We need 3 volunteers
Macalla farm is a 240 acres farm (some of it planted with trees) on an island off the West coast of Ireland. We have ducks, sheep and horses, as well as the usual cats and dogs.
We grow most of our vegetables and fruit in our gardens and polytunnels and in the spring and summer, we produce yoghurt and cheese from sheep`s milk. We also run a yoga and meditation retreat centre and training courses in vegetarian cooking, natural horsemanship and natural horse care. We also have a small vegetarian restaurant, so experience in the catering trade would be an advantage.
We are looking for volunteers with organic gardening experience from early Spring till the Autumn. Minimum stay two weeks, but we prefer people who can stay longer.
We are also looking people to help with the running of the retreat centre and the cafe during the summer. We ask people to commit to a minimum of two month, sttarting any time after the 14th of June.
Our place is not suitable for teenagers and we have a strict so smoking policy, so please, no smokers. We prefer people with an active interest in organic food production, self sufficiency or sustainable living. An interest in yoga or meditation is also an advantage, as this is an important part of life at Macalla farm and there are opportunities to take part in some of the yoga sessions offered at the farm in the summer.
In exchange for about 30 hours work / week we offer accommodation in a caravan in the summer and in a comfortable house shared with other helpers outside the tourist season. There's one or two days off / week. The food is delicious, organic and strictly vegetarian (but not vegan as we have milking sheep and ducks for eggs). Horse riding is possible for experienced riders who have their own riders insurance, but not for beginners.
There`s plenty of time to read (helpers can borrow books from our large library), write, or explore the island, but note that we don`t have TV and that Internet access is somewhat limited as we are on an offshore island.
If you are interested in our place, please write (through our website) with details of your relevant experience, the skills you have that could be useful, the reasons why you would like to come, and the dates you would be available. If you can, also send us a photo (or a link to one on the Internet), as we like to know what prospective helper look like
2020
English, French
We're a bilingual household with English our main language, but everybody speaks French as well, most of us fluently. Some of us are also learning Spanish, and are always happy for a chance to practice!
We've been living on Clare island for many years, and our two kids, now 17 and 14 are growing up there, but Christophe is originally from Paris, and Ciara from Ohio.
We're passionate about food, yoga and meditation (we are both yoga teachers), sustainable living and horses.
We have been welcoming volunteers from all over the world since 2003.
Accommodation in caravans in the summer and in a comfortable house shared with other helpers outside the tourist season.
We offer a lot more than accommmoation! There a lot to learn at our place, from organic food production (bread making, organic gardening, milking shep, various method of preserving food, etc.) to yoga and meditation, as well as natural horsemanship, general farming skills, etc.
We've also been told many time that the food at our place is amazing.
We are always happy to share our knowledge with our volunteers.
Some meals are self catered (we provide the ingredients) and some are shared.
Payment possible for long terms helpers or if helping out with the cafe. No payment for short stays.
