Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
13 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
38
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
My husband is English and I am of french descent born on the island of Mauritius.
My husband was a geophysicist and myself varied career - teaching English as a Foreigh Language, coffee shop owner in South Africa, hand-made chocolates own business, financial adviser for an insurance company.
We have both travelled a lot and lived in different countries. We have lived in the UK for the past 24 years and have moved to France 7 years ago.
We are concentrating solely on breeding and selling alpacas and transforming their wonderful fibres.
We receive visitors and also organise walk with the alpacas. We would like to create an environment where guests can have the alpaca experience and also learn to get back into nature and self sufficiency.
If you are hard working, interested in alpacas and their fibre - knitting etc you are welcome. We are need helpers for upkeep and renewal of fences and cutting woods. Anyone interested in painting is also welcome.
2024 is upon us and we are moving on with work with the alpacas and the biodiversity in our fields and forests.
2023 was a fantastic year for our fruit trees and vegetable gardens. We are hoping for another good year 2024.
We are again expecting quite a few crias (baby alpacas) this year and will be doing further work in managing new fields and shelters.
Farming lifestyles can be very hard work. Fields and barns hygiene maintenance also very challending when wet.
If you also like cooking this would be a bonus.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Way of life in France and also be in a family that has been well travelled.
In the summer we are open to the public by appointments. Different styles of cooking and we are an easy going family and we were a host family for foreign students whilst living in the UK. Learn with us how to start a small holding and being as self sufficient as possible. Possibilities to experience breeding alpacas and the transformation of the fiber.
Working five x 5 hour days and having 2 days off. I am also flexible as to working hours as long as we have discussed before.
Help
We are active on several fronts. These include renovation of the farmhouse, fencing to create extra parks in the forest for the animals, establishing new orchards and vegetable gardens. We also have woodlands which have been abandoned with lots of cutting of woods. Fruit Trees pruning work.
The animals also need daily care. Currently we have alpacas, a pair moutons d'ouessant. In summer the alpagas are expecting crias, and in April they are all shorn so it is time for fiber transformation.
We need helpers who are motivated and can help on their own when required and not worried to get their hands dirty.
They must be enthusiastic in understanding what we are trying to achieve and see life and the hard work associated with agriculture and keeping animals.
We are flexible as long as you are trustworthy and wanting to involve yourself with our knowledge of farming and learn along the way and also help us in daily tasks and projects. Other projects at this time is planting and upkeep of the gardens/orchards. Animal welfare, upkeep of barns and fencing. Also preparing the land for next season planting.
Please ask me if you require further information as there are other very varied tasks.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation two double bedroom with own separate bathroom. Double bed and two singles. Can accommodate a couple or 2 females.
Meals are flexible. Having lunches and dinners do not count as working hours.
We do appreciate help with the meals and clearing up afterwards. There is a train station that you can take to travel around.
What else ...
We are in a rural, agricultural situation, about 50kms east of Bordeaux. The town of Montpon-Menesterol, with most amenities, is 5 minutes by car. No bus but trains and taxis. There are several lakes and walking trails nearby. Reasonably close to famous wine regions. Spectacular scenery and medieval towns along the Dordogne river. Canoeing, cycling, local markets.
Looking for hard working individuals who do not mind getting their hands dirty. We live and work on a farm and work can be messy. You need to bring your gloves and working boots though we have a variety of boots here for those travelling light.
Birthing season starts in March. We have an alpaca concours in April/easter weekend. Shearing is end of April. Summer is also very busy with tourists also etc.
Please let me know if you require further information.
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 (20)
The work was physically challenging sometime, but it gives you a lot too.
I had two free days within two weeks (one free every five of work).
Joelle and Phil came pick me up at the station and bring me there when I… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(4.1)
The work was physically challenging sometime, but it gives you a lot too.
I had two free days within two weeks (one free every five of work).
Joelle and Phil came pick me up at the station and bring me there when I… read more
It was a challenge for me with the vegan meals but they did all the cooking as well as help with the alpacas. They were very helpful with building and fixing fences and clearing the alpaca barn roof which had blown over during a… read more
You were also very helpful with the groups of visitors we had.
I agreed to have your… read more
After a few days of her arrival my husband had to go to the UK at short notice and Amber was a great help. She helped with the husbandry of the animals - alpacas, sheep, goats and chicken. We prepared for the Alpaca Show at Ussel and upon her suggestion we made items out of alpaca felt. Amber… read more
Joelle was always ready to teach me and talk about anything of interest, from alpacas to odd plants.
At last, the amount of work was perfect and there… read more
I only wanted to stay for a week but end up with 4 weeks. I learned a lot about the farm life, the animals and the gardening!
Joelle and Phil a lovely people. They always make sure that you feel comftible. The work is quite easy and you also have a lot of freetime, when you can stay with the animals or explore… read more
Andrei also helped with some heavy work in the driveway. We also walked the alpacas in the woods.
Unfortunately… read more
She helped us with daily animal husbandry. She fed the baby goats and enjoyed being with the alpacas as well. She was very willing to clean the alpaca paddocks. Jennifer helped us with the annual alpaca shearing and on our open day. She has artistic skills and helped to create games and activities for our farm… read more
She cared well for the animals and all their chores. We were also busy with collecting vegetables especially pumpkins so Rosalie did a lot of cooking for us and experimenting with recipes and sauces.
We enjoyed long conversations… read more
During my 3 weeks there I helped out with the Alpacas (clearing away the poo from their fields, filling up water buckets, feeding them and tidying up afterwards). It was so nice to work around these friendly animals and I got to learn a lot about them. I also fed the goats… read more
I enjoyed our knitting and art sessions and help in creating knitting patterns. She was very keen about the alpacas and their fibers. I… read more
During my stay, I helped out with the alpacas and other critters (i.e.… read more
We would have him with us again anytime.
Hope you enjoy your new job and your new venture of permaculture.
All the best. Joelle and Philip
I will miss her and wish her all the best for university.
We enjoyed working with Tina. She helped on various fronts and was great at finding names of plants that we had in the garden. Also very creative with dried flowers.
I hope you are enjoying your continued workaway adventure.
Many thanks for your feedback and apologies for the delay in replying.
You have been a great workaway. We all loved and now miss your company, fantastic and diverse cooking using a lot of ingredients growing on the farm. You were very versatile and tried your hands at so many varied jobs and was always happy. Your Cello entertainment… read more
Marie est pleine de vie, toujours souriante et toujours prete a aider. Mon seule regret c'est de vous avoir laisser partir sans les oeufs de la cour. Prochaine fois aussi marche… read more
Magdalena was polite, hard working and helped with treatments when alpacas needed it. She was very observating… read more
showed himself to be very adaptable with plenty of initiative. He helped out with meal preparation and on one occasion cooked us an outstanding Indonesian… read more
