Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
26 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 22 days
Feedback
8
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
House / Cat sitters required for various dates and durations- get in touch! For 10 days to 2 weeks around the end of May / beginning of June. We will spend a few days with you to make sure you understand the house then we'll head off for a short holiday. Many thanks!
We are currently looking for house/pet-sitters for our cat, Whisky and strawbale house in Exideuil, a small village in the Charente about 40 minutes from Angouleme and Limoges. The nearest supermarket is about 5 kms away - an easy bike ride. The village boasts a wonderful bakery, a pizzeria, a tabac and a pharmacy. The river Vienne flows through the village and is very close to our hearts.
Our gorgeous ginger tom cat Whisky needs some company while we are away. He is very affectionate, loves to be on a lap and also to snuggle in bed. This opportunity will allow you to experience life in an off-grid, strawbale house set in the rolling hills of the Charente in France. It's a perfect place to detox, read or work remotely. The key requirements are: looking after our cat (not leaving him alone for a night) AND co-existing with our house. You will require some practical skills and common sense and we would like any house-sitter to live with us for at least 4 days before leaving you alone. This will allow us to show you around the house, the systems and develop trust.
You will live with and acquire knowledge about:
-Compost toileting
-Off-grid 12v solar electrics
-Solar water heating
-Rain water harvesting
-Reed-bed water filtration
In 2016 we decided to move to France and build a straw bale house from scratch, with no experience. It has been a blast, and with the help of some friends our house is now up and running smoothly.
We have bikes you can use and we live in a quaint French village with a population of 1200 people, the river Vienne lazily flowing past and delightful countryside wherever you look.
Please don't hesitate if you have any inquiries!
Kindest wishes
Dan and Flee
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Music
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Astronomy
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Dancing
Camping
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The house itself is of interest, being made from load-bearing straw bales, but we tend to find the element which visitors are most interested in is the off-grid nature of the house and what this means in practice. Experiencing a house which is truly off-the-grid for water, waste and electricity certainly gives food for thought, and demonstrates that it is a possible reality. The only connection we have is the phone line, for internet, which we need for our online profession.
At the beginning of your stay with us there will be a little crossover period when we will be in the house with you in order to explain and teach you how the house (and cat :) ) functions. We are both wellbeing professionals, Dan is a Thai Massage Therapist and Flee is Yoga and meditation teacher, as well as a Reiki Master and sound healer. We both have a committed daily sadhana practice and you are very welcome to join us for this each morning if it is something that appeals to you 🧘♀️🧘♂️
Help
House and cat-sitting to give us the possibility of going away for a short time. This is an opportunity to live in a wonderful, off-grid eco house and to enjoy the tranquillity of the French countryside. Also, any veggies we have going would be in need of a little watering, weeding and eating! Also, you're welcome to plant things you find after a rummage through our seed boxes.
.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis 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
You will stay in our strawbale house, in the spare room which is spacious and comfortable. The house is off-grid and you'll love living with the systems and reconnecting with nature.
What else ...
Having a car is handy while you are here but not absolutely necessary for survival. A large supermarket is about 7km away along a lovely river path perfect for a short bike ride. We have bikes you can borrow. There is also a bakery a 5 minute walk away in the village as well as a small Epicerie, a pizzeria and a charming charity shop which is open two days a week which serves teas coffees and epic cakes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a fibre-optic internet connection, super fast and reliable.
Space for parking camper vans
Space for a small van but no electric hook up as we are off grid!
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (4)
what an incredible experience to visit their place, things have such a good rhythm there, the meals, the work and the daily yoga :) was an amazing place to recover my energies and to have fun as working. They have a lot of knowledge and adventures to share and we talked and laugh a lot. I was honored to have the first steam hot… read more
Your visit was extremely welcome and timely, your enthusiasm about your future project was infectious! Thank you so much for giving us the boost we needed to get our water tank project underway, it is almost finished now, and with the current drought, wow, we really need it. Your practical skills and insight were brilliant and we have… read more
The most comfortable caravan to sleep in,… read more
You were a joy to have around. You were exactly the boost of motivation we had in mind when we decided to start hosting. The house has taken a giant leap forward thanks to your constant enthusiasm and energy. We are delighted you enjoyed using and experiencing the various off-grid systems we have here and hope some of them end up part of… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
what an incredible experience to visit their place, things have such a good rhythm there, the meals, the work and the daily yoga :) was an amazing place to recover my energies and to have fun as working. They have a lot of knowledge and adventures to share and we talked and laugh a lot. I was honored to have the first steam hot… read more
Your visit was extremely welcome and timely, your enthusiasm about your future project was infectious! Thank you so much for giving us the boost we needed to get our water tank project underway, it is almost finished now, and with the current drought, wow, we really need it. Your practical skills and insight were brilliant and we have… read more
The most comfortable caravan to sleep in,… read more
You were a joy to have around. You were exactly the boost of motivation we had in mind when we decided to start hosting. The house has taken a giant leap forward thanks to your constant enthusiasm and energy. We are delighted you enjoyed using and experiencing the various off-grid systems we have here and hope some of them end up part of… read more
I came with no skills and in 2 weeks I learned so many things ! Screwing, stamping, sawing, picking ... everything in music, a good atmosphere and a lot of happiness !
I am so glad I have been able to contribute a little in this amazing project by making… read more
