Profile information
Travel information
We are currently
At home
Our next destination:
Minneapolis, MN, United States - from Aug 2025 until Aug 2025 View all
Description
We, Martijn and I, are a couple who live and work in the Netherlands, Zwolle. We have full-time jobs and live in a apartment which makes us really appreciative of the time we get to spend outdoors hiking, biking or working at our urban agriculture project. We are interested in being self-sufficient and living off-grid. This means we are teaching ourselves constructing skills, gardening/ ecosystem design skills and basic knowledge on energy & water systems. Martijn loves cooking and is the one who bakes awesome breads, makes his own cheeses, jams and is going for his second batch of beer brewing. Irene studied environmental and energy management and is really interested in making own drinking water, constructing a wetland for wastewater, making a water retention area and building a house energy neutral. We both love gardening and handy works and are a social! We value "gezelligheid" as the Dutch would say.
Interests
Pets
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Animals
Cooking & food
Gardening
Languages
Plant care
Music
Winter sports
Adventure sports
Beach
Mountain
Sailing / Boating
Cycling
Hiking
Camping
Nature
Team sports
Yoga / Wellness
Dancing
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Spanish: IntermediateMore details about my language interests
I'd love to speak Spanish more! And my German is fine, but rusty.
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
General Maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Eco Projects
Languages
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Able to teach about:
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
More details about your skills
Martijn has been volunteering at the permaculture garden for a year now. He is really good at cooking and food preservation, although admittedly the kitchen can become a mess ^_^ He seeks to develop his skills in constructing and permaculture design as we both recently started doing courses and just been experimenting in our rental house and green balcony.
Irene studied Environmental and Energy Management and did a course in living off-the-grid, designing energy systems and water systems. I, Irene, work as a consultant in Water and Energy projects and am intrinsically motivated to having a positive environmental impact on my living environment. I find projects such as creating natural water filters, or off grid energy systems really intriguing. Furthermore I love being in nature and am planning to do a one-year permaculture design course, at the permaculture garden in Zwolle where we volunteer.
Age
34 & 39
What else ...
I've done a lot of horseback riding in my teens. I love the outdoors, mainly for hiking and beach volleybal. My family is known for our fondness of boardgames. I know a lot of them, and will surely bring some!
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
Unfortunately allergic to cats, only when kept in-houseSpecial dietary requirements
Preference for vegetarian meals
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