Experience quiet living and eco-projects in Saint Benoît, France

Details

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  Description

  I am fortunate enough to live on 100 hectares of beautiful hilly and forested land on the edge of the French Pyrenees. It is a rare placed relatively untouched by human activity. Wildflower meadows, forest and a great wealth of biodiversity, from wild boar and red deer to stick insects and praying mantis. It is, quite simply, a nature lovers paradise.
  
  An almost total absence of man-made sounds means this is a place of deep quietness, where birdsong provides the backdrop to our lives and activities. It is a place of total reverence for nature and the natural world.
  
  The essence of the project is simplicity, inspired by the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. The commitment is to the Heart and an awareness of self-remembrance.
  
  Whilst the house and land are seemingly cocooned from the rest of the world, the local town of Limoux is just a 20 minute drive away. The nearest village of Chalabre is a very pretty example of local architecture and culture. Carcassonne, with its famed medieval City is a 40 minute drive away and provides excellent transport links via plane, train and bus.
  
  Other notable attractions in the local area include beautiful Lac de Montbel, a naturalised freshwater reservoir of over 500 hectares and the iconic Montségur, last refuge of The Cathars, a people and movement of the 12th century whose incredibly touching history continues to resonate to this very day.
  
  The whole region is characterised by forest, meadows, animal agriculture and a distinct appreciation of the preciousness of the natural world.
  
  I live with a host of animals - dogs, cats and chickens who are kept not for their meat or eggs but simply to be friends with my two boys. We follow a plant-based diet, grow most of our own fruit and vegetables following organic, permaculture methods.
  
  Everything is considered to be family to us, including all the creatures and birds and insects that we share the land with.
  
  It is, quite simply, a very wholesome place to live and be!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Self development

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Blogging

  

  Writing

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Camping
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Workawayers are invited to become members of the family during their stay with us - to become deeply familiar with our rhythms, our way of living. For animal lovers, this is extended to becoming friends with our dogs and cats and chickens who are usually only too happy to welcome new members.
  
  What helpers can discover and learn during their stay are a range of skills connected to land management, woodland work and permaculture gardening. Whilst we don't claim to be experts in these areas, we do have a solid knowledge of such things and are competent with the tools and machines necessary to maintaining the land.
  
  This includes brush cutters, chainsaws, angle grinders, the usual mixture of spanners and socket sets and also larger machinery like tractors, motorised wheelbarrows and cement mixers.
  
  The most valuable things we can share are our appreciation of the preciousness of the natural world, our commitment to living according to the wishes of the Heart and a dedication to the quiet awareness that forms the background to every aspect of our lives.

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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

  The main reason for offering Workawayers the opportunity to come and stay is very simple - it feels selfish to keep such a place to ourselves. It can promote such a feeling of calm and stability in those who stay for day, a week, a moth or longer that we simply wish to share it with others.
  
  None of the activities that Workawayers are invited to help out with contribute to the economic wellbeing of the project.
  As was already clearly stated, this is about sharing, not exploiting.
  
  Practically speaking, we are always looking for help with the vegetable gardens, with the land and forest, with sourcing firewood from dead trees, ensuring that the streams flow well, making sure that the meadows aren't smothered by brambles and sound trees and bushes and repairing old stone buildings and forest tracks and trails. Almost all activities are outdoors in all weathers and are mostly physical in nature.
  
  Underneath all tasks undertaken, helpers are encouraged to bring awareness to the background sense of quietness that characterises daily life here.
  
  It is perhaps a place for genuine seekers of quietness, of authenticity in a world made mad by screens and an obsession with personal identity.
  
  We are not interested in helping guests find a better version of themselves...we ARE interested in guests who truly wish to remember the Heart in all things.
  
  Silence...Simplicity...Stillness are our keywords and the essence of how life asks us to live in this most natural of landscapes.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  We offer clean and tidy rooms in the family home. Helpers are housed in single occupancy rooms. All the normal services such as hot showers, cooking facilities etc are provided.
  
  All meals are at the very least vegetarian and most likely vegan. We are also mostly gluten free. All food is 100% organic. Fresh produce is sourced from our own garden as much as possible. We eat a very simple diet, following what are called sattvic principles - this basically means minimal additives [even organic ones] such as spices etc. Onions and. garlic are not used at all, as well as peppers and chilli. The focus is on very simple but deliciously tasty dishes. We welcome helpers who are open to eating and preparing meals according to these conditions.
  
  We are what we eat and sattvic food encourages a quietening of the mind through its non-stimulating ingredients.
  
  For helpers who wish a quieter space away from the family home, we do also offer rooms in an older yet still clean and tidy holiday house in the bottom of the valley. A 5 minute walk from the family home, this building is less exposed and is surrounded by trees and the old stone farmhouse itself, which is currently uninhabitable.
  
  This building is also connected to all the normal services of hot water, electricity, cooking facilities etc.

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  What else ...

  We like to be very clear that we don't encourage guests to partake in drinking alcohol or the use of any recreational or even medicinal drugs / plants. Helpers who are looking for a party vibe are advised to look elsewhere. Anyone not able to adhere to these requests will be asked to leave.
  
  We are equally clear that we very much welcome helpers looking for a place of deep quietness, where the emphasis is on quality not quantity of conversation and where several hours can pass without the need for speaking.
  
  Silence is for us the very best form of speech.

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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

  Internet is available via a TP Link booster which usually supplies a more than adequate connection. However, data is limited so helpers are requested to provide their own solutions if they wish to stream movies / docs etc or spend hours engaged in video conferences etc.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  spaces are generally perfectly flat with some limited access to electricity. No waste water / toilet emptying facilities are available.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Mila (6 years)

  A friendly lurcher who is always happy to become best friends with anyone coming to visit our home.

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