France
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My name is Joo (he/him). I am an acupuncturist, and I teach yoga, qigong and meditation. This property sits on nearly 5 peaceful acres and is home to my bees, goats, donkey, chickens and dogs. We have an extensive vegetable garden, a wildlife field, a hay field, cutting garden and orchard. Our aim is to live sustainably. We are looking for an animal-lover to help us with daily chores in the garden, around the house, and animal care. Here is an idea of the type of daily tasks and other projects we will be doing together.
Daily tasks:
Feed animals
Clean chicken house
Clean goat house
Clean donkey stable
Clean kitchen
Water plants
Weeding the garden
Cooking
Ironing
For December 2021 to March 2022:
Cutting and clearing the hedges
Repair driveway
Repair sewage pipe
Repaint kitchen
Tidy and repaint interior of the barn
Build extension to the garage
You will be helped directly by me or work together with other volunteers in all tasks. Please be honest about your experience and willingness to perform these tasks. I am very happy to help you, teach you, show you, but what does not help (based on personal experience) is if you pretend you know how to do something but actually end up spending more time or doing it wrong and causing damage. I understand that this is a learning and exchange process, and I am willing to teach everything I know, and will always admit if I do not know how to do something, and ask for help. Good manners, mindfulness and honesty are essential.
Food and meals are a joy in this household. As much as we can, we support local organic farms, or grow our own. Although we do eat some meat and fish, we are mostly vegetarian. When we do eat meat, we try to only eat meat that has been humanely raised and slaughtered. We do not support the use of pesticides.
Our dogs are fed a raw diet, so if you are vegetarian or vegan, please be comfortable handling raw meat for the dogs.
We go to the beach 2 to 3 times a week, mostly to walk to dogs, but during the summer, I always also go swimming in the sea at least 2 or 3 times a week (depending on tide times). Sun lovers have plenty of room to sunbathe here.
You are welcome to join in all the classes I teach, and I offer acupuncture and massage too.
The nearest shop is 6km away and there are no local buses, so you will need a European or International driving licence and ideally your own car if you wish to travel on your free days. We do have bicycles available for your use.
If you have read this far and are interested in helping me in my daily life, please read on.
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
You will be welcome to attend weekly yoga classes held here.
Obviously we would be sharing our experience of setting up a smallholding and of living sustainably.
We are well-connected to the local community, with French students coming for classes every week. We have good relationships with our neighbours all of whom are French, so it will be a great opportunity for those who want an immersion in French language and lifestyle.
We are also well-connected with the holistic healing community in the area, so you would have the opportunity to connect with that circle if you so wish.
The values of inclusiveness and tolerance are very important to us. As a gay foreigner living in deep French countryside, I have been very warmly welcomed into the local community and this is one of the most wonderful aspects of living here.
I prefer to host people who share a similar philosophy in life, and who care about nature, people and animals. The house is non-smoking. You are welcome to smoke outdoors when there are no visitors with children, and when there are no retreats taking place.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner
Chinese (Cantonese): Beginner
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 have a private bedroom with ensuite shower room and toilet. Meals will be shared together in the family kitchen & dining room. Internet is available throughout the house.
We are situated between Coutances and Saint-Lô. We have local villages nearby with all essential amenities (pharmacy, bakery, butcher, convenience store, post office). The area is a very popular tourist destination for WW2 landing beaches, Bayeux & Caen (Norman history, Bayeux tapestry, William The Conqueror museum), Mont St-Michel, St Malo, Avranches, Granville (birthplace of Christian Dior)... The dogs walk on the beach at Bréhal or Montmartin-sur-Mer, voted one of Europe's top 40 beaches. The local area is also popular for its local produce of seafood, andouille, cider, calvados and cheese.
Direct trains from Paris go to Lison or Villedieu-Les-Poeles. Trains to Saint-Lô or Coutances require changing in Caen. Nearest airports are Caen, Dinard or Rennes. We are 75 minutes from the ferry terminals in Cherbourg or Caen.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
We have internet via 4G boxes with good service throughout the house. The Workaway's bedroom has a study/living space with ensuite shower room and toilet, and a raised mezzanine with bed/s for two people.
This host can provide space for campervans.
Dog
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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