A quiet biodiversity homestead for independent nature lovers in Atzling, rural Austria

Infos

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  Description

  Thank you for considering my place for your Workaway stay.
  My home is located in the beautiful Mostviertel region of Lower Austria, close to Pyhra, about 14 km from St. Pölten and around 60 km from Vienna. It used to be a traditional dairy and arable farm, but today it is no longer a commercial farm. It is more of a private hobby farm and biodiversity-oriented homestead.
  The focus here is less on agricultural production and more on maintaining and slowly developing a diverse, useful, beautiful, and nature-friendly place: fruit trees, shrubs, vegetable patches, flowers, hedges, wild corners, compost, firewood, animals, old buildings, and many practical projects, small and sometimes larger.
  At the moment, I, Alois, am the only permanent resident on the farm.
  
  Who I am looking for:
  I am looking for people who genuinely enjoy nature, simple rural life, practical work, gardening, cooking, and shared everyday living.
  This place can be a good fit for you if you:
  -are able to take care of yourself in daily life
  -know how to keep a kitchen, bathroom, and shared space clean
  -can cook simple but good meals sometimes
  -are willing to learn and ask when something is unclear
  -can work independently after being shown what to do and stay motivated without me standing next to you
  -can notice simple things that need doing in the house, yard, or garden
  -are honest, fair, and reliable
  -enjoy conversations, shared cooking, and spending time together, but do not need constant entertainment
  -can also manage a few days on your own if I am busy or away for work
  
  You do not need to be highly skilled. But you should be able to take responsibility for yourself, the spaces you use, and simple tasks once they have been explained.
  
  This place is not a good fit if you expect a host to act like a parent, teacher, therapist, entertainer, or personal manager. I am happy to explain things, work together, share knowledge and stories, but I also expect a basic level of maturity, self-responsibility, and respect for the household.
  At the same time, I am not looking only for quiet, serious “yes-people”. I enjoy people with humour, energy, ideas, creativity, curiosity, music, dancing, jokes, and a lively spirit. There is room here for good conversations, shared meals, laughter, spontaneous ideas, music, and sometimes even a dancing in the kitchen..
  
  Freedom is important here, but it works best with respect, awareness, and balance. This is a private home, not a party hostel. A good stay is based on mutual consideration, honest communication, and a fair balance between giving and taking.
  
  What I offer:
  Workawayers have access to private and shared living areas, including a private toilet and shower, a washing room, and two simple but comfortable bedrooms, one single and one double.
  There is also a 45 m² common room, nicknamed “the cinema”, with a projector and surround sound system for rainy evenings.
  The house is not a hotel or hostel. It is a real farm home. Shared spaces are used together and must also be cleaned and respected together.
  The farm is surrounded by countryside, forests, fields, hills, cycling routes, and walking paths. There is a public swimming pool nearby, and St. Pölten and Vienna are easy to reach by train.
  The area has a strong rural character. There are castles, old churches, wayside shrines, farms, cows, alpacas, and local traditions. People mostly speak German, often with a strong local dialect, but many understand some English.
  I am also happy to give hiking ideas, biking tips, and sightseeing suggestions for St. Pölten, Vienna, and the surrounding region from my own perspective.
  
  Work and daily life:
  There is no fixed “typical day”. The tasks depend on the season, the weather, my work schedule, the current projects, and your abilities and interests.
  The projects here are very different. Some are small everyday tasks, while others can be larger and more demanding practical projects. Depending on the season and the situation, tasks may include watering, weeding, mulching, harvesting, composting, caring for young trees and shrubs, keeping paths and outdoor areas tidy, helping with firewood, repairs, renovation, building or improving outdoor areas, preserving food, cooking, and maintaining shared spaces.
  Gardening and outdoor care are important parts of the stay. There are always things to notice and improve: watering plants, removing weeds, mulching beds, tidying tools, keeping paths clear, helping in the yard, or making a corner of the garden more useful, beautiful, or wildlife-friendly.
  
  I try to give each person tasks that suit their abilities, interests, and confidence level, while also encouraging them to learn and grow. I do not expect you to arrive as an expert, but you should be open to being challenged a little in a fair and supportive way.
  
  Cooking and everyday household life are also important. I enjoy shared meals, cooking together, exchanging recipes, and having conversations in the kitchen. At the same time, you should also be able to cook simple meals for yourself and take responsibility for the spaces you use.
  This is not about perfection. It is about attention, fairness, and basic respect for shared life.
  There is time for walking, reading, exploring the forest, foraging for mushrooms, visiting the area, or simply enjoying the countryside. But even on quiet days, I appreciate people who can manage themselves and see small useful things to do without needing constant instructions.
  
  About me:
  My name is Alois. I work as a consulting engineer in the field of hydropower and sometimes travel for work. I am also working on a PhD and have a strong interest in nature, practical skills, sustainable living, and good conversations.
  Before settling more permanently on the family farm, I travelled through more than 50 countries as a trainee, worker, student, volunteer, and curious traveller.
  When I am home, I enjoy cooking, sharing knowledge, working together, discussing life and ideas, and learning from people with different backgrounds. I value direct and honest communication. If something is unclear, please ask. If something does not feel right, say it early and respectfully.
  
  Why come here?
  This place is a good match if you are interested in a quiet, nature-based lifestyle rather than commercial farming. It is a hobby farm, a biodiversity project, a home, a garden, and a place for practical learning.
  You can learn about rural life, self-sufficiency, gardening, preserving food, simple repairs, firewood, animals, renovation, practical skills, and how to maintain an old farmstead in a nature-friendly way.
  It is especially suitable for people who like both independence and shared life: someone who can spend time alone, work calmly in the garden, cook, keep things in order, but also enjoy good conversations, shared meals, music, humour, ideas, and lively moments together.
  It is not a party place, not a hostel, and not a place where everything is organised for you. It is a private home with many small tasks, changing projects, quiet days, practical work, and space for responsible people to contribute.
  
  That said, life should not be too stiff either. Sometimes spontaneous evenings, music, laughter, dancing, or small gatherings just happen. That is welcome when it grows naturally out of a good atmosphere and remains respectful of the house, the people, the animals, and the place.
  
  When you contact me, please write a few sentences about why you are interested in this place, what kind of experience you are looking for, and what you already know how to do in everyday life. There is no need to impress me — I simply want to understand whether we are a good match.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Aide informatique/internet

  Garde de maison et d'animaux
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Vie en van

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Ferme

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  Culture

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Auto-stop

  

  Jardinage

  

  Musique

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Livres

  

  Animaux

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Plage

  

  Danse

  

  Montagne

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée

  

  Cyclisme

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  I live in a unique setting facing the start of the alps from a south-oriented hill - in our backslope is the capital of lower Austria (St.Pölten, 15min, train station) and Vienna is just 45min (25min train ride) away. You can learn about farming, animal care (sheep, chicken, bees), gardening, fruit tree maintenance, tree production, Kontiki-active coal, Terra Preta, cooking, how to keep supplies, build barns, dry walling, tree care, hay making, sell products, prepare wood for heating, compost, ...

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  Aide

  I need help harvesting berries, gardening, watering and maybe cooking. I do projects like planting trees and cutting wood, timbering, splitting and stacking firewood, fence repairs and maintenance, weeding around trees, mucking out, tinkering / improvising, ... - always with instructions, starting together and with feedback.

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  Langues parlées

  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Débutant

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  Hébergement

  We got two separate rooms (single and a double), the meals will be together and you can spend your leisure time cycling, hiking, walking, watching animals and sunsets.. We got plenty of work clothes including rubber boots, so you can safe your clothes for your leisure time. Just good hiking boots are important to bring for tasks outside.

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  Autres infos...

  There are many hiking routes around our village (which consists of about 12 houses), as well as beautiful cycling tours. The river Traisen is close by, and there are two lovely lakes that you can easily reach by bike (we have some you can use). There are also buses available, and sometimes we go together by car.
  
  From the nearby town of St. Pölten, you can take the train to Vienna in about 25 minutes. Vienna is the nearest capital city and also where the closest international airport is located. From time to time, we are also happy to drive together.
  
  We prefer stays of around 10 days to 4 weeks, as the work changes regularly and the house rules are easy to learn within that time. We always start work together, and once you feel confident and work safely, I’m happy to let you do tasks independently. I will regularly check in with you to see how things are going, offer feedback, and refine techniques together or provide additional tools if needed.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We got plenty space to park indoor and outdoor.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  4 chicken- too old to lay eggs..

  2 sheep- Lotti and the danube island sheep

  Kian, Bruno and the old one (3 ans)

  Kian is white, Bruno brown and the old one is brown with leopard print.

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