Create some things with an international artist and cuddle the cats in Southern Crete, Greece

Infos

• 

  Description

  After years of trying to manage alone, I have been delighted to have some help and some wonderful exchanges with really interesting, curious, and brave young travellers. My dream is to create a space for the exchange of knowledge and creativity with a focus on the rewarding and healing act of nurturing nature and what we can do with all it gives us. My beliefs and goals are rooted in respect for all and anti-greed/expoitation (eco-feminism, if one needs labels- but i am certainly not militant or fundamentalist about anything) and a desire to gather openminded,good-hearted, curious and creative people to thrive insupportive diverseandauthentic environments. The river under my property, and the old trees and vines is what made me take on the difficult project of renovating a ruin, which was completed in 2023, more or less. I have been having some things fixed and fixing some things myself that the builder did sloppily- surface stuff, not structural ,and i have been planting many many things... really, there are between 35-40 fruit bearing trees,i think...4 types of grapes (which were alreadyhere along with the7 big old loiive trees and walnuts, fig, plums, pomegranites, and citrus..and and..and... it's really satifying plant and caring for these growing things. everything keeps pointing me towards a focus on the lifecycle of water and ways to honour it. I could use some help with gardening,some fun eco structures in the garden (light DIY) and daily household tasks. References are most appreciated if you have met any people with skills and passions that might be suitable here.. .Generally, I am looking for those who value time away from the hussle and bussle of cities and party scenes, who prefer creating over destructive consuming, aqlthough i am not a prude (again not militant) and who really enjoy time spent caring for nature and figuring out how to make new things.- even when it means real help (during working hours) and isn't always just the really fun creating-playing kind. i don't want to be a "boss" and i don't want you to be my employees who need constant supervision and who spend working hours mostly on smoke breaks. It's not ok to drink or do drugs on the job. I wish I didn't have to make that clear, but ...well... there was a brief, not-so great exchange.. Really, i want trust and respect between us and an environment of consideration, openness, curiosity, and a love of learning. I will share allI can, but i do actually need some real help and some physical strength in return. I just brought my elderly city cat here, so please be considerate of his strange experience ad adjusting.
  
  Here we are 10 minutes from the mountains and 10 minutes from the Lybian Sea.
  Interested in ecological building? We can learn together,but those with some experience are MOST welcome.
  
  Help me set up the garden structures , and figure out how to make a bread oven out of salvaged clay (a wall in the original house) and give a gentle and caring hand to some surfaces that mafia style builder treated roughly and badly inside the house, while i find the organisations and funding to work with so we can make this a space for creativity, community, empowerment, organic food production and learning- with a special focus on and respect for water. i want to make my well into an acoustic little shrine, to decend into, and to play music and or sing to the underground river as it passes between tumbling out of the mountain and tumbling down. the dramatic gorge my village sits above, and returns to the sea. a medicinal garden, a place to observe the night sky up over the caravan, while shading it-roofers, dachbauerexperience?/zimmerleute? bitte bitte-Big dreams, but that's how things start, right?
  see more details about planned projects below.
  
  About me,
  
  I'm a California born artist and teacher . I came to Europe to study in Berlin in 1998, so I am now officially German, more importantly an EU citizen, too. I've also lived in Mexico and France, but only large cities until this relatively new adventure which began with finding the ruin and neglected garden in 2020.
  
  Although my property is full of fruit bearing trees which were neglected for years as the old stone house had fallen to ruin, It is more of a large garden than a farm and not a business. In fact, the work I have done alone has taken nearly all my resources and because of my recent operations on both thumb joints and because I am still learning Greek, I do not have any stable income, which is why i am unable to pay anyone much.
  
  I have been a freelance artist and teacher living my life as an immigrant for over half my life. i raised my daughter almost alone and now would like to eventually be able to offer support for those who need it as i did in any way i can. i will be applying for grants and funding to try to make this a reality.
  
  I have put all my energy and resources into this project since 2020, and it has been quite difficult and isolating at times in a place where many would consider me insane for taking on such a project and i have sometimes wondered if they might be right, but the nature and the natural and human history here are so very inspiring. My village sits atop the dramatic Portella Gorge in Southeastern Crete. 10 minutes drive to both gorgeous mountains and to the Lybian Sea. old trees, new trees, and some helping hands please.
  
  I am planning to establish a place for creativity and to exchange all kinds of knowledge that welcomes diversity, nature and cat lovers, builders, permaculture enthusiasts, DIY skilled, kind, curious sharers and learners. However, I need a bit of time to learn Greek and apply for funding so i can manage all i hope to.
  
  Here are some of the building projects plans and ideas.
  
  . There is clay to make an outdoor oven with. I have all the wood to be built into a weight bearing deck over the cute 1970's French caravan (ideally at least one educated carpenter or engineer type to be sure it's stable, of course. Other garden building projects include building a shed and completing the outdoor kitchen , and maybe a lean-to greenhouse and garden shed. installing a simple roof over the pergola. installing solar panels, some plumbing....
  
  There is a well with stairs that i'd like to build a beautiful and acoustically designed structure over, for collaborative sound performances with the underground river. There are things to do with stones and metal, and whatever natural materials we can find. i am a fan of beautiful repurposed salvage material. I have plenty of ideas but welcome creative collaborations, if that's your thing ,we will probably get along well , There are also some things for which, i just need physical strength.
  
  I have just returned from Tucson where i did a rainwater harvesting designer course. i am interested in seeing how these desert techniques can be applied here - using old wine barrels and terracotta pots for tanks maybe, but mostly shaping the land with shovels a little. and creating some shallow basins. i welcome your input to combine with what my elderly neighbours have taught me. it's all about learning and growing together, and, of course, having fun while doing it.
  
  I also have a flat in Berlin that needs some renovations onthe old "kastenfenter" windows, tiling the kitchen floor and some other DIY stuffI'll be there 15-22 June, if we get along and you'd like some city time.
  
  My hands have both had an operation recently, October and December 2025 so i cannot do everything i am used to managing alone. I am a good cook, open-minded, relaxed (except when i get a little overstimulated and ADHD frazzle, but i try to go away and organise my thoughts then)., and I have a lot of international experience . i am really happy to give a safe space to people who might feel vulnerable travelling alone- women, LGBTQI+, POC, and i especially welcome refugees.
  
  The nature is insanely beautiful in the South. A love of cats is a must, there are some new kittens running around the neighbourhood. I have a Spanish guitar, a casio keyboard, an amp, a mic...if you like to dabble in music in the evenings. a few hours of help and i can often take you for afternoons by the sea or for hikes in the mountains, when i am not working on trying to generate some income I've just invested in my first new car ever, a 4 wheel drive hybrid Dacia Bigster, so i will be delighted to take you on some adventures in exchange for your much needed helping hands.

• 

  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide à la maison

  Petits travaux d'entretien

  Aide informatique/internet
• 

  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Randonnée

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  LGBT+

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Culture

  

  Ferme

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Histoire

  

  Art et design

  

  Livres

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Langues

  

  Architecture

  

  Photographie

  

  Jardinage

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Écriture

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Animaux

  

  Astronomie

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Plage
• 

  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  My culture is an international artist's culture. as i said i really welcome diversity. you must only be authentic, good-hearted, and honest. I'm really pleased to share what i have learned about the culture and to introduce you to locals. The future intension of this place is to be aplace for sharing knowledge and building community. It will begin with you and your much needed and appreciated help!

• 

  Aide

  someone who can turn soil, garden a bit (or who is a permaculture genius!), be an extra set of hands, or two sets. Also any DIY skills are super appreciated. Creative thinkers and people particularly interested in sustainable idea for irrigation and water features, making a clay outdoor fireplace, a bit of carpentry are very welcome- but interest and openness are the best characteristics.
  
  Anyone who gets involved and likes it can have many future opportunities here. i respect people and will not exploit you. i expect the same. I do have quite a lot of random knowledge and experience in various things from ancient history to practical skills.
  
  I am also a very experienced English teacher but i am learning about farm stuff as I go. i would also be grateful for some online marketing help to gather support for this project and all it can be.

• 

  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Intermédiaire

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  trying to learn Greek, so i would love to have some exchange. i prefer multi-cutural constellations to all of one foreign culture, so i hope you do too. I am not in the position to cover all costs of food and housefor your holiday, so please understand that this is an exchange. i will need and expect help with a positive attitude. i know age does not effect someone's atttitude towards time for work and time for play, as i have seen 22 year olds behave more admirably and responsibly than some 40 year olds, so regardless of your age-please be an adult who takes some pride in your work. Ifi haven't made it clear- I won't put up with entitlement and childish tantrums, but i will treat you with respect, if you behave respectably.
• 

  Hébergement

  there are a couple spare rooms with double beds ( 1 is made of two parts and can be two single beds) , although one is a trailer which westore the garden tools in and need access to in the day, with an additional single bed- very cute! there is a single trundle bed and a fold down sofa in the kitchen/living room AND i have a couple of tents and good camping mats too, as well as a mosquito net for those who like to really be outdoors.. there are two bathrooms, and an outdoor bathtub with hot water.

• 

  Autres infos...

  there is no bus here, so we have to work out me driving you, or you need to rent a scooter or a car. i will drive a few people to to the beach most afternoons when it's hotter, just get in touch with questions. i need help as soon as possible, and you can see more about the place and me on my website. Ask me for the address. i also have a website with some history of this house and my other activities but i am not allowed to share it here.

• 

  Informations complémentaires

  • 

    Accès Internet

  • 

    Accès Internet limité

  • 

    Nous avons des animaux

  • 

    Nous sommes fumeurs

  • 

    Familles bienvenues

• 

  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  we might need an extention for the 5G- depending on where you sleep because my stone walls are thicK i think we can work out putting the modem in a good place though.

• 

  Espace pour garer des vans

  there is an outdoor bathroom/shower building and with a little help we can have a nice outdoor kitchen as well., so welcoming campers and more than my current limit of 4 people will be possible in the future.

• 

  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

• 

  Mes animaux

  

  Worm (3 ans)

  Worm, the furry ginger in between one year old kittens Mouse ( black in the back) and Rat (the grey and white one) was very wild and frightened when i met him, but he is a total love and a bit of a mystical guy who gazes and the moon and he is much loved by these younger ones and their two sisters, Squirrel (Calico) and Gerbil (stripy with Calico undertones) who were all born her- to their Mom, Sardine (who mostly hangs out with a neighbour now. These were all strays who i have had sterilized and who are delightful to have romping around you while you work in the garden. I'm really not sure exactly when he was born but it was in 2023, when the main construction rennovating this old ruin was done. He joined the gang of orphans whose Mom was my first cat friend here when i still lived in the Caravan. i regret not having been able to save her, even though she was my neighbours cat, so i do all I can for those who are at home in my garden. I will also be bringing my lovely 13 year old guy from Berlin, who has visited before and is maybe more into people than cats,although they seemtorespect him as an elder

Sécurité du site

Discutez avec des workawayers qui ont séjourné chez cet hôte

Feedback (2)