Help transform an old flour mill and and learn about local building traditions in Onesse-Laharie, France

  • Favourited 77 times
  • Last activity: 23 Apr 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    About Us
    We are Basile and Antonin, long-time friends, we embarked in 2021 on the purchase of an old flour mill. Basile is still working in Paris in a hospital while Antonin, a carpenter by trade, is on active vacation on the construction site to transform it into a house/workshop. We are both big fans of DIY: cycling, mechanics, electronics, welding, sewing, cooking and of course building. We are committed to using healthy and quality materials but above all to discovering and developing ecological, traditional and pleasant techniques to implement.
    Our place
    The old mill, which is more often called the mill, is located in the heart of a small village in the Landes, 23 km from the ocean. The environment is mainly made up of pine and oak forests, streams and dunes. The ocean being close, we spend a lot of time there on sunny days. Particularly at Contis plage, a small seaside resort where we go to surf, skate and enjoy the few very pleasant restaurants and bars in summer.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    DIY and building projects
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We will be very happy to welcome volunteers here in Onesse, to enjoy with them the particularly pleasant environment during the summer: beach and forest. We will be happy to make you taste the typical dishes of the region, as well as participate in village festivals and local sports.
    On the site, we take the time to do things according to local building traditions: oak frame, pine parquet, lime and earth plaster, cob. We will be delighted to discuss with you the different techniques, to teach you which one we use. The local building is an ecological building by nature, the use of similar materials, proven and sustainable techniques, intelligent in their use but also in their completion and promoting mutual aid.
    Welcome to all at the Onesse flour mill!

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    The construction site began in September 2021 and has already made good progress. Part of the frames have been redone, a 60 m2 workshop has been set up there, a beautiful covered terrace of 50m2 and a small dwelling of 30m2. All heated by a wood stove in winter, with a shower, 2 toilets and a large kitchen.
    We are now going to tackle the heart of the site, that is to say the future main dwelling house:
    The mill of 100m2. In the program :
    - Installation of 50 m2 of pine parquet on joists
    - Manufacture of a quarter-turn staircase in raw wood on floor plan
    - Hemp lime screed upstairs for acoustic insulation
    - Installation of 50 m2 of glued pine parquet on the first floor
    - Restoration and installation of the old carpentry of the village station
    - Manufacture of wooden partition upstairs as well as joists, straw insulation
    in the walls as well as in height lost
    - Earth-linen coating on the inside
    - Mending exterior lime plaster and whitewash to unify
    all
    - Electricity and plumbing, semi hidden, semi apparent
    - manufacture of a raw wood kitchen on the ground floor of the mill
    - Installation of a wood-burning stove with an artisanal water heating system on the
    thermosyphon principle
    - Manufacture of wooden and metal furniture (tables, benches, bookcases, beds, etc.)
    The old bakery 50m2
    - 50m2 self-leveling concrete screed
    - Earth plaster in the basement and raw wood paneling in the upper part of the walls
    - Sheathing under the raw wood joists
    - A little electricity
    - Exterior horizontal clapboard cladding
    The garden :
    - Laying of brick on the ground, on sand, to make a passageway around the building
    - Manufacture of a fence around the garden in trunk and rough plank of acacia
    - tree and shrub planting

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent
    Spanish: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have a mezzanine in the workshop with a double bed available. The workshop is insulated and heated with a wood stove, there is a large sink.
    The other accommodation is located above the workshop, a 30m2 studio with 2 double beds, sink and wood stove.
    The kitchen is on the covered terrace with a large dining table, shower and conventional toilet. There are also dry toilets in the garden as well as a solar shower.
    When it's cold we'll eat in the studio.
    We love to cook so we will take care of breakfast and lunch with great pleasure. The afternoon and evening being free, everyone will have their own meal or we organize ourselves to share. Sunday evening, pizza truck!
    Possibility of installing several tents in the garden, and we will soon have 3 bedrooms available on the mill floor.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We have a cat, Pipo!
    A dozen bikes are available, 2 motorcycles and a truck.
    4 surfboards and some wetsuits, 3 skates, darts, pétanque, palla

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 423728981727

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