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Keep things running – caretaker at a lake retreat near Berlin

4.5
(11 reviews)11

The experience

We need someone who sees a broken door handle and just goes and fixes it. Our retreat on a lake 40 min from Berlin needs a hands-on caretaker – someone comfortable with repairs, light construction, and occasional garden work. You'll work independently: spot what needs doing, get what you need, and make it happen. Mid-April onwards, usually one volunteer at a time. Shared meals, sauna by the lake, and the satisfaction of keeping a place running.

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Team Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other people.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Get free drinks or beverages.: Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate German or Intermediate English

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Neupitz is a retreat location directly on a lake in Brandenburg, about 40 minutes from Berlin. We host team retreats and offsites for companies, as well as individual guests who come to work remotely in a quiet, natural setting. The property includes a main house from the early 1900s and several GDR-era bungalows spread across the grounds.

A place like this always needs maintenance. Door handles come loose, things need painting, the garden needs tending, and there are always projects to continue from the renovation period. We're looking for someone who can take ownership of these tasks – someone who doesn't need detailed instructions for every repair, but can assess what's needed, get the right materials, and just make it happen.

You'll usually be the only caretaker volunteer on site, though sometimes there will be two. You'll work alongside our hospitality volunteers and small core team, sharing meals and community life, but your responsibilities are your own domain.

You'll stay in one of our bungalows. Depending on how many volunteers are here, you may have a private room or share with one other person. We eat together as a team – vegetarian meals – and a few times a week, we fire up the sauna at the lake.

Activities & Shift

You'll work 30 hours per week with 2 days off. How you distribute your hours is flexible, depending on what needs doing.

**Repairs & maintenance:**

- Fixing things around the property (doors, handles, fixtures, furniture)
- Identifying what needs repair and taking care of it independently
- Going to the hardware store when you need materials

**Construction projects:**

- Continuing renovation projects from the off-season
- Light construction work as needed

**Garden & outdoor:**

- Garden maintenance
- Outdoor repairs and upkeep

Rules

- Minimum stay of 2 weeks, longer preferred
- Solid hands-on experience with repairs, construction, or maintenance – you should be comfortable with power tools and able to work independently
- Problem-solver mindset – you see what needs doing and figure out how to do it
- Fluent English or fluent German required
- Reliability and a practical attitude
- Openness and joy in connecting
- Self-initiated, action-oriented and team spirited