Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
24
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Badges (2)
Details
Description
Come and stay in a pretty old 'fermette' in rural France and help with various outside projects!
I've been living in a particularly beautiful and friendly part of rural France for three years now and it's been a wonderful adventure! I moved here from the UK to create a simpler, more grounded, authentic lifestyle. And I have! I've improved my French and started to understand rural French culture, whilst renovating an old farm. The two stone houses here are now very comfortable and cosy, but some areas outside still need some tlc. Which is what I need help with. I’d really prefer two people to come and stay with their own car.
I'm located in the Perigord Natural Park with miles of forest tracks from the door.
* I've had pathways created in the woods but there is a lot of dead wood which needs to be cleared and stacked or used to create structures. The pathways could also be enhanced- creative ideas welcome!
* I need help painting the interior stables in the barn
* The 3 field shelters need wood preserver applying
* The shutters on the house you would stay in need painting again
* Daily help with the animals- horse, 2 mini ponies, 2 donkeys, 10 hens, 3 cats and 3 dogs! All lovely!
* Tidying the gardens and pruning trees, helping with the veg/flower garden. I’ve just set up some no dig beds...the list goes on!
I hope there's a job here that you can help with.
I'm happy, creative, love yoga, photography, horse riding and vegetarian cooking. I work part time online delivering training to schools. I'm interested in people, cultures and collaborating. If you'd like to stay and contribute your skills or learn new skills along the way, do get in touch!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
There are lots of opportunities for creative collaboration here- I'm interested in developing ideas with others and love exchanging knowledge and experiences. It's a peaceful, happy place. I find it's enough to just 'be' here and soak up the natural surroundings. You'll leave feeling refreshed and definitely more grounded and relaxed. There are also daily opportunities to learn more about animal care. There are horses and ponies here, two donkeys and three friendly dogs. Also 6 rescue hens and a cockerel. I’ve just set up some new creative spaces inside and outside, which you could use during your stay.
Help
I would particularly like help with projects outside- like creating log piles or structures from the dead wood in the forest, adding creative enhancements to the forest pathways, painting projects (a big focus in ‘24), or tidying in the garden and pruning trees etc. You might have ideas too when here about things we could develop.
In Spring and Summer the gardens are a main focus.
In Winter, just general help is most welcome!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
I speak English and have weekly French lessons. It would be great to host a French speaker!
Accommodation
You would have your own house here, which has lovely log fires, a cute kitchen which is fully kitted out with washing machine etc, newly fitted bathroom and two double bedrooms with super comfy beds. There is a TV, radio and internet.
I am flexible re food arrangements. I can provide an agreed amount of money each week to cover costs or perhaps do the shopping for you. I would anticipate us eating together some lunchtimes and in the evenings a few times a week. It would be nice to share the cooking perhaps. We can agree what works best. I’m vegetarian. It's completely non-smoking here inside and out.
Visitors with their own transport are particularly welcomed as it is rural here. There is a station 3km away.
What else ...
There are so many interesting places to explore in the area...Rochechouart- the chateau is now a contemporary gallery, historic Chalus Castle where Richard the Lionheart died, beautiful Brantome, Jumilhac le Grand, Bussiere-Galant with it's swim lake, several Voie Vert cycle tracks- I have bikes you can borrow, Thiviers- the market there is great. I am happy to drop you off and collect you from the local station to help you to explore. Limoges is just half an hour away. But if you have your own transport you’ll get to really explore!
Or you may prefer to stay here and walk in the woods, practice yoga, draw, sing...or star gaze at night. I have a telescope and with no light pollution the stars are amazing.
I hope that anyone staying here will respect me, my home and enjoy working on fun, varied projects whilst staying in a beautiful place.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There's lots of space for parking your campervan. You could still use the house facilities- washer, shower etc.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (12)
Elizabeth has created a little paradise for herself and her cute animals and we immediately fell in love with her place!
Our little house was really cute, spacious and allowed us to have a lot of privacy - just perfect for both… read more
Her place is rural, very beautiful and peaceful, the night sky with no light pollution… read more
Kathe worked really hard whilst here and just got on with whatever needed doing. She worked on a variety of tasks for… read more
Elizabeth herself is such a kind and… read more
Feedback
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Elizabeth has created a little paradise for herself and her cute animals and we immediately fell in love with her place!
Our little house was really cute, spacious and allowed us to have a lot of privacy - just perfect for both… read more
Her place is rural, very beautiful and peaceful, the night sky with no light pollution… read more
Kathe worked really hard whilst here and just got on with whatever needed doing. She worked on a variety of tasks for… read more
Elizabeth herself is such a kind and… read more
Elizabeth has many admirable qualities that make it easy to create a lovely connection with her. To name a few,..she is respectful, intelligent, generous, kind, open minded, diplomatic, etc, it’s a long… read more
Lori has been working mainly in the gardens. She quickly got the vegetable garden under control- weeding, re-planting, sowing, harvesting, tidying etc. It now looks great! She’s also been busy… read more
Thanks to her and the lovely animals, my stay was a retreat for mind, body and soul. The hours spent outside, working with my hands and… read more
The vegetable garden has been weeded and planted up. A no dig veg bed created. The gardens have been tidied and numerous pots filled with flowers. A seating area has been enhanced. A new hen house assembled. Sophia… read more
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Linda and hearing about her life… read more
Elizabeth is honestly the hostess of the mostest! Straight away we felt welcomed into her home space and cared for beyond expected. She is extremely thoughtful and willing to help in any way to make you… read more
Elizabeth is a truly inspiring, caring and thoughtful lady. I will always be grateful for her generosity and kindness. She is very happy to share her local and historical knowledge and to give lifts to… read more
Lisa is a great communicator, interested in everything going on and full of creative ideas. She nurtured and developed my… read more
The house we stayed in was amazing, we enjoyed having our own private space to relax after a days work. We liked the independence of preparing and cooking our breakfasts and dinners but also appreciated the delicious lunches Elizabeth made for us… read more
This is the ideal place to lose and find yourself. Peace and calm are the queens of this space.
The place: The place is in some corner of France, surrounded by colorful and silent forests, clean and crystal clear lakes, all connected with wild trails that you can walk or… read more
Franziska stayed here for a month and settled quickly into the routine, meticulously doing daily tasks and working really hard on the project we agreed together, to re-model the electric fencing system.
Franziska made the most… read more
Elizabeth is a very kind, open-minded and respectful host who I immediately trusted when she picked me up at the bus station.
She also has some very beloved animals.
I lived in a beautiful old stone house all to myself.
I felt comfortable in the… read more
Milena is thoughtful, kind, motivated and keen to get involved. She researched some of the creative projects we agreed she’d work on and came up with lots of great ideas. She then worked really hard to finish tasks. Enhancing the platform here with signs, branches,… read more
The place here overtopped all expectations I had. The house I am staying in is separated from Elizabeth’s house. It is a beautiful, big but very cozy house and it’s pretty luxurious for a Workaway stay. She decorated it with so much detail and love, which is… read more
