Help on our small-scale hop organic farm in Méteren, Northern France

Details

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  Description

  Hello,
  We are in a little farm, in the Northern part of France, near Lille and Belgium.
  I came back on the farm three years ago to grow organic hop. We also take care of a little apple orchard.
  My parents are also on the farm. As my mum was primary-school teacher on the farm, we are used to welcome and host people.
  It's a very happy and simple farm, a very nice place to live in, work together and rest when needed!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Babysitting and creative play

  General Maintenance

  Help with Eco Projects

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We've lived here, in the Flanders for more than 30 years and we really like this region.
  Our farm is an organic small-scale farm willing to be autonomous. We initiate projects to deal with climate change and the upcoming issues.
  We are welcoming and always ready to share our experience.

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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

  We mainly work on the hop crops and the orchard. Thus, it means, we also do all the works related to this culture (building tools, preparing the orders...). Then, we take care of the farm, the animals we have there. We also spend time with visitors and friends!
  
  From February to march, we prepare the hop yard for the upcoming year, we take off the old rope, count the missing plants, take away some weeds...). In the orchard, we prune the trees, we plant the new trees.
  In April, we attached the ropes from the hop yard to the ground for the hop to grab on. We can plant the missing plants.
  In May, we hep te hop to grab on the ropes if it hasn't been able to get there itself. We need to take of some weeds as well. We set up the irrigation system in case there are some drought.
  In June we need to take care of the plant with natural treatment and spraying. We also help te hop growing better by making small hills around the base of the plant.
  In July, we keep on taking of the weeds, we water the hop, we give natural treatments.
  In August, we start preparing the harvest, we start the different machine, clean the barn, start the dryer/kiln... We also start the apple picking.
  In September, here come the harvest. It's the big moment of the year : we take the bones from the field, introduce them in the harvester, gather the hop cones, dry them for 8 hours.
  Then we prepare the hops into pellets and prepare the orders, this is in October. In October, we also harvest the last apples, sell them or make apple juice. We plant little hop plants for next year.
  In November, we deliver the hop, we clean the fields, we take off the irrigation system, we graze the grass in the hop yard before the winter.
  In December, we repair the machine, take care of the farm, we keep on selling the apple and the apple juice...

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I'm French, so i speak French. But, within my family and on a daily basis, we talk in English. At last, i would like to improve my German :)
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  Accommodation

  We have a room in our house, with all needed accommodations. A nice living room, a fireplace. Wifi... But the atmosphere in the farm is the best part of the place, little gardens, a few nice animals (goats, tiny pony, cats, hens...), many trees...

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  What else ...

  There are many nice places to visit around and hike. Lille is half an hour away, by car or by train. Belgium is just a few miles away, Brugges is less than an hour away.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Around 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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