Leah

Informações de viagem

Eu estou

Descrição

**UPDATE: I'M CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM 25TH JULY TO 16TH AUGUST & ALL OF NOVEMBER ANYWHERE IN SPAIN UPTO TWO WEEKS. IF YOU'RE BASED IN ASTURIAS OR GALICIA I'M ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ANY WEEKEND SITTING OR FARMWORK AS THAT'S CLOSE BY (2-4 NIGHTS).**

Hello, thank you for exploring my profile. 🌿🌳

**I'm looking for pet-sitting / house-sitting / farm-sitting / farmwork only - I'm available from a few days up to 2 weeks in 2025, and perhaps 2026, possibly even last minute, anywhere in Spain (city, town, rural or isolated, mainland or on the Spanish islands. I live permanently in Asturias, Spain).**

PLEASE NOTE: I am not interested in child care, teaching English or language exchanges. 🙏 I receive many, many requests for these areas, but they're not something I want to volunteer my time on (I do sometimes run sustainable youth and community projects across Africa, but not this year). I'm only interested in pet-sitting, farm-sitting and house-sitting, whilst you're away working, seeing family, on holiday, or if you're sick and need the extra support with your animals and plants whilst you recover.

Being an animal and land guardian myself, in a rural mountainous area of Asturias Spain, I know how stressful it can be to find someone trustworthy that also has animal care and plant care experience. And, also someone who has the confidence to stay alone in your home whilst you're away. I hope I can be that person for you. For me, I get to help people out, spend time in varied places with new surroundings (inspiring for a writer) and to meet new animals and plants, which I love.🌲

I've studied a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Care, a BSc Hons in Wildlife Conservation, PgDip Youth & Community Work, PgCert Ecology & Spirituality etc., etc.., and have tonnes of work experience in those fields too. I've worked as a wildlife conservationist, an environmental community projects officer, international youth development worker and in Nature connection for 23-years.🌾 Currently, alongside writing, I run personal development programmes and provide 1-2-1 support for young adults 18-30! (I specialise in supporting young travellers, adventurers, pilgrims, changemakers and volunteers - especially with 'life purpose, confidence, anxiety, self-awareness and gaining vision')

I've looked after ALL kinds of plants and animals over my lifetime, for myself and other people, including: dogs, cows, cats, axolotls, horses, chickens, geese, ducks, donkeys, lizards, fish, amphibians, goats, sheep, snakes, insects like tarantulas, small mammals etc. and wildlife in rehabilitation. I also used to work as a licensed bat surveyor and cared for injured bats. In my youth, I worked on a dairy farm with 55 milking cows, in pet stores and at animal rescues too. My dream is to have a herd of goats one day! 🐐

I can commit to around 3-5 hours direct work for you a day 7-days a week (so around 25 hours a week commitment - I do expect basic food in return for my support; potatoes, onions, garlic, milk, eggs and bread at a minimum). I don't need any days "off". I'm there for your animals and plants for the entire stay every day (unless I do work on an active farm, then I'll need a day or two off 😊). I do work online a few hours a day (I have an internet dongle so there's no need for you to have internet).

I do not want to do full on gardening and heavy planting (a little garden maintenance and fruit picking whilst I look after your property, plants and animals is fine of course), no building, heavy grafting or construction projects. I'll simply be a 'sitter' / 'helper' for you that is also a perfectionist and won't laze around, please be assured of that.

Regrading sitting roles: I'm obviously very happy to clean out pens/stables/animal housing and to keep things to a very high standard in and outside of your home - it'll be just how you left it, or even better. I will also gather fruit, seeds, eggs and clean up. It makes me happy to see home/animal/plant owners return with a smile, and I can keep you updated whilst you're away with a daily message, videos and photos, if you'd like that.

I love walking and hiking, so, if you have dogs, horses, donkeys or other animals that like a short or long stroll it would be my pleasure to walk with them if they're used to that (I don't ride horses anymore). I don't drive and I don't cycle (but, I can hike and hike far - I'm used to walking around three to seven-hours a day in the mountains I live in, with a picnic break of course, hehe).

I'm 42 now, a Nature writer, mentor, coach and an international youth and community worker (I've supported youth from 32 different countries with specialist youth mentoring and coaching programmes for positive and sustainable social and environmental impact - mentoring for 23-years!). I am married to my wonderful Spanish husband and best friend Daniel, who is from Asturias - we've been together for 17-years; we lived in Leeds city centre for 10-years and in Ecuador for a year, before moving here (I'm originally from Wirral, UK, and I spend a lot of time alone working in countries across Africa too). Once we settled into his ancestral Asturian lands eight years ago, a month later our Carea Leones dog Bowie arrived by magic on the doorstep, literally (my husband will happily stay at home with Bowie when I help you out - I travel alone, and travel often). We're surrounded by plenty of wildlife and have no children. Our little cottage is in a quiet village of just 15 people at the near peak of a mountain, and we have an even more isolated stone cabin in the middle of the mountains, a few hours walk away, with no neighbours as far as the eye can see, where I go to write and disconnect half of the week, alone. The wolves and bears are my regular visitors there (no humans, not even family visit), and as a conservationist that adores privacy, and protects land, I keep the location of these special places exceptionally secret and quiet.🐺

I'm super friendly (well I think I am, hehe), but I do like to keep myself to myself, mostly; I tend not to socialise much, but I do work often with people, and I think I'm good at it; my clients say I am 😄. But, in my personal life I just prefer to be alone. I do love sharing cultures and stories, though, but I also need my space. If you're looking for regular company I may not be right for you - but, if you are in the house I'm sitting in or farm I'm helping on I will not shy away from a good conversation over lunch or dinner or whilst you're showing me how to help/work with your animals; I love finding out about traditions and local culture.

I'm used to living off-grid and staying in very basic conditions (except, I do prefer to sleep on a mattress - I'm happy with tents and huts, but they need a mattress; not a mat, thin foam or a hammock). And, a private bedroom/sleeping area is 100% imperative for me if there are other people in your property whilst I'm there. Although I'm not vegetarian, I will absolutely respect and live by the rules in your home and eat only vegetarian or vegan food, if preferred. And any other rules I must follow - I will.🤗

P.s. I don't use social media so I will never share photos, location or videos of your home, land, animals or property. I value privacy, it's one of my top five core values, so I will also respect yours.

I understand Spanish very well and speak Spanish at an intermediate level. However, I use translation apps to translate written Spanish as that's my weakest language skill.

I'd love to help out if I'm right for you and you're right for me. 😊
Thank you,
Leah

Interesses

Escrever

Autodesenvolvimento

Sustentabilidade

Cuidar de plantas

Fotografia

Mascotes

Naturaleza

Montanhas

Caminhada

Fazenda

Cultura

Livros

Animais

Idiomas

Inglês: Fluente
Espanhol: Intermediário

Habilidades e conhecimento para compartilhar ou aprender

Tenho interesse em:  

Cuidar de animais

House sitting

Vida na fazenda

---

Conhecimento de:  

Projetos ambientais

Ajuda a cuidar da casa

---

Poso ensinar:  

Trabalho beneficente

Quais são suas habilidades?

Please see description for my relevant skills. 🌞

Idade

42

Algo mais...

A private bedroom or sleeping area with a sturdy mattress is required (not a mat, blow up air bed or a hammock; some sofa beds are okay if the foam isnt super thin!), and I'd rather not stay in a home where people smoke indoors. I like to keep myself to myself so please be aware I may not always be social, but I can be and I'm super smiley. I'm happy to meet on a video call first.

Mais algumas informações

• 

  Fumante

• 

  Carteira de motorista

• 

  Alergias
  Feather bedding - birds are absolutely fine - I've had chickens, cared for all kinds of birds and I look after my neighbours geese regularly!

• 

  Dietas especiais
  No, none at all, except that Octopus are one of my favourite animals, so I refuse to eat them; plus, from a biological point of view they're pretty magical and unique so they get my full respect. 🐙 I will adapt to any dietary requests in your home.