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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
18 Mar 2024
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85.7 %
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Details
Description
We're a family of 3 (plus young dog and cat!) who have left a busy life in London and purchased a beautiful farmhouse in the French countryside.
A little bit about our place:
The property is spread over almost 19,000m2 and consists of a farmhouse (built in the 1700s?) and an *enormous* barn. The house needs a bit of cosmetic work and the gite (inside the enormous barn) also needs a facelift. The grange itself will be multi-purpose (from hosting clients to capoeira events to being a home for Alex's mushrooms and tools). It's a real 'coup de coeur' and we're looking to set up a sustainable space complete with a natural swimming pool.
A little bit about us:
Alex (43) is half French/ English and has a background in engineering and policy work. He worked for years supporting the low-carbon energy transition and is a passionate advocate for the environment. He is a keen capoeirista (Brazilian martial art) and a good chef!
Regina (34) is half British/Brazilian and grew up in Bermuda. She is a sex and relationship therapist and enjoys conversations about all things life and love. An animal lover and mostly vegan, Reg is also keen to tap into her more creative side (mural painting for example!) Reg works 4 days a week from our home office.
Zoe (2) is a very happy and smiley little kid who is learning new words everyday. She likes to dance and paint and is *almost* fully potty trained.
Talba (1) is our Australian Shepard/ Spaniel teenage dog who loves to roll in the grass and her favourite treat are tofu hot dogs.
Marley (3) is our adopted cat. He is a purr machine and quite easy going and definitely not afraid of heights!
NB : we will be getting more kittens/cat(s) and chickens in the not too distant future as well as some chicken in 2024! Pets (cats and dogs) are welcome.
Activities you might get involved in:
- Help babysit Zoe
- Speak French with Reg
- Outside work: land prep, tree surgery, gardening, water works (building natural swimming pool, rainwater collection, etc), sanitation systems phyto-epuration, pipework, etc
- Inside work: Making walls thicker, carpentry, painting, tilling, etc.
- Material recuperation & prep
Our Project:
We're combining both of our passions (nature and relationships) and creating an ecolieu where Reg can host couples for intensive therapy retreats and also a space for relationship workshops, 'babymoons' and marriage preparation retreats. We're creating a space where eco-culture and people meet and where our clients can reconnect with themselves and with nature. Guests will (eventually) enjoy food from our garden, therapy which will bring them more in tune with their bodies and needs and ultimately (our hope) is that they leave with a renewed sense of peace and connectedness.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Between us we speak 5 languages ( French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian) and we have lived and travelled in many different places (Canada, Spain, Italy, Haiti, Costa Rica to name a few!) .
We welcome engaging and thoughtful conversations about all topics but specifically we can offer insights around relationships, conflict, communication, grief, identity and sexual/relational health, sustainability and the energy transition.
We are also keen to learn about living in a more environmentally conscious way as well as new skills /techniques that we can employ to make our home and family a more harmonious space!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Main House:
- Sanding / Painting
- Removing carpet / installing new flooring
- Painting ( decorative)
Grange ( gite)
- Sanding / Painting
- Moving/assembling furniture
Outside:
- Setting up and running the vegetable patch
- Tree pruning
- Log making/gathering
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Italian: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
Alex - keen to learn Portuguese , happy to help with English or French Reg - keen to improve French, happy to help with English, Spanish or Portuguese Zoe - a baby sponge and keen to give her exposure to different languages and cultures
Accommodation
You'd be staying in the main house and where you'll stay depends on availability/how long you stay:
- ground floor with double bedroom, individual kitchen/bathroom and lounge space
OR
- top floor with double or single bedroom, shared bathroom and using our living/kitchen space
We will provide bed linen and towels but you will need to provide your own toiletries . You can of course use our washing machine as needed.
Food:
We share 2 meals a day ( lunch and dinner) and will provide you with breakfast foods (cereals, tea/coffee/juice etc..). Reg might make her delicious vegan banana bread / berry muffins too :)
*Please note that we're a vegetarian house but eat mostly vegan* If you want to eat meat that's fine but it will be something for you to purchase, prepare etc.
What else ...
On your time off you can :
- Explore the local area (Archigny, Pleumartin, La Roche Posay and Angles sur L'Anglin) are a short cycle/drive away ( from 5 - 20 mins drive/ 15 - 1 hour cycle)
- Weekend trip to Paris or Bordeaux ( each a 1.5 hr train ride away)
- Spa treatment at La Roche Posay thermal spa
- Visit the Futuroscope theme park (Poitiers - 40 min drive)
- Go for a swim in local rivers and lakes
Transport:
We have 2 bicycles available for use and there is plenty of parking space. We can insure you on our car for longer stays too provided you have a full European drivers licence.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Basically anywhere in the field, a direct water connections a bit complicated whilst it is freezing and we'd need to work out power connection if this is needed.
Can possibly accept pets
Cats and Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome . Not sure how Marley (cat) will be with other felines but we can work around it.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (11)
The experience was everything I had hoped for, from spending introspective time in nature to getting my… read more
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:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)
The experience was everything I had hoped for, from spending introspective time in nature to getting my… read more
The beginning of my 2 weeks I needed some time to open up and realize the fact that I am with some random strangers in France. That I got sick was also pretty annoying, but I got through with it, especially because Reg and Alex cared a lot about my… read more
From the first encounter on, they were very open-hearted and welcoming. Marley (cat) and Talba (dog) always enjoyed some belly rubs and all of them ( Zoe as well) are really easy-going and cute.
We stayed in an apartment in their house, where we had a lot of space. On top of that, the… read more
During my stay, I spent most of my time working with Alex. He is a very kind person and extremely good in explaining and teaching things in a very clear and understanding way. I did a lot of different things: Sanding the garden furniture, mowing the lawn,… read more
Susannah was such a warm, kind presence from the moment she arrived ( lugging her *microscopic* suitcase). That warmth and kindness continued to radiate throughout her stay and we're so, SO grateful for the time she spent with us here. Not just insofar as her help with the gite renovation (sanding, painting etc) but also with our… read more
I truly and thoroughly enjoyed all of my time with them. I found them to be awesome people and an inspiring team. Zoé is a fantastic… read more
There were a wide array of carpentry projects to get through, and because Alex has a background in construction it was great having someone with… read more
Alex and Reg taught me so much, and were so kind all throughout my stay. I had the lovely opportunity of staying with them for a month, and I learned so much. We worked outside on the land, as well as inside renovating a new… read more
Sadie is a wonderful, kind, respectful, curious, friendly, gentle soul who would be most welcome to stay with us at any point in the future. She is an asset to any space she occupies and I wish the absolute best for her on her journey.
Sadie… read more
