Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
17 Jun 2025
Reply rate
77.8 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
37
Facebook verified
Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (4)
Details
Description
In the Auvergne (Allier, heart of France) in the middle of the French countryside you'll find our rustic farmhouse Brénazet (1850) near the village Vernusse. Situated on a small hill it offers a beautiful view over fields and forests. We are at the end of a small road, so no trafic. The Allier is a beautiful area to discover. You'll be part of our family and share all the meals with us.
We are a Dutch family: Ron (1960), Mariken (1962), Zeljko (1966), Nikola (1995), Lily (1996) and Igor (1998) and Soham (2022), Nikola and Lily's daughter. We have two dogs: Elza and Nanook and 7 pony's (Welsh), 6 cats and chickens.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Yoga / Wellness
Fitness
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You 'll be part of our family and have all the meals with us. Mariken is a good cook and she cooks vegetarian or vegan and occasionally some meat. We appreciate also to try your cooking! You can join for mediation in the morning. Mariken and Nikola are teaching yoga in the summer season. We usually have a muesli with homemade yoghurt and fruits for breakfast and start working. There are bikes for you and wifi is available. On Sundays you are always off and we sometimes go out, this is an occasion for you to see the surroundings. If you come in the summer we'll always try that you can go once on a canoe trip with Ron. If you would like to give us a helping hand and stay in a beautiful place in the middle of France, a small paradise where you'll find hospitality, health care, natural food, yoga and all sorts of exercise in the open air : you are very welcome!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
In EARLY SPRING, March and April, Ron can use some help with construction and repairing work. In March we will tidy up our farm, make everything ready and clean and we will start the garden again, There is a large vegetable garden withany possibilities, and a 4 x 4m greenhouse. In April we'll plant patatoes and lots of vegetables. If you are experienced with horses, you can help training, grooming and cleaning and riding. You'll stay in a house if it's available or in a small wooden cabin or in a vintage caravan.
In SPRING (April/May June) we would like helping hands for construction and maintenance, gardening, cleaning, doing laundry, lots of weading, working with the poneys. Picking up poo in the field of the ponys, cleaning the hen house, repairing fences, painting jobs, helping with cooking and baking, mowing the gras. Always lots to do in the country side! You'll stay in a small wooden cabin or in the caravan.
In SUMMER (July, August) This is a very busy period for us and we can use some help with cooking and keeping our kitchen clean, watering the garden, weading and harvesting. We need help with the animals, picking horse poo, clean the hen house. In summer you'll stay in a small wooden cabin or vintage caravan.
SUMMER/AUTOMN (September, October) Harvesting! Harvesting patatoes, peaches, black berries making jam and helping to prepare for winter, cleaning, general maintenance, animal care, picking poo, gardening and enjoying the last bits of a beautiful French summer! You'll stay in a small wooden cabin on the edge of the campsite or in the caravan.
Because of the need to learn the routine we ask volunteers to stay with us for at least two weeks.
While working in our place according to availability and season we can provide a wage.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We speak dutch, English and French fluently.
Accommodation
Helpers can stay in a vintage caravan or in one of the two small wooden cabins, the size of a bedroom, on the campsite. They are simpel and basic. There is a one person cabin and a cabin for two. You can use the bathroom and showers near your cabin.
What else ...
Travel info:
Bus:
Buscompagny can bring you all the way to Moulins and from there you can take the local bus to Montmarault. If you come from the south (Toulouse or Lyon) take that bus to Clermont Ferrand or Montluçon and take a bla bla car to Montmarault or the train to Louroux de Bouble or Lapeyrousse (we can pick you up there).
Trains:
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️From Paris: take the train to Montlucon (direct train from gare Paris Austerlitz at 12h28 arrival at 4 pm at Montluçon. You can also take the direct train to Moulins sur Allier, leaving every hour in the afternoon from Paris Bercy). More info about trains:
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ You can also take the train from Montluçon (direction Clermont Ferrand) go off at Louroux de Bouble or Lapeyrouse, that train leaves at 5.03 pm and arrives in Lapeyrouse at 5.30 pm, that is 12 km from us)
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ There is a bus from Montluçon in the directions of Moulins or Vichy, that is ligne A and B and go off at Montmarault. (bus is much cheaper than train, only 2 euros one way) Check the timetables here and take in account the school holidays!! Summer holidays: July and august) because time table will be different:
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ From Moulins there is no train going in our direction, you have just the bus to Montmarault (12h20, 14h15, 18h37)
Tell us your arrival time and we will pick you up either from the busstop at Montmarault or railwaystations Lapeyrouse/ Louroux de Bouble. Or at the exit 11 from the A71.
On Sundays there are less busses going, check this well!
Please do not arrive on a Saturday in july and August because that is our most busy day of the week and we will not be able to pick you up.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We don't have internet access throughout the property but if you have your own mobile network you should have proper range.
Space for parking camper vans
Since we have a large camping space it's no problem to accommodate people with their own campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
We don't allow cobras because we have chicken ;)
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (14)
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)
All the best, and thank you again,… read more
I worked a lot with Ron and learned lots of practical tips and tricks about using different kind of equipment and how to maintain and repair them.
I'd recommend everyone to stay with them!
It was a beautiful time in the vast and still surroundings of there property and beyond.
Maria is a marvelouse cook with a new idea everyday and Ron has a vast amount of practical knowledge he’s willing to share. I regard them… read more
I`ve spent a wonderful time and do look forward to renew my visit and give a helping hand.
