Family home and garden - rural, farm
Highland
Hello! Myself, my husband (and 3 young daughters 11,10 & 5) manage the grounds alongside my parents in-law. We live in a picturesque Georgian house which has been in the family for over 200years.
There are woodlands, gardens, lochs and a beautiful walled garden near to the house. You won’t be expected to help on the working farm, but rather carry out gardening tasks within and around the walled garden, main house and cottage directed by myself and my parents in-law. Tasks such as helping in our newly formed pumpkin patch, which is coming along nicely and the cause of much excitement!
There is a fully equipped flat in the basement for you to stay in so that you can escape the chaos of family life if you want to, or join us for family meals if that’s what you’d prefer.
We are looking for people aged 18+. Preferably a couple or two people coming together, but not essential if the situation suits.
Organic methods: manure as fertiliser
Crop rotation
Flora and fauna to promote biodiversity and support pollinators/tion
Hand weeding and use of leaf mulch
Pollytunnel and Greenhouse
Certifications: We aren’t certified because we do not sell our garden products to the general public. We grow our fruit and veg to ensure self-sufficiency. No chemicals are used in the walled garden
Current projects: Creating a pumpkin patch
Vegetable patch planting and upkeep
Weeding
Fruit picking
Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Pig farming
Cattle farming
Forestry
Flower farming
Meat processing
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
404.7
Hectares
|
1,000
Acres
Francesca
Member since 2022
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 50%
Response time: typically within 13 days
Highland
Reviews
Silke
Germany
•
June 2024
It was a great experience to work there. The family was lovely and very friendly. I soon felt like a family member and I had many nice conversations with all members of the big family. We had lunch together most of the time. I worked there for 5 hours a day and did a lot of weeding in their pretty "walled garden". At the weekends I had time to do day trips in this beautiful area and in the Highlands.
Silke
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Julia
France
•
August 2023
We spent four wonderful weeks at Geddes House. The walled garden, where we were working a lot, is very charming and it was a pleasure to work with Elizabeth (Francesca mother in law) and Jamie there.
All the family is absolutely lovely and we can say that we were in a corner of paradise.
You find everything you need and even more in the flat and it is very pleasant to live in.
The tasks are varied (edging, weeding, picking fruit...), you just need to be volunteer!
It was also quite easy for us to discover the area in the weekends thanks to the bus and train station in Nairn (Culloden, Loch Ness, Inverness, Forres, Elgin…).
We highly would recommend this rewarding experience to anyone!
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Emily
United States
•
April 2023
I was able to stay at Geddes house last November for about three weeks and it was wonderful! The garden is beautiful, and the work was light. My accommodation was an entire suite downstairs with a full kitchen, private bathroom, and bedroom. Geddes is quiet and lovely, a great place for walks. Franchesca was always willing to take me to see Nairn and other interesting places in the area. Most importantly, everybody made me feel incredibly welcome, and like part of the family for a little while. The whole family treated me with respect and kindness and I am grateful to them.
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Charles-Louis
France
•
August 2022
After working at Geddes House for 2 months, I can't imagine a better wwoofing experience than in this place. A beautiful house, a wonderful garden... The family really tries to make you feel comfortable. The flat under the big house (where I lived) was bright and very nice.
During the week, Lizzie or Jamie explained to me the different tasks to be done (weeding, picking fruits, strimming, watering, ...), and I was free to do these various jobs in any order I wanted. Sometimes I helped Francesca and Andrew up at the house, or Lizzie and Jamie at the cottage.
They were all really nice and friendly, and I loved spending time with them and the three daughters Leila, Anna, and Evie !
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Lynne
United Kingdom
•
June 2022
I spent 5 weeks working at Geddes House and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The gardens around the house and the walled garden where I spent most of my time, are really beautiful, with a mix of wild areas (the land is 1000acres after all! with some farmland too of course) and garden. Work-wise, after discussing what was required, including various different jobs, I just got on with it, working a lot of time on my own, but as I knew what was needed this was fine. Jamie and Elizabeth were the ones who I worked most with as the walled garden is their pride and joy - Jamie with his veggies and fruit (with greenhouse and poytunnel) and Elizabeth with the 'ornamental' aspects. Up at the 'big house' I helped Francesca with weeding the borders. Most of my work was weeding, but then that is to be expected in Spring! The whole family - Francesca, her husband Andrew, their 3 daughters and the in laws - Jamie and Elizabeth - were all friendly and welcoming. Accommodation is in a self contained flat in the basement of the big house (quite light and airy!). with your own cooking facilities. I had lunch with either Francesca or Elizabeth during the week, and I had weekends off. Nairn is close by with a really lovely beach.
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