Here's what Lydia (our host mom) writes about her home!
Hi, Here's what I do... I grow Vintage Cut Flowers, providing a sustainable alternative to mass produced imported florists blooms. Most of what I grow is old fashioned and nearly always scented, grown both outside and in commercial polytunnels. It is seasonal with the year kicking off in Feb/March with oooodles of seeds to be sown and we wrap things up in Oct/Nov time. I'm a small unique operation and what I do I love, every plant I grow I know personally, and I take huge satisfation in producing such a beautiful, unique product. My flowers are sold direct to the consumer through local markets, private orders for weddings/parties and I also sell them to country shops for retail. My business is based just down the road from where I live at my parents strawberry farm, where we grow not only strawberries but squash also and french beans...or as the french call them..green beans!!
And who we are.....I'm a mum of 2 kids, a little girl (very cheeky "sausage") of 4. And a much bigger (notso cheeky) boy of 9. We live in a lovely comfortable 5 bedroom cottage in a very scenic area of West Cork. We are out in the country but not too far from anywhere. We have a busy life, with lots of fun for good measure thrown in. We have a dog..a German Shepard, who is a lamb in wolves clothes. Some chickens, who keep us in eggs, and a cockatiel who really rules the roost....pardon the pun! We have a big garden where we grow veggies (to have some thing to go with the eggs!!!! )We are pretty busy, but we try to keep a balance and I always try to make sure we get quality time with each other as a family. I ride with my neighbour regularily, who has a yard of young horses, my daughter also rides..well bobs along.We enjoy walking, bike riding and exploring our beautiful and magical countryside. My son is into rugby, surfing and kicking my ass on the sand dunes!
What I'm looking for..... Being a single mum juggling all that I do, I do need help! I need some help with everything from gardening (though no experience is needed) including weeding, seed sowing, planting ect.Picking beans, flowers, including cutting and prep. Market selling. Help around the house, walking the dog perhaps and hanging out with the kids (they work with me alot of the time but its great to have someone willing to play games with them). None of it is hard work, and when the sun shines it isnt really work at all. Every day is different. and its not all day, every day. No experience is needed just a willingness to learn and a pinch of patience for the kids.
What you'll get..If any of this is of interest to you then please come stay, I love having people around. You'll have your own private bedroom, either a double or a single so couples are welcome. You'll be well fed (not just eggs and veg I promise).I am passionate about food and cooking! you'll be included in our family and hopefully become a honoury member. You can join in on any activities we are doing or I can try to accomodate any activities you wish to persue. You'll get plenty of free time. Our home is very cosy and comfortable house with Wifi internet and digital TV. There are lots of lovely walks right outside the door, I live a 5min walk from a 600yr old castle that sits beside a lake.There is a bicycle you can use to explore(though I do live on a hill!!!)and I am a short drive from many beaches and 15mins from Clonakilty one of West Corks most amazing little towns. So theres lots to do.
Safe travelling!
Hi, Here's what I do... I grow Vintage Cut Flowers, providing a sustainable alternative to mass produced imported florists blooms. Most of what I grow is old fashioned and nearly always scented, grown both outside and in commercial polytunnels. It is seasonal with the year kicking off in Feb/March with oooodles of seeds to be sown and we wrap things up in Oct/Nov time. I'm a small unique operation and what I do I love, every plant I grow I know personally, and I take huge satisfation in producing such a beautiful, unique product. My flowers are sold direct to the consumer through local markets, private orders for weddings/parties and I also sell them to country shops for retail. My business is based just down the road from where I live at my parents strawberry farm, where we grow not only strawberries but squash also and french beans...or as the french call them..green beans!!
And who we are.....I'm a mum of 2 kids, a little girl (very cheeky "sausage") of 4. And a much bigger (notso cheeky) boy of 9. We live in a lovely comfortable 5 bedroom cottage in a very scenic area of West Cork. We are out in the country but not too far from anywhere. We have a busy life, with lots of fun for good measure thrown in. We have a dog..a German Shepard, who is a lamb in wolves clothes. Some chickens, who keep us in eggs, and a cockatiel who really rules the roost....pardon the pun! We have a big garden where we grow veggies (to have some thing to go with the eggs!!!! )We are pretty busy, but we try to keep a balance and I always try to make sure we get quality time with each other as a family. I ride with my neighbour regularily, who has a yard of young horses, my daughter also rides..well bobs along.We enjoy walking, bike riding and exploring our beautiful and magical countryside. My son is into rugby, surfing and kicking my ass on the sand dunes!
What I'm looking for..... Being a single mum juggling all that I do, I do need help! I need some help with everything from gardening (though no experience is needed) including weeding, seed sowing, planting ect.Picking beans, flowers, including cutting and prep. Market selling. Help around the house, walking the dog perhaps and hanging out with the kids (they work with me alot of the time but its great to have someone willing to play games with them). None of it is hard work, and when the sun shines it isnt really work at all. Every day is different. and its not all day, every day. No experience is needed just a willingness to learn and a pinch of patience for the kids.
What you'll get..If any of this is of interest to you then please come stay, I love having people around. You'll have your own private bedroom, either a double or a single so couples are welcome. You'll be well fed (not just eggs and veg I promise).I am passionate about food and cooking! you'll be included in our family and hopefully become a honoury member. You can join in on any activities we are doing or I can try to accomodate any activities you wish to persue. You'll get plenty of free time. Our home is very cosy and comfortable house with Wifi internet and digital TV. There are lots of lovely walks right outside the door, I live a 5min walk from a 600yr old castle that sits beside a lake.There is a bicycle you can use to explore(though I do live on a hill!!!)and I am a short drive from many beaches and 15mins from Clonakilty one of West Corks most amazing little towns. So theres lots to do.
Safe travelling!
