Contribute to creating our dream home right in the heart of the Swedish wilderness, Horndal

Infos

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  Description

  Hi! Our names are Grazia and Mark. Just 4 weeks ago, we bought and moved into our dream home right in the heart of the Swedish wilderness. Our 6 bedroom renovated railway home is set in the most culture-rich county of Sweden: Dalarna; home of Swedish tradition and close to the largest wooden horse in the world. We believe we are in one of the very best areas of Sweden - set in true wilderness while being only 2 hours drive to Stockholm or 1.5 hour train from Stockholm airport!
  
  The property we bought was used as a lodge for railway workers in the 1920s, and therefore we have the unique privilege of a railway themed experience directly on our doorstep: while still being in utter and complete solitude and silence in the woods. We have a 3500sqm plot nestled in an over 100 acre wood. We have an outdoor lounge which is snow-deep; currently over 2 feet of snow surrounds us. Perfect for knee-high walking boots. There is a wondrous lake 750m away and an on-site pond and flowing stream that runs by the house doorstep. There is a resident beaver that is the official caretaker of the stream.
  
  Our drinking water flows well and is extremely pure from the tap. In our area of Sweden we are blessed to have access to some of the best drinking water in the world.
  
  The forest we are in is very special; abundant with fruticose lichens like Old Man’s Beard, these are now the rarest lichens in the world and survive today as scientific markers of absolute pure air quality. Our land is therefore primed as a fantastic detox location for those seeking refuge from the modern world.
  
  We have in mind to renovate this incredible property while fully preserving its high quality materials and original character.
  
  It’s extremely important to mention that the house, though in need of aesthetic work, has fantastic “bones”. The wooden structure has been expertly preserved and therefore is a very healthy house to live in; there is great humidity control in the house as well as the basement, which is always kept dry. Though currently a basic house, the wood is very healthy and there is no rot, mould or other important issues which can impact human health. We believe it is therefore a perfect healing haven in Scandinavian paradise!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  If you want a Nordic wilderness experience with English speakers who have travelled all over Europe, then look no further. We have built our nest in Sweden after traveling in over 15 countries and would love to share the magic we have found with others. We have been in love with Sweden since 2013, and after an unbelievable health journey it took 10 years to finally buy our dream.
  
  I have become somewhat of a detoxification specialist in the past 7 years and I would be happy to share my wisdom over casual tea and sits by the fire.

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  Aide

  We would love it if you could work for about 4 hours a day, divided in agreement, perhaps 2 and 2, but we are very flexible. Attitude is by far the most important aspect.
  
  We would like people to help with insulating the house with our provided very healthy and non-toxic breathable materials. We would also like help with stripping and sanding walls, possibly fitting wallpaper, and just all round complete DIY and renovation of the house. If you aren't so good with manual labour but have an eye for design, architecture, planning, especially some construction knowledge - then welcome! If you don't have such knowledge but are willing to be self-taught and just think this is a dream environment, please write to us as we consider the right attitude the most important of all!
  
  Above any particular skill we want kind, open-minded people that really want to be in and value this wonderland nature environment.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Maltese: Courant
  Italien: Intermédiaire
  Français: Débutant
  Hollandais: Débutant
  Swedish: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  We are native English speakers with experience teaching English to foreigners! So if you're interested in learning English and have a particular DIY skill, please get in touch! :)
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  Hébergement

  The first few guests we host this year are in for an (extra) special experience. Due to our renovation plans, it is likely that you will have the entire upper floor of the villa to yourself (large central room overlooking the forest while your bedroom overlooks the vegetable patch and gazebo). If you are coming in winter, kindly note everything will be caked in white snow so visibility is limited!
  
  We do recommend extremely warm clothing and layers (also indoors) but have plenty of extra layers to lend you. If you are short on winter clothing but really want to come, please let us know! There is also a wonderful second hand store 25 minutes away which sells all kinds of winter clothes for next to nothing.
  
  You will certainly have your own room upstairs with your own wood burning stove. Kindly note that door locks need maintenance but we do not usually use the upper floor. It also has a separate entrance from outside. We will buy and provide the wood for you each day and teach you how to use it, though I would highly recommend watching a couple YouTube videos to prep the stove and get in the mood for your adventure!
  
  We can provide healthy, low-fat simple meals! We eat a flexitarian diet and prioritise health above all else; but we are no strangers to the occasional home-made pizza. With lots of garlic and onion due to Grazia's Italian heritage.

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  Autres infos...

  It would be ideal if you could rent a car for your stay, but we do have a bicycle. However, there is a 400m walk to the main road and then a car is ideal as the road doesn't have a marked cycle lane. We should have a car by the time you come, and if this is the case we will happily take you for grocery trips or to show you some nearby beautiful spots. If this is not the case, then we would highly recommend you rent a car from Europcar (Avesta) just for your convenience to see far away landscapes! If that's not your thing and you really crave the solitude and respite, then you do you!
  
  We can also occasionally arrange for a lift to the small town, from which there are connections to a larger town and from there to Stockholm.
  
  We'd like to conclude by adding that this experience is really a once in a lifetime immersion in the snowy, forested wilderness of Scandinavia. The internet works well but might occasionally have a little bit of lag, and the house has a cabin-like feeling due to renovation needs, particularly insulation. So we are looking for people that really value an escape from city life and just want to get away to quiet snowy paradise for a while, while brushing up on their DIY and meeting kind people. If you need hustle and bustle and want to be constantly interacting with others, perhaps another opportunity would be best (unless you'd like the challenge!). If you can see yourself in a rocking chair by a wood stove fire, reading, journaling, hiking through the forest or just getting to know yourself on a deeper level than ever before - get in touch :) <3

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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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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We would like to build an international digital nomad hub so you are especially welcome.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We can accommodate vehicles with winter tires and, of course, the lower the emissions the better! We have a private driveway as we live at the very end of a rural path in the woods.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  We absolutely love animals, so please contact us if you want to bring your fluffball.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, flexible