Help with eco-renovation and enjoy yoga, surfing and good vibes on our lush land by sea in Landes, France

  • Favourited 538 times
  • Last activity: 29 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

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    *Not currently seeking workawayers at the moment. Best of luck in your travels! // Nous ne cherchons pas de workawayers pour le moment. Meilleurs souhaits dans vos voyages! *
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    **FRENCH below // Français ci-dessous**

    Hello to all,

    We are a French-Canadian couple living in the Landes, region of southwestern France.

    To tell you a little bit about us...

    Mathieu has travelled for several years mainly for surfing (Bali, Australia, California, Hawaii, Japan, Canada, etc). He is a former Health & Safety Engineer & is passionate about autonomy, REFI and decentralization.

    Emilie is a yoga teacher (Vinyasa, Arogya, Yin, Restorative) and former engineer. She teaches yoga classes in town & also volunteers at the local market and community coffee place. Otherwise, she is fan of meditation, reading, gardening and good food!

    Our project is to renovate a 60s house in an ecological and sustainable way to seek autonomy. Our house is located 10-15 minutes from the ocean and lakes and on a preserved natural land of several hectares. We want to welcome people who are open, passionate and especially motivated to help us with our various projects. The main tasks will be to help us on the renovation of the house, gardening, permaculture, grounds maintenance, give assistance to animal (chickens, etc) & other! Just to clarify, this project is based on a private homestead with the intent to build our family home and we aren't a business. If you have any renovation/gardening skills, it is definitely a plus for us!

    We also want to take advantage of this time to exchange/share our culture & passions with the people who visit us. Either surfing, doing yoga/meditation or chillin' together around the fire, with a cold beer & good discussions!

    We prefer to book 3-4 weeks or longer together as it is more enjoyable on both sides.

    If you have renovation/construction/wood work/gardening/permaculture skills, it is definetely a plus!! Solarpunk are also very welcome. Let us know :)

    We will provide bicycles to move you.

    We both speak fluent English.

    Looking forward to meet you soon!
    Mathieu & Emilie

    ****

    Bonjour à toutes & à tous,

    Nous sommes un couple franço-canadien vivant dans les Landes, région du sud ouest de la France.

    Pour vous parler un peu de nous...

    Mathieu a voyagé pendant plusieurs années principalement pour le surf (Bali, Australie, Californie, HawaII, Japon, etc.). Il est anciennement ingénieur en santé-sécurité & est passionné d'autonomie et de décentralisation.

    Emilie est professeur de yoga (Vinyasa, Arogya, Yin, Restoratif) et anciennement ingénieure. Elle enseigne des cours de yoga au village & est aussi bénévole au marché local et auprès du café associatif du coin. Sinon, c'est une adepte de méditation, lecture, jardinage, musique et bonne bouffe!

    Notre projet est de rénover de manière écologique et durable une maison des années 60, dans le but de chercher un maximum d'autonomie. Notre maison est située à 10-15 minutes de l'océan et des lacs et sur un terrain naturel préservé de plusieurs hectares. Nous souhaitons accueillir des gens ouverts, passionnés et surtout motivés à nous aider dans nos différents projets. Les tâches principales consisteront à nous aider sur la rénovation de la maison, jardinage, permaculture, entretien du terrain, aide aux animaux (poules, etc) & autre! Juste pour clarifier, ce projet est sur une propriété privée avec l'intention de construire notre maison familiale et nous ne sommes pas une entreprise. Aussi, si vous avez des habiletés en rénovation/jardinage, c'est définitivement un plus pour nous!

    Nous souhaitons aussi profiter de ce moment pour faire un échange de cultures & passions avec les gens qui nous visitent. En partageant des séances de surf, yoga, méditation ou en discutant autour du feu & d'une bière fraiche !

    Nous préférons vous recevoir pour 3-4 semaines ou plus, car c'est plus agréable & ça nous donne plus de temps pour se connaitre.

    De plus, si vous avez des compétences en rénovation/construction/menuiserie/jardinage/permaculture, c'est définitivement un plus!! Aussi, les Solarpunk sont également les bienvenus. Faites-nous savoir :)

    Nous mettrons à disposition des vélos pour vous déplacer.

    Nous parlons tous les deux de manière courante l'anglais.

    Au plaisir de vous rencontrer très bientôt!
    Mathieu & Emilie

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Learn from the canadian (québec !!) & french culture (typical food, wine, funny expressions, etc.)
    Practice either or all of the above together: surf, yoga & meditation, gardening, etc...

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    We expect you to be responsible, motivated, autonomous (as much as possible) & dynamic to support us in our daily tasks which can variate from:

    - House renovation (we are renovating the either house, so lots to do!)
    - Gardening
    - Landscape (lots of trees & land to maintain)
    - Building wood shelters, outdoors structures, etc.
    - Tending to the animals (chickens, etc.)
    - Cooking the evening meals

    If you have a license, it is a plus!

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Spanish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    Learning/practicing Spanish would be lovely!

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    In a caravan on the land, as the land is vast you will be private & close to nature. Shower and toilet are independent. For cooking, we are renovating the caravane at the moment so the stove unit should soon work.

    We live close to Mimizan, in the Landes. CONTIS beach is 15 min away. Lespecier beach is 10min away.

    We ourselves live in a camping car at the moment, so all cooking done in the camping car, caravane or BBQ.

    We will provide bicycles for you.

    We also often go to Mézos, St Julien en Born & Mimizan for various errands or events for you to join.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The beaches around are a must either you surf or you tan (Contis, Lespecier, Mimizan)
    Lakes just beside to go kayaking, paddle boarding, etc.
    Beautiful walks just in the back of the house or all around in the Landes (Parc naturel des Landes, etc.)
    For social events, Contis beach as well as Mimizan have lots of resto & bars to go out (especially in the summer)
    La Smalah café associatif is cool to meet new people & do fun activities (pottery, theater, game or music night, etc.)
    Other hidden treasure to discover while you are here...

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    As we ourselves work from our computer often, we have a decent internet connection. We would love to host digital nomads, who have a similar lifestyle to ours.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Looking for van-lifer like ourselves as we live currently in a campervan while we are renovating the house.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Dog friendly. The pet would need to accommodate well with a goat & potentially chickens.

  • 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: 285596192469

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