Small, welcoming family needs gardening help in a rustic central Victorian village, Malmsbury, Australia

Details

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  Description

  We are a family with one sixteen-year-old daughter and live in a historic bluestone cottage in the gorgeous village of MALMSBURY, just 1 HOUR from Melbourne on the train. Andy makes harps and marimbas and Polly teaches music at a local primary school. Sylvie is in year ten and plays lots of music. We have a variety of jobs from gardening to cleaning and tidying a studio for 4 hours per day in exchange for board and food. We love music from all around the globe and have spent time studying Latin American, African, and Celtic music. We have a lovely old rambling garden with a 100-year-old oak tree. We are a 20-minute walk away from the train station so you can explore the central Victorian goldfields.
  
  Our daughter is vegetarian (Andy and I eat meat) and we all love world food. We would love to learn and cook your favorite traditional dishes with you.
  
  Your accommodation is either a 1984 Jayco caravan in our garden containing a small fridge, stovetop, and two double beds, a room with a single bed in the house, or the studio once it is cleaned up. We would love to have you for at least 4 days or longer if it's the right fit.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As we are full-time musicians, we can share our music and help traveling musicians get to know the Australian Folk scene. The village where we live is small but has three great cafes, antique shops, a bakery, and an aussie pub, (all within walking distance), a train to Melbourne (10 minute walk from our house), and is very close to the Macedon Ranges bike and walking trails, Hanging Rock and the Central Goldfields. We have traveled to South America, U.S, Canada, and Ireland as a family in addition to solo travels from myself and Andy to India, Africa, and Europe.
  Our daughter Sylvie plays the violin and sings, I love a good honest chat about life, and Andy loves playing music with absolutely anyone. He is one of Australia's predominant folk harp makers and players. We play music together and in various local ensembles and we would love to share this with you if you're keen.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Our garden needs some TLC...mulching, weeding, trimming, and if you have any landscaping or veggie gardening experience that could be very much appreciated. We also have an old picket fence that needs repairing. We also need a studio cleaned out and once that has happened it can be your accommodation (a lovely separate room just off the courtyard).

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Think funky retro, (and clean) caravan in an old rambling garden. It is a good size with two pull-out double beds, a fridge, gas cooker, a table, and power. The wifi may stretch to the caravan however you can most definitely use it from our house if it's not reaching outside. You would have your toilet in the shed but share our bathroom at the rear of the house.
  
  Alternatively, we have a small bedroom in the house with a single bed.
  
  We also have a studio off the courtyard and once the studio is cleaned, that could also be your accommodation.
  
  We have a wide range of Australian native birds regularly visiting our garden and a beautiful view overlooking the valley.

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  What else ...

  On your time off you could visit Castlemaine, Bendigo, Mt Macedon or head back into the city on the country VLine trains. Our town called Malmsbury has the following: a lovely Botanical gardens containing a famous viaduct, a swimming hole if it's hot, a bakery and corner shop, multiple antique shops and lovely countryside walks.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Great NBN

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Smaller vehicles can be parked on our half-acre block, and large campervans can be parked on our large nature strip on a no-through road.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Would have to be discussed as we don't have secure fencing

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

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