Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Off grid home in Southern Catalunya at various times in 2025
Spain, Freginals, Catalunya
Pets
- Dog(s)
- Cat(s)
Duc is our enèrgic German Shepherd who puts up with the two mothering cats called Pita and Pata. Duc must be kept on the lead during walks. Pita and Pata are pretty independent so long as you keep their food and water topped up. Pita is our cuddly cat and
Dates
- 26 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 (4 sitters have applied for these dates)
About this assignment
Looking for preferably a single person or couple with good common sense to keep our modest house, German Shepherd called Duc and two cats Pita and Pata safe on a voluntary basis. We would prefer to talk to sitters before any decisions are made and am hoping to go away during winter for at least 2 nights and at least 7 nights in August. We'd like to hear from sitters who fancy staying in the campo for a short break so then we could plan something and see more of Spain.
Car owner/driver is essential, for longer sits. Short sits maybe not necessary, but be aware we are 3kms from our small village.
An understanding of "off grid" solar & generators would be an advantage, but not essential. We are not on mains electricity.
Mainly we are looking for someone or someone's with common sense and maybe a few DIY skills which may come in useful if anything should go wrong. Someone who doesn't mind being out in the sticks for a couple of weeks, but not totally cut off. We have a good network of friends a nice walk or car drive away.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
General security of our rural home and looking after the pets.
Duc is an energetic dog who has a long walk every morning, then plays in the garden. Pita and Pata will need feeding and a bit of loving.
A bit of vegetable gardening wouldn't go a miss, plant watering essential and general keeping the place tidy.
Because we are in a rural position, there is always something to do on the finca and would welcome anyone who wanted to "have a go"!
What are the good features of the property and location
Our home is a rural finca of approximately 2 acres in a green verdant valley. We have beautiful mountains where there are mountain and country walks right from our doorstep. In the summer we have a small pool for a dip, but in the village there is a superb outdoor swimming pool with cafe where you can stay all day for a small fee.
The house is fairly modern build with solar electricity, backed up with a generator. It is not a posh villa with a pool though! We use bottled gas for cooking & heating water. In the winter we use a woodburner with an oven for heating and cooking. We have olives and almond trees. Also a large garden and vegetable plot. We have non potable water to the finca & house. It is necessary to collect or buy bottled water for drinking and cooking.
We have the internet. The mobile phone network is good.
The beaches are reached in 20 mins by car and high mountains (2000ft-3400ft) in 40 mins. Rugged lower mountains from the door. Barcelona is a two train journey away, as is Valencia.
We are close to the Ebro Delta where rice is grown and has a vast array of birds. At the end of the Delta there are long sandy beaches with no one on them. Blue flag beaches are found around San Carlos de la Rapita and Vinaros.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
The sitters need a car because the finca is 2 miles from our village and 7 miles from a large town where there is a lovely local market and large supermarkets.
A willingness to speak Catalan or Spanish would mean you would get more out of your time in this area. We have found the locals very helpful, while we murder their language! The house is far from perfect and still a work in progress. We have updated our solar system this summer and with careful management we are hardly using the genny to back it up.
Can I bring my own pets?
Yes
Restrictions: Duc loves to play with other dogs in his garden, but sometimes he doesn't get on with other dogs when on the lead
Last updated:
6 January 2025
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Testimonials
Two weeks in the Campo
Our first assignment. We'd heard it was quite difficult to get your 'foot in the door' re house sits but Grace and Gerald gave my wife Gail and I John a chance after a shortish video call. Grace drip-fed us lots of information before we arrived mainly via WhatsApp and by the time we arrived we felt like we knew them. They're very experienced and have done this many times and it shows. Their description of what we should expect was 100% accurate, but with a few nice additions mainly regarding the nature of their dog Duc and cats Pitta and Patta who are a pleasure to spend time with. Duc is an intelligent, playful and gentle German Shepherd who responds well to commands. He loves his morning walk and is then happy to spend the day in his garden trotting round chasing flies. In the evening he likes a cuddle and shares his affection. Patta likes to spend long periods of time curled up on the bed and also likes a cuddle at night. Patta is slightly aloof unless you're outside when she's happy to spend time with you. Their finca is about 2 miles from the nearest town - which has few amenities so a car or similar is required. However this does mean that once at the finca you can relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the place. It is surrounded by olive trees, almond trees plus orange and mandarin trees. The olives, oranges and mandarins were being harvested whilst we were there (mid February). The almond trees were just coming into blossom. We had 2 days of light rain whilst there but sunny the rest of the time. The temperature dropped at night but that meant we had reason to fire up the wood-burning stove/oven which was great for heating and cooking. The Montsia hills provide a perfect back drop and it is close to the coast, Ebro delta (flocks of flamingos) and mountains so lots of things to do. We spent 2 weeks there but still didn't manage to fit everything in that we wanted to. Grace is very knowledgeable about the area and recommended various places to visit and restaurants to eat in. She kept in contact throughout our stay and was always at hand if we needed her. We had a lovely 2 weeks looking after Finca Sanders. I can't remember being so relaxed. Also, it's been a pleasure getting to know G and G - new friends. Shame about the lemon shortage.
Gail, United Kingdom, 23 Feb 2024
Grace and Ger are really friendly and down to earth people.
This assignment would best suit sitters who are conversant with, or willing to learn how to live 'off grid'. The bungalow is situated along a narrow country road among the olive and almond groves. It is a couple of miles from the typical Spanish village of Freginalls and is easily walkable as the land is flat. Behind the property is a mountain range and lots of marked tracks for the more energetic giving spectacular views over the valley. In the large garden there are three raised beds and a number of fruit trees and depending on the time of year the garden yields lots of healthy vegetables (as long as they are kept well watered!) The nearest town, Amposta, is a short car drive away where you can get all the everyday groceries - Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona among others. Elsa is a soft, docile elderly Alsation...Quite happy to go on short walks and will spend all day picking up stones to be thrown which she retrieves with relish. Pieter and Pata, are the two friendly cats who choose to be company or choose to do their 'own thing'. The property has a flat screen TV with British programs and a very good WIFI signal. - There is also a log fire in the lounge with an oven above which bakes fabulous Jacket potatoes. All in all, this is a none arduous sit as long as the animals are well looked after and the raised beds are tended to.
Roger, United Kingdom, 14 Oct 2016