Help with permaculture forest garden project and refurbishing tiny house in Languedoc Roussillon, France

Informationen

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  Beschreibung

  Hi, we are Kai (German/Dutch) and José (Spanish), 59 and 56 respectively. In 2020 we bought a 7200 m2 plot in a small town near Perpignan in the South-East of France in the foothills of the Mount Canigou (Eastern Pyrenees) where we started a permaculture forest garden project with dry toilet and tiny house. If you love the simple life, we think you will love it here. We've now passed the early stages of preparing the plot, getting recycled material, designing, building plant beds etc. and are working on the tiny house and the planting of (more) trees, as well as improving the water system.
  Workawayers will be hosted in our home until we can get the cabin built on the plot, but you can also live on the plot in a tent or in your van, if you travel in one.
  
  I have 2 PDC diplomas and in May 2021 I did my 5th course with Rakesh Roots 'n Permaculture (highly recommended!), in this case on Forest Gardening, so if you are interested in permaculture I am sure I can teach you a lot of what I learned. You will experience the early and medium stages of starting a PC project, which I think is the nicest part :)
  My partner José and I are working on the plot (almost) every spare moment we have and at this point in time (July 2024) we are mostly working on the tiny house, improving/expanding the irrigation system, finishing kitchen, bathroom, dry toilets etc.
  Also, as time allows, we will continue building raised beds, building the wooden structures, taking care of the veggie garden, planting/sowing the medicinal garden etc.
  We are looking for people who are not afraid to put in some hard work and who are happy to do tasks alone if necessary.
  if you have skills in carpentry, DIY, and know how to work with your hands, if you are enthusiastic, hard working, dynamic, resourceful, and pro-active, you are very welcome!
  We both have a good work rhythm and really don't have time to host someone who needs to be constantly pushed.
  We are both outgoing, fun-loving and positive people.
  
  Things we have achieved so far:
  (January 2021 through to July 2024):
  - repair fence (check)
  - build fence with pallets (check)
  - build fence with reeds (partly check)
  - Designing the forest garden and the whole PC project (ongoing)
  - Designing and building the dry toilets (1 done)
  - Designing the tiny house for later (check)
  - gathering recycled material (ongoing)
  - gathering wild trees and plants for replanting (partly check)
  - preparing raised beds (partly check)
  - Dig pond (check)
  - planting hedge (check)
  - Planting fruit trees (ongoing)
  - pruning trees (check)
  - gather materials for cabin (check)
  - Build a cabin (started)
  - Dig canal for water access (check)
  - Dig trench(es) for water access (We're on it :) )
  - Dig rainwater deposit (check)
  - build rainwater deposit (check)
  - gather (recycled) material for the tiny house (check)
  - build tiny house (= refurbish existing building) (check)
  - gather (recycled) material for the conservatory made of old doors and windows (check)
  - build conservatory (check)
  - build outside shower (check)
  - build "kitchen" area (ongoing)
  - build pizza/bread oven
  - build rocket stove for cooking
  - designing greenhouse
  - building greenhouse
  - finish pond
  - building 2 yoga platforms out of pallets
  (...) = all the things I forget to mention ;)
  Later stage:
  - Design natural pool
  - build natural pool
  - Build root cellar (postponed)

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  Arten von Hilfe und Lernmöglichkeiten

  Hilfe bei Ökoprojekten

  Gartenarbeiten

  Heimwerker- und Bauarbeiten
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  Kultureller Austausch und Lernmöglichkeiten

  There are several things I hope I can offer you: language exchange (I speak German, French, Spanish, Dutch and English so you can train any language you might be learning or wish to learn. I can teach you how to cook vegetarian/vegan meals.
  As this is a permaculture food forest project, you can participate in my design process to start a permaculture garden and I will be more than happy to share what I know about the permaculture approach in gardening but also as a life-ethics.
  I can also help with some holistic life-design.
  If anyone is up for it and there is time, I'd love to try and make vegan cheese. Depending on the season, we will make preserves (chutneys and marmalade) and we can make bread, homemade cosmetics etc.
  The surroundings are stunning so you can enjoy hiking and discovering the Pyrenees in your spare time (I'm happy to go hiking on weekends!).
  I am passionate about psychology and if you need it, we can have some deep conversations about any part of your life you may need some help or guidance with (or just a good ol' chat).

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  Arbeit

  Main projects at this point in time (September 2024):
  - strip paint off all doors and windows (!!)
  - paint all doors and windows with natural paint
  - improve watering canals
  - take care of the (very neglected) vegetable garden
  - weed, weed and weed!!
  - build pizza/bread oven
  - build rocket stove for cooking
  - refurbish existing building
  - designing greenhouse
  - building greenhouse
  - preparing raised beds (= weeding, building the (very simple) structure, covering with manure and hay)
  - planting hedge
  - watering trees
  - build pond (already dug)
  - dig more trenches for water access
  - improve fence (wind protection)
  - lay stone path
  - building the cabin
  - designing and building the 3rd dry toilet
  - designing and building the 2nd shower
  - designing and building the kitchen area for the cabin
  - design natural pool
  - build natural pool
  - continue designing the forest garden and the whole PC project
  - building 2 yoga platforms out of pallets
  Later stage:
  - dig rainwater deposit nº2
  - build roof for rainwater collection nº2
  - dig and build root cellar (postponed)
  
  Cooking will not be considered as part of the helping tasks, so that will be done outside of helping hours.
  In the garden, we're well on our way but more or less 50% still needs done there.
  Things like initiative, reliability, commitment and respect are very important to us, but behind all the serious talk, we are generally quite relaxed and flexible.
  
  We looove a good debate about just about any topic (some basic Spanish would be a plus as José doesn't speak much else ;) ) and we love playing board games in the evening.

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  Sprachen

  Gesprochene Sprachen
  Deutsch: Fließend
  Englisch: Fließend
  Spanisch: Fließend
  Französisch: Fließend
  Niederländisch: Fließend

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Sprachaustausch an
  I can help teaching Spanish, English, French, German and Dutch. I would love to learn Arabic
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  Unterkunft

  Accommodation will be in our home at 1,7 km from the plot (all commodities) or in a tent on the plot if you prefer that (there is a brook for water (washing) and we will provide drinking water and food. No electricity available on the plot at the moment but possibility to charge mobile phones and laptops a.o. at home if necessary).
  
  We hardly eat any meat or fish and the main meals will be generally vegetarian and healthy. We provide some staple foods for breakfast and dinner (no dairy or meat). Lunch will be cooked and taken together. Dinner is normally not provided, so it's for yourself to provide (buy any extras and cook) as I have irregular work hours (this is subject to change but don't count on it).
  If you want to eat meat, drink alcohol or eat white bread, cookies, junk food, sugary stuff etc, you will have to buy that yourself. Otherwise I have no limitations in regards to food and drink, but obviously won't accept anybody getting drunk (or high) whilst on my property.
  It is 100% not allowed to smoke in the house.
  General rules are simple: don't be lazy, clean up after yourself & be open if there is any problem. Communication is key to you having a good stay here. Please keep the house clean and care for it as if it was your own.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you stay in our apartment, we expect you to leave it spotlessly clean and in perfect condition the day you leave.

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  Was noch ...

  The nearby airports are: Perpignan/Rivesaltes (30 min), Carcassonne (80 minutes) and Gerona (80 minutes) or Barcelona (150 min) and you can get here by Blablacar, bus, train...
  Our town is well connected so you can get almost to my door from anywhere.
  If you get to Perpignan, you can get here either by bus or train for 1€ (Transport in this area is brilliant as you can get everywhere for just 1€).
  If you have a problem in getting to us, let me know and we'll discuss possibilities.
  
  I normally teach most afternoons so the rhythm will be: helping with the project in the mornings (leave house at 6.45 in summer or 8.45 in winter (or anything in between). Start 15 minutes later. Stop 5hrs later. Cook and have lunch, afternoons off.
  Weather permitting, we can have barbecues outside some days.
  You can explore some of the surroundings by bus or train. When I'm free, I'll be more than happy to go hiking with you and explore the surroundings myself as I haven't had much time to do any sightseeing. If you like the city, you can go to Perpignan or Prades by bus.

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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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  Platz zum Abstellen von Camper Vans

  Dieser Gastgeber bietet Platz für Wohnmobile.

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  Kapazität - wie viele Workawayer maximal

  mehr als zwei

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  Arbeitszeiten

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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