Interested in taking part in our project?
WHAT? We are slowly but surely creating a home-like space with simple accommodation in a pleasant garden setting. Having recently taken a strong interest in permaculture design we plan to create an organic garden, and want to incorporate natural building methods in our renovation projects. We shall be recycling, composting and keeping chickens too ... and probably a lot of other things that we don't even know about yet - we're definitely on a steep learning curve here! During the sabbatical year we spent in the village we forged friendships with the local children and each summer we plan to continue arranging arts & crafts and other enrichment activities for them on a regular weekly basis. This creates a win-win situation where not only the local children benefit but we also enjoy the opportunity for interaction on a personal level; they help us learn the language and provide a network of friends for our daughter. Although the main motivator for organizing these activities is to provide an outlet for play there can be no doubt that they provide a wonderful opportunity for all kinds of fun-based learning. We hope to build up a library of various learning/teaching resources and to have available supplies for various craft projects. We hope, over time, to build up a collection of musical instruments, games and books and to provide facilities for drama and storytelling activities, scrapbooking, video and photo-editting and more. And we want to share all this with other like-minded people who wish to contribute some of their own skills and resources.
WHAT? We are slowly but surely creating a home-like space with simple accommodation in a pleasant garden setting. Having recently taken a strong interest in permaculture design we plan to create an organic garden, and want to incorporate natural building methods in our renovation projects. We shall be recycling, composting and keeping chickens too ... and probably a lot of other things that we don't even know about yet - we're definitely on a steep learning curve here! During the sabbatical year we spent in the village we forged friendships with the local children and each summer we plan to continue arranging arts & crafts and other enrichment activities for them on a regular weekly basis. This creates a win-win situation where not only the local children benefit but we also enjoy the opportunity for interaction on a personal level; they help us learn the language and provide a network of friends for our daughter. Although the main motivator for organizing these activities is to provide an outlet for play there can be no doubt that they provide a wonderful opportunity for all kinds of fun-based learning. We hope to build up a library of various learning/teaching resources and to have available supplies for various craft projects. We hope, over time, to build up a collection of musical instruments, games and books and to provide facilities for drama and storytelling activities, scrapbooking, video and photo-editting and more. And we want to share all this with other like-minded people who wish to contribute some of their own skills and resources.
WHERE? The project is situated in the village of Voditsa in north-east Bulgaria. It is approximately 70 km from Ruse on the border with Romania, some 180 km from Varna on the Black Sea coast and approximately 330 km from the capital, Sofia. To get to the nearest big town called Popovo takes approximately 20 minutes by car/taxi (or bus - 3 times a day). There is also a railway station in Popovo, situated 2-3 km out of the city centre.
WHO? Well, there's us, and you: We are Dani (64), Julie (53) and Lielle (8). Between us we speak Hebrew, English, a little German - and of course we are trying to learn Bulgarian too. And you? Well, you're probably either Couchsurfers or friends we've met somewhere along the way, or maybe friends of people who know us and have told you about our project - perhaps HelpXers, Workawayers or WWOOFers? You're not likely to be total strangers since we like to know a bit about who comes to share our space with us. You may well be a family - and that's great! In fact we are more than happy to have children around, though of course they are the parents' responsibility at all times. We don't ask anyone to pay for coming to stay with us - but on the other hand we don't offer hotel services either! We can offer you a simple place to sleep and the chance to take an active part in our project for a few days. Usually this is centred around providing activities for children, helping out in the garden or around the house, especially with our various mud-building and renovation projects. Just how you help out is really up to you. People learn of our project mostly by word-of-mouth. Since financial profit is not the goal there is no impetus to actively advertise. Our belief is that people who are motivated by teaching/learning/sharing will be the ones to find us. Maybe you'll give us a hand with something that needs doing around the house or the garden? Perhaps you can teach us something (we've plenty to learn and are keen students)! Maybe you can provide some of the supplies that we need for the various activities we hope to offer? Further down this page you can find a list of various things that we could do with and jobs to be done. Maybe something there inspires or challenges you?
WHEN? The most intensive part of our project takes place between mid June till end August each summer, though help of various kinds is needed at other times too. For families we suggest a mid-week visit of 3-4 days, though longer or shorter stays are also possible. We have limited accommodation possibilities so it's IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTACT US BEFOREHAND and don't just show up. You can do this via my profile on Couchsurfing, or by checking us out on HelpX or Workaway
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
In the garden: digging, planting, picking, weeding, landscaping, feeding the chickens, taking out the compost - various jobs depending on the season
In the kitchen: cooking, baking, cleaning, bottling, pickling, making jams,etc.
Around the house: painting, plastering, mending/general repairs, plumbing, floor repairs, ceiling repair, tiling
Teach: permaculture design, languages, musical instrument, drama, crafts, dance, yoga, video editting, carpentry, cookery, needlework, knitting, felting, weaving, dyeing, calligraphy, phototgraphy, drawing, water colors, story-telling, wood carving, cheese making, and more...
Other projects: wood chopping, making wooden furniture, building and plastering with mud, repair guttering, rewire electricity, create decorative artwork, mosaics, etc.
We love it when our volunteers find something to do that they really enjoy. If nothing that needs doing tickles your fancy then perhaps you can contribute by providing something that we need ... maybe from your own abundance or things you no longer need, for example:
Craft materials: paints, craft paper, pens, pencils, face paints, paint brushes, origami paper, glue, stickers, water colors, etc.
Musical instruments: darbouka, chime bars, triangles, kazoo, harmonica, guitar, ukule, etc.
Tools: rake, spade, drill, paintbrushes, etc.
Other: food, books, games, bedding, haircuts, massage, manicure/pedicure, stone polisher, curtains/curtain rails, computer, printer, containers for rain water collection, etc. Maybe you come by car and can offer local transport or a field trip?
WHAT WE CAN OFFER IN RETURN:
We can offer accommodation and usually food too (though occasionally we may ask for a contribution towards the food costs). Sometimes you'll have a room to yourself, or maybe a tent outside, it depends on when you come and who else is around at the same time. We are in the process of making additional places to sleep in the hayloft-den and the barn-dorm.
If you are a family with children we will provide daily activities for the children. These are usually connected with nature, arts & crafts, story-telling, map-reading, photography, and much more. We also offer a chance to take a glimpse into the lives of the villagers who may share with us their skills whilst we can also find interesting ways to help them in return. We will do our utmost to make sure you have an interesting and fun time and hope you do your best too to make sure that we enjoy your stay with us.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
In the garden: digging, planting, picking, weeding, landscaping, feeding the chickens, taking out the compost - various jobs depending on the season
In the kitchen: cooking, baking, cleaning, bottling, pickling, making jams,etc.
Around the house: painting, plastering, mending/general repairs, plumbing, floor repairs, ceiling repair, tiling
Teach: permaculture design, languages, musical instrument, drama, crafts, dance, yoga, video editting, carpentry, cookery, needlework, knitting, felting, weaving, dyeing, calligraphy, phototgraphy, drawing, water colors, story-telling, wood carving, cheese making, and more...
Other projects: wood chopping, making wooden furniture, building and plastering with mud, repair guttering, rewire electricity, create decorative artwork, mosaics, etc.
We love it when our volunteers find something to do that they really enjoy. If nothing that needs doing tickles your fancy then perhaps you can contribute by providing something that we need ... maybe from your own abundance or things you no longer need, for example:
Craft materials: paints, craft paper, pens, pencils, face paints, paint brushes, origami paper, glue, stickers, water colors, etc.
Musical instruments: darbouka, chime bars, triangles, kazoo, harmonica, guitar, ukule, etc.
Tools: rake, spade, drill, paintbrushes, etc.
Other: food, books, games, bedding, haircuts, massage, manicure/pedicure, stone polisher, curtains/curtain rails, computer, printer, containers for rain water collection, etc. Maybe you come by car and can offer local transport or a field trip?
WHAT WE CAN OFFER IN RETURN:
We can offer accommodation and usually food too (though occasionally we may ask for a contribution towards the food costs). Sometimes you'll have a room to yourself, or maybe a tent outside, it depends on when you come and who else is around at the same time. We are in the process of making additional places to sleep in the hayloft-den and the barn-dorm.
If you are a family with children we will provide daily activities for the children. These are usually connected with nature, arts & crafts, story-telling, map-reading, photography, and much more. We also offer a chance to take a glimpse into the lives of the villagers who may share with us their skills whilst we can also find interesting ways to help them in return. We will do our utmost to make sure you have an interesting and fun time and hope you do your best too to make sure that we enjoy your stay with us.
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