Help us with rainforest regeneration, gardening and small building projects in Upper Coopers Creek, Australia

Infos

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  Description

  John, Sandra, and Xavier live on 5 acres in the Byron Bay Hinterland. We also have an adult daughter, son-in-law and their son living with us until they return to Japan. We are fortunate to have a deep swimming hole and a beautiful strip of rainforest along a permanent creek that is home to platypus and turtles. Our valley was once farmed, but now many of our neighbours are, like us, engaged in the regeneration of the rainforest—which mostly means battling invasive weeds. We've learnt so much about the plants and wildlife of this region since we bought here in 2015, and are learning more each day. By profession we are architects and have a design studio catering for diverse clients. We designed our house, winning architecture awards for interior design and sustainability. Much of it, including a separate cabin, we built ourselves. The shift to a more physical life after desk-bound careers has been amazing.
  Since joining Workaway in early 2023, we have been able to complete lots of projects, including building a bathroom for the cabin, making raised beds and planting our first vegetable garden, and setting up a separate apartment for extended family. We still have lots of interesting projects to do alongside taking care of the forest. In 2026 we are building a new workshop to replace an old banana shed. There is always work to do in the garden.
  For pleasure, Xavier plays piano and composes, Sandra makes and exhibits art, and we all love a camp fire in winter. Like most country folk, we tend to get up early (Xavier catches the school bus just after 7am) and go to bed early.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Our valley is bordered by national parks and its very beautiful. It is a 5 minute drive to the tourist destination of Minyon Falls and there are many other waterfalls and walks near by. You will learn about rainforest ecology firsthand and experience Australian animals and birds in the wild. You may also see pythons and frogs and glowworms, and will definitely see spiders. You will participate in the ongoing process of caring for the land, including replanting the river banks after the floods of 2022. You will meet other people who are engaged in forest regeneration.

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  Aide

  We are looking for energetic people who can work with us in the garden and forest, and on small DIY build projects. We use a range of simple power tools such as drills and saws, a brush cutter and ride-on mower. It would be an advantage if you had experience in basic tool use. Mostly we need you to have stamina and strength, that is super important. If you are unfit, suffer from fatigue, or can't lift 15kg, then you won't be able to keep up with us. Fearlessness in the face of leeches and mud is necessary. If you like the great outdoors, then you're a good match. While there is always maintenance to do, we do most of our ambitious projects between April and October when it is dryer and cooler that it is during the Wet Season. Its a rainforest, which means it rains a lot.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Japonais: Débutant

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  Hébergement

  You will have your own cabin. The cabin has been set up for holiday accommodation, and we host Workawayers there when it is not booked. It has a queen size bed, a kitchenette and a bathroom with shower and composting toilet. The cabin has a wall of glass doors onto a deck that overlooks the creek. It is 70 metres from the house. Most people eat with us and hang out in our living room. As we are a long way from restaurants we are used to cooking all our meals and we will make lunch and dinner for you, breakfast is usually chaotic here, so best you prepare that yourself in the cabin. We can cater for allergies and don't eat red meat ourselves. We have reliable internet in the house, but not in the cabin.

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  Autres infos...

  We think the best place to swim in the world is in our waterhole, but should you wish to swim in the sea the closest beach is at Brunswick Heads, 35 minutes away. Having your own transport will make access to so many of Byron Bay's sights easier, since there is no public transport. Some people hitch, but we don't recommend it. Our situation is best for people with a car, but we can pick you up and drop you off after your stay in either Lismore, Mullumbimby or Byron.

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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 are connected to Starlink which is mostly fast and reliable and with unlimited data.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

Sécurité du site

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