Profile information
Host rating
65 %
Last replied
28 Apr 2023
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Details
Description
Our place is a former sheep-fold (bergerie) that we transformed 45 years ago into an autonomous (self-sustainable) eco-house.
It's quite isolated; around, there are rocks, valleys, and about 16 ha of land and Wood (more than 33 acres). On the acces-side (quite steep), there are about 180 olive trees, to be kept in shape and cared. To help in keeping the ground clean, we have young sheep, to start with 3 lambs, that we nursed with feeding-bottles. They are now 12, over night in a fenced parc, but need to grass outside during a 1 1/2 hour walk in the morning. Our Border-Collie Maya is part of the gang. Firebreaks against woodfires need to be cleaned, plants planted and the ground protected against erosion.
Wood (cut trees) need to be carried to the electic sew in the village, biggest part with car.
Apart from this, we are artists, architects, doing sculptures, mosaics, collage and painting. Buildings and most furniture are fabricated by ourselves. Actually, we are renovating a small house. Preparing for paint and painting is one more possible activity.
In the village, we have an atelier, providing full spectre of civilisation (shower and internet for example). Please contact us for more information, impossible to communicate all this here in small space.
We speak english, french and german, some spanish and italian. We are 3 brothers: Christian (teacher of art em. 76), Mathias (doctor, 73) and me, Achim (architect-engineer, 71), who keeps the whole thing going. We have our families and friends appearing from time to time, multiple contacts are possible. If interested, I send you pictures and whatever you want.
We are non-smokers, but accept anyone else smoking - moderately. Personnally, I like the whiff of good tobacco.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can learn about living close to nature, in an autonomous house (we provide our own electricity, water supply, heating etc.). You can learn about building techniques, materials, energy-saving, natural beauty - and experience yourself the well founded joy of building.
You can learn about wine-growing (we are close friends to the local cooperative) who produce excellent wine, on biological terms.
You can learn about ecological olive-culture (we cultivate 180 olive trees, that need care, harvest is by end of november, we produce our own olive-oil).
You can learn language, french, english and german (in a friendly community).
You can experiment with your own ideas, concerning for instance: soil, water, plants, building, animals and so on.
Help
I need help in assisting keeping sheeps and lambs, feeding them. Help required also In doing some land-scaping, gardening, grass cutting and caring for olive-trees, (fixing for ex.). There are continuing projects, like extending a water-reservoir, or repairing dry stone walls, to protect garden terraces. See more above, 'about us'.
From November until April trees are to be chopped, bushes and dry wood cut to chaff. One person or two.
We cook mostly organically a hot meal in the evening, and there is some help welcome too. Best is to answer in detail, if you have further questions.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
French: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Italian: Beginner
Accommodation
Single sleeping-rooms, bathroom outside, under a porch.
There is also a Zen-hut in a valley above, some 150 m away, if you wish to be alone.
What else ...
time off is no problem, there are no fixed hours. It would be nice to plan together from day to day, what should and what could be done together. We have no producticity constraints. It is a point of cooperation and understanding. The mediterranean see is 40 km away, inviting for a swim; old cities like Narbonne, Perpignan or Carcassonne are lively and full of culture, cascades and lake of river Orbieu always in reach for cooling. Local markets, handcraft, conference, fêtes locales, music and exhibition are part of our everyday life.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
20 hours a week
