🌿 Build with Hempcrete in the Ring of Gullion! 🏡✨

---

The experience

We are Meri and Conor who have a mobile in the foothills of the Ring of Gullion AONB between Dundalk and Newry and are building a hempcrete eco-house, the first of its kind in this part of Ireland. We are looking for someone interested in this kind of construction/natural ways of living as we hope to begin the process of shuttering our timber frame in earl-mid September in preparation for casting the hempcrete walls.

---

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

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.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

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.

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.

Language lessons: Take free language classes at our place.

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

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

---

Requirements

Intermediate English

Between 21 and 55 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

---

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

---

Program Details

This is an exciting and important part of the build as part of our ambitious project to create a sustainable home with organic gardens and woodland (we already planted over 1500 native trees a few years ago!).

---

Activities & Shift

Volunteers will be working alongside us for 5-6 hours a day, 5-6 days a week (depending on busy periods), helping putting the woodchip boards in place around the timberframe of the house in preparation for the casting stage where a team of volunteers will help mix, carry and pour in place the hempcrete mix to build our walls. No specialist skills are needed, with some basic training provided for casting the walls. If there is a lull in building activity due to weather/delays, there's always light work to do in our organic garden and polytunnel and looking after our 2 chickens. In September we hope to work on our slate roof so if you have skills in roofing/slating or are eager to learn, this is a great opportunity. Volunteers with electrician and joinery skills are also very welcome.

---

Rules

We have a mobile home on site. There is a small room you can use as a bedroom but if you prefer more space, you are welcome to stay in a tent in our large polytunnel.
We generally eat vegetarian/vegan meals but can come to an arrangement over specific diets. Much of our vegetables come from our organic garden and we mostly eat organic, healthy, homemade food. We don't smoke or drink but don't mind if volunteers do this in moderation in their free time outside the mobile.