France
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We are Peter&Alice, a loving couple with lots of world-traveling experience. After retiring from our lifetime jobs we started to teach workshops in spiritual, but down-to-earth subjects.
We regularly organize activities in nature, like sweatlodge, nature hikes, water ceremonies etc.
We want to live in a small, self-sustainable community where there is leadership but no hierarchy. We live in a historical Pyrenean Mas with two adjoining Gîtes where temporary guests will stay.
Right next to that is an independant house that we offer to people who want to stay with us on a workexchange basis for at least 3 months and is big enough to be shared. Ususally we have one couple and one individual.
Of course we always start on a trial basis, giving everyone the chance to decide if it's a match.
After many years of experience with Workaway we are so lucky to have made many friends or we would even say many volunteers leave as family.
Planting season is starting! Thanks to our wonderful Workaway couple John&Hayley who stayed with us for a long time we now have a successful Permaculture garden with Hugel mounds, cold frames and a wonderful big greenhouse. We are in desperate need of someone (or two) who has (or have) some knowledge of permaculture gardening. John&Hayley left a beautiful album in which they recorded all year round what happened in the garden reporting success and failure so we do have a lot of information to lean on. Also someone with carpenter skills would be very welcome!
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
There will be medicine men and women from Peru and Mexico visiting us now and then who will teach and do ceremonies. (But of course due to recent travel circumstances it has been a while)
Sweatlodge is celebrated regularly. We teach natural medicine of various traditions.
We mill our grains and bake our bread, chop our own wood, have three donkeys, two dogs and cats and chickens and dream of a permaculture vegetable garden (that is now taking shape). We organize workshops in sustainable living, natural health and selfimprovement through contact with nature . We have a few ancient buildings on our land that need to be restored. Mainly we are looking for people who take initiatives and contribute to the magic of our home with their own insights and suggestions. For instance if you have the ability and drive to start up an Eco building project we would be very pleased. Also tree surgeon skills would be highly appreciated. When we have guests we need help with cleaning the gîtes and sometimes cooking meals if it is a group for workshop events. And very important to us: our two sweet guarddogs, Lua and Gypsy who are mother and daughter, need a kind but strong hand. Long walks in the forest will be one of the required tasks. They can get along well with other dogs after introduction, but we need to protect our cats from them. On the other hand they will not bother the chickens and they even protect them. In the house they are very quiet and obedient.
Also it is important that the Workaway lodging stays clean and cared for at all times. And, we don't mind if you are a smoker, but we ask you do not smoke inside, not even from the open window. Most of the time we have nice weather, but if it is really raining you could smoke in one of the sheds.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
You will stay in a three bedroom house with bathroom with hot shower, big fully equipped kitchen/dining area with fireplace and woodburner, living with internet and tv and cellar with washing machine and dryer. There are three individual bedrooms, two of them suitable for couples.
Our two sweet but sometimes naughty dogs(they live in the wild and are definitely no city dogs) live in the same house so you have to be a dogperson who can discipline them. They will love you for it and are really fond of children. If you like to camp in the forest that is also a possibility. Our water comes from our own source and has great quality. We shower and swim in mineral water.
We travel often for a few days so it would be nice to have your own car. Bycicles are available but we are up on the mountain and far away from supermarkets.
We will provide you with all the organic healthy food you need and mostly you will cook your own meals, but Alice loves to cook for a big family so you will often be invited to share our meal in our big warm kitchen.
We live on a big, wild estate with plenty of great places to explore. A good physical condition is necessary. Very close to Cathar country, Skiing resorts, mountainclimbing and rafting areas. All kind of outdoor sports.
If you would be interested in learning Dutch or Spanish, you could have long and interesting conversations with us! Also an occasional sweatlodge ceremony will be for you to choose to participate. All we ask is that you respect ALL of Mother Earth's resources and children, and be openminded.
We receive and respect persons of all different creeds and walks of live but we reserve the right to make an assesment after a few days of your stay, just as we ask our visitors to do. Experience has shown us that things don't always work out as expected and then it is a good thing to part gracefully.
We like to speak our minds and be confident that the people who visit us do the same. An open communication based on mutual respect is expected. We expect that our boundaries will be respected as well as we respect our visitor's boundaries. The only way to establish this is through good communication and listening to each other.
Things are changing on a daily basis we find. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you feel atracted to our area and/or our profile. We always answer emails.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Good internet connection
Lots of space for campervans and connections to water and elecricity available
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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)
