Last minute

Help us with outdoor renovation projects in Gardanne, Southern France

  • Favourited 101 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

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Details

  • Description

    Description

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    Looking for someone for a week/couple of weeks.
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    Hi guys, we are a family of three (+ the dog) and we are looking for someone to help us complete some garden-related tasks outdoors.

    We live in a 3-bedroom house in southern France (some parts newly renovated, others still in renovation), in a small town called Gardanne (13120). We are conveniently located between Marseille and Aix-en-Provence and you can reach both by train or bus from the town. We are about 20-30 min by car from beautiful beaches and calanques.

    We speak 4 languages at home (English, French, Italian and Polish) so knowing or speaking French is not required!

    Back when we lived in Manchester (UK) we hosted workawayers multiple times (for house and garden renovation, as well as help with our daughter when she was a baby) so the concept is not new to us.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are located 10 min from Aix-en-Provence (142k population) and 25 min from Marseille (second biggest city in France) all by train or no-stop bus which you can grab from our town. Being close to both cities, we recommend that you look for groups who meet in the evening if you are looking to come to France to improve your French. You can also ask us about Polish/English or Italian if you are into learning those languages. Roksana has also taught piano to one of our workawayers - we have an electric true piano which you will be welcome to use.
    This exchange will work better however if you are not after learning the language but rather experiencing the local life-style. This will be perfect as we are close to sandy beaches and picturesque cliffs that you can explore in your free time (you are free all evenings and on your days off). There are also plenty of hiking trails around or small picturesque villages to visit if you are into either of these activities.

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for someone to help us with multiple tasks - all off them need to take place in the garden and these will involve: cutting branches and plants, shredding garden waste, disassembling and reassembling of garden furnitures, waterproofing terrace floor outside the house etc.
    Ideally you would be comfortable with noisy equipment, tree secateurs etc..
    Due to the nature of the help we are asking for, the volounteering has to be done during the daytime while its light outside.

    It is essential that you do not mind kids and like dogs (and have no allergy to them).
    Smokers cannot be accepted, no exceptions. There will be always someone home to guide you with any work we ask you to help with.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent
    Polish: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We can offer you our guest room downstairs. To note is that it is also Guillaume's office at the moment, so he will need to use the room from about 8:30am until 5:30pm. You can of course come in/out any time to access your belongings during that time.

    We have internet available in the house, as well as Netflix using TV downstairs. The whole house has air-con.

    In terms of food, we provide all 3 meals when eaten at home. Breakfast to be prepared by yourself, and then lunch, as well as dinner are usually pre-set and will be probably prepared by us.

    This is a non-smoking house and we cannot accommodate anyone who smokes.
    For security purposes the house is fitted with sensors and cameras so you have to be ok with cctv in the house.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The house is located in a small town called Gardanne (13120, south of France), which has a train station and multiple bus connections.
    We live in 3-bed house (mostly newly renovated), which has a big terrace with a swing and a garden with a trampoline (you are welcome to use both).
    The region of Provence is known for it's lavender fields, beaches, mountains and calanques (and France is known for.. cheap wine!)

  • 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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day between Monday and Friday, max 5 days a week

Host ref number: 367385567954

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