Karen

From: New Zealand

Account Type
Individual account
Travelling to
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru ... more
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay
Travel dates
20/05/2017 - 30/06/2018
Badges

My status
Travelling
Description
My name is Karen.
Before commencing my travels, I was owner/ director of a landscape design company in Auckland, New Zealand for 20 years. During this time I was responsible for developing garden designs from scratch -i.e liaison with clients, site surveys/concept and planting plans and overseeing the implementation of projects including plant sourcing and placement. I have a particular interest in permaculture and in developing gardens with native plants and high biodiversity.
I have a Bachelor of Horticultural Science degree.
I am a 'can do' person, hard working, friendly, easy going and happy to help as required. eg
-gardening work - weeding, potting up, sowing seed, taking cuttings, planting, pruning etc -not heavy work.
- landscape designer, can competently measure up a site and take levels etc if required. Draw concept landscape designs (although am not travelling with any survey equipment).
-good cook and also happy to help out in the house with cleaning etc.
-good computer skills
-can help with teaching English if required although not a qualified English teacher.
-competent swimmer and cyclist and enjoy hiking.
NB I am learning Spanish and can have basic conversations.
Workaway projects so far...
Volunteering at a hostel in La Paloma, Uruguay for 3 weeks. June 2017
Volunteering at a hostel in Baños, Ecuador for a month -July 2017
Volunteering on a finca in the Zamora province of Ecuador for 1 month -August 2017
Volunteering on a finca near Canoa, Ecuador for a week only ( my 90 days in Ecuador was coming to an end)
Volunteering in a hostel in Cusco Peru for a month from October 1st.
Volunteering on a fazenda near Sao Paulo, Brazil for 3 weeks. November 2017
Volunteering in Quime, Bolivia for a month -not a Workaway project but I drew up a garden design and also cleared weeds and planted gardens. December 2017 and January 2018
Volunteeering on a permaculture farm -San Marcos Sierra- March 2018
Volunteering in the kitchen at a turtle conservation project in Costa Rica (La Tortuga Feliz) April 2018
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
Animal Care
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
Language practice
Teaching
More details about your skills
Horticultural and landscape design qualifications and experience.
Native English speaker -if tutoring is required. Please see profile above.
Hospitality experience from Workaway volunteering.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Age
62
Nationality
New Zealander
What else ...
Between February and the beginning of May 2017, I was part of a Homestay programme in Argentina, where I taught English for 15 hours/week.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Not to my knowledge
- Special dietary requirements
  No.

Photos

Feedback

13/09/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Karen)

Even though my time with Karen was brief, it was lovely. Karen's knowledge of gardening and horticulture was a blessing to the project. She helped us establish a new compost method and several small garden plots. Her passion for sustainable growing is undoubtable. Karen was remarkably adaptable and willing to help with any task at hand. I enjoyed… read more

(Excellent )

03/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Help host volunteers at our ...)

I worked as a volunteer during April-May. (I applied as a 'last minute volunteeer')
The site is spectacular and isolated and is very removed from the normal trappings we expect from an everyday Western life. There are no luxuries!
Jess was our supervisor in the kitchen and she is an absolutely fantastic manager. She was calm, good tempered and… read more

(Excellent )

26/05/2018

Left by host (Unconventional farm focused ...) for Workawayer (Karen)

Hosting Karen was one of the most amazing experiences. This woman never stops <3 She is extremely hard-working and not scared of any challenges. A great landscape designer that have helped us a lot here :) Super recommended, host this woman and you will feel her power!

(Excellent )

17/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Unconventional farm focused ...)

Living and working on this fazenda was a fantastic experience.
Bruno is a wonderful host.
The work was varied every day. When there were no events, there was a lot of gardening and other outside work to complete.
During the events, we were very busy, helping in the kitchen, cleaning and just ensuring that everything was running smoothly.
The… read more

(Excellent )

04/03/2018

Left by host (Help us babysitting in our ...) for Workawayer (Karen)

Karen was amazing, she was always on time for her shift and willing to help, she helps us and I mean big help with gardening on our new hostel, she fix up out our garden to look prettier and help us babysitting as well, we are very thankful to Karen and happy to meet her, we wish her all the best

(Excellent )

07/11/2017

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Help us babysitting in our ...)

I worked at Kent’s hostels in Cusco for approximately a month during October.
This was a great experience. Kent is a very kind and fair manager and the work was well organized into shifts.
We were not given an exact job description of what to do on every shift, but it was easy to see what tasks were necessary.
I was mainly involved with… read more

(Excellent )

10/11/2017

Left by host (Volunteer in a beautiful ...) for Workawayer (Karen)

Karen es una excelente trabajadora y todas las cosas que ella hace lo hace muy bien y ella es muy limpia y muy ordenada y organizada aqui ella me ayudo mucho y me hace falta que estuviera aqui espero que un dia regrese aqui esta es tu casa siempre . te deseo mucha suerte y que disfrutes un grande abrazo . eres lo maximo !

(Excellent )

03/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Volunteer in a beautiful ...)

I worked at the hostel in Banos for nearly a month. It is in a great setting, surrounded by trees and with views of the river and volcano. The work consisted mainly of cleaning , helping with guests and also some publicity work, re photos and text for the different websites that the hostel is affiliated to.
Manuel is a very kind host, and between… read more

(Excellent )

09/09/2017

Left by host (Volunteer Experience at ...) for Workawayer (Karen)

We where super happy to have Karen for about 4 weeks. She even tried our. natural pool which is very cool :-) She did an amazing job with our plant nursery and re-plating vegetables and flowers all around the house. Karen was not just a great help because of all the work she did she needed no guidance at all so we where really pleased to let here… read more

(Excellent )

08/09/2017

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Volunteer Experience at ...)

Staying on the finca was an amazing experience.
The valley is beautiful with constant changes in the weather and an awe-inspiring night sky.
The array of beautiful butterflies and weird insects continued to surprise every day.
The dogs (Panda and Pulgar), 4 x naughty kittens, hens, roosters and chickens were always a constant source of… read more

(Excellent )

24/07/2017

Left by host (Help us to build a ...) for Workawayer (Karen)

Karen es una mujer muy interesante, nos dió una mano muy grande, tanto en jardinería como en limpieza! la recomendamos 100%! abrazo Karen! nos vemos!

(Excellent )

29/06/2017

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host for (Help us to build a ...)

Nacho and Beba are fantastic hosts and there was always a really happy, fun atmosphere around the hostel. With guests, we spent time at the beach, went on local excursions (Laguna Rocha) and also to organized events and fiestas.
The hostel is a very social place.
The help was also enjoyable - mostly cleaning, cooking and gardening, but… read more

(Excellent )

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