Share our love for nature and culture while taking care of our house and garden in Trégunc, France

Details

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  Description

  Hello dear Workawayers !
  
  I am happy to propose hosting at my place, I love having people at home!
  I live in Brittany in a small village located in a preserved area by the coast. I am looking for help in our garden and in the field adjacent to the house. My project is to make this place a refuge for biodiversity: planting trees, welcoming legged and winged animals, maintaining the field through eco-grazing, and gradually implement subsistence and sustainability principles. Although I already planted fruit trees and bushes, cleared and pruned parts of the field, this is a starting project and I hope it will be exciting for volunteers as all creative ideas, experiences, and discussions are more than welcome and part of the project. For instance, there is an underground spring crossing the field and it would be great to reveal it. Also, I would love to have a hut in some of the big trees. Current tasks include clearing part of the field from brambles, pruning existing trees that have gone wild for years, planting additional fruit trees and bushes, creating and looking after the vegetable garden and maintaining the garden. There are four sheeps in the field
  Now a few words about the host(s). My name is Dominique (she/her) and I work as a biodiversity conservation senior scientist on marine fishes and habitats. My work life is dedicated to sustainable management of fished resources and preservation of biodiversity in a way that enables people livelihood and through people empowerment. I worked and lived in New Caledonia for ten years, and I am still working on coral reef socio-ecosystems, and of course on the coastal ecosystems next to my place. I am very keen in sharing my knowledge and experience. I also run locally a research project involving citizen science and volunteers. I work full time and 2 days per week in Lorient.
  Aside from biodiversity, my other interests lie in yoga (I teach once a week in Concarneau), personal growth, and I sing and play music.
  My youngest, Tifenn, (24) lives at home, and my sons (29 and 30) visit regularly, mostly during vacations.
  The location is very pleasant, in South Brittany, close to Concarneau, in a very peaceful setting that is never crowded, even during summer season. The area is part of a Natura 2000 protected area, because of the presence of coastal ponds that are a refuge for migrating bird species. The shore is a 3 min walk from the house, the beach is peaceful and the coastal trail goes along the coast all around Brittany.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Culture

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Self development

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Sustainability

  

  Plant care

  

  History

  

  Books

  

  Languages

  

  Writing

  

  Music

  

  Water sports

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / Wellness
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  French, English, Spanish, Korean (with Tifenn) (and some Breton) spoken
  Keen in helping discover the area, Brittany, and France in general
  Love to talk about ecology and environmental science
  Love to chat about history, societies, education, philosophy, music, geography & traveling….
  Happy to teach some yoga practices and talk about self-growth, psychology and spirituality
  Happy to take you to a breton ball and dance or to make music and sing together
  We also love to play boardgames

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Current tasks include clearing part of the field from brambles, pruning existing trees that have gone wild for years, planting additional trees and bushes, tending to the vegetable garden patches, and maintaining the garden (hedge, lawn, trees) around the house.
  Some DIY and building may also be needed as part of the field and garden project.
  This summer, we will need some help with renovating and painting part of the wooden windows and doors, and with finishing a natural pond we started in April.
  Cooking and routine house maintenance are shared tasks.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  Korean: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  French, English, Spanish, Korean (and some Breton) spoken Happy to practice any and to teach French
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  Accommodation

  The house is large and everyone can have privacy (1 bedroom for guests at the first floor, 2 bathrooms). The ground floor is a large pleasant lounge with a kitchen and fireplace.
  Camping or staying in a campervan (not a motorhome!) are possible too.
  Meals are taken home or outside in summer, together or not. We usually cook organic food and eat little meat. We shop at the village market or bulk store, and we try to eat as local as possible.
  
  Smoking is not allowed in the house.

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  What else ...

  The location is close to Concarneau, South Brittany, in a peaceful countryside that is never crowded, even during summer season. The beach is a 3 min walk from the house. We have snorkeling gear. And a small sailing boat (4m) that needs maintenance but could be used if repaired (I am happy to have help for that). Lots of walking and biking opportunities from the house.
  The location may not be accessed by public transportation as it is 3 km from the main village. We have 2 cars and 2 bikes. Buses and carpooling are available in the main village, and the train station is a 20 min drive. Of course, we will collect you where you arrive.
  Many scenic areas and towns within 20 km, and many cultural events in summer. There are breton balls (fest-noz) all year round in the area.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We can find some space for you to set your computer. We have a decent internet connection (although the fiber has not reached our small village yet).

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  Space for parking camper vans

  It is possible to park a campervan in front of the house (not a large motorhome).

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  Can possibly accept pets

  No problem if camping. The dogs are not allowed on the beach here (protected area) and must be on leash on the trail and well-behaved/trained. In the house, animals shall stay downstairs or outside, and no mess will be allowed.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Minuit

  Minuit (french for midnight) is a medium-sized Hebridean sheep. He’s a foodie and he loves to play and jump around. Like Cobalt, he is skittish and harder to approach than the small sheep, but in time, he comes for some pets when he feels like it.

  

  Cobalt

  Cobalt is a mixed Jacob sheep, with 4 horns. Like Minuit, he’s more skittish than the small sheep, and will run really fast when jump-scared. Cobalt still enjoys lots of pets around his face, ears and horns (especially if you have some treats to barter with). Cobalt seems to be the unofficial leader of our sheep, and he shows it when they play-fight.

  

  Ramses

  Ramses is a full Ouessant ram like his brother Linux, and has the thickest horns of the group. He’s not that feisty but will sometimes ram into your knees, especially if you turn around and forget he’s here. He’s still nice though and loves to be pet. Ramses is pretty enamoured with Minuit, and usually follows him around.

  

  Linux

  Linux is a full Ouessant ram like his brother Ramses, and he’s the smallest sheep we have. He’s the clingiest and will follow you around asking for pets. Linux also follows the others around and usually like to keep the peace between his brother and Cobalt.

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