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Looking for a practical couple or 2 friends at our mountain farm in the Pyrenees, France

  • Enregistré comme favori 462 fois
  • Activité récente: 28 mars 2024

Disponibilité

  2024 

 Séjour min. souhaité : Au moins trois semaines

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Infos

  • Description

    Description

    Hello there. We are a Matt, Ali from the UK, and our kids Olea (11) and Simeon (9). In 2015 we bought a large hill farm in the Vallespir, and we have been working hard and renovating it and creating holiday accommodation ever since.

    We are a British family living in France; so the language at home is English.

    Matt has done lots of things including working as a diver, a Marine, then a computer technician and is now a forester/farmer/builder! He competes most years in the local triathlon (Bearman Xtri) and loves pushing himself physically; and recently has been doing a lot of cold water immersion. He is now the forester, land manager, electrician, plumber, technical manager and general handy man!

    Ali worked for many years as a chef on private sailing boats all around the world so has a background mainly in hospitality. I am an avid animal lover which is why we have so many! I love our long hikes in the mountains with the donkeys and dogs and like to practice yoga. I am design chief on the build, I manage bookings, do changeovers, feed the family, take care of guests and also do a lot of varnishing and animal care.

    We both enjoy the great outdoors, long lunches, friends, family & animals!

    We live in part of the main mas and Ali's parents live in their own house, which is in one of the outbuildings. We have no neighbours, and the village is only 5 minutes away down the track, the Mediterranean coast (and Collioure) is only 1 hour drive away and we are very close to the Spanish border so trips into Spain are very easy, even just for lunch.

    We built all the guests accommodation and we now host wellness retreats (Spring and Autumn) and family nature holidays (summer and school holidays).

    Using wood from our own forest, a band saw and a good workshop we can make almost anything out of mostly chestnut & oak. Anyone who enjoys working with wood will have many opportunities.

    We also have a large organic vegetable garden which we always need help with, and are also planning on building a green house.
    Our aim when we have stopped building, is to become as self sufficient as possible, both terms of food and energy but we're not there yet! We are still making improvements to the property in the winter, Spring we have a lot of retreats but also try to get as many vegetables planted as we can. Summer is family holidays; very sociable and fun. Autumn; usually more retreats and some maintenance and harvesting.
    There is so much to do here! We welcome practical, open minded and fun people to help out.

    We have lots of animals; 3 donkeys who we take for camping trips, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 20 chickens, 2 pet pigs, a few pet sheep and 2 goats; It's a great place for animal lovers. We are somewhere between a petting farm and a rescue centre :)

  • Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

    Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

    Pratique d’une langue
    Aide avec des éco-projets
    Enseignement
    Jardinage
    Bricolage et construction
    S’occuper des animaux
    Aide dans une ferme
    Baby-sitting et jeux créatifs
    Cuisine/repas pour la famille
    Aide à la maison
    Entretien général
  • Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

    Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

    Apart from exploring this beautiful part of France, you could also learn about animal care, organic vegetable growing, the English language! This is also a perfect place for people interested in forestry, ecological farming & permaculture.

  • Projets impliquant des enfants

    Projets impliquant des enfants

    Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

  • Aide

    Aide

    Our set up is best adapted to host a couple or 2 girlfriends. I am sorry, we do not have room for families at this time.
    We like our helpers to have a friend to go exploring with and to enjoy their free time together so 2 people is perfect.

    In the summer, we organise activities for guests and kids; things like walks with donkeys and stopping for a picnic, guided hikes, animal feeding tours every morning and lessons is taking care of animals. There will be help needed with animal care, taking kids to the pool etc and doing light domestic chores (a bit of washing up after meals and getting kids to tidy up after themselves!). So the summer crew need to be fun, sociable, likes kids and animals and are domesticated. I enjoy having someone who likes to cook so we can enjoy cooking together. The summer is fun and you will meet some great people and have the opportunity to live in a pretty special place.

    We can use just about any practical skills and can adapt jobs to peoples interests or skills. People who can speak French and English is helpful.

    Spring and Autumn is retreat season for us and when we are busy, we can always use help around the farm, and with the animals, kids etc. We are not asking for help with our business, but can always use help with all other aspects of taking care of a large property, the animals, as well as growing vegetables.
    If you are interested in woodwork/forestry, there is plenty you could learn and help with there too.

    Most of all we like positive, independent, practical and fun people who work well as part of a team but also enjoy some quiet time, and would enjoy sharing this wonderful place with us for 3 weeks- 2 months or more.
    Best suited for a couple who have their own car who don't mind living remotely and enjoy nature, hiking etc.

    PS: I am sorry we don't except dogs as we have sheep, cats & chickens and don't want to put them at risk or disturb our guests with extra barking etc.

  • Langues parlées

    Anglais: Courant
    Français: Courant
    Espagnol: Débutant

  • Hébergement

    Hébergement

    We can offer a basic mobile home in a secluded spot with double bed, futon, South facing terrace, compost toilet and hot water shower, wood burning stove. It has a kitchenette with fridge. Comfy sofa on terrace. Wifi.
    Over the winter when we are closed, we can offer one of our very comfortable gites.

  • Autres infos...

    Autres infos...

    There are buses that go from the village into Perpignan for 1 euro and we can offer lifts wherever we are going. There could be occasional use of a car when it's not needed; but having your own car is best!

    This location is ideal for walkers, mountain bikers & climbers and lovers of peace and nature. There are many beautiful villages and small towns up & down the valley to visit, all the way to the white sandy beaches on the coast of France & Spain. Collioure is 'our St Tropez' (1 hour drive), Ceret is our biggest local town (30 mins drive) which has a great Saturday market, art galleries, restaurants etc. Barcelona is 2 and a half hours drive away.

  • Informations complémentaires

    Informations complémentaires

    • Accès Internet

    • Accès Internet limité

      Accès Internet limité

    • Nous avons des animaux

    • Nous sommes fumeurs

    • Familles bienvenues

  • Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

    Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

    Yes; there is wifi in the accommodation.

  • Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

    Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

    Deux

  • ...

    Nombre d'heures attendues

    Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

N° de référence hôte : 242995296227

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