Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
17 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
36
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Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are Gill and Steve living in the South of France with a house and garden in need of some work to develop into our dream.
The work we need help with is mostly outdoors. We are looking for someone prepared to do tasks in our garden. Currently, this is flat and featureless. We want to introduce landscaping to make the grounds a relaxing, interesting, comfortable, tranquil and convivial space. We would like someone who is happy to help us with the landscaping. Help will be primarily preparing the ground for planting and creating gravelled areas around the 2,000 square metre grounds. There is scope for some redecorating tasks inside the house we would like to be done.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We want to re-energise the garden by introducing more colourful shrubs and offset them with some hard landscaping of walls and a pergola. In the past we have done most of the maintenance ourselves. We want the extra hands and inspiration to provide a creative impetus to transform the garden.
We are very happy the way our workawayer guests helped us to make good progress. A row of non-indigenous trees were removed after a lot of hard work. In place of the trees, we have introduced some shrubs sympathetic to the region and climate. The plants have added more colour when in flower and bring variety to the garden. A new line of irrigation was laid to the plants. A new addition was the creation of an area of hard landscaping using a different colour of gravel.
Most recently our workawayers have given us excellent help improving the exterior of the workshop. The walls have had crepi applied and the following year some paint. The building looks much, much better. A knowledgeable workawayer helped us to add more irrigation and, in another part of the garden, better drainage. The same workawayer was great helping us build a personal gate in the corner of the garden. For the future there is a terrace that needs tiling. On another building adding a coat of paint to the shutters and a pergola will put a smile on its face. Around the garden the shrubs need more work.
If you are ready for a different challenge there are some new features we want to add. An aptitude for construction, gardening or artistic creativity will be good for these additions. We love sharing the tasks. Perhaps you will like to stay with us and help us be creative.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We are interested to guide people in English culture, history and language. We enjoy exchanging these aspects with other nationalities.
Accommodation
In exchange for your efforts, we can offer you your own bedroom and we would like to share all our meals with you. We can accommodate either 1 or 2 volunteers. We would like someone who wants to stay 1 or 2 weeks. If everyone is content, it can be possible to stay longer. We have always been very pleased with those who have chosen to stay longer.
If you would like some more information to help you decide whether this place is right for you please send us a message.
What else ...
Our local region of France offers experiences in Patrimonie, gastronomy, water sports and, naturally, Mediterranean sun and scenery. The house is situated in the corner of an active and growing village typical of the region and is about 25 to 30 kilometres from the coast. The coastline of this part of France has long, sandy beaches mixed with lagoons that are prime spots for water sports.
The nearest city is Narbonne. This is a delightful city with a great market at Les Halles, voted the best market in France in 2022. It is an ancient city with Roman architecture. We are close to Carcassonne with its magical walled city. This is famous as a World Heritage site. Another World Heritage site, the Canal du Midi is even closer. The region is steeped in history and has many sites associated with the Cathars and their castles. There is a bus service from the village to Narbonne, the coast and other places. For local trips there are simple bicycles available. The canal paths are good local routes to explore.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (18)
They shared all their meals with me and made me feel as they were my family during the week I stayed with them.
They were also aware of my necessities and well disposed to help me any time I needed.
One thing that I really… read more
We presented her with some difficult jobs in the garden. The results Lu achieved were astounding. The areas she worked upon now look the best they have been in 20 years!
Lu is a very polite and observant… read more
She was conscientious and careful with the tasks she undertook for us. Over several days Ketlen was scaling scaffolding to paint a pergola. This was an impressive feat that produced excellent results. We always preface any job by asking… read more
Ayelen worked tirelessly. Physically she worked on construction projects in the grounds. In addition, on her… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
They shared all their meals with me and made me feel as they were my family during the week I stayed with them.
They were also aware of my necessities and well disposed to help me any time I needed.
One thing that I really… read more
We presented her with some difficult jobs in the garden. The results Lu achieved were astounding. The areas she worked upon now look the best they have been in 20 years!
Lu is a very polite and observant… read more
She was conscientious and careful with the tasks she undertook for us. Over several days Ketlen was scaling scaffolding to paint a pergola. This was an impressive feat that produced excellent results. We always preface any job by asking… read more
Ayelen worked tirelessly. Physically she worked on construction projects in the grounds. In addition, on her… read more
We got plenty of work finished in between eating and… read more
They are intelligent, quick to learn, diligent when working and keen to do a good job. This included volunteering to clean their room at the end of their stay, which we do not ask, and… read more
When they came to us we asked them to redecorate our sejour. They worked extremely well as a team, one painting the large areas carefully and consistently and the other attending to detail works. Whatever we asked they were happy to do. They were… read more
All this without counting the incredible meals that Gill… read more
Carlos is very courteous and has impeccable manners. He has a warm personality and has an infectious joy. He is enthusiastic about everything and worked hard with vigour on any task presented to… read more
Circumstances meant we were obliged to change where she was accommodated whilst staying with us. The different apartments were treated perfectly and left immaculately clean.
Aimee enjoyed cooking… read more
They are very knowledgeable about food and skilful with preparing recipes. Gill had a birthday while they were with us and they prepared a true Mexican breakfast as a special surprise. It was all delicious and presented perfectly.
Their English is excellent. They are full of amusing… read more
Matias is very open minded and has an exceptional English vocabulary. He is interesting to talk to and able to tell us much about the very different parts of Argentina where he has travelled. We shall not forget the look of… read more
Fabricio was polite, sociable and… read more
from minute 1 they make me feel very very welcome, they were happy to meet people from different places (and listen to Argentinian music at dinner), the host room is very nice, we work in the gravelled pathways (wich look beautifull now).
Gill & Steve, was a pleasure to help in the project & I´ll be missing… read more
Jordan is polite, articulate, amusing and works well. It is evident that through family and education Jordan has evolved a strong work ethic. We had some rooms requiring painting with some urgency. He set about the task with alacrity and… read more
Gill and Stephen were incredible hosts! They were a dream to work for. This was my first work away experience and I have to say it was wonderful. They will keep you well fed and can offer suggestions on fun things to experience in the nearby area. The work was a very good. I painted. Gill and Stephen made me feel at home. That's a lot to be… read more
Virginia was very diligent showing great attention to the detail of any task, however mundane. Virginia was methodical and conscientious about finishing anything that she started. Our garden has never looked better thanks to her persistent approach to the… read more
Renée was polite, easy to cater for and to get along with. She was… read more
They worked really hard for us. Some tasks were pretty tough. Especially shifting 22 tonnes of gravel in one afternoon to create the kind of car park we have lacked for years.
They were considerate guests and easy to get along with. They were interesting and intelligent people and we had never realised… read more
We will miss the engaging conversations about history and obscure facts, the amazing food and of course the wind.… read more
