Description
Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Hola,

We are Damien and Phill, a French-Welsh couple, hovering around the 40 year-old mark. We live in the rolling countryside of the Gers, a department in the south-west of France. Toulouse is the nearest big city at 45 minutes away. We are surrounded by beautiful towns and villages, and wonderful traditional markets (therefore the food is great!). We have lived in the general area for 5 years and like it here, there are incredibly beautiful places within driving distance.

We have bought a rambling old farmhouse which we are in process of renovating, sometimes slowly, other times at speed! Surrounding the house is an orchard, gardens, prolific veggie garden etc. In the summer the fields around us are planted with sunflowers and wheat, it's very picturesque! I also have a flower plot from which I sell bouquets to nearby businesses.

We would like to find someone who is happy to help us out with a variety of domestic activities- gardening, helping collect and process our veggies to store for the winter, cut grass, some building and renovation jobs also.

We have plenty of animals, so animal-lover is a must!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I (Phill) am a CELTA qualified and experienced English teacher so I am happy to support someone who wishes to improve their English language skills. I am also happy to share gardening/flower-farming knowledge with anyone interested in the process. And I can generally be easily persuaded to go exploring/visiting the countryside around us, visiting magnificent hill top towns, sleepy sun-baked villages and indulging in many coffees at little cafes.

We would like to meet people who are ready to laugh, to eat, drink, play board games, relax and watch movies with, to introduce to friends and generally fit into our daily lives. Very rarely do we have a fixed schedule.
Help
We moved into our farm recently, and are renovating the property while we live here. It's a big project. Therefore we are looking for someone (or a couple) who is handy and happy to help us out with the daily works. As if renovating a huge farmhouse wasn't enough we have made a large vegetable garden and orchard so we would love to find a keen gardener who can dig, weed, shovel, weed, plant, weed and generally likes being outside.

And to add to the above two projects we are seeking a real animal person. We have birds (plural) and a massive (but exceptionally friendly) dog called Fritz and new puppy Otis. Fritz loves people immensely so you'd have to really like dogs, as he is super affectionate and happy (thankfully!). There are cats, ducks and chickens too.

Because of the above activities we would also appreciate help with general cleaning tasks...Fritz generates a lot of hair also!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: 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
We have a cute bedroom which is cool in summer and cosy in winter. There is, at present, a shared bathroom and separate toilet (both will be removed/renovated soon) and we hope to progress with one ensuite bathroom this winter.
I tend to be the chef of the household, and I enjoy cooking (as I mentioned earlier the local produce if truly delicious, and of course we grow a lot in the summer). We mainly eat organic/local/ethical and very little meat. Dietary needs can be accommodated- I like to be creative in the kitchen!
What else ...
Though it is possible to walk to two lovely local towns from our property it can take an hour by foot through the back lanes (though less than 5 mins by car along the main road). Therefore having a vehicle would be a good idea. I am happy to lend my vintage van for local running about, and I swap vehicles with Damien if a longer trip is required.

There are a few of Frances 'Most Beautiful Villages' near us (1 is 4 minutes away), and several more simply picturesque places worth visiting. Toulouse is lovely and worth exploring, and as we are situated between the Med and the Atlantic, and an hour and half from the Pyrenees, there are always great places to move on to.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a large hangar we can use to park motorhomes under.
Can possibly accept pets
Pets must be very animal friendly (chickens, cats, dogs on site) and vaccinated.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 534767794564

Feedback (1)

11 Jan 2021

Left by Workawayer (Greta) for host

What an honor to write the first feedback for Damien&Phill… and at the same time how odd to leave a review to someone which I now consider two dear old friends! :D
Sure it’s impossible to properly describe the wonderful 6 weeks spent at their old french farm, but I’ll try to give some clues for workawayers that might have the chance to go there in… read more the future.
I was supposed to arrive during the second lockdown in France, so after some thinking D&P agreed to host me anyway, despite knowing that we would end up living very close together on the propriety due to restrictions. If I had some doubts over this situation, I was reassured the moment I arrived at their place: they revealed themselves as the most warming and caring hosts and the house itself is big enough to provide space for everybody’s quiet moments. This old french farm has a very special charm that you will discover day by day…half of it is a building site, some parts are still very messy and full of an unimaginable variety of old objects and tools, other rooms have just been renovated and you could think they’re coming out of an interior design magazine! The garden is also magic: there’s a 1000 square meter plot dedicated to Phill’s flower production, a former ‘drinking pond’ for cows now filled with waterlilies (and soon to be transformed into a natural pool), a chicken coop for cute chickens and ducks, a romantic well, a brand new orchard, a roses and bulbs garden, a mysterious centuries old adobe house, an open lawn ideal for stargazing and a quick exit on the sunflower fields enveloping the farm. If you like discoveries and you’re up to take part in any kind of jobs, this place is like the perfect playground! The inside of the house is pretty much the same: the former stables are being transformed in the biggest kitchen you’ll ever see and on the first floor you’ll find more rooms waiting to be completely renovated…the project possibilities are endless! I particularly liked the fact that they’re trying to respect the original aspect of the farm, upcycling materials found in place and adding some striking design solutions and a very personal ‘vintage’ taste.

The residents of the farm are simply the bests: Phill is a volcano of ideas and you’ll easily find yourself transported by his enthusiasm, Damien has a real know-how on technical topics and can teach you veeery patiently a wide range of things, passing from how to set up an electricity network to how to cook perfect french galettes. They both have a great sense of humor and they constantly spoiled me with their cooking skills. We always had very healthy, organic and often creative meals, and a special mention goes to the tradition of the weekly chocolate tart! The chickens provide daily fresh eggs and I’ve also tasted jams and sauces prepared in the summer from the orchard and kitchen garden production. One day a fancy country café venue will find place under the hangar…
I could never release a worthy review on the food topic, but for sure everyone’s taste will be satisfied…the region also offers many non-vegetarian delicatessen, that you can find at the saturday market in Isle Jourdain.
It’s unthinkable non to spend some words on the others furry residents: big gentle Fritz and Otis the puppy, the mouse patrol team Franklin&Peebles, Evie the nut lover parrot and a bunch of cheerful singing little birds. You’ve got to love animals then, because they are very ‘present’ members of the family and you will for sure find yourself talking with them and learning about animal training. It’s impossible to name a favorite, I miss them all!

During my stay I spent 2/3 of the working time in the flower garden, where Phill grows the ingredients for many beautiful bouquets which are sold in different local shops or used for events…of course, since I arrived in November we just finished harvesting the very last flowers and then proceed to the preparation of the plot for the next spring. We built new framed beds and planted thousands of bulbs, we transplanted seedlings, we divided perennial plants, we added compost and mulch all around, we weeded (never enough), we dug up hundreds of dahlia tubers to be stocked for winter…and many other tasks. With the good weather is simply a pleasure to hang out in the garden, chatting about organic farming methods, wildlife and plans for the future…
When the weather eventually turned bad we concentrate our efforts inside, where again I learned many new things: we prepared a lime mortar and renovated an old stone wall, we tiled the bathroom walls and we did some electrical connections in the new rooms. I also spent some days preparing dried flowers bouquets which we then sold at a local market near Toulouse…
Working days are busy but rarely hard, every accomplished task is truly rewarding ‘cause is a real in-progress project and Damien and Phill are open at every suggestion you can make to develop it.
Due to the lockdown I spent my free time mainly around the farm and chilling in the big and cozy living room or in front of the fireplace, but at the end of my stay we were able to take day trips to Carcassonne and Cordes-sur-Ciel. The unspoiled Gers countryside is punctuated of very well preserved old villages and farms, is simply a pleasure to drive around the hills and imagine the fields in the summer, covered in sunflowers and cereals.
I also had the pleasure of briefly meeting some of my hosts’ friends and everybody was jus warm and happy to welcome me at their own place, to show their land or activity. Thanks to Damien and Phill I felt almost like I’d always been living there, our meeting was very spontaneous and the time spent together was absolutely inspiring for me. And well, since they insisted that I’ll be welcome back whenever I want…I will for sure be back in the harvesting season, to see the fruits of our work in the garden, discover more of the country and help shaping this amazing project!

(Excellent )

View all 1 feedbacks

Photos

Feedback

11 Jan 2021

Left by Workawayer (Greta) for host

(Excellent )

To leave feedback make sure you are logged in & your account is online

Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in France Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Europe Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Midi-Pyrénées Family France Last minute Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in France

Help with renovation, gardening and more in the countryside of the Gers, France

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

Email verified

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Space for parking camper vans

Can possibly accept pets

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (1)

Photos

Feedback