Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
7 Jun 2024
Reply rate
87.5 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
12
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a French-British couple living since 2003 on one hectare of agricultural land which we have transformed into a real oasis through market gardening.
We are now retired from market gardening but Nigel continues to produce vegetable and flower plants in the spring.
The vegetable production activity continues and the garden products are sold in the form of AMAP to around 25 families living in the surrounding villages. The distribution of vegetables takes place on Tuesday evenings on the farm in a very friendly atmosphere. Raed, our son-in-law, is responsible for AMAP.
Since our installation in 2003, we have planted many trees, built a beautiful straw house as well as two straw and earth cabins which were then converted into small houses. We also self-built a natural pool to cool off in summer. Informally we host all kinds of events, concerts, association parties or taverns.
It is always a great pleasure for us to share our experience and meet people who come to tell us about their travels. Our place is very appreciated by our visitors who speak of it as an oasis.
We are very accustomed to welcoming volunteers, we have been receiving them since 2008 and our house was self-built with participatory construction sites.
We especially currently need people to maintain the park and help set up the summer campsite because now we welcome volunteers in tents.
We appreciate people who are autonomous and respectful of their commitments.
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Nous sommes un couple franco britannique installés depuis 2003 sur un hectare de terre agricole que nous avons transformé en une véritable oasis à travers du maraîchage.
Nous sommes maintenant à la retraite du maraîchage mais Nigel continue à produire des plants de légumes et de fleurs au printemps.
L’activité de production de légumes continue et les produits du jardin sont vendus sous forme d’AMAP à environ 25 familles habitant dans les villages alentours. La distribution des légumes a lieu le mardi soir sur la ferme dans une ambiance très conviviale. C’est Raed notre gendre qui a la responsabilité de l’AMAP.
Depuis notre installation en 2003, nous avons planté de nombreux arbres, construit une belle maison en paille ainsi que deux cabanes en paille et en terre qui ont ensuite été aménagé en petites maisons. Nous avons aussi auto-construit un bassin naturel pour nous rafraichir en été. De façon informelle nous accueillons toutes sortes d’événements, concerts, fêtes associatives ou guinguettes.
C’est toujours un grand plaisir pour nous de partager notre expérience et de rencontrer des personnes qui viennent nous raconter leurs voyages. Notre lieu est très apprécié par nos visiteurs qui en parlent comme d’une oasis.
Nous avons une très grande habitude dans l’accueil de volontaires, nous en recevons depuis 2008 et notre maison a été auto construite avec des chantiers participatifs.
Nous avons surtout besoin actuellement de personnes pour entretenir le parc et aider à l’installation du camping d’été car maintenant nous recevons les volontaires en tente.
Nous apprécions les personnes autonomes et respectueux de leur engagements.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Nigel is a very good musician and is always ready to play guitar and sing. Renée likes to share her cooking knowledge, she ran a restaurant in Toulouse for 15 years. Regularly we all eat together.
Toulouse is a very pretty city to discover with a very rich cultural life. It is only 20 minutes by train and the station is 10 minutes by car from our farm. There is also the possibility of borrowing bicycles to be perfectly autonomous (station 20min by bike).
Nigel est un très bon musicien et est toujours prêt à jouer de la guitare et à chanter. Renée aime partager ses connaissances en cuisine, elle a tenu un restaurant à Toulouse pendant 15 ans. Régulièrement nous mangeons tous ensemble.
Toulouse est une très jolie ville à découvrir avec une vie culturelle très riche. Elle est à seulement 20 mn en train et la gare est à 10 mn en voiture de notre ferme. Il y a aussi la possibilité d'emprunter des vélos pour être parfaitement autonome (gare à 20min en vélo).
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
This year we are asking for help with park maintenance. Clearing, weeding, cleaning the swimming pool. You must be comfortable with mechanical tools. Hours are very flexible as long as the job gets done.
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Cette année nous demandons de l’aide pour l’entretien du parc.
Débroussaillage, désherbage, nettoyage du bassin de baignade.
Il faut être à l’aise avec les outils mécaniques.
Les horaires sont très souples du moment que le job est fait.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Italien
Accommodation
We set up a campsite with solar shower, dry toilet and kitchen area. We share meals at lunchtime and you will be independent for breakfast and the evening meal. We provide the basic grocery store and vegetables and fruits from the garden are at your disposal. We really enjoy a meal cooked by our interns, usually on Thursday evenings.
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Nous avons installé un camping avec douche solaire, toilette sèche et coin cuisine.
Nous partageons les repas les midi et vous serez autonomes pour le petit déjeuner et le repas du soir .
Nous fournissons la base épicerie et les légumes et fruits du jardin sont à votre disposition.
Nous apprécions beaucoup un repas cuisiné par nos stagiaires, en général le jeudi soir.
What else ...
We are a 20 min train journey from Toulouse, and I often take the volunteers to the nearby market of Muret on a Saturday morning
Nigel is a musician and a good singer, he knows all the Beatlles songs!
We are both retired, but we have a very strong social life with lots of young people around us
We love to share all of what we have learned in growing vegetables , building the house (we live in a Eco house we have built with volunteers)
In general people are very pleased to share two weeks with us and they easily become friends....
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Nous avons reçu deux « digital nomad » qui ont utilisé leur téléphone pour se connecter.
Space for parking camper vans
Il y a la possibilité de trouver un endroit pour installer le van
Can possibly accept pets
Chien bien éduqué
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
4 heures par jour max, 5 j/sem.
Feedback (10)
Renée and Nigel are great lovely hosts. They are very social, friendly, easy-going and generous, happy with mixing and mingling with all kinds of different people, and curious to learn… read more
After spending about a month with Nigel, his wife Renée and friends I got at least a glimpse of what it takes.
Nigel is very relaxed and jovial with a old-style British sense of humor,… read more
Je suis restée deux semaines chez Nigel et Renee et c est vraiment chouette, tu travailles en général de 9h à 13h, tu manges avec eux le midi et le soir tu es autonome mais tu avez de quoi faire à manger.
Ils sont très sympas, donc tu ne ressens pas une mauvaise pression et tu es indépendant ds ton cabanon de jardin !
Merci encore Nigel… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Renée and Nigel are great lovely hosts. They are very social, friendly, easy-going and generous, happy with mixing and mingling with all kinds of different people, and curious to learn… read more
After spending about a month with Nigel, his wife Renée and friends I got at least a glimpse of what it takes.
Nigel is very relaxed and jovial with a old-style British sense of humor,… read more
Je suis restée deux semaines chez Nigel et Renee et c est vraiment chouette, tu travailles en général de 9h à 13h, tu manges avec eux le midi et le soir tu es autonome mais tu avez de quoi faire à manger.
Ils sont très sympas, donc tu ne ressens pas une mauvaise pression et tu es indépendant ds ton cabanon de jardin !
Merci encore Nigel… read more
they are some very caring person, I was just arrived in Toulouse,
couldn't speack any French,
they were very patient, and helped me wiht the language,
had an amazing accomododation with private kitchen for dinner time, I ate with them at lunch time.
I've discovered the beautiful area around and… read more
She was very helpful in the garden and I can still appreciate the work she has doned.
I am shure we will met again in Toulouse.
Thanks again Juliet for your help,
Renèe
I think she has the workaway spirit and hope for her to find the good place to go on with her traveling.
Nigel and i… read more
They are welcoming, warm and know how to make you learn without a feeling of workers/ host.
Thank you Nigel, for the learning in the vegetable field, the music , that was great, though "psycho killer" will never leave my head ever again BUT i am glad i discovered it :)
Thank… read more
We would enjoy Renée's company and… read more
