Yoga and hiking in the mountains of Haute Ariège, France

Details

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  Description

  We need again help for the end of Mai.
  
  I am Belgian, a biologist and certified yoga teacher. Together with my Chilean husband we have been working and living in different foreign countries in search for cultural exchanges, mountains and wild nature. We are a couple in our late 50's and we love yoga, hiking and climbing. In 2010 we bought an old and disregarded house in the Pyrenean mountains of Haute-Ariège.
  Since 2015 we have been settling here , situated at the base of “Plateau De Beille” between "Ax-Les-Thermes" and "Tarascon-Sur-Ariège" in the French Pyrenees
  
  We aim for a sustainable lifestyle and we need triple hands to do all the work on what has become an ecological mini farm surrounded by a natural garden where butterflies, bees, medicinal and edible wild plants are thriving .
  
  But !!!!! DON'T BE AFRAID OF BUGS because they 're everywhere and part of the ecological harmonie in nature. springtime we need lots of mulching, weeding and planting the permaculture beds, This is all very hardworking so we expect you to be fit enough. On the other hand, we never forget to just enjoy this beautiful area. We take free time and weekends to go hiking, climbing, swimming in the natural waters, mountain biking.... In the snow season we go snowshoeing and even climbing is still very nice on the south facing walls on sunny winter days. Everywhere we go, our shepherd dog is part of the fun but please don't trow her any sticks or bones: her playing is the working with the animals
  In order to be eligible, you need TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSERULES and ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS at the end of the listing.
  
  Interested in more details about OUR LITTLE STORY AND INSPIRATIONS. Here it is:
  Our once old and disregarded house is getting renovated slowly by our own hands. The neglected garden transformed in a beautiful wildflower heaven. Our little family includes hens and a rooster, some sheep, a ram and our cute shepherd dog, Luna. The gardening is done on the principles of (re)wilding and permaculture.
  
  We avoid buying useless, trow-away or plastics and recycle as much as possible. Plastics, synthetic fibers and other petrochemical derivatives are highly recalcitrant in nature, causing adverse impacts to the environment. We avoid using them, unfortunately they are present nearly everywhere nowadays even in our food, clothes, cosmetics... In undisturbed natural areas wastefulness doesn't exist. Everything is organic and gets recycled through the seasons by molds, microorganisms, invertebrates, insects...
  At home here we recycle a lot so the rubbish bin isn`t filling up quickly, and we hope you'll pay attention to that too.
  
  A big part of the garden has been given back to nature for "wilding". In other words: lots of wild plants were reintroduced which in turn attract lots of insects, by time also reptiles, rodents, birds and small mammifers ... Our little herd of Ouessant sheep impedes the recolonisation of human-high brambles or thorny pseudoacacia shoots. The shepherd dog chases foxes or birds of prey trying to steal the chicken.... Our aim is to create a little peaceful refuge in our stressful contaminated environment, not only for people but also for wild plants and little living creatures.
  
  We heat our house by a woodstove which is also the cooker and oven during wintertime. Moreover it is off during the night for a healthy fresh sleep. Water and electricity consumption are kept as low as possible, so letting run clean tap water (for example cleaning the dishes, long showering... ) is not part of our habits. For the sake of our real mother, the earth, and for the health of all living creatures including ourselves, we try to live as much as "low tech" as possible. For this reason we avoid using electric-or electronical devises.
  
  We maintain spirits high by boosting positive energy with yoga practice, breathing, silence and relaxation techniques. We are conscious about keeping good health and vitality through healthy cooking and eating. This means the cooking is in tune with the seasons and one’s physical activity. We love vegetarian meals and we might include sometimes fish from the local fish farm or meat from own production or local producers who respect the animal and the environment. We prepare homemade breads, vegetable spreads and fermented vegetables like in my grandmother’s time (by the way: I am grandmother myself by now).
  
  Sorry if I respond late. After a long day of work I might forget to look at messages.
  And please, don't forget in your contact message the answer to my questions at the end.
  
  Hoping to get to know you soon....

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Plant care

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Animals

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Charity work

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Outdoor activities
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Splendid location with a local train station at 10 minutes walk.
  On the border of a small village with basic services and a market on Sundays; you can do everything on foot.
  In the vicinity of a huge rock-climbing-wall, tracks, trails and dirt-roads giving access to amazingly beautiful, peaceful, wild areas for birdwatching, photographing, walking, swimming, climbing, biking….
  Possible access to nearby villages on foot by means of ancient dirt roads and trails, by public transport (train station, bus) and even a relaxing treat in a spa with thermal waters or the discovery of Cathar culture, fortresses, Romanesque chapels, caves with prehistoric paintings and more.
  
  Amazingly interesting activities:
  -Practicing 4 languages: English, Spanish, French and Dutch
  -Climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking with experienced and active hosts (more than 30 years in different areas in the world, 25 years in Haute Ariège). We know and frequent the interesting trails, climbing routes, mountain bike descends. We also offer the excellent old fashioned consulting way by means of paper books, maps and guides which are for insight in our library. By the way, reading in bed is a much more relaxing way to finish your day than fixing your gaze on a screen. Anyway, there is NO WIFI in the house in order to ensure a peaceful and wave-free night and day!
  - Practicing yoga postures and flows, observing breath, experiencing silence, relaxation techniques... with an experienced and devoted yoga teacher.
  -Discovering & learning new skills and/or sharing your skills related to the before mentioned outdoor and indoor aids needed.
  -Getting acquainted with our way of cooking which we consider the “art of playing with flavors, colors and also wild ingredients" in order to create a meal which is harmonious at all levels. This means balanced and healthy for the taster and respectful for the farmer and the environment.
  -Exchanging and socializing around a table (inside or outside depending on the weather) sharing a delicious dinner prepared from homemade mostly vegetarian and seasonal ingredients sourced from local artisans or from the bio-organic garden.
  -Everything real and life, close to nature and the mountains, in company with an amazing couple and their animals.

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  Help

  We regularly look for help from volunteers with some experience in pruning, wood shredding, woodcutting and stacking of wood, planting and maintenance of the permaculture beds . Then there is always the regular tasks: cleaning of the hen and/or sheep house, weeding and ... springtime... soon the lam will be born.
  
  The following interest, abilities & skills are welcomed:
  
  Outside the house: For most of these tasks you have to be physically fit and sometimes also willing to work in the dirt, rain or cold.
  Gardening: diy, wood shredding and cutting up fallen trees in the field for the sheep.
  Planting, pruning, weeding, stacking wood for winter heating
  Cleaning the chicken scoop, the hen house, the sheep stable
  DIY help
  Small tasks helping with collapsed dry stone walls and on steep hill slope
  Cleaning and drying of harvested medicinal plants, herbs and fruits .
  
  Inside the house:
  Heip might be needed for difficult cleaning tasks like washing the windows, cleaning the kitchen floor...
  
  On special occasions help is needed from 1 or 2 responsible people who are able to work independently. They will be incorporated in the organization of a yoga workshop. The helping tasks might be: making the beds, preparations based on wild edible plants for brunch and/or diner, taking pictures or mini videos.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  Catalan: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  We generally receive people for a minimum of 7 nights. Exceptionally we accept longer stays depending on how much work there is to do.
  On arrival you are expected after 3:0 PM or as agreed .
  We can accommodate 3 people. You will be hosted on the first floor where a nice bedroom is available with 3 comfortable real single beds and a wardrobe. You might be sharing this room with another workawayer. We will inform you about that if it's the case. There is the bathroom with toilet, shower and washbasin on the same floor. There is also the relaxing space with library and yoga material. It is the place where the morning and/or evening yoga sessions take place. Shoes, food and drinks are not allowed in the upper floor areas. Please, bring some slippers for inside use only. Since the upper floor is covered with cork for yoga practice, it is not allowed to go up with any footwear being used outside. If you like walking barefeet, thanks for washing your feet before going up and/or using the yogamats.
  The day of departure you are expected to leave before midday after having cleaned completely the staircase, bedroom and bathroom until the spider cobs in the hidden corners: this includes also scrubbing the shower, washbasin, mirror and the toilet . And thank you so much for leaving the place as clean as you have found it, or even cleaner.
  A typical day starts around 7.30 AM, feeding the animals. Around 8h00 AM we usually prepare and have breakfast, next cleaning of the dishes and brushing the floor. The volunteering tasks generally start between 9 and 9:30 AM. When it's getting very hot we might start earlier. There is regularly some yoga to practice with Gerd, certified yoga teacher: you are more than welcome to join her. So, if you have never practiced yoga but you would love to try it out, it's the moment to take your chance. On the other hand, If you are starting as yoga teacher or as a practitioner of holistic or manual therapy you might be happy to join in a yoga event which are published on my yoga-site in Haute Ariege. And you are very welcome to share experiences.

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  What else ...

  ATTENTION: For the sake of our real mother, the earth and for the health of all living creatures including ourselves we try to live as much as "LOW-TECH" and "WAVE-FREE"as possible. For this reason INTERNET CONNECTION BY WIFI IS NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL. G5 phone/internet trafic is not allowed in the house because it is too threatening for nervous and brain cells and the energy metabolism of cells in general. Phones are put in flight mode and kept in a Faraday box. For exceptional use of the phone we appreciate you warn us us and go outside. Finally, in order to avoid misunderstanding, and thus disappointment from both sides, we would like you to read our complete profile and write back that:
  
  1- You have read our profile completely and thus understood and accepted our low tech lifestyle.
  2- You agree not to smoke all over the place, inside and outside
  3- You agree not to wear shoes, nor drink or eat in sleeping areas, yoga room and library.
  4-You agree taking part or turns in doing domestic chores which are not considered as work-away tasks. They are considered as normal daily occupations which are shared because you are living with us ( You are not staying in a hotel).
  5- You agree to keep your phone in the Faraday box in flight mode during work and eating time.

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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

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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