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For experienced dry stone wallers, carpenters and MIG welders: build lasting things on an organic, biodiversity-focused farm at 760 m in Vorarlberg – dry stone walls and reptile habitats, frames and roof structures for fruit trees, gates, steel art, barn doors. Good tools and safety gear provided. 25 h/week, private room, organic vegetarian food. Stays from 1 week, 2–8 weeks preferred, arrive any date.
25 hours of help per week
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
2 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
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.
Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.
Yoga classes: Take free yoga classes at our place.
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
Intermediate English
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
This is my private home and organic farm at 760 m in Dafins, Vorarlberg, shared with 3–7 volunteers: 40+ fruit tree varieties, berries, a pond, dry stone walls, deadwood hedges and wild bee habitats.
Your role: skilled building work. I'm looking for experienced dry stone wallers, carpenters and MIG welders – solid experience in your craft is required, because you'll work largely on your own. Projects: dry stone walls and reptile habitats; frames for berries and trees; gates and roof structures for fruit trees, free-standing or against a wall; steel art and rose arches; fixing barn doors; fences; houses for bees, bats and weasels.
Hours: 25 per week, spread as you like in agreement with me. Stay: 1 week minimum, 2–8 weeks preferred; you can arrive and leave on any date.
Room: private; towels, bedsheets and soap provided.
How the house runs: I work my normal job from home, so I\'m around but not always available. I set the priorities; when a volunteer manager is here, they hand out the tasks and follow up, otherwise everything goes through me. Everyone also owns a few small house responsibilities (e.g. Bird Feeder, Pond Refiller, Laundry Hero); some rotate. Tasks run through our own task app and a group chat.
Food: I buy organic vegetarian staples weekly (rice, millet, pasta, beans, bread, butter, vegetables, fruit, yoghurt, milk, eggs, spices), plus what the garden gives. When a volunteer cook is here, lunch is cooked for the group; otherwise – and for all other meals – you cook for yourself from these staples. Meat, chips, sweets etc. aren\'t included; buy them yourself if you like.
You need a valid visa and health insurance for Austria. Detailed info document follows before arrival.
Stone: building and repairing dry stone walls; building reptile habitats and hibernation mounds; moving and sorting stone.
Wood: frames and trellises for berries, kiwis and trees; roof structures that keep rain off peach trees; gates and fences; repairing barn doors; nesting and shelter boxes for wild bees, bats, birds and weasels; salvaging old wood.
Steel (MIG): rose arches, gates, frames and supports, roof structures, steel art for the garden.
How we work: at the start I show you the site, the materials and what I want to achieve; you plan and build independently and we check in on progress. Your ideas for a better or more durable solution are welcome. Which projects you take on depends on your craft, the length of your stay and the weather; on rainy days there is workshop work or tool maintenance.
Tools and safety: good tools, a MIG welder, a small tractor for transport, and safety equipment (ear and eye protection, gloves, masks) are here – please use it. Tools go back clean, the same day, to the same spot.
Rhythm: 25 hours per week, you track your own time.
No smoking and no alcohol anywhere on the property – also not on the street outside. For many people this is one of the reasons they come here.
Communication: I value honest feedback and better ideas. If something feels wrong, tell me directly. My office is off-limits; if the door is closed, knock – if I don\'t answer I\'m in a meeting and will come to you later.
Commitment: if you become unhappy or something serious happens in your life, you\'re free to leave at any time. I\'d just ask you not to commit and then leave early because something more interesting came up – I need to be able to plan with you.
Work: take ownership of your responsibilities and think along – if you see something that needs doing, do it. Some tasks might not be your favourite – that\'s part of sharing a house and farm. Mistakes are fine – rather try and ask than hold back.
Signs: around the house you\'ll find short signs (kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, drying rack, cleaning, quiet hours). Please read and follow them. Quiet hours: 21:00–7:00.
Kitchen: phones away while cooking and at the table while others eat. Clean up after cooking; knives cleaned and put back right away, not in the dishwasher; cut only on wooden boards; sink sieves stay in place. Stove off before you leave. Separate the compost bins.
House: in winter, air rooms 5–10 minutes with windows fully open, then close them. Lights off when leaving a room. Fires in the stoves only after I\'ve shown you how. Bathroom fan on when showering; never leave a running bath unattended. Take a house key when you go out.
Emergencies: find me immediately rather than fixing things yourself. Tell me if you\'re sick or injured.
Before leaving: clean your room and bathroom, wash your sheets and put fresh ones on for the next guest.
