Share our eco dreams and reconnect with your soul in the mountains of the Ardèche in France

  • Favourited 690 times
  • Last activity: 9 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Come and help us develop our eco project in the mountains of the Ardèche in France! Ecology, permaculture, sustainability, transition, consciousness, love of life and nature are all areas which we explore and would love to share. We are a family with 3 youngsters (two of which study abroad) and a 9 years old boy, sharing our project with friends and family as well as through a small b&b. A yurt and a cosy chalet on our beautiful land nested in the middle of nature are rented out in summer season. There is a lot to do on the land and we are also looking for some help with building projects (woodworking, fencing etc). In the winter there is snow and wintersports, the magic of beautiful landscapes, the cosyness of the fireplace and slowcooked organic meals. The old farm needs some renovation, so there is always enough to do also on the inside. During summer we offer untouched nature, springs an rivers to swim and fish nearby, horseback riding (we have 4 horses on the land from spring to fall). We like to share moments around bbq's and campfires, sometimes even a sweat lodge, where we connect with nature. Overall we work quite hard, are open to spirituality and enjoy good times with good foods and French wine.

    *** FOR THE UPCOMING FALL/WINTER/SPRING we will be building a new kitchen, renovating a vintage caravan and build some independent dry toilets on the land. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AROUND IF THIS APPEALS TO YOU ***

  • 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
    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 offer a place in the middle of nature where you can reconnect with yourself and the seasons. Long walks and horseback riding, fishing, swimming in the river during the summer, collecting mushrooms in fall. Together we learn about permaculture by observing and growing produce and caring for the land. I am a routined 'professional' cook and can teach you classical as well as world kitchens or vegetarian and 'free from' diets. We strive to eat organic and local produce as much as possible.

    We are fluent in French, Dutch and English and can help you out with these languages. We understand some Spanish and German.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for all round help 4 to 5 hours a day (usually the morning) , 5 days per week. Depending on the season the work is in the garden, general maintenance (household) or with projects in and around the farm. It is very versatile and we will take your likes and dislikes into consideration :). Besides the daily hours we expect you to take care of your room and help out with the regular house chores as dressing the table, dishwashing and feeding the animals.

    Skills we are looking for to help us further develop the land: woodbuilding, permaculture gardening, masonry, plumbing, or decent DIYS experience.

    You are not expected to cook but if you like cooking, then you are always welcome to prepare a meal or help out.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    German: Intermediate
    Spanish: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We live in an old farm (more then 200 years old) that has been cosily renovated. We have a large meadow (5 hectares) in front of the house with horses, two goats, a veggie garden and a chicken pen. Springswith clear wather run through the valley, our tapwater is all natural and from the highest quality. Around us there are 4 more hectares of land, surrounded by natural reserve and forest.
    We rent out two rooms and a bathroom in the house and have guests mainly during the summer season. Apart from that we have four rooms for ourselves, one of which is available to acommodate a workawayer. We are also open to host a mother with a young child (> 2 years). There is a second bathroom downstairs.
    For the rest there is a small kitchen, a large dining table and a cosy living room with two fireplaces. it is a typical farmers house with lots of old woodwork and stone. Upstairs is an open room with a television, Netflix and a Chromecaster. There is wifi in most parts of the house, and usually 3G outside, depending on the weather.
    A large and comfortable caravan is available (can host 2 to 4 persons) and offers the possibility of living mostly independently whilst enjoying your stay.
    When the weather is mild (from May to October), it is also possible to sleep in a tent outside. There is an outdoor sanitary tiny house on the land.

    So, many possibilities depending on your needs!

    The evening meal is shared together and also often lunch. Whenever it is possible we eat outside. In the summer season when we provide guests tables it is possible that we eat apart, depending on the moment and the guests we host!
    We are food lovers, flexitarians, open to vegetarian and free from diets. Only vegan is a bridge too far.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our nearest neighbour is 2,5 km further down towards the village of Lanarce, a small rural village with 180 inhabitants. In the village there are renowned butchers, a wonderfull 'fromagerie' - cheese diary, a baker, a pancake house and a pizzeria + three restaurants. The region is quite touristic in summer season.There is a bus only twice a day, going to the nearest cities of Le Puy en Velay (starting point of the famous Compostela Pelgrims route) and Aubenas (both approximately 1 hour away). Local people are used to hitchhikers so that is also a way to go along. Some larger villages are a 15 minutes drive away, where you will find most shops and were we go to the local market once or twice a week. We try to avoid supermarket as much as we can.
    There are several lakes close by and half an hour walking from our land there is a river where you can bathe. The region has mostly pristine nature and wonderfull produce to offer. You can also go for canyoning and kayaking on the nearbij rivers Ardèche and Chassezac. Should you want to travel a bit further, the valley of the Rhone with its famous vineyards and the grotte Chauvet (most ancient cave in Europe) and the Provence with its lavender fields and olive trees awaits you. The medditeranean sea is a few hours traveling from our place. In the summer the temperature rises to 35°C, in the valley of the Rhone it would be around 40°C. Since we have a sunny mountain climate, the temperature is nice during the day even when there is snow, but the nights are cool and it can be quite cold during winter (up to -20 °C).

  • 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

    We have wifi and 4G, working average to well. Coverage for most french operators except Bouygues (no téléphone service for this operator in the whole area). Most internet services work correctly. Sometimes difficulties with video streaming, depending on the weather. Bram has a full time virtual job conferencing via vpn and this works fine.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 542796317482

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