Maurighof - at the foot of the Rax/Lower Austria with lots of nature and animals

Description

🏔️ Help us on our beautiful farm at the foot of the Alps, with the sheep, goats, bees and much more Location: Lower Austria (Rax/Schneeberg region) Vibe: International, hard-working, family-oriented and authentic. For us, the exchange is not a one-way street. We want to learn just as much from our guests as they do from us, and create memories through shared meals and conversations. We are a colourful bunch of nice people, made up of an Austrian and a Middle Eastern family as well as long-standing international friends. Living here permanently: Feri (1982), Lise (1975) and the children Layla (2013) and Aisha (2015). Other family members visit regularly to enjoy time together and prepare a mix of delicious Oriental-European food! Likewise, many different visitors (friends, helpers, family) from all over the world enjoy this place of encounter and exchange. The mission: We are living our dream on a 150-year-old property in a beautiful water conservation area, but to be honest – the past year has been a rollercoaster. After a family tragedy and a hard winter in which pipes and tractors froze, our to-do list has grown into a mountain. We are currently in a major phase of transition and reorganisation. We are bringing this historic farm back to life and need motivated, physically fit people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty (and maybe a little muddy). What we need help with (the "pitch-in" list): We don't need guests, we need team members. If you see a weed and pull it out, or see a mess and clean it up without being asked, you're exactly right for us. Help us in our vegetable and herb garden: trimming grass, pruning trees, weeding... In and around the house we could use a helping hand with cooking, cleaning, sorting, sweeping, renovating, etc. We're currently doing the spring clean after a long, hard winter to make it cosy for our family and guests. We have two male PYGMY GOATS – Max and Moritz. We rescued them 8 years ago; they are like pets. We currently have some SHEEP – at the moment 20 lambs and 20 sheep. After a heavy loss in the family last year, we haven't been able to manage the flock optimally. We will soon be downsizing it, as there are too many for our space. We need the sheep for "lawn mowing" on the property (we haven't had a mechanical mower since we got them) and keep them as livestock for our own meat. We constantly need to improve the stables, build fences, etc. We need help with their daily care: feeding hay, changing water, letting them in and out, and so on. We have long kept BEES. The number of colonies changes yearly – at the moment we have 3 colonies again after a big loss last year. Cilli (2016) and Sasa (2024), our dachshund ladies, our "bad boy" FritzTheCat (2023) and two FERAL CATS (Basbus and Gasgus) also live here. • The "wellness day" for gardens: Our gardens went wild last year. We need help weeding, pruning old fruit trees and patching the greenhouse roof. • Renovation & maintenance: General repairs, cleaning gutters, chopping firewood (with a log splitter or by hand) and taking care of the old villa. • Spring cleaning: Help organising areas that were neglected during the tough past year, and preparing the rooms for our frequent (non-paying) family visitors. What's in it for you? • Authentic farm life: No tourist trap. You'll experience the real ups and downs of mountain farming. • Food & culture: Feri's family often visits to cook incredible Oriental/Middle Eastern feasts. We love language exchange and good food. • Location: We are about 100 km south of Vienna. There are superbly organised connections by train, bus and on-demand bus. This makes it easy to explore the surrounding regions. • Pure nature: Our house lies at the foot of the Alps, surrounded by Rax, Schneeberg, Mittagstein and Semmering – perfect for hiking and exploring. In summer, the Schwarza in the Höllental offers wonderful refreshment. Special highlight 2026: This year is extra special: we're celebrating 100 years of the Raxseilbahn – Austria's first cable car! The main celebration is on 9 June 2026 with ceremonies, live music and a great atmosphere. The festivities stretch over months, with events on the mountain, guided hikes and culture. In your free time you can use our fitness room by the pool (pool access at any time). There's plenty of greenery around the house for relaxing or barbecuing. Vienna is close by for a city trip, and the Hungarian border (Sopron) is only 40 minutes away by train. ⚠️ Important: Read before applying! • Long-term helpers preferred: The property is huge. We don't have time to explain everything for a 3-day stay. We're looking for people who want to stay longer and really integrate. • Physical work: You should be strong and enjoy working outdoors in any weather (sun, rain or mountain snow). • Together, but independent: We'll show you the ropes, but we're not fans of micro-management. We're looking for reliable helpers with team spirit who also like to take responsibility for a task and see it through independently. Are you ready for a rustic adventure with fewer bears but lots of weeds? We're looking for respectful, friendly souls to help us open this new chapter. Accommodation: Depending on availability, you'll get a single, double, triple or quadruple room. We have a separate kitchen for guests and helpers, where the pantry and fridge are always well stocked. Sometimes we cook together, sometimes everyone caters for themselves.

Amenities & features

• ✓ Kitchen
• ✓ Washing machine
• ✓ Heating
• ✓ WLAN
• ✓ Laptop workspace
• ✓ Babybett
• ✓ Privates Badezimmer
• ✓ Pets allowed
• ✓ Tiere vor Ort