Fun Jobs in Greece for Free Room and Board – All Summer Long and Beyond

Would you be willing to care for horses on a farm in Corfu, help someone build a storehouse on Chania, serve as a maid for a small hotel on Naxos, or pick and clean acorns that fall from trees on the island of Kea–all in exchange for room and board?

Do you fancy donating your services for a few months, or do you prefer a year? Welcome to the world of “Help Exchange,” or “HelpX,” an online listing of opportunities that may be a match for you.

“HelpX” is “a cultural exchange for working holiday makers.” Its website lists farms and lodges willing to hosts volunteers for a few months or a year in return for room and board. Some of these opportunities require basic “handyman” skills, but others able to pick and process olives or acorns are welcomed. Hosts look for individuals with a sense of adventure who will enjoy learning new skills and living among the locals. Below are just a few current listings:

Adventure and Discovery on Corfu

Gerald Durrell, an English naturalist and zookeeper, and his brother, Lawrence, an expatriate, prolific novelist and travel writer, lived on the island of Corfu during the 1930s and considered it “the paradise we loved.” Together, the brothers produced seminal works in their respective fields and in 2002 the Durrell School of Corfu was established in their memory.

The School is now accepting reservations for the May 3-10, 2014 “Week of Adventure and Discovery” centered on events and experiences in the life of Gerald Durrell. Participants can explore the plant and animal life on the island as they take gentle walks across mountains and coastal paths to see the variety of wildlife in an unspoiled habitat.

Expert guides are on hand to help in the identification of flora and fauna as you enjoy the beautiful landscape and magnificent views. According to the School’s website, www.durrell-school-corfu.org,

“‘We hope that there will be fireflies at night to guide you and butterflies in hedges and forests to greet you.’ We fear that the magic of this sight which so enchanted the young Gerry Durrell may one day be lost forever, due to the effects of modern farming. However here on Corfu, it is still possible to be mesmerized and disorientated with the flashing lights by which the males attract the females.

‘We hope that there will still the extraordinary varieties of creatures sharing the land of the planet with you to enchant you and enrich your lives.’ The two direct quotations are attributed to Gerald Durrell himself. There is a range of accommodation from villas, apartments or rooms with a local family, all set close to the study center. For further information, visit the school’s website at www.durrell-school-corfu.org. To make reservations, send an email to Alexia Ashcroft at durrellschool@gmail.com

Also according to the website: “Moderators and Distinguished Visiting Writers in recent years included David Bellamy, Lee Durrell, Hugh Bennison, Jeremy Mallison, Nicholas Gage, Sir Michael Llewellyn-Smith, Jan Morris Peter Mackridge, and Mark Morris.”

TELOS

Published in The National Herald, February 2014