Help us to put love back in our old farm in the Limousin, France

  • Favourited 59 times
  • Last activity: 16 Jul 2022

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi, We are British/ Irish with a 11 year old daughter living in an old farm located 30 minutes south of Limoges. We slowly putting love back into the neglected farmhouse, buildings and land. Located 1,5km outside of the village of St Germain les Belles, it is quiet and peaceful appart from some animal noise.

    The property used to be a large farm, with huge barns and outbuildings but most of the land was sold away leaving only 2 acres and lots of buildings all in various state of dis-repair. We try to do as much recycling as possible when it comes to renovation, making and building most things ourselves. We have lots of lots of projects to do, from emergency ones like roofing to more creative projects like building glass bottle bathroom. The land currently is used as a large semi-wild "garden", but I love to plant flowers, roses & shrubs everywhere I can. I am very interested in beekeeping and have started to learn about keeping hives but for the time I am planting flowers for the bees! Keeping brambles and nettles from taking over is an annual never ending job, making sure the fences are all ok. Most of the land is surrounded with trees, so there is always broken branches to collect, making sure ivy is not growing on the buildings, keeping hedges under control. Once the temperature gets warmer and everything starts to grow quickly, making sure that the whole place is not lost in vegetation is ongoing.
    We love nature and wildlife, birdwatching, listening to the wind in the trees and we have a big big sky here so star gazing is the best. Laid back, quiet and magical it is!
    I am a designer/ dressmaker making medieval and fantasy inspired dress and run my own business from home & my partner is a webdesigner/ musician who also works from home.
    We have 2 dogs, one is a rescue dog and needs lots of re-assuance, 2 cats who love cuddles and to sleep on your bed, 7 chickens who just get on with their own things!

    UPDATE November 2020
    Things are a little different since the pandemic and the continuing problem of Covid. From the end of May the camping facilites will be up and running. We would like for you to have a PCR test before coming, so that you can use the bathroom in the house or if you have your own camper van it could be possible for you to self isolate for 10-14days without having the test. Work will still be done but it will be outside and we'll all keep a distance from each other. You will have the field to yourself. Food will be provided. Having an extra pair of hands about to help us move forward with repairs and renovations. If you'd like anymore information feel free to contact me.
    I have selected that we would like apx 5 hours of work per day for 5 days. We would like someone who is quite happy to potter about by themselves as well as be a part of a team when needed.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are an english, welsh and french speaking family but could do with more french speaking but my daughter is fluent. To enjoy the peace of the countryside and nature, to be hidden away from the world.
    We are creative and arty, I have lived all over the world and love all types of art and crafts. Martin loves music and politics and loves to chat. All different levels of building work from lime pointing to roofing. It's a beautiful place to stay and be deep in the countryside.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    Updated May 2021- Lots of gardening and clearing/ tidying work is what you would be mainly doing at the moment.

    General maintenance
    Light building work
    Painting
    Diy
    Renovation
    Repairing
    Garden maintenance

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Welsh: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    This is for the summer months only*

    Camping. We offer camping facilities, we have tents and comfortable sleeping arrangements (bedding, blankets, pillows etc). There is a main large round tent with a sofas and chairs as well as a table and bench. There is an electric hook up in the tent and if you wanted we could also provide a small electric cooker. You will have use of our bathroom for toilets and showers but there is an outside compost toilet. A washing machine for clothing is also available. We can also accommodate travellers with their own tents and camper vans.
    *Up till the end of May, Workawayers must have their own camper van/ sleeping car as the tent would be un-heated and the weather can be unpredictable even though usually by end of May tempratures are up to the 25-30'c.

    We are a vegetarian household so meals will not include meat. We do make some vegan meals but most of the time there is some dairy (cheese & eggs) in our food. We eat outside most of the summer months. You can eat with us or take the food to your camp. We are totally easy and want to make your stay a wonderful experience. Mealtimes consist of breakfast, lunch (about 1pm/13h), sometime a snack between & supper. Supper is usually from 8pm/20h and it is our main meal. If you want to help with cooking and prefer to make lunch the main meal, then that is fine for us.
    You can also have a campfire should you wish- by prior arrangement.
    When you want to work during the day can be flexible as long as the hours are done. July/ Aug gets very hot during the day so you may want to not work from 1pm -5pm and opt to work mornings and evenings instead. Again this is something we can discuss and be flexible about.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We have good internet- wifi, you can have access to from outside of the house but not in your camp. You can also use the kitchen or living room to go on the internet. The village has a small convenience store, boulangerie, bar/ tabac, post office, doctor & pharmacy- pretty much everything you could want from a small village. There is a large swimming lake and beach with a bar & restaurant.
    The village is 1.5km from our place. Public transport is rather non-existent, the trains run north and south a few times a day- so you can go to Limoges or Paris (about 3-4hrs) or south to Toulouse etc. .
    We are on the edge of the Millevaches national park so loads of fantastic walks and activites, not too far from 2 beau villages france- Ségur-le-Château and Collonges-la-Rouge plus chateaux in Pompadour and Coussac Bonneval. Limoges is just 30 minutes up the motorway. During the spring and summer there are endless vide-greniers ( car boot sales) and fetes that take place in all the villages as well as music & food festivals.
    The village of St Germain les Belles has a railway station so we can come and pick you up as well as an airport in Limoges about 35 minutes away.
    If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Updated May 13 2021. For the time we would prefer Workawayers with their own campervans as it is still too cold to stay in a tent.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 325386555281

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