Join us to create a space for creativity and community in a special part of the Normandy countryside, France

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Volunteer in France

Volunteer in Europe

Favourited 293 times

Host rating
Feedback
33
Last Activity
19/08/2018
Reply rate
98.4 %
Average reply time:
within 1 day
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Availability

2018

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

Jan

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Apr

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Dec

What's this?

Details

Description
An amazing colombage (timbered) house and an outbuilding with five bedrooms and rooms for running retreats, a vast barn, a stream, a plunge pool, fresh spring water and a constant show of wildlife. The estate nestles in a hectare of land in a small valley in the ancient and beautiful landscape of the Pays d’Auge in Lower Normandy, France. An hour from the channel coast and ports, two hours from Paris by train and car.

We are right by an espace naturel, the Coteaux Champ-Genets, known as one of the most important protected natural areas in Normandy, with 15 kinds of orchid, gentian, plus horses sheep and goats.

I am Finnish former garment technologist and my English husband is a professional trainer who goes to the UK regularly for work. We took up residency here just before Christmas 2016 and we are very excited about the possibilities of this place which is located in a small commune with just 100 inhabitants. We have recently been joined by two outdoor cats and got married here in August 2017.

There is space for 21 people, whether on holiday or on one of the diverse courses that are planned to begin in April 2019– from arts and nature to wellbeing and personal development. Courses may include writing, painting, music, dance, ecology, wildllife, flora/fauna, dark sky watching and many other areas.
Type of help
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Other
Help in the house
Help
We need help keeping the place nice for guests and preparing for next season - doing the changeovers, maintaining the kitchen garden and starting some new projects. We are looking for people who enjoy the quiet countryside and are willing to do what needs to be done.

We have connected to mains water in March and are now open to the public. In July, August and September we will receive guests and the bigger repairs will continue at the end of the season in October.

Minimum two weeks, maximum 6 months.

Projects for the third and fourth quarters of 2018 include:

- Vegetable garden, various actions to ensure a good crop
- Helping out in the kitchen when dinner is served for guests
- Repairing cement steps and terrace
- Daily up keep of the house
- Helping to clear site of scrub and small trees
- Changeovers of guestrooms
- Restoring two bikes for use
- Clearing and restoring stone step area around an old plunge pool
- Restore the little cabin over the stream, including replacing wooden floor and repainting
- Clean and prepare a caravan for use
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Between the two of us we speak English, Finnish and some Swedish, German and French - if you want to practice any of these we are happy to help! We offer a place for quiet refection in a peaceful setting.
Languages spoken
English, Finnish, intermediate Swedish, beginners French and German.
Accommodation
In the winter travelers would stay in the main house and in the summer the guest accommodation is also available. There are bed-spaces for three-four people on work-away, including a double bed space for a couple. We share the same kitchen and living room in the main house. Food provided will be a blend of vegetarian, French, British and Finnish cuisine. There are new beds in the workaway bedrooms. The main house has WiFi and the whole property is connected to mains water.
What else ...
The small towns of Vimoutiers and Gace are 10 minutes by car, approx. 30 minutes by bike. There are bikes available for use (and an amazing countryside to explore) and there are regular trips to the boulangerie, charcuterie and markets. We are two hours from Paris, by train (Lisieux or l'Aigle stations) and car; two hours from Dieppe and one hour from Deauville and Caen, both of which have low cost flights in the season (April - October).
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

My Photo Album

Cabin over the stream, in need of renovation!

Small gite being upgraded.

Libertine!

Libertine le petite agneau with fab workaway Loo.

Show all photos

The plunge pool

The view down the valley..

Spring begins down by the lower stream.

Feedback left by and about host (33)

10/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Shuhui ) for host

This is my first workaway and it has really exceeded my expectations.
Before my arrival, Jonathan and Mila were responsive for all my messages and also punctual for the pick up.
The environment is just amazing. So much green and the colorful plants. Also the 3 adorable caaaats! I took so many amazing photos that I am gonna cherish forever. And… read more

(Excellent )

07/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Caterina) for host

This has been my best Workaway experience so far!! When me and Valeria arrived we had our own bedroom, really cosy and comfy. Then John told us that it had been built from other workawayers and they did such a good job, I have to say!! The place is wonderful, in the middle of the best nature set and with lots of animals in the close neighborhood.… read more

(Excellent )

25/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Michelle) for host

I spent an amazing 4 weeks with Mila & Jonathan helping around their property. It was not long enough. I didn’t want to leave. This Workaway was everything I had hoped it would be & more. I really enjoyed the company of my hosts & the other Workaways who where here at the sametime. We had many great discussions, lots of laughs, amazing food… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Michelle)

Michelle is a fantastic contribution, as a person, as a workawayer, as a traveller, as an Australian. She worked so hard, seeing possibilities, offering suggestions, making improvements. She has an outstanding sense of responsibility and a work ethic that understands that tasks are as much about completion as they are about what is needed.

here… read more

(Excellent )

24/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Christine) for host

I stayed here for a month and it was fun and interesting and nice and pleasant and fun. It's been a great experience, lots of laughs and fine dining, as well as a rewarding, not to mention inspiring workload that was just the right amount of challenging. Jonathan and Mila are truly wonderful people, they have taught me so much, and the banter was… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Christine)

When we collected Christine from the station town in Normandy she was exhausted after an epic journey, all the way from Cornwall. Recovering slowly, she took her place in a small team of dedicated volunteers who did amazing work in the garden, kitchen and other rooms. She was so dedicated that she gave rise to a bespoke hashtag #christinecan -… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (James)

James was one of the funniest people ever to help us out. His story of getting covered in expanding foam caused most of the table to have uncontrolled laughter fits for the best part of an hour - indeed me other workawayer has not yet quite recovered from the near hernia he gave her :). James was a great addition to the team, did loads of hard and… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Aaron)

The youngest of the team he worked with Aaron showed a maturity beyond his years. He is a great teamworker, happy to work hard and long of needed. He was dedicated to helping us do what needed to be done, even when the tasks were sometimes repetitive. He shared Austrian cuisine with the group and was a great addition to our tribe of workawayers.

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Nora)

Nora was a great part of the team helping us out in June 2018. She was happy to help, adapted to lots of new requests for help and willing to take on doing what was needed. She took initiative where it was needed and followed instructions where that was needed too. She was part of a very fun team, and made a big difference to our work. Thanks Nora!

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Anne Jacqueline)

Anne was really great in helping us out, always happy to work, whether in the garden, kitchen or with decorating and preparing our rooms for the public! She brought much experience and was a great part of the team she worked with! Thanks Anne :).

(Excellent )

11/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Feger) for host

Mila and Jonathan are good hosts (and cooks), I had 2 great weeks in their lovely domain in spite of the cold weather. The departure was a bit crazy but Mila is also an awesome pilot - even pregnant . I hope your maison d hôte will be a success ! Bye :)

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Feger)

Guillaume stayed with us for two weeks in February. He worked tirelessly in spite of the dismal weather and even taught me to repair concrete steps. He is a morning person who is curious to learn new things and to acquire new skills. We would love to have him here again for a longer period. The stay ended in a mad drive to the train station, but… read more

(Excellent )

10/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Loo) for host

Welcome to the compound, as Mila and Jonathan lovingly call their farm. It’s a place you’ll want to stay or escape from, depending upon how comfortable you feel being surrounded by rolling green pastures, listening to the steady stream of a running brook, living in a classic Normandie farmhouse, and having Tibetan buddhists as neighbors. For me I… read more

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Loo)

Loo stayed with us for some three weeks in January. She has a kind spirit and gives a lot in return for the hospitality she receives. She helped with a massive spring clean of the house and getting the garden ready for guests. Always painting in her journal she has this calm energy about her that really helped me as I was pregnant while she stayed… read more

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Linda)

Oh Linda, you write the best reviews! It was such a pleasure having you over for 26 days from mid January to mid February and you did a great job in cleaning the house and clearing in the garden. Linda has a can-do attitude and made a big difference in a short space of time. Especially the driveway looks great! She understands instructions well… read more

(Excellent )

03/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Linda) for host

Staying at Jonathan and Mila’s house was my first workaway experience and I was lucky to have this couple as my hosts. They are very kind and cheerful people, who like to have volunteers at their place and they always make sure that they feeling comfortable at the new place. The house is very beautiful and comfortable, you feel like you’ve been… read more living here for a long time but to me the real pleasure was working outside - you can’t have enough of the Normandy nature. The valley around the house is green and boundless, you feel deserted in a way, but at the same time enjoying the solitude, the silence and the air. The nearest town is 10 km away, so it takes you around an hour to get there by bike, make sure you are a sporty one.
The facilities in the house are excellent: the shower has a super hot water, it was such a pleasure getting yourself in the hot tub after a long day. Wi-fi is so good you can watch streaming movies anytime. I had my own room with a super comfy bed and an amazing view to the Buddhist centre and a river – a fantastic neighbourhood! The work at the place was diverse. Mila was always making sure we got all the instruction, all necessary tools, she is a person of order and that was really helpful for us. One day we would scrub off the ivy from the wall, moving the compost, the other – cleaning the house, washing the windows or a huge pile of wool (never thought it takes so much time, lol). What I really enjoyed doing is cleaning the cellars and washing the drive way – so much fun! In the evenings we would sat near the fireplace and have a dinner, talking about our native countries, comparing cultures here and there. Jonathan and Mila knows a lot about almost anything, I really enjoyed the time we spent together!
We also had outdoor activity: one day Mila took me to the nearest town to join her for a french conversational group and I met a lot of nice people there and even tried to speak some french too. The other day we went to a Camambert museum, even though it was closed due to the low season, it was fun to see it anyways. Mila and Jonathan are animal lovers – they have 2 cats, 1 lamb (I fall in love with), 1 stranger cat that comes only for food )) and a lot of birds visiting the feeding spot inside the tree in front of the house. And I must not forget about the food. All the meals were restaurant level – everyday smth surprising, something new, always fresh bagets and butter on top of the main dish, cheese or wine, all super delicious! Mila and Jonathan were so kind cooking vegetarian meals for us, almost for 4 weeks, being meat-eaters themselves, that was really touching!
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my staying at Mila and Jonathan’s house, they are excellent hosts, who live in a very beautiful area, that is definately worth visiting, I would love to come back one day.

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Hélène & Nicky)

Hélène & Nicky stayed with us for almost two months leading up to mid December. They are very good at working on long projects and know their strengths. Hélène did a map of the property that was very usefull in setting our new projects up for 2018 and Nicky mainly worked in the garden. They did a great job in digging and laying pipes for a french… read more

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Paco)

Paco stayed with us for a week in November. He is a quiet pondering person who makes great food. He got to a good start repairing the terrace before he left and has become a bit of legend for us because he literary walked here! We hope you will find amazing experiences on route and perhaps, one day, you will just walk through our gates again x

(Excellent )

08/03/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Sebnem)

Sebnem stayed with us for a week in February and was a great help in the garden. She takes well to direction and follows through on what she said she would do. We would love to have her again for a longer period. Best of luck with your studies and finding a new choir!

(Excellent )

07/01/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Fred)

Fred stayed with us for almost a month in November and helped with some big projects, such as digging and filling a french drain around a small studio. He is a good cook and has a can do attitude. Thank you Fred and all the best with your studies!

(Excellent )

17/10/2017

Left by Workawayer (Alison) for host

I had the most enjoyable and rewarding experience staying with Mila and Jonathan. They have a beautiful establishment and it was an absolute pleasure helping them move forward with their various projects for improvement, particularly in the garden. They are both lovely hosts and I felt immediately welcomed into their home. All tasks were explained… read more

(Excellent )

09/10/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Alison)

Alison stayed with us work a month or so in September. She is such a thoughtful person who helps out with everything! Everyday she would help clear the table and put tools away. She chipped branches and cleared two cellars with another volunteer, she cleared the steps around the plunge pool, painted the remaining beds and helped pack the beds in… read more

(Excellent )

25/09/2017

Left by Workawayer (Alexandra) for host

Mila was extremely welcoming and a fantastic host! The property is beautiful and I very much enjoyed my two weeks here -- very relaxing and easy to get to from Paris. Highly recommend

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(Excellent )

25/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Alexandra)

Alex stayed with us for a half a month in July. She is reliable and helpful. She washed windows, painted beds and helped set rooms up for guests. Please let me know if you ever come to Normandy again, you are more than welcome!

(Excellent )

25/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Tuuna & Eetu)

Tuuna stayed with us for a week and a half in June. I can attest that she is a hard working person with a can do attitude - she can mow the lawn, paint walls, and is not adverse to outdoor tasks! It was a pleasure to have you over and thank you for staying with us. Please come again!

(Excellent )

22/06/2017

Left by Workawayer (Tuuna & Eetu) for host

My 1,5 weeks stay here was a great experience! The place was absolutely beautiful with all the nature around. It was quite easy to get to their place from Charles de Gaulle -airport. But don’t make your schedule too tight, for the stations are quite big and trains aren’t always on time.

I was travelling with my friend. We had a cozy shared room… read more

You can only contact Workawayers with active subscriptions

(Excellent )

25/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Milton)

Milton stayed with us for a 10 day in June. He is a person who truly listens and always does his best. It was a pleasure to have you over and thank you for staying with us. I'd love to have you over in a couple of years time as we are more set up so that you can see how our project has evolved and matured. Stay true to yourself and bon courage x

(Excellent )

26/07/2017

Left by Workawayer (Milton) for host

I stayed with Jonathan and Mila for about 10 days, and it was amazing!I felt very welcome during this time and the job was absolutely doable and enjoyable. The place and the countryside around are beautiful: so much you can help with and create, and so much to explore. My duties included wedding the garden, painting and assembling furniture.… read more

(Excellent )

07/09/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Jenni)

Jenni stayed with us for a week and a half in June. She is a hard working person with a can do attitude - she can mow the lawn, paint walls, and is not adverse to outdoor tasks! It was a pleasure to have you over and thank you for staying with us.

(Excellent )

21/07/2017

Left by Workawayer (Jenni) for host

I had a wonderful time staying here for one and a half weeks in June. Mila and Jonathan are warm-hearted and they made me feel at home from the moment I had arrived here. I came along with a friend and we had our own cozy room upstairs at the main house. They also served us breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was tasty and we got to taste… read more

You can only contact Workawayers with active subscriptions

(Excellent )

01/07/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Dorothy Anne)

Dorothy stayed with us for a little under a week in March. She is full on energy and wisdom and made a huge difference for us! She helped me get our health and safety gear, to clean the two large studio rooms, to identify edible plants and so much more. I would recommend Dorothy to any host, but especially to hosts who are just getting started… read more

(Excellent )

07/03/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Lotte)

Lotte joined us for a week in February 2017. She is a self-starter who can follow through on instructions. During the week we cleaned bedrooms and a studio room from top to bottom, washed windows, planted tulips and raked leaves. Lotte has a good eye for details and she doesn't get bored easily. She had the courage to drive by herself from the… read more

(Excellent )

07/03/2017

Left by Workawayer (Lotte) for host

Staying here was an amazing experience. I had some trouble getting there by car, but Jonathan and Mila happily waited up for me until I had found the place. The room I stayed in was just perfect, you will get a tropical experience as well for all the palmtree wallpapers :)
The work was mostly about cleaning and a bit of gardening. Doing it… read more

You can only contact Workawayers with active subscriptions

(Excellent )

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