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Relaxed homestay in the Ferguson Valley WA, help us outdoors!

The experience

Your hosts are Al (retired) and Vicki (part time work from home) and we are fortunate to have a small home on 6 acres in the Ferguson Valley that we share with our two rescue dogs and a few chickens.
We have been here for 18 months and got the basics under control but we're now looking for help with getting some more projects completed - herb gardens (medicinal & culinary), seed sowing, pruning, netting, decking, pergolas etc.
Mainly outside jobs

What you offer

10 hours of help per week

Pet Sitting: Taking care of and looking after pets.

Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

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

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

3 days off per week

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

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

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 English or Beginner French

Between 21 and 65 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

You will have comfortable self contained accommodation with your own bathroom, kitchen, laundry. Basic pantry goods are provided (cereals, coffee/tea etc) & home produce when available. You will be responsible for most of your own meals but we would enjoy sharing dinner once or twice a week if this suits).

Our two rescue dogs are the heart of our family and love to get under your feet, encourage you to play with them and enjoy regular walks around the property.

We have abundant birdlife (wrens, kookaburras, egrets, robins and many red tailed black cockatoos) and have been encouraging regeneration of our small forest and have been delighted to spot many orchids starting to appear.

Whilst not a permaculture property we do try to live a sustainable lifestyle and as we are almost offgrid considerate use of power, water and resources is expected from guests.

We enjoy lots of "homesteading" activities including breadmaking and preserving, herbal medicine, soap making and general crafts. Al is trying to learn the didgeridoo and hoping to have more time for painting and drawing and Vicki wants to improve her French language skills. We both love to cook and explore different cuisines and learn about other cultures so plenty of opportunities for good conversation over a cuppa.

There is NO local public transport so your own reliable vehicle is ESSENTIAL.

Activities & Shift

You would be expected to work 10 hours per week per person but we are very flexible around days and hours - we live in a beautiful part of the world and would like you to explore and experience the Valley and beyond.

As well as our projects list there is always lots to do around the place from mowing & weeding to chopping (chainsaw) firewood & stacking, chipping, mulching, raking paths & collecting kindling, irrigation & fencing work. Cleaning out the chook house and turning compost could also be on the agenda.

Rules

NO smokers and NO drug use.

Whilst we choose not to drink, we are happy to host occassional/social drinkers & we have an amazing selection of wineries and breweries very close by.

Guests are expected to keep their accommodation clean and tidy and change the linen etc ready for future guests (this is in addition to your weekly working hours).