hitchhiking
Hiking
Gardening
Farming
Events & social
Drawing & painting
Dancing
DIY & crafts
Culture
Cooking & food
Charity work
Carpentry
Camping
Beach
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Russian: IntermediateMore details about my language interests
Would love to learn Romanian and Polish, and also to keep practising my Russian so that I don't lose it. I used to teach English and French as foreign languages to students in Russia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
DIY and building projects
Eco Projects
Charity Work
Art Projects
House sitting
Some knowledge of:
Being an elderly companion
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Animal Care
Languages
Teaching
More details about your skills
I have taught English as a foreign language, and have taught French and Russian to English-speakers.
I have volunteered at a city farm since 2014 (http://stepneycityfarm.org/) and have learnt a lot about food growing and permaculture through this work. I also have my own allotment, which I have been growing food on.
I'm confident with animals and have learnt some animal care through my work at the farm (i.e. delousing chickens/reducing risk of flystrike in sheep etc.) as well as also through volunteering with animal shelters.
I am a qualified mental health social worker, and have experience of working with children and adults in distress using a range of therapeutic models, such as Open Dialogue and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
I am about to complete a beekeeping course and will be looking after a hive at my local city farm in London.
Age
38
What else ...
I am strong and happy to do dirty, tiring work!
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Special dietary requirements
I do not eat processed foods, sugar, gluten, cow's milk and factory-farmed meat.
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