Join our family and help at the smallholding in Pont Farcy, France

  • Favourited 141 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Due to Covid 19 we would prefer that volunteers are fully vaccinated.

    We are an English couple and have lived in France since the beginning of 2005. We are Richard, a retired forester and Sue who is a teacher. We live on a 5 ha small-holding and our intention is to be as self-sufficient as possible. During the winter months, we cut wood from the traditionally managed bocage hedgerows to power our wood burners the following year. We have a small vegetable garden, that we are trying to enlarge and keep our own sheep and hens.

    Richard and Sue have both worked in the countryside over many years and believe in maintaining a balance between their needs and the needs of indigenous wildlife.

    Our own menagerie also includes three cats, a horse and a miniature horse and a variable number of chickens (5 at the moment).

    The property is an old farm complex and has several outbuildings, including a gite (a converted farmworker's cottage) and a caravan for extra sleeping accommodation.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    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 immigrants to France and have first hand experience in learning to integrate with another culture. Our lifestyle is not basic but not extravagant and where possible we try to be self sufficient and pesticide/herbicide free. We are happy to share our values and culture with others and to learn from their cultures too.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We realise that it would be difficult for one workawayer to provide all types of assistance, so we will gradually work through a list of jobs and projects. Some are season reliant, others not. These include (but the list may be added to....)

    *️️️️️️ enlarging and caring for vegetable garden

    *️️️️️️ constructing and maintaining fencing

    *️️️️️️ hedgerow management for firewood (chainsaws can only be used by
    qualified users but a lot of the job is clearing and burning the branches)

    *️️️️️️ building maintenance (including pointing/rendering/cob repair)


    We would expect the volunteer to help with kitchen duties and general tidying in the house.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    Sue is happy to teach English, and of course, we both speak it. We are becoming more fluent in French and Richard is learning Portuguese whilst Sue is learning Spanish. Sue would love to exchange English for Spanish language learning

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Our house is of thick stone wall construction. Accommodation offered is either a bedroom in the main house or a caravan, (with access to loo and shower in the main building).

    There is Wifi available but the volunteer will have to use own laptop/phone etc.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Smoking is NOT allowed in any of the buildings but is outside.

    We are in an isolated location, but the nearest small town is just 2 km away. There is a pleasant river walk or the loan of a bicycle will get you there quickly. Larger towns are 25 minutes away by car/bus.

    We can collect volunteers from nearby stations (Vire/St Lô/Lison/Villedieu les Poêles).

  • 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

    Our internet isn't brilliant but should cope with most demands, so long as everyone isn't streaming at the same time.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Please contact us re size of van and service needs.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    4/5 hours per day, 5 days per week

Host ref number: 475244915224

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