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Description
We’re Marie (27) and Kilian (34), a couple without children living in a house in Burgundy, France. We're working towards greater food autonomy by producing a significant portion of what we eat throughout the year! To do this, we have two vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and a shared greenhouse.
We also preserve part of our harvests so we can enjoy them all year long.
For 2026, we have lots of new projects planned: we’re hoping to expand the gardens, install dry toilets, improve our food storage areas, and maybe even start planning—or building—a pond!
Marie: I work part-time as a town hall secretary and I'm involved in local community associations, especially around feminist issues. I also spend a lot of time at home gardening, cooking, small renovation work—or just relaxing.
I love playing board games, reading, and spending time with friends. I'm really into food preservation—like making tomato sauces, mushroom preserves, or fruits in syrup—and I enjoy learning new cooking and conservation techniques.
Kilian: I’m an organic fruit tree nurseryman (it is an entirely different project and location; Workawayers will not be asked to participate in any of the commercial farm work). In my free time, I enjoy cycling, cooking, and playing games. I also love foraging—especially for mushrooms and fruits to make jam.
My nursery plots are a few kilometers from the house, so I spend a lot of time outdoors. I’m usually available in the evenings and on weekends, unless I’m working from home (office work).
I have experience in gardening and small-scale farming, and I’d be happy to answer your questions, share ideas, and maybe even teach you a few things in the garden! I get around by bike for everything, every day.
Our aim is to welcome people into our home who can lend a hand with our private homestead, while also enjoying their free time here. We only host a few weeks a year—not continuously—so that we can give you our full attention and energy!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Interests
Charity work
Animals
History
Politics / Social justice
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Books
Cooking & food
Nature
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Vegetable garden:
Our goal is to grow large quantities of vegetables to feed ourselves year-round, and also to preserve a good part of the harvest (through canning, freezing, drying, etc.). Maintaining the gardens is a year-round task, with some periods more intense than others. We try to care for and improve the soil without tilling, everything is 100% organic, and we aim to manage our water use as sustainably as possible. We’ll be happy to share our experience, knowledge, and ever-evolving skills with you in the garden!
Preserving & food processing:
This activity is especially important between July and October, but we also do a bit throughout the rest of the year. We spend a lot of time preparing and preserving what we harvest: making jars, filling the freezer, drying fruits and herbs, preparing liqueurs and jams, and more.
Home & outdoor projects:
There are always things to fix or improve around the house and in the big barn next to it—whether it's related to the garden and harvest storage, the chicken coop, or firewood. We’re also working on creating better conditions for biodiversity. One of our bigger projects is to build a pond, but we also plan to make simpler things like bird boxes. We’re lucky to have bird and bat colonies living around the barn and nearby areas!
We hope to do as much as possible with you, so we try to be available for shared work sessions, usually in the form of half-days : we will share our gardening and preserving skills with you, specifically focusing on the plants that grow in our region. Some tasks may also be done independently. Marie will likely be more available to work with you during the day.
Since we both work outside the home, your days off will usually be when we’re both away for work. During the evening we’d love to do some activities together, if you'w want to, to show you our daily life and the Burgundy region.
Help
Workawayers will only be helping us with tasks related to our garden and home.
There are many different ways you might lend a hand: gardening, small repair tasks, taking care of the chickens, preserving vegetables and fruit, or creating things like composting toilets or small storage areas in the barn.
We’re not looking for people with specific skills — whether you have experience or not, you’re very welcome here. We’ll adapt the tasks to your abilities, and also take into account any disabilities or limitations you may have.
We may occasionally ask for help with meal prep, though we’ll handle most of the cooking ourselves.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Intermediate
Lithuanian: Beginner
Romanian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Our house is spacious (140 m²) and located in a quiet hamlet (at the end of a lane), very close to the Nivernais canal and the forest. We have two gardens, rescued laying hens, fruit trees, and a shared greenhouse (about 8 km from the house). The surrounding area is a mix of fields and woodland — very green, peaceful, and great for walking or cycling. A bike path runs straight to Clamecy (5 km), where you’ll find shops and the train station (with trains to Paris).
Our bedroom is on the ground floor, where the shared living room and kitchen are. You’ll have your own room upstairs, with a separate entrance, your own bathroom, and toilet.
The house was renovated in the 1980s by the previous owners and isn’t very well insulated. Your room can be heated, but we only heat the kitchen and living room with the fireplace, so in winter it can be around 12°C in the morning, and the fire usually brings it up to about 15–16°C. There’s a space heater in the bathrooms. We’ll do our best to keep the fire going and make you feel at home, but we recommend bringing some warm indoor clothes.
We cook and eat vegan, and we’ll be preparing meals for you and for us — but we’ll be happy to share recipes or cook together if you’d like to join in! Most of what we cook comes from our garden.
You’re not required to eat every meal with us — we all have different rhythms, of course. If that’s the case, we’ll happily set a portion aside for you.
We can lend you bikes, and we’re happy to pick you up from the train station if needed. There’s also a parking space near the house if you’re coming by car.
If you’d like to sleep under the stars or in a tent, that’s absolutely possible too.
You’re welcome to bring your dog — as long as they’re okay with chickens!
What else ...
If you’d like to explore the area: Vézelay is just 15 km away, the Guédelon Castle is about an hour’s drive, and there are several other castles to visit nearby. We’re right on the edge of the Morvan Regional Natural Park.
Very close to the house, you’ll find large forests (with plenty of mushrooms!), wild rivers, a small riverside beach in summer, and the Nivernais Canal with its cycling path. The surrounding landscape — a mix of woodlands and hedgerows — is perfect for walking or cycling.
Many festivals and cultural events take place throughout the summer months. Clamecy, the nearest town (5 km), is a lovely place to visit and has a cinema, a library, and occasionally exhibitions, concerts, and more. The two other towns "nearby" are Auxerre, which can be reached by train or bus (about 45 minutes by car), and Nevers (1h15 by car), accessible only by bus.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Loofy, Charlie, Ginger & Yokai
Our 4 rescued chickens will love you when you bring them food ! They are super social and friendly :)
