Help a family with gardening and household projects in rural Brittany, France

Details

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  Description

  Hi there,
  We are a family of 5: Ruud, Cora, our children Lenne and Wes and our dog Otis (a happy and energetic Australian Shepherd).
  Since jan 2023 we live in Brittany, France, originally coming from the Netherlands.
  We've made this move to be closer to nature, to feel free and live in harmony with all that's around us.
  Our aim is to create a beautiful, friendly and peaceful environment here on this land which consists of 4,5 ha. Half of it is an existing forest and the other half is being transformed into an idyllic food forest. We consider our space as a place for interaction, creativity and physical and mental well being.
  We love to share  and would like to exchange ideas and experiences with people like you.
  Cora has a background in physiotherapy, manual therapy and fascia therapy. With additional study and experience in guiding transformational processes for emotional and energetic healing. She likes to cook and transform our harvest into delicious and healthy vegetarian meals.
  Ruud is originally a photographer, with a wide interest in plants, trees, music and construction. Having done a PDC (Permaculture Design Course) in Spain has really triggered something inside him.
  Lenne (2009) has made a choice to attend a lycée  in Quimperlé with options in sports, arts and English, she's only here during weekends and holidays. She's very creative.  She is becoming an  independent and conscious young woman.
  Wes (2011) is in his last year of college and going back and forth every day. He loves music, plays guitar and has a great interest in nature and technique. He's an active runner and likes to be outside with Otis and or his bike.
  The place and environment is rural, with typically Breton houses. It's a calm and quiet place.  We feel and are part of a community of people who love to share, help, create, exchange and live a simple and conscious life.
  In the area there are some small villages and a little further a couple of nice little towns (15-20km distance).
  There is a big vegetable garden outside and an opportunity to grow vegetables in a polytunnel greenhouse. The chickens have a beautiful home and a nice area to gather their food.
  We live in the main house with an independent gîte attached to it. For our visitors we have a house with a woodburning stove, a kitchen and 2 nice bedrooms (double beds).
  Our daily activities are varied, we take care of the vegetable garden which depending on the season takes a lot - little of our time. We are still planting: trees, small fruit, herbs etc. and we are taking care of  the newly planted trees. We do our best to conserve our harvest to (in the end) be able to be mainly self supporting. We are renovating a traditional granite structure to create a nice working area for Ruud and a practice area for Cora.
  We are really looking forward to welcome you, to have a valuable exchange and to grow!
  With love, Ruud, Cora, Lenne and Wes

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals
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  Interests

  

  Events & social

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Photography

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Architecture

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Carpentry

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We have a Dutch origin and have contact with a lively group of (mainly French) people that organise small cultural events in the surroundings.
  We see the workaway hosting experience as a way of traveling without leaving our project here. As a great opportunity to meet and get to know people with different backgrounds and stories. To share, learn and teach, with interaction during working tasks, meals and other activities.
  For our visitors we offer an inspirational environment where they can participate in and learn about the process of growing fruit and vegetables. With possibilities to discover and discuss different methodes and ideas of permaculture.
  We have a practical way of thinking and a tendency to get really engaged in a project once it's going.
  At the same time we have an optimistic mindset and tend to be conscious about the language we are using to create growth.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Help

  There is a great variety of things to do, we would like to have help:
  - in the vegetable garden, sewing, planting, harvesting, weeding (depending on the season).
  - with the renovation of the traditional granite building, we want to renovate as eco-friendly as possible.
  - with the maintenance of the trees and plants already there (pruning, nourishing, protecting etc).
  - with cooking (together or alone).
  If there are specific qualities that you bring and would like to share or contribute, please let us know! 

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  In Dutch and English we are fluent. Our French is getting close to fluent. We are open to learn more languages, if someone is willing to communicate and cooperate, we believe that there will be a way to get to understand each other.
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  Accommodation

  We offer you a traditional Breton house, downstairs an open kitchen and living room with a wood burning stove. Upstairs you'll find 2 bedrooms with double beds. And 2 bathrooms (shower+toilet).

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  What else ...

  It's easy to find peace and calm around here.
  Several times a week we go to one of the surrounding small towns, we can offer you a ride if you're interested to see more and don't have other means of transportation.
  There are 2 decent MTB's we could lend you if you want to explore the area and smaller villages around.
  
  The meals we prepare and share with you will be vegetarian, with options for extra alimentary adaptations (such as vegan, lactose or gluten free).
  We regard our place as a healthy place, a smoke-free area.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have wi-fi connection that is functional and switched on from 6AM til 11PM. It might nog be optimal for big data transfer at the moment, in januari 2025 it'll be upgraded to fiberglass.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have created a beautiful space to park your campervan. If needed we can provide you with electricity. We have an outside eco toilet and you can use the bathroom in the gîte.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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