Help with gardening at a former water mill in Dordogne, France

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  I’m a physicist, economist, and artist with a passion for sustainable, independent living. After years working in Japan, I bought a former water mill in the Dordogne, France, nestled in a forest 6 km from Thiviers. I’ve been an environmentalist since age 14, living intentionally to minimize waste and maximize connection with nature. I’m talkative, love turning ideas into action, and embrace mistakes as part of growth. I enjoy cooking, filmmaking, meditation, yoga, and learning (currently Spanish, permaculture, and traditional cultivation methods). My cat, Pinky, is a shy house companion, so sadly, no dogs can join.
  The Opportunity
  I’m preparing my home for guests with lots of children and need help to make it a welcoming, fun, and safe space. I’m looking for a creative, hands-on person (or couple) to assist with cleaning, gardening, laundry, housework, and crafting kid-friendly projects. You’ll work 4 hours a day, leaving plenty of time to explore the area, pursue your own projects, or join me in learning about sustainable living. If you’re interested in long-term collaboration, there’s potential to co-create a vegetable garden or contribute to my dream of restoring the mill’s water power.
  Tasks
  Housework: Cleaning, laundry, and organizing to prepare for guests.
  
  Gardening: Tidying the grounds and possibly starting a vegetable garden in rich river valley soil.
  
  Kid-Friendly Projects: Creating fun activities (e.g., nature crafts, scavenger hunts) to keep children entertained.
  
  River Activities: Helping set up and supervise safe use of an inflatable boat and stand-up paddleboard (to be purchased).
  
  Optional: Assisting with cooking or barn reconstruction if you’re inclined.
  
  Who I’m Looking For
  Creative, reliable, and comfortable with kids (experience with children is a plus).
  
  Practical skills in cleaning, laundry, and gardening.
  
  Enthusiastic about sustainable living or curious to learn.
  
  Able to work independently and adapt to a rural, nature-focused lifestyle.
  
  Bonus: Interest in permaculture, yoga, meditation, or languages (I can offer lessons in English, French, German, or Japanese in exchange for Spanish practice).
  
  What I Offer
  A private room in a beautiful, converted water mill surrounded by forest, with the best air and starry skies for stargazing.
  
  Access to the river for boating and paddling, plus biking and wildlife spotting (birds, squirrels, and more).
  
  4 hours of work per day, leaving time to explore, create, or relax.
  
  Shared meals featuring local Dordogne cuisine (I love to cook but welcome help).
  
  A chance to learn about permaculture, sustainable living, or languages, and to join meditation or yoga sessions.
  
  A supportive environment to experiment with your own ideas for independent living.
  
  Details
  Location: 6 km from Thiviers, Dordogne, France.
  
  Duration: Flexible, from a few weeks to longer-term (especially for garden enthusiasts).
  
  Accommodation: Private room, shared kitchen and bathroom.
  
  Note: No dogs due to Pinky’s needs. Bikes available for local travel.
  
  Start Date: As soon as possible to prepare for guests.
  
  Why Join Me?
  Life is too short to stay stuck in the grind. Here, you can breathe fresh air, connect with nature, and contribute to a meaningful project while having time to pursue your own passions. Whether you’re escaping the “rat race” or just seeking a change, this is a chance to live differently in a stunning corner of France. If you’re practical, creative, and ready to make a home kid-ready, let’s chat! Contact me to discuss details and share your skills.

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Kunstprojekte

  Sprachpraxis

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Unterrichten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten

  Zubereiten / Kochen von Mahlzeiten für die Familie

  Hausarbeiten

  Handwerkliche Arbeiten

  Hilfe mit Computer /Internet
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  Interessengebiete

  

  Selbstentwicklung

  

  Technik

  

  Nachhaltigkeit

  

  Schreiben

  

  Darstellende Künste

  

  Fotografie

  

  Gärtnern

  

  Musik

  

  Sprachen

  

  Zeichnen & Malen

  

  Gartenarbeiten

  

  Heimwerken & DIY

  

  Kochen & Backen

  

  Tischlerarbeiten

  

  Kunst & Design

  

  Wassersport

  

  Outdoor-Aktivitäten

  

  Segeln / Boote

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Natur

  

  Strand

  

  Camping

  

  Fitness

  

  Radfahren

  

  Erlebnissportarten
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  I can teach English, French, German and Japanese. Many years teaching experience with kids of 10 to 17 and professional adults ranging from "top managers" to "hobby speechologists".

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  Arbeit

  Some things I would appreciate help with:
  Shutters and wooden furniture oiled/varnished, some window frames painting. The entrance bridge has been enlarged to allow larger wheeled vehicles to pass - a draw bridge would be a nice solution for some person who knows about the engineering involved! The barn columns made of concrete need extending so that they reach the roof - a temple to replace the barn is a nice thing to work towards.
  
  I have several pairs of iron gates which need to be mounted on home made concrete columns - foundations for columns and setting these straight - .
  
  Some building work, lots of gardening, a lot of tree felling or hedge cutting. Cooking help would be great too.
  I have 50 fir trees which need to be reduced in height to let sunlight into the grounds. The branches need to be mulched and then used for paths.
  I have created a natural cool pool on a foundation which I discovered is just 530 million years old. Volcanic rock forms the edge of this pool and if I have lots of help then I would like to build a sauna right beside this so that we can jump from cooking hot into freezing cold and then back again.
  Gathering walnuts in October is a regular job, drying them and storing them properly.

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  Sprachen

  Gesprochene Sprachen
  Deutsch: Fließend
  Englisch: Fließend
  Französisch: Gute Kenntnisse
  Japanisch: Gute Kenntnisse
  Portugiesisch: Grundkenntnisse

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Sprachaustausch an
  I have attempted to "exchange" language with others but those who have never taught their language seriously are very little help not knowing how to speak slowly, repeating until the knowledge is passed on. It is a dream that there is a 50% exchange and whoever is better will always make more progress to the disappointment of the other. With a group of 3 or more a game can be played where vocabularies of several languages can be improved at once. It has to be FUN to retain the interest of those who are weak.
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  Unterkunft

  Holiday home rooms available outside the months of July August. A caravan is on site and can be placed on another 7500sq metre site which can accommodate lots of wind projects.

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  Was noch ...

  Internet wifi around the house. More castles in this area than in the rest of France together. Swimming, fishing, biking, hiking, star-gazing, visiting caves, horse-riding, tennis and French cuisine.
  
  I am hoping to get some help for 4 or 5 hours a day in exchange for accommodation and excursions visiting the beautiful countryside. I can provide simple meals if no one else prefers to cook.

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  Etwas mehr Information

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    Internet Zugang

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    Eingeschränkter Internet Zugang

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    Wir besitzen Tiere

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    Wir sind Raucher

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    Familien möglich

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  Kann Digital Nomads unterbringen

  The wifi works all around the grounds of this 6000 square metre site. There are lots of places to sit and surf without distractions - I am doing it right now - outside in the shade.

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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  There is space for three or four cars - a campervan can also stay - it is shaded, but they would have to sort out making it level themselves. A very larger camper which is over 3 metres in height is possible at the minute

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  Hier sind Haustiere in der Regel willkommen

  I love to see people travelling with their pets. The one exception is dogs. I have travelled with my friend Harry the crow around Europe . Now I am living with four Moscovy ducks.

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  mehr als zwei

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