Area: Big Island of Hawaii

We have a large old rambling house, 600 ft from the ocean! We often host friends, family, couch surfers and work away people from other countries. While we love the social part, it takes a lot to make it all happen and make orchids grow, and get something going for dinner all the while keeping it fun for everyone.  *** From April to July 2013 - we have a house sitting/work exchange available for one of my clients around the corner. Email me for more info.  3 lodging choices await you; we provide sheets/towels / pillows 1.Gazebo. ½ screened, ½ walled gazebo. Twin futon bed and side table. Sleeps 1 person - 2.5 hrs of work exchange day. 38 SF total but great instead of camping 2.Camp - there is plenty of room to do so - you will have access to hot shower/bathroom and kitchen facilities. (1 hr work exchange per day). 3.The Palm Suite. Lower level of our home. Queen bed, twin bed and fold our couch. Good for groups of people traveling together - we charge $40/night for group - of 3 to 6 people + 1 hr work exchange per person. Full bath, kitchen, patio and bedroom.  Photos of all accommodations available upon request. The typical day looks like this Wake up to the ocean breeze rustling the palm trees and hear the waves crashing at the tide pools just a short walk away. Life stirs in our home around 9am and we like to get the work out of the way so that you can have lunch and enjoy the rest of your day. It’s not hot here and the work is only as hard as you want it to be. We appreciate your bringing creativity and ideas, we are not micro-managers. After your afternoon snorkeling the tide pools, floating in the hot ponds or sunbathing on the black sand beach, come back and sit on our huge, elevated deck in a big wicker chair, sipping a cool drink and tell us about your adventure, hear our wacky stories and enjoy a communal meal (even if we cook our dinners separate we enjoy the group atmosphere) and retire as early or late as you like, no rules here. The neighborhood and life in a tropical forest It’s warm, balmy, lush, sometimes rainy and breezy. If you google Waiopae Tide Pools, you can see lots of good pics of what our area looks like - we are rural and about 9 miles from a small town of Pahoa and 30 miles from Hilo. This is low-lying tropical environment so bugs are a way of life here. We try to keep them at bay but occasionally one or two will slip by our defenses. Some of them are palmetto bugs, coconut beetles, mosquitoes and spiders. Nothing harmful, mildly annoying at times, just bring bug spray and an open mind and you will be fine. We live in a residential neighborhood with houses of all types with colorful and interesting neighbors. Neighborly gatherings happen often and consist of tropical drinks, potluck style food (everyone contributes) and lots of laughter as this tightknit community comes together to have fun. If you are social, you’ll fit right in. If you are a little shy, these friendly people will bring you out of your shell. Things you need to supply on your own Money. We do not pay you. This is a work exchange for accommodations in a vacation area. We are generous people and appreciate it when others are generous in return, therefore we appreciate considerate people who will offer to cook a meal from time to time, not just wash their own dishes and take the trash down just like they would in their own home. Provisions. A sample shopping list would be personal toiletries, detergent, bug spray, sunblock, food and drinks and toilet paper. Plenty of farmers markets to get fresh veggies and fruits and all the coconut you can whack open. We are omnivore and our refrigerator has a little of everything. We are comfortable with Vegans to Carnivores. I think you see by now we are pretty easy going. Transportation. There is bus service and of course the very normal way of getting around here on the islands; hitch-hiking. You can rent a car if you want more freedom but we go into town often and if there is room, you can join us, just pitch in a little gas money. The personality types that are happy here You need to be outgoing, willing to make new friends and participate in life here, communicate (even if it is just trying to speak English! We'll help) We are a lively house and enjoy sharing stories, our day visiting the island and whatever else you’d like to share. Living in close quarters, it’s important for everyone to get along and you become an integral part of the household.   When you reserve time, and have flight info, we will send you a "pre-arrival" packet for all the info you will need and a list of websites to look at for sightseeing while you are here! Be prepared to take the bus as we do not provide other transportation. A challenge to those builder types: We have much left over recycled/used materials and I wanted to see if anyone can build a "tiny house". Look online at the tiny house movement and see what you think! Can you build your own tiny house here for you and others following you to enjoy? One more note: We are moving the household around - we are going downstairs and moving guest stuff upstairs so if you are a person who "enjoys" rearranging - the last week in April and first few weeks in May are the weeks for you! :)

Area: Basilicata

Our farm is in Basilicata, here we do everything with love and respect for nature and for our land, in our organic farm with a small workshop where we make jams and preserves under oil. We also have a small B & B annex. We would be happy to show you our beautiful region, blue sea and wonderful countryside when there is enough time. We are happy to teach about and have a hand with jam making, in the vegetable garden and in our B & B. The work here can be quite varied (depending on the season) but, of course, there is always something to do! As it can often be very busy during the summer we are looking for self-sufficient people who possess the ability to,at times, or often in the summer, work alone.

Area: Languedoc Roussillon

We have been renovating a Renaissance since 1997 . We have created a herb garden It has mature productive and attractive areas but every year there are landscaping developments improvements and propagation. Our French is not bad but in general we speak English. Our projects and the ambience at the chateau can really help students of English learn, improve and practise the language skills. We are currently really hoping to welcome a bi=lingual French person any time from now until the end of June for a particular translation project. We have a small lawn and fruit trees and a large courtyard. We like dogs and have one. We are situated near Carcassonne in southern France. Apart from renovating a chateau and creating a herb garden we run a small holiday home and tourism business. We have one young son. We particularly welcome people with a love of dogs and outdoor work in February, March and April of each year. In the winter we do also have computer and research projects and have two organised stays on with hands on renovation projects three times a year in June, July and August. We are continually improving historical documentation of the chateau's history and welcome proposals for archaeological studies. We offer very comfortable accommodation and a warm welcome. We have fun but we work hard five days a week.