Help develop and renovate an eco-farm with garden and animals in the culturally rich Dordogne region, France

Details

• 

  Description

  Hi!
  
  Winter 2024 update: looking for 1-2 helpers keen on helping with all sorts of tasks, some landscaping, daily animal-feeding and -care, fence maintenance, firewood missions, hauling stuff around.. 5 hours per day and 5 days / week, other arrangements possible, please contact me to discuss. You need to be physically strong for these tasks, ideally have experience in construction, farming or landscaping, not be scared to get your hands dirty, as well as be able to work autonomously. This winter will be a little peculiar, I need to take care of a lot of personal stuff, was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease a few months ago, so my diet is weird and my day's rhythms also. so this proposed spot will suit persons who are also happy to spend solo-time several days a week, who are happy to cook on their own (food provided).
  
  -----
  
  I have bought a gorgeous 18th century farm in 2016 after it had been abandoned for 10years. I am developing the farm sustainably, renovating the place with recycled and locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials, using a lot of wood from the own forest for the constructions. This life project is still in its beginning phases and we live very close to nature - although there's a lovely double-bathtub and WIFI, the comfort in the house is still quite basic. I am in the heart of one of France's most beautiful and touristic regions and there's many options for you to explore from here.
  
  I, Miggi, am Swissgerman and have studied sociology&development studies in the UK before coming to settle down here. I have travelled extensively, including through wwoofing. I love animals, horseriding or taking the lamas, pigs and the goat all together for a walk. Although I am not a trained carpenter I like to build things out of wood and I live in my homemade, 10m long wooden cabin-on-wheels on the property. I am looking after a network of 300km of hiking trails in the region (happy to share my knowledge of great spots and trails!).
  
  I eat organic, local food at most times – there are great weekly streetmarkets close by that I can take you too.
  Apart from restoring the buildings there are various activities on site – tending to the animals (goats, lamas, pigs, horses), organic garden and fruit orchard, beekeeping..
  
  I would like to highlight that I ask for self-motivated and autonomous helpers only - I am looking for people who are happy to work in a small group but also alone, as required.
  
  Ideally you'd have your own transport so it's easy for you to get around here. The farm is 25min walk from the touristic town of Les Eyzies, or 3min drive.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  General Maintenance
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ×

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I love sharing my passion for this gorgeous french region which I have chosen as my homeland out of all worldly spots known to me. We are into alternative habitats - treehouses, cabins etc - and are happy to share our knowledge of traditional building techniques and innovative alternative ways of life and animal keeping.
  We take part in a lot of local activities in and around town and are happy to show you around - folk dancing evenings, streetmarkets, jam sessions, street theatres,..
  
  The farm is right in the heart of one of France's most touristic and culturally rich regions. It's here in Les Eyzies that the first Cro-magnon man was found and there's 5museums just in this one little town, on top of the original prehistoric caves with the 17'000year old paintings that you can visit.
  The French-English '100years War' happened right here on our doorstep and there's some magnificent medieval castles to explore due to this century of war.
  The nature here is great and has many treasures that we can help you discover - wild stalagtite caves, hiking, abandoned villages, etc.
  There are bicycles (need some TLC before being usable) to go explore, or rent a canoe down in the village.
  It is handy to have a car around here.

• 

  Help

  Although carpenters, joiners and masons would be my dream-helpers, I don't require you to have any prior knowledge in any of these areas to be able to help - but you do need to be fit, strong, willing to learn and ready to get your hands dirty !! I'd like to highlight that I ask for self-motivated and autonomous helpers only - I am looking for people who are happy to work in a small group but also alone, as required.
  
  I ask for 5hours of help per day, 5 days a week.
  optional: Possibility to do only 3hours/day and pay 5euro/day towards food and bills (must be arranged in advance), or source your own food.

• 

  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

• 

  Accommodation

  You will either be housed in a quaint little wooden cabin or a wooden gypsywagon, or in our attic with doublebed and WIFI but it's still quite simple living up there - we're in the process of making the attic into a nice living space.
  
  You are also welcome to bring your campervan along, there are 3 spots for campervans, and you can hook yourself up to electricity - but no electric heaters in campervans allowed!
  
  All food for making your meals is provided - but due to my health situation you'll be cooking your own meals most of the times and I'll be eating on my own. Probably an occasional shared meal every couple of days..
  Possibility to do only 3hours/day and pay 5euro/day towards food and bills.

• 

  What else ...

  The location is unbeatable : placed amidst magical forests and fields, on top of a limestone plateau riddled with prehistoric caves and clifftop viewpoints – yet within walking distance (2km) of the tourism-hotspot village 'Les Eyzies' and it's lovely canoeable&swimmable river Vézère.
  We are also 20min drive away from 4 of France's 'most beautiful villages' (Sarlat, Beynac, La Roque Gageac, St.Leon sur Vézère), a good dozen medieval castles, prehistoric caves and other cultural sites (check out Chateau Castelnaud, Chateau Milandes, Grotte Font de Gaume, Grotte de Lascaux IV, La Roc St.Christophe, Jardins Marqueyssac, Chateau Commarque..).
  There's great hiking around here, wild caves for the speleology lovers and fabulous street markets for the gourmets. If you're experienced, possible to take the horses out for a ride, or the other animals (lama, pigs, goat) for a walk.
  We have a bicycle to lend to you.
  
  To get here : cheap ryanair flights from UK to bergerac (1h away), from where you can take a train to saint cyprien, where we can pick you up.
  Direct train from Bordeaux to Sarlat (20min away), where we can pick you up.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  There's wifi at the main house

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  Campervans welcome

• 

  Can possibly accept pets

  Can accepte pets but only if they are 100% fine with other animals (cats, goats, pigs, lamas, horses, chicken). Other conditions: must not have fleas. And you are responsible for picking up poop if he/she poops close to the house / common areas! (-:

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  Hours expected

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

Feedback (11)