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Last replied
16 Jul 2023
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Description
Ben (33) and I (Cécile, 34) live here together with our son Robin (2).
We live in a yurt, on a piece of land we bought in 2019. We have 3ha (30 000 m²) to play with, some of it is oak forest, some prairie, lots of bushes :D As for our activities here :
We grow and sell vegetables in weekly "vegetable baskets", delivered directly to our customers' home (close neighbourhood). We also raise chicken and sell eggs, different varieties of chicken and egg colors.
Cecile is trying to divide her hives to have more bees and sell honey, one day hopefully :)
Ben planted some 80 fruit trees last winter.
All the agricultural work is done with no chemical whatsoever and with no machinery.
We have started to build the foundations of our farm building which will serve as professional kitchen, honey farm, storage... as long as our home. It will be self-built, with natural and local ressources (wood, straw) and will be eco conceived and passive in terms of energy consumption.
That is the project we mainly need help with. You will probably also do some gardening here and there.
We want to be as resilient and self sufficient as possible, as long as being as well integrated as we can with our neighbours/close community.
We are located in Saint Romain de Lerps, in Ardèche.
!!!!! We are looking to host people who are actually interested in what we do, people who wants to know more about homesteading/growing food/saving energy/being part of nature. !!!!!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our english is a little rusty but we did some travelling in the past, so it should come back at some point, and we can teach you french. We can show you around the area, loan you a (electric or not) bike, or car if you want to visit further. We live at the begining of a widely used biking/hiking trail.
You will learn how to grow vegetables, raise chicken, build stuff, break stuff, repair stuff (and repeat).
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Most of your help will be needed on the building site. It's a woodframed building, 80m², insulated with straw bales. So lot of wood work. We will be helped by a carpenter friend.
There will probably be some gardening too, especially when we have transplanting/sowing to do, and maybe some cooking when we have too much veggies (tomato sauce, ratatouille...)
***I put "baby sitting", but that is only if you like it and if you get along well with our son :)***
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a small cabin (20m²) with kitchen/shower/wood stove and a convertible couch that can accomodate a couple. There is also a trailer with a 2 person bed.
What else ...
We have been workawayers a lot in the past, so we know well how it works. Also, we hope these experiences will be beneficial for us to be good hosts :)
We live 20 minutes away (by car) from Valence, in Ardèche. Valence is a big city and the train station (tgv) can take you anywhere really fast, for a week end in Paris or wherever. We are more than happy to take you to the station / get you from the station.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a flat spot on which you can park. Access to water is possible, and electricity too. Your van needs to be less than 5m long or it won't make the last turn!!
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
