Enjoying and helping to rebuild a little paradise in Occitanie, France

  • Favourited 377 times
  • Last activity: 2 Nov 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hello friendly soul,

    I’m Annkatrin, 42 years of age. I moved from Germany to France seven years ago.

    My objective was to create an ecological center for well-being where people can discover their potential, enjoy the pleasure of being close to nature and feel their body by doing physical work. The intention has been to create an infrastructure for seminars and workshops to help people to reconnect with the physical world, like working with wood, clay, painting, practicing Qi-Gong, meditation, Shiatsu, massages, doing products with medical plants and so on.

    Therefore, I started renovating buildings to be able to accommodate future seminar participants and guests. I used ecological products and did a lot of re-/up-cycling.
    But, a fire destroyed all my work at the end of the year 2021. As agreements with the insurance are very complicated, I hope we can start to rebuild at least parts beginning in autumn 2023...

    Four years ago, my parents, Gabriele and Rudolf, moved here, too. Chickens and four ponies are also living here. The ponies have all their particular health issues but I support their self-healing with plants (phyto-therapy). I would like to train them to go on long hiking trails with them. And maybe, they could also help on the property.

    Besides taking care of my three years old daughter, I try to find time to create an apartment for us and to spend time with the animals and in our organic vegetable garden and orchard.

  • 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
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    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 can provide as well German and French cultural background. You can profit for both languages.

    Most neighbors are farmers (especially cow breeding but also goats, sheeps, pigs and chickens). Some young people have organic projects, like vegetable growing or bread baking. There are also people with or without children that work outside of agriculture and quite a few pensioners. We are in good terms with all of them and everybody is willing to help if needed.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    I’m looking for positive people who want to bring in their knowledge and are able to do tasks on their own.

    Due to the fire, I don’t have a common construction project this year. But if you’re a craftsman, I can always find one for you. For example: building an isolated wall out of hemp and lime or a wooden stairs case,…

    To be able to work a bit myself, it would also be nice to have someone who would like to take care of my daughter and/or love to cook, clean and help around the house. (For babysitting you should stay at least (!) a month. Otherwise, my daughter has to adapt to too many new people each time.)

    Confident horseman/-woman who are experienced in training horses by an ethological method or in animal traction / carriage ride are very welcome.
    You shouldn’t be afraid of picking up horse manure or mowing under the electric fences.

    If you like physical work in the garden you could prepare vegetable patches or even build a raised garden bed with stones and lime or glass bottles. Especially, during summer season and beginning of autumn you could help with picking fruits and vegetables and to preserve them.

    Ideally, you don’t count hours when you work, but take pleasure in what you do (feel fulfillment instead of hard labour).
    We won’t control your working hours either. You can work independently most of the time and take time or a whole day off whenever you want to. However, we might ask you for help for special tasks.

  • Languages spoken

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

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Due to the loss of two and a half buildings, this year, we can only provide you a sleeping place in a caravan (1 bed for adults and 2 for children or small adults) or a place for your own tent or caravan/camping car,… There are bathrooms only in the main house which are shared. (But you can have a compost toilet in your space if needed.)

    Due to allergies I eat a bit special. All my meals are very basic and at least vegan and organically grown. For the moment, my daughter is vegan, too. My parents don’t eat much meat, but love goat cheese and yogurts.
    Generally, we eat together at least once a day. But everyone is free to use the kitchen to prepare meals for him-/herself or for the whole community.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    If you manage to give the ponies security, they enjoy walks outside the property. Often we take two of them to go pick up the bread or vegetables at our neighbour’s.

    Hiking (with or without the ponies) is a nice way to enjoy the nature of the countryside. We have two e-bikes which you could also use. Rivers and lakes are a few kilometers away (swimming, canoe). Also climbing or horseback riding is possible (payable).

    In the region are a lot of beautiful medieval towns to discover.
    During summer season there are a lot of markets, festivals and outdoor concerts.


    Closest airports:
    Rodez: 50 min
    Toulouse: 2 h

    Closest train station:
    Villefranche de Rouergue: 15 min

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have enough space for your home on wheels. :-)

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Due to allergies we can't host animals inside of the house. But outside it's no problem.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 879284254128

Feedback (4)



Photos

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile: (4.5)

Cultural exchange: (5.0)

Communication: (5.0)