Join us on our smallholding and engage with nature, enjoy great food and a healthy lifestyle in the Dordogne, France

  • Favourited 74 times
  • Last activity: 21 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    My husband Les and myself were running health and wellness retreats in the South of France until recently (March 2022) after which we purchased a lovely property in the Dordogne region of France. We have approximately 10 acres of land, a lake and swimming pool, a Labrador dog (Freddie), chickens, two recently adopted cats and two very friendly kuni kuni pigs who are due to give birth mid June 2023. Our woodland has been neglected for the last 15 years but we are well on with the clearing of the the land which is starting to look like beautiful managed parkland along with animal paddocks and wild flower meadows and so much of the real hard work has been done. We hope to eventually become self sufficient and are looking to undertake some eco projects including the setting up of a permaculture area which we are now well one with in the hope that it will provide us with food along with the planting of fruit bushes and a small orchard.

    The property is situated at the end of a private road some 15 minutes walk from the closest village which has a small bakery. We have no neighbours as such other than two small holiday cottages that are occupied very occasionally . The land is peaceful and calming and as we have no light pollution, sitting out in the evenings stargazing is a special experience as is sitting on the bench that overlooks the land or swinging in the hammock in the orchard just watching the sun go down. We have also just built a lakeside cabin and so if you fancy camping out one night to listen to the wildlife or to do bit of fishing on the veranda or just sit in our little rowing boat and be, then this is the place.

    We both love wildlife and one of our aims is to encourage more life to come onto the land albeit it is already teeming with wonderful wild flowers, insect life, visiting deer and other creatures great and small. We have been busy creating more access paths to the lake which will. enable animals to come down and drink safely. We have many resident birds including king fishers, golden oriels, hawks, and herons.

    In terms of facilities we have a small rowing boat, paddle boards, canoes, cycles, fishing rods all which we are very happy to share with our helpers. If you are into nature, hiking, wild water swimming then you have come to the right place. We have three lovely large lakes close by that offer circular walks, there are also some superb cycling routes.

    My husband Les was an architect in a previous life and is very handy bloke, turning his hand to almost anything, but he really could do with some help around the land and lake. He has purchased a couple of Massey Ferguson tractors and a whole load of tools and implements that I’m not sure what they are for? We could open a museum!

    For my sins - I am ex lawyer, nature lover and currently practice and teach breathing and relaxation techniques and our helpers would be welcome to participate in my daily practices. I am reasonably handy in the kitchen and so you can expect some pretty decent food although please don’t expect all of your meals to be cooked for you and it would be nice if you were willing to cook sometimes too. We tend to shop locally from small scale growers and producers as much as we can and have some excellent markets right on our doorstep.

    We both enjoy sailing and just simply enjoying life and we hope to meet you soon.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    My husband and I have many skills we can share. Les has lived in France for the last 20 years and so can help with language and also way of life, culture etc. As mentioned, he is an ex architect and is very capable in a practical sense and likes to refurbish and recycle items and be creative with items that others might discard. He enjoys sharing these skills.
    I am happy to teach relaxation and breathing techniques and paddle boarding. I’m a pretty decent cook and really enjoy living off the land and so for example I make my own walnut oil, nut milks, fig preserves etc and would be happy to share these skills with our workers.
    We also like to explore the area whether that’s cycling, swimming, hiking, paddle boarding or just sitting in local markets people watching and so there will be opportunities to join us on these outings.
    We are increasingly engaging with the local community and support local events and so our travellers would be able to see how life is really lived here in the Dordogne and get to know a few local. In many ways a much more traditional way of life is enjoyed here, a slow pace, minimal traffic and just the sounds of nature echoing around you wherever you tread.

  • Help

    Help

    Our primary requirement is for help with our outdoor projects and generally keeping the place maintained. One of our current projects is that we have erected a log cabin on the lake which hopefully will be totally off grid and we would like to establish a rainwater collection system to supplement the well water. The lake is spring fed but is out of ecological balance and so we still have tasks to do on this. It nevertheless supports a good variety of aquatic life. We have probably completed most of the logging activities for this year 2023 but from time to time we use the trailer to bring up logs out of the woodland. We are currently preparing our own food growing project and some help with this would be great … knowledge of permaculture would be good but is not necessary, I’m a beginner on this. We have large areas of grassland and so some help with maintenance and general gardening would be really helpful - we have two sit on and ride mowers. Help with the lake would be great. We are also open to project suggestions, for example building something with bamboo or making willow fences, dens etc. Essentially, we are looking to create a beautiful space for people to join us on this final chapter in our lives, a place where people will always feel welcome to be part of what we are creating, a place where animals feel safe and want to live …. A place to just be!

  • Languages spoken

    French: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The accommodation could be our lakeside chalet which we have just built or possibly in the main house with us depending on time of year, family visits etc. The house is beautifully decorated, very comfortable and relaxing. You will have your own en-suite with the room which looks out over the gardens. Breakfast and lunch will be a relaxed simple affair and you would just help yourselves unless I have something special in mind, we like a cooked breakfast now and then. Most evenings we are happy to make a nice meal for all of us served in the main house or on the patio or down by the lake, but there will be some evenings when you will need to be self sufficient or you might like to cook for us occasionally. We will of course provide you with ingredients. We keep pretty well stocked up. If you are staying in the chalet then we will provide you with a separate fridge, shower, toilet, washing machine in the newly renovated area of the main barn which also has a small food prep area for those occasions when you would like to cater for yourselves or to keep any personal food and drink. This area is all brand new for 2023. We also have barbecues and planches on the patio and by the lake that you are welcome to use.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Although we are in a relatively isolated location (which we think is great) there is much to do here if you are into the outdoors life. Hiking, cycling, swimming, medieval villages, chateaus and open air markets are in abundance here. In the summer there are weekly night markets, fetes and music concerts and art exhibitions. We may be able to permit occasional use of one of our cars - this will need to be discussed between us.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    No limitations on size of vehicle. We have a hard standing area which looks out over the orchard.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    By prior agreement

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 261646671463

Feedback (2)



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)