Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
51
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
A former mill set in very beautiful surroundings with bamboo groves, a river running through the property, fantastic organic vegetarian food, and connection with interesting people from around the world constantly passing through.
Open from the springtime to early autumn (please check calendar for availability ) A community set in the South West France, we hosts various retreats and courses mostly centred around Meditation and Yoga, plus other various forms of personal development.
The "retreatant volunteer" positions are designed for those who want to integrate their meditation practice with daily life within a supportive and friendly environment. Applicants need to have an established meditation practice and retreat experience, or an interest in developing one.
We are very happy to welcome workaways with previous retreat experience and with an established meditation practice. We expect volunteers to understand and respect the quiet atmosphere we are offering to the many visitors who pass through here. Most of the retreats have silent periods in them, either mornings or afternoons or both, depending which group, so it is important to be able to live and work in silence and in solitude and to have the capacity to work independently (with instruction from the residential staff).
Although situated in France, and we do have some French people passing though, we are very cosmopolitan, international community, and English will be heard as much as the French language and sometimes even more so! So keep that in mind if you are wanting to practice French.
At the moment we are looking for people who have experience working in the kitchen, household and gardening. If you have experiences in these areas, please contact us. You may be helping out in one, two or three of them, depending on the team we have at the time.
The work is also very varied, it can change everyday, it also involves a lot of general maintenance as it's a big place. Schedules are put up weekly in order to organise the weeks.
Sorry we do not accept people travelling with pets.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be in a mediative environment, and will be expected to come and join in with the team/staff daily meditation sittings.
There maybe also the opportunity to participate in some of the events/retreats taking place. It is not possible for all events, so you will be told when you arrive.
You will be part of a community who are interested in self development and have travelled and experience a lot, in their inner and outer life. Work aways have really benefited from sharing and speaking about their own experiences and hearing about others unique life style choices.
You can enjoy the quiet countryside environment and as well go the the bigger town to experience the french way of life.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
(we will be offline from 23rd December to 21 January, no queries during this period will not be responded to until 22nd January)
We are looking for support in the main house, preparing for the different retreats and courses we offer here. Help will include household chores, laundry, cleaning, helping out in the kitchen for team meals, preparing veggies, cleaning and always lots of washing up.
Some gardening may be needed, although less often, which involves, cutting down bamboo, weeding, watering, making bouquet of flowers, moving/cutting wood and other.
There's always some DIY needed if you have any building, DIY skills.
You will be helping in a friendly and supportive environment with residents and other visitors to the the community, with more or less people here according to the time of year.
Maximum stay is of two weeks.
Bellow are some suggested periods for 2024 as per retreat. Think of arriving one day before and leaving one day after the dates below:
15/04/2024 - 21/04/2024
22/04/2024 - 27/04/2024
12/05/2024 - 19/05/2024
20/05/2024 - 26/05/2024
27/06/2024 - 30/06/2024
01/07/2024 - 07/07/2024
08/07/2024 - 14/07/2024
15/07/2024 - 20/07/2024
29/07/2024 - 04/08/2024
18/08/2024 - 25/08/2024
26/08/2024 - 31/08/2024
23/09/2024 - 29/09/2024
30/09/2024 - 06/10/2024
07/09/2024 - 13/09/2024
14/10/2024 - 20/10/2024
21/10/2024 - 27/10/2024
28/10/2024 - 02/11/2024
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
There are beds for about 40 people here, but when our courses and workshops are full then volunteers will need to camp. If that is the case we can provide you with a tent and sleeping bag. Rooms are in the main building or in cabins in the bamboo groves, camping is in the shade of large trees by the river.
Swimming, kayaking, cycling is all available at the nearby campsite. There is a bakery and a couple of cafés in the nearby village, 5 minutes away.
What else ...
We ask that all those arriving take a self-test the day of their arrival.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
About 5 per day with 2 days off a week
Feedback (35)
She took interest in learning and experimenting with the different practices offered at our place;
Her energy was gentle, kind and humorous, and she was always willing to help anywhere needed. We would most definitely have her back again.
She is a wonderful addition to any place, whether that be a… read more
She was always willing to help anywhere needed, and would never consider a job done unless everyone had also finished.
She took interest in learning and experimenting with the different practices offered at our place;
Her energy was vibrant, joyful, and humorous. We would most… read more
Much love and graduation to all the people there (❤️) and a big thank you to you Carla, for… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.3)
Communication:
(4.7)
She took interest in learning and experimenting with the different practices offered at our place;
Her energy was gentle, kind and humorous, and she was always willing to help anywhere needed. We would most definitely have her back again.
She is a wonderful addition to any place, whether that be a… read more
She was always willing to help anywhere needed, and would never consider a job done unless everyone had also finished.
She took interest in learning and experimenting with the different practices offered at our place;
Her energy was vibrant, joyful, and humorous. We would most… read more
Much love and graduation to all the people there (❤️) and a big thank you to you Carla, for… read more
She was always willing to help anywhere needed, and curious about learning and experimenting with the different dynamics at our place;
Her energy was gentle, kind and humorous. We would most definitely have her back again.
She is a wonderful addition to any place, whether that be a… read more
The place is as beautiful as the hosts and the food is delicious so watch your stomach :)
I enjoyed participating in the programs and drawing… read more
If you like nature, silence, healthy food and time for yourself, it is perfect!
The facilities are very beautiful and the place is quite luxury for a Workaway stay. Also the food is excellent and high quality, also regarding… read more
The Center is absolutely beautiful. A beautiful French and Zen tradional blend, incredible. Gail and Martin, the owners, are people with an open mind and a big heart, always listening. Their lives are simply filled with beautiful adventures that they… read more
Work was scheduled clearly, was varied and I worked 25 hours a week. Sometimes a bit more but that was because I wanted to. It… read more
Thank you!
I spent two weeks there and really enjoyed it.
The place is very peaceful and calm and joining the meditation was an amazing experience.
I really enjoyed exploring the area, meeting very friendly and interesting people, as well as eating delicious food every day!
The amount of work is fair and… read more
The work was fair and well-organised. So you always knew what you were going to do on which day. And I had always great, kind… read more
It was so lovely to have you both here, you slotted in perfectly and with great ease, helping us in the kitchen and with child care in the first week when we had our summer gathering and then a more relaxing 2nd week when everyone left. Thank you for your smiles, laughter and such willingness to help out in all areas. We… read more
And will always remember the kindness you showed us, and the fun we had dancing in the street. :)
xx
I am sorry to have missed you when you left, but on behave of all of us here, I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work.
We really appreciated your input into making it into what it is, allowing things to function smoothly, whilst recreating a safe and special environment for people to go more deeply.
Your work in the… read more
The work in the kitchen was intense but fun cooking for over 90 people… read more
She blended in well the the others in the community and it was a pleasure to have her around.
Thank you for your great help.
We very happy to have them both around.
We would be very happy to welcome them back again.
We would definitely welcome here back in the future
She blended in really well into the community life style here, and at the same time was sensitive to our different courses we were offering. Everyone really… read more
and not to… read more
It was a pleasure to have him stay with us and I would warmly recommend him.
If you have skills in carpentry and have a place in your heart for spirituality this is the place for you. The new timber straw bale home being built is a… read more
