A peaceful countryside scene with a farmhouse surrounded by lush green trees, bushes, and grass. Overcast sky, garden structures, and natural landscaping add charm.
A cozy bedroom features two single beds, green accent wall, wooden furniture, a ceiling fan, skylight, framed animal artwork, and folded linens on the beds.
A smiling toddler sits near a stove, leaning on a small wooden chair. A large black and brown dog lies comfortably on the wooden floor nearby. Cozy scene.
A smiling couple wearing life jackets takes a cheerful selfie outdoors by a calm lake, with trees, houses, and a beautiful blue sky in the background.
A smiling couple wearing sunglasses sits on a sunlit wooden deck, enjoying a meal of salad and pizza with beautiful green trees and hills in the background.
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new host  

Discover the fascinating world of bees and organic beekeeping near Saint-Hilaire-le-Château, France

Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Michel, I've been an organic beekeeper for over 20 years, in the heart of the Creuse countryside (South Creuse region), and I've been based here for 25 years with Catherine, my partner, who has supported me all this time.

    We are 68 and 63 years old respectively and are very active.
    We also run holiday cottages.
    We live on a 5-hectare wooded property with an organic vegetable garden, greenhouses, and many fruit trees.
    We also have chickens, ducks (Indian Runners), six sheep, and a lovely Beauceron cow.
    Our sustainable beekeeping methods contribute to restoring biodiversity.
    We are currently working on several projects:We have several projects in mind:
    - To share our beekeeping knowledge with volunteers eager to discover this wonderful craft.
    - To tend the vegetable gardens, planting, maintaining, and pruning the fruit trees.
    - We also plan to complete a dovecote, already well underway, to provide accommodation for workawayers.
    - We also plan to build a new greenhouse and complete another.
    We have been "beekeeping" hosts for over 10 years.
    For over 20 years, we have also hosted workcamps in coordination with the local employment center in Seine-Saint-Denis (93), in the Paris region.

    We will host a maximum of two workawayers at a time to best share our passion.

    Michel, je suis apiculteur bio depuis plus de 20 ans, au cœur de la campagne creusarde (sud de la Creuse), et je suis installé ici depuis 25 ans avec Catherine, ma compagne, qui m'a soutenu tout ce temps.

    Nous avons respectivement 68 et 63 ans et sommes très actifs.
    Nous gérons également des gîtes.
    Nous vivons sur une propriété boisée de 5 hectares avec un potager biologique, des serres et de nombreux arbres fruitiers.
    Nous avons également des poules, des canards (Indian Runners), six moutons et une adorable vache Beauceronne.
    Nos méthodes d'apiculture durables contribuent à restaurer la biodiversité.
    Nous avons plusieurs projets en tête :
    - Partager nos connaissances en apiculture avec des bénévoles désireux de découvrir ce merveilleux métier.
    - Entretenir les potagers, planter, entretenir et tailler les arbres fruitiers.
    - Nous prévoyons également d'achever la construction d'un pigeonnier, déjà bien avancée, afin d'héberger les travailleurs bénévoles.
    - Nous prévoyons également de construire une nouvelle serre et d'en achever une autre.
    Nous sommes hôtes "apiculteurs" depuis plus de 10 ans.
    Depuis plus de 20 ans, nous accueillons également des chantiers en coordination avec l'agence pour l'emploi de Seine-Saint-Denis (93), en région parisienne.

    Nous accueillerons au maximum deux workawayers à la fois afin de partager au mieux notre passion.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    Interests

    Charity work
    Sustainability
    Pets
    Animals
    Music
    DIY & crafts
    Cooking & food
    Gardening
    Carpentry
    Hiking
    Cycling
  • 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

    Sharing our knowledge of beekeeping, tours, installing honeycomb frames, harvesting, extracting honey, dividing colonies.
    Baking organic bread and organic gingerbread in a wood-fired oven – Catherine is the expert.
    Discovering world cuisines and building social ties.

    Transmission de nos connaissances en apiculture, visites, pose de hausses, récoltes, extractions, divisions.
    Faire du pain Bio, pain d'épices bio au four à bois, Catherine est la spécialiste.
    Découvrir les cuisines du monde et créer du lien social.

  • Help

    Help

    We have a wealth of experience to share, and we'll participate together in gardening, fruit tree pruning.
    We may or may not work together, depending on each person's skills.
    We're good at DIY projects and can help you become more so.
    All cooking and household chores will be shared.
    We eat mostly organic food and are reducing our meat consumption.

    Nous avons pleins d'expérience à partager, nous participerons ensemble sur le maraichage, la taille des arbres fruitiers.
    Nous serons amenés à travailler ensemble ou pas selon les compétences de chacun.
    Nous sommes de bons bricoleurs et pourrons vous aider à le devenir.
    Toutes les taches culinaires et ménagères seront partagées.
    Nous mangeons majoritairement en Bio et de moins en moins de viande.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Intermediate

    This 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

    Accommodation

    Several accommodations may be offered depending on availability.
    - A room in our house
    - Once the dovecote is finished, separate accommodation on the property.
    - In one of our cottages if our house is fully occupied by family members (children).
    - Exceptionally, camping may be available if both the cottages and house are fully booked (unlikely).
    Breakfast and dinner can be taken together, and dinner separately. Meals are primarily organic.

    Plusieurs logements pourront être proposés en fonction de nos disponibilités.
    - une chambre dans notre habitation
    - Ensuite dès que le pigeonnier sera terminé, un logement indépendant sur la propriété.
    - dans un de nos gîtes si notre habitation est occupée totalement par des membres de notre familles (enfants).
    - Exceptionnellement en camping en cas d'occupation totale gîtes et habitation (peu probable).
    Le petit déjeuner et le dîner pourront être pris ensemble et le dîner séparément. Repas majoritairement bio.
    Several accommodations may be offered depending on availability.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Hiking and mountain biking are possible starting from our property.

    Randonnées pédestres et VTT possibles au départ de notre propriétés.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Camping car acceptés

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Profile photo of Pepsine

    Pepsine

    Adorable 7-year-old Beauceron female dog.

Host ref number: 468627175711

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Photos

A cozy bedroom features two single beds, green accent wall, wooden furniture, a ceiling fan, skylight, framed animal artwork, and folded linens on the beds.
A smiling toddler sits near a stove, leaning on a small wooden chair. A large black and brown dog lies comfortably on the wooden floor nearby. Cozy scene.
A smiling couple wearing life jackets takes a cheerful selfie outdoors by a calm lake, with trees, houses, and a beautiful blue sky in the background.
A smiling couple wearing sunglasses sits on a sunlit wooden deck, enjoying a meal of salad and pizza with beautiful green trees and hills in the background.
A peaceful countryside scene with a farmhouse surrounded by lush green trees, bushes, and grass. Overcast sky, garden structures, and natural landscaping add charm.

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