Katy

United Kingdom
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
Description
I would describe myself as a good natured person with an infectious sense of fun :) My given name is Katherine, which shortened itself to Katy and since making this profile initially a few years ago I have chosen the name Beck, and I'm not able to change it on here. My friends call me Beck and so if you can too that would be great!

I've done hospital work for the past 6 years and am looking for a change in direction. I've been feeling recently that I do not feel connected to the earth I walk on, and to change this I'm travelling around volunteering at different food growing/rewilding projects which care for the land and animals, the way they so deserve.

My care work has been based in a hospital, which has given me a basic understanding of illness/disability and taught me endless respect for our bodies, and endless critique of capitalism. This knowledge I took down a holistic route when I did a sports massage course, gaining a knowledge in soft tissue injury and basic anatomy/physiology. I am interested in pursuing holistic therapies in the future through plants, i.e. herbalism/aromatherapy.

In terms of living arrangements, if when I am somewhere beautiful where I have purpose, I am resilient, happy in my own company and practical/minimal about meeting my basic needs.

I have developed a compassionate, responsible and driven work ethic which I feel would transfer well to a growing project and care skills which would work in an animal sanctuary.
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Plant care
LGBTQ
History
Gardening
Culture
Beach
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
More details about my language interests
I am interested in learning sign language, Italian and Spanish. I would love to learn all I can learn about the culture and language of the place I am visiting.
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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Animal Care
Languages
Art Projects
DIY and building projects
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Teaching
Able to teach about:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
More details about your skills
Communication & People Skills
I have a BA in Childhood and Youth Theory and Practice from Sussex University which has given me good written and verbal communication. I have worked for 6 years working with children and in an educational/hospital setting, which has given me empathetic consideration of others, a high threshold for stress and good team working skills.
It is my joy to gather different people together and host them, and I am looking to explore this through developing my vegan cooking skills. I am a qualified sports massage therapist, from learning this, I mainly find that I am now much better at putting people at ease, physically and mentally.

Care for Land & Plants

October - December 2024
I spent 2 months volunteering at Almagea (an animal sanctuary and permaculture project) in Sicily, helping in a team to harvest olives. It was a huge honour to work with such important trees in a beautiful place.

At Almagea I learned compost making, mulching, bed prepping, lifting, carrying and assisted with an olive harvest (5 days a week for 6 weeks). In Brighton I volunteered at a permaculture allotment (planting seeds, pruning tomatoes, watering). I have supported my community by protesting in support of environmental and social justice. I have just started doing a course in herbalism, PTSD and stress, learning about the impact of plants on our nervous system, which has grounded my respect for them.

Animal Care

At Almagea, there were 14 cats, 2 of which were paralysed, 2 sheep, 11 chickens and 3 dogs all incredibly sweet and funny, all of which had different emotional and physical needs. Since my role was to be part of the harvest team, I didn't have any responsibilities to care for the animals, but I loved spending time around them and I am currently looking for opportunities to join an animal sanctuary.
Age
26
What else ...
I love getting to know people, telling and listening to stories. I adore walking, swimming, climbing trees and rocks and vegan cooking. I read and think a lot and paint sometimes.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  I am vegan :)

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2 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Join us at an animal ...)

I was lucky enough to stay at here for almost 2 months to help with their olive harvest.This was my first workaway so I had no expectations, but even if I had had some they would've been surpassed in every way. Luca and Christin make everything easy! They thought through everything so well it really felt like a break from planning and thinking… read more things through, making it so easy to focus on the tasks we were there to help with and enjoying getting to know the animals they live with. We were so lucky to have a volunteer whose entire role was cooking on workdays, and even more lucky that Giulia is a passionate, creative cook who relished the opportunity to work with the fresh produce that is grown in Luca and Christin's garden, so we didn't even need to think about meals excessively. Their communication is excellent, outlining expectations early and being patient and understanding with small challenges that comesup. Luca is great to work with, constantly thinking about how things can be improved to run smoothly, inclusive of everybody, positive and encouraging and always with a great sense of humour even though it took a lot of mental resilience to manage the increase to his workload and the anxiety and disappointment that must have come with a poorer than usual harvest. He is a wealth of information about the experience of the land workers and the ecology of the local area from his perspective and his natural ability to build relationships with the community and us as volunteers, which comes from an infectious curiosity that seems to guide everything he does. Learning about this is a real privilege, and an amazing way to be introduced to Sicily. Christin is extremely kind, relaxing to be around and always keen to know how you are doing and if she can help. If you want to get to know the animals further Christin knows their souls inside and out and you can learn a lot from her just from being around her, although she will answer any questions and encourage you if you are keen to know more. She is one of the most natural caretakers I have ever known and I have worked with nurses for years! Luca and Christin's passion for what they are doing is completely infectious and it was wonderful to get to know them over my time here.

They are busy doing their own thing, but interested people who are so happy to answer any question making it easy for me to work independently when I picked up jobs in the garden, despite not having experience of doing this independently. If you are honest about your intentions and experiences then Luca and Christin will bring out the best in you, and they'll make it look easy even when you know it must be far from that to open your home to so many new people with all their different energies and increase your workload by like 200%.

It reminded me of the happiest shared homes I have lived in at uni where my housemates are busy with their interesting lives involving work and projects and we make time to help and encourage each other and share beautiful food. It's just a big review to say thank you really.

(Excellent )

30 Dec 2024

Left by host (Join us at an animal ...) for Workawayer ()

Beck stayed with us for almost 2 months, during the olive season. She was helping with the nets (moving them and placing them under the trees, which is a very important job), being part of the harvesting team. Other than managing the nets, when it was needed Beck was helping with the harvesting machine, which is a more physically intense task: she… read more

(Excellent )