Région: Umbria/ Tuscan border

Marcus is an Architect, Lucy an Artist, very late 30s. Plus 16 month Lola who is a joyful little soul. We are restoring a large old farmhouse and turning it into an artist's retreat, where people can come and learn many aspects of art from Lucy or visiting artists. Still much to do on the house, specifically including plastering and general tidying, also painting walls, a bit of carpentry making doors and a small wall section, then furnishing, veg patch and general gardening. Support making food etc is appreciated, and Lucy is happy most days to conjur up something tasty. Marcus really appreciates someone to work with, we both love getting to know our visitors, learning things and the general good feeling of reciprosity. It feels this house was meant to have more people in it as in the past it once functioned that way. All help needed asap please! We are very keen to have people now onwards. We are not available for June or second week in July. But we are working pretty hard up until then, after july we will calm down a bit. Lovely food guaranteed. Fancy an art or pasta or bread making lesson, or pizza made in the old bread oven? Come with us for trips into town for weekly markets. Our only animals are 4 freerange chickens we want to fence in a bit now.

Région: New South Wales

We are a painter and a sculptor who live and work from our waterfront home and studio on Dangar Island. We have three small children aged 8,7 and 3 years. Dangar island is situated 1hr north of Sydney by train or car and is boat assess only. The ferry runs every hour. We are keen permaculture gardeners, and have a garden filled with paintings & sculptures in amongst the fruit trees. We have a variety of subtropical fruit trees planted, happy chickens & a healthy vegetable patch. Work includes gardening, weeding, building garden paths & sheds, tree planting, maintenance of vegetable garden, making sculptures and art reproductions, painting buildings and whatever else we have to do. Must have a sense of humour and be prepared to have fun while working. Usual stay is about a week to start, however longer stays are negotiable after first few days. Although building, painting and landscaping skills would be nice the most important thing is that you are WILLING to work. We are happy to teach you new skills provided you are willing to make the effort. We have canoes and rowboats and in your spare time you are welcome to go exploring or fishing on the river estuary. Lots of great hiking and bushwalks in the surrounding national parks. Would be very happy to host Spanish, Japanese or Chinese speakers as I need to practice these languages. Must be a non smoker. We can also host couples and possibly even one or two small children too for short stays.

Région: Burgenland

We are a family of mostly 4 (sometimes 5), 2 kids at school age. We live in a small farm village some 20 km from Lake Neusiedl in the east of Austria; about 45 km from Vienna with regular railway and bus connections. The area is soft and characterized by farm land, wine and a milder climate than in the rest of the country. We are convinced of a more balanced life and thus try to reduce waste, plastics etc. and grow our own vegetables, cook as much biological food as possible and more. We bought this old farm house with garden some 2 years ago and are still trying to bring it in full shape.

Région: Murcia

Our company organises programmes that bring together a group of volunteer native English speakers and a group of Spaniards for a week in a four star hotel. The goal of the programme is for Spaniards to speak English and improve their capacity to communicate in English. Volunteers get free **** hotel accommodation and meals during the week. In exchange, we ask you to take part in activities such as one-to-ones, telephone calls, group conversations, etc.

Région: Midi Pyrenees

My husband and I are moving to a wonderful old farm in the South of France within the next few weeks. I am 43 and he’s 48 years old and we have 5 children (21, 21, 19, 17 & 11), 1 cat and are planning to buy 2 dogs very soon. My husband is Belgian and loves to cook, and I am English and work for a non-profit AIDS organisation. My 11 year old vegetarian German/English daughter lives with us, the rest of the kids come for visits. The farm is in a beautiful rural area between Toulouse and the Pyrenees, very close to Boulogne sur Gesse. For your free time we have an above ground pool, table tennis, table football, Wii, king size trampoline, dvds and cds, books and magazines, badminton, wireless internet etc. Within walking distance there is a public outdoor pool, boating lake with fishing, shops and a weekly market. The gorgeous city of Toulouse is just one hour away in one direction and the mountains just one hour south!! Nearest airports are Toulouse-Blagnac, Pau-Pyrenees and Tarbes –Lourdes.