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Hello!
Last year at the end of June (2025) we found our magical home in Préaux, Mayenne. It is just lovely!
We are Anthony and Ellen, originally from The Netherlands, now in the process of becoming residents in France. We live here with our gentle giant Arthur, our Irish Wolfhound who just turned 1:-). In the past we have founded a school for gifted youngsters (age 19-26) and for years we had a private practice coaching gifted people of all ages to gain insights in themselves and the world around them. The most marvellous job in the world!
Now, here we would like to welcome workaway enthousiasts, explorers if you will, who share our passion for hands-on work on the one hand, and intriguing conversation on the other. Exchanging world views, we'd love to, but the garden needs tending first ;-). Both of us are differently restricted in doing physical work because of health challenges, but our love for this place and our drive to share it with others, to maintain it and preserve it for the future, makes workaway ideal for us.
The grounds consist of 2,5 hectares, a river running right through it, and three houses: The main house in which we live, the Mill house (the old mill) and the Chapel in which friends and familiy usually stay. The houses are all independant from each other and the Mill house is where you would stay. In my opinion the most beautiful one! It has two large double bedrooms, a bathroom and the ground floor is an open plan living room-kitchen.
The set-up feels like a cosy village, surrounded. by an abundance of nature: a forrest to walk into, the river Vaige to take a dip in, prairie, lushious green trees and a vegetable/herbgarden right next to the Mill house. We sound the bell of the Mill house when it is time to gather to share a meal together.
We have lived in Normandy and Paris before, but we have never been welcomed before like in this community. In the few months that we are here, we have been invited by all the neighbours, to a 'crèpes- et-jeux evening' at the mairie and everyone is absolutely lovely. We have felt really welcome and a part of the community since our arrival.
We live at about 30 minutes from Laval, an hour from Le Mans and Angers and an hour and a half from Rennes (airport).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Interests
Culture
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Self development
History
DIY & crafts
Music
Books
Animals
Carpentry
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are in a lovely part of France, so you get the opportunity to interact with the local community, the neighbours to brush up your French speaking abilities. Our native tongue is Dutch - happy to teach you - and at the premises the language is usually English. We speak a little Italian, German and Ellen speaks a little Spanish. We always love to explore our surroundings and we would love to take you to local markets, the grottes at Saulges, Saint Suzanne or Laval. Year-round we invite friends and family to come over and stay with us.
We are naturally curious regarding other cultures, and would love to get to know the rites, rituals, wit and wisdom of your community.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We invite people with different skills year-round. We are now looking for couples who like the 'pioneering phase' and who would like to help us:
* Fitting a small kitchen in the Mill house to get it fully self-sufficient
* Help painting walls and woodwork
* Reclaiming parts of the garden that are now overgrown
* Creating pathways in the forrest part, cutting bushes, clearing brambles
* (Re)graveling the petit chemin that leads up to the grounds, filling the potholes
* Getting the vegetable garden up and running (we lack the knowlegde but love to try anything)
We are looking for people who like to work together but can work independently after project has been explained. You don't have to know everything off course, but a healthy dose of 'just do it' based on some experience would be great. As we go along, we learn from eachother.
Because some days are better healthwise than others, it is important to us that the work can continue. Unfortunately, we are not able to deliver the same energy and time, even though we in our heads, we would like to. It is good to know this vulnerability of ours ahead of time, right?
Therefore we would also like it if someone loves to cook or do the groceries.
Anthony has a long history of renovating houses (this is his 69th house:-), and is a walking fountain of knowledge and wisdom on the subject. Exchanging ideas on how to solve things are what he likes, getting the chosen solution done is what he likes best!
I -Ellen - would love to get the grounds ready for chickens, some ducks and perhaps some goats to have a go at the bramble bushes. So, any help and wisdom in that area would be very welcome.
Sometimes, when we have to leave for medical reasons to The Netherlands, or otherwise, we would ask to take care of the animals and Arthur and Urania.
Languages
Languages spoken
Dutch: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We are in a lovely part of France, so you get the opportunity to interact with the local community, the neighbours to brush up your French speaking abilities. Our native tongue is Dutch - happy to teach you - and at the premises the language is usually English. We speak a little Italian, German and Ellen speaks a little Spanish
Accommodation
You will stay at the Mill house, a lovely house, with an open plan ground floor, and two double bedrooms and a bathroom with toiletupstairs. There are two single beds per bedroom. Bedding and linnens will be provided.
We'll be sharing lunch and dinner as much as possible, and breakfast you can make yourself in the millhouse where you'll be staying (or in your camper if you choose so). Off course your contribution means we provide the meals, the ingredients or the stipend. We would love to host people who really enjoy cooking, so we can alternate and share culinary wisdom and recipe's.
The house will have to be kept clean by the one's living in it at that time.
What else ...
We live quite remotely, so without a car, it is difficult to get anywhere. We can provide transport to and from train stations, or some other practical purposes off course, but a car would certainly help getting around.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are flexible in the hours during the day, preferably in the afternoons instead of early mornings for exemple
Space for parking camper vans
We can offer a camper space with bathroom facilities in the Mill house
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Arthur
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