Come and help out at our ecological retreat centre near Gouloux, Morvan, France

Details

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  Description

  We, Erik and myself, live in France (Morvan, protected area in the Bourgogne), since three years. We started a small ecological non profit retreat centre for (trans)personal growth (I am a psychotherapist, Erik a coach / trainer).
  We have a place of nearly two hectares, with a flower garden, a beginning foodforest, a greenhouse, an outdoor kitchen/living room, a beautiful field with trees to camp.
  We created cosy rooms and a guest-kitchen indoors, in the granite farmhouse built in 1842. Soon we will also have a modern Tiny House.
  We have come here to step out of the enormous pace of western society. And because we wanted to create a safe space for what is really essential in life, in our view. Instead of fighting against the flood of things, that we see as damaging life.
  The silence here is profound en gentle. As well as the darkness and heaven of stars during the night.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We come from The Netherlands, are living in France nowadays. We both did a lot of things during our lives. We like to tune in to the stories and the wishes of those that come here. We love to share our knowledge on sustainable materials and sustainable gardening and sustainable living. And, if wanted, on psychology and meditation. Wich does not mean at all that we have therapeutical intentions whatsoever.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Help

  We would like you to be willing to learn and able to help independently on tasks, when they have been properly explained. For instance, if we ask you to weed the garden, we cannot stay with you all the time.
  We do appreciate your own ideas, knowledge, creativity and inspirations. We will only offer tasks that does not need a qualification. But for sure, if you have some more specialised skills to deploy: you are very welcome.
  Since we live remote and do projects on a small scale, being on your own sometimes should not be a problem. But usually there are some other guests here. We will provide three meals a day, which do not all three have to be eaten in a group. That depends to what extend each of us wants to have a private live. Daily coffee and tea breaks we also join.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Depending on the time of year you come, we offer you a big tent, in which you can stand upright, with a bed, chair and table. You can use the wel equipped outdoor-kitchen, which is also a kind of a living room. In colder periodes you can stay in a truly lovely guestchambre, combined with an livingroom, with kitchen and woodstove. We have at least one meal a day together, which we prepare together or in shifts. Since we have three kitchens alltogether (inclusing the one in our private house), you will have all opportunity to also run your own little houshold, the way you like.

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  What else ...

  Wifi is provided. We have a car, but that one is not be used to go out, unless we go together. We are willing to bring you to the nearest place of public transport. You can lend our (electric bike). Walking trails and mountainbike trails are all over the place. 4 km away from us you can find a big lake to swim in. Cities and places that are interesting in this area: Veselay (famous basilic for pergrims), Avalon, Autun, Bibracte (remains of a Celtic village). In saulieu we go to the market and do our shoppings
  
  We do not go out a lot ourselves, because we had so much building to do up to now. And also we like just to be in our own paradise. Erik plays the guitar and the piano. I sing. I also make art. I give lessons Embodiment Stretching, wich can be seen as an eclectic non-dogmatic form of yoga. You can join Erik in a short meditation at the end of the day, if you feel like. He will be happy to give instructions.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Only small campervans

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This depends on how your pest behaves and how you take care of them. let's speak about it.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

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