Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
26 Apr 2025
Reply rate
80.6 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
59
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Details
Description
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, cat, chickens and dog. 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 shelter
Clean donkey stable
Clean kitchen
Water plants and vegetable garden
Weeding the garden
Cooking
Ironing
Examples of other projects:
Painting interior walls
Clearing out the barn
Build extension to the donkey stable
Dig a swimming pond
General help with gardening
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.
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.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Movies & TV
LGBTQ
Culture
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Performing arts
Music
Languages
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Animals
Water sports
Nature
Beach
Yoga / Wellness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
Help
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
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner
Chinese (Cantonese): BeginnerThis 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.
Accommodation
Most of the time, you will have a private bedroom with ensuite shower room and toilet. Depending on the number of volunteers, you may be required to share a room sometimes. Meals will be shared together in the family kitchen & dining room. Internet is available but not 24 hours. Please note that toilets here are dry composting toilets, and you will be expected to clean your own toilets.
What else ...
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.
If you are in recovery for any addiction, if you are living with any disability or special needs, or receiving treatment for psycho/ psychiatric/ neurological conditions, please declare this in your application. All are welcome, on condition of honesty and transparency.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (27)
There is a donkey, Magic, 3 goats, 11 hens a cat and of course milk the dog.
All the animals care is so important and it was an absolute pleasure to take care of them.
Joo is welcoming, knowledgeable and approachable.
My room was clean, with an ensuite bathroom.
Joo provided fresh food for us to cook and eat… read more
Let us tell you that in the first couple of hours we arrived in Joo's house, all these questions and feelings… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
There is a donkey, Magic, 3 goats, 11 hens a cat and of course milk the dog.
All the animals care is so important and it was an absolute pleasure to take care of them.
Joo is welcoming, knowledgeable and approachable.
My room was clean, with an ensuite bathroom.
Joo provided fresh food for us to cook and eat… read more
Let us tell you that in the first couple of hours we arrived in Joo's house, all these questions and feelings… read more
I learned about caring for a donkey.
I really loved feeding the chickens. He has a lot of Chickens!
I worked on my communication with Joo.
I really loved doing yoga and Qigong on his deck that was amazing it is a beautiful location.
Joo has a particular way of doing thing so this is not the… read more
Laura is also a hard worker. Nothing was ever a problem. She took her time, was mindful and careful in doing the work.
I wish her all the very best on finishing her studies, and we look forward to… read more
He is an excellent cook. He plays the guitar very well, too.
He is mindful and honest, which I appreciate hugely. The animals and I have thoroughly enjoyed having Marcell here. He… read more
The main rule is, that every living being should be happy and healthy. This also tells which is the most important work. Cleaning, feeding...
I like that!
I love this place in the middle of nowhere. I will come back to this place some… read more
Joo’s place is very silent, beautiful and peacefull. I felt disconnect from the rest of the word and honestly that’s what I was searching for. I really appreciated all the time spent doing tasks and chilling on his land.
Joo is very relax, grateful with the volunteers, and he… read more
Joo's house is big and very welcoming, totally immersed in the beautiful countryside of Normandy.
Joo is a very kind, generous, fair and nice person, and he has so many beautiful animals!
2 dogs (Milk & Byron), chickens, goats, Magic the… read more
Joo is a very inspiring person and we had many deep but also funny conversations.
We learned a lot and enjoyed Joo's trust during various… read more
Joo as a host is extremely generous,… read more
We will definitely miss Joo, the dogs, chickens, donkey, cat and goats and hope… read more
we had an excellent stay and enjoyed every minute of it. I worked in the gardens, with the animals or cooked some meals for everyone.
Joo is an extremely kind and open person and I enjoyed our talks and walks on the beach very much!
thanks for everything
We laughed a lot during his three month stay. His presence is hugely missed, but his contribution here will always be… read more
