Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Feedback
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Email verified
Details
Description
We are a brother and sister, recently moved to France, sharing a large old house in South West France which we are in the process of modifying to create a Chambre D'Hote and small gites business. There is lots to do around the grounds and one of our main requirements is to repair a long dry stone boundary wall and this requires someone with some passing knowledge on the subject - a knowledge we lack. We are also looking to build a small safety wall around the pool from old stones and lime plaster. Otherwise, general gardening work - it's never ending!
Stephen works in media/film and Emma is a TEFAL English teacher.
Ideally, we seek an independent and dedicated person who can be trusted to work without supervision. Probably not best suited to midnight ravers or hard partying types!
Delicious and nutricious meals and home comforts are guaranteed!
We have cats and 2 horses.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
They can explore this beautiful region, the Vendee, which has so much to offer culturally with the Marais Poitevin, the coast and Mervent all within 45 minutes. And we teach English to French students during the summer so are happy to help with language skills for those whose first language is not English.
Help
We are looking for an individual or a couple with some dry stone walling experience to repair a long boundary wall that has fallen into disrepair. Also to help with building a small pool safety wall - again dry stone walling. We have plenty of gardening that needs doing too, particularly tree pruning and weeding and clearing a small area of partially wooded land. Additionally, if you haver carpentry skills, that would be helpful too.. We have two lovely horses and 3 cats, so workawayers can help look after them too, if they like. All on 1.9 hectares of land with a pool.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
We can offer a comfortable room within the main house. Shared or en-suite bathroom, depending on which room - single or a double. We will provide three meals a day but helpers can help out with cooking if they wish. Gluten-free diet for ourselves.
We have room for campervans too.
What else ...
We are ideally situated 45 minutes from La Rochelle and the coast. Nearer to home we have Mervent and it's beautiful lake ideal for all watersports 10 minutes away, the Marais Poitevein - the Venice Vert - 20 minutes away, the fabulous Puy Du Fou amusement park 50 minutes away plus cities such as Poitiers and Nantes, both steeped in history just over an hour away. Good bus network from our nearest town, Fontenay Le Comte (10 mins) which has shops, hypermarkets, restaurants etc and intercity trains serve Niort (30 mins). The cycle and walking 'greenway' is at the bottom of our land and connects to paths running for hundreds of miles. We have bicycles available.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a fibre connection and we work from home anyway, so no problem with connections.
Space for parking camper vans
Can accommodate a large van and have an electric hook-up source in the barn.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
