Animal-lover welcome to our Alpaca farm in the heart of the Monts d'Arrée in Finistere, France

  • Favourited 735 times
  • Last activity: 21 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am looking for a volunteer to help out on my 10 ha farm/smallholding with the maintenance of the farm, the house, the garden and from time to time with animal husbandry tasks.
    Apart from a menagerie of dogs and cats I, Nina, am the only one in the household. Originally from the Netherlands, Dutch is my native language, but I am fluent in English and speak reasonably good French. If you want to learn French, I would be happy to speak French with you, although at times I may have some difficulty expressing myselve fully in French, and will probably end up speaking English.
    I have always been very animal orientated and my five dogs and four cats live in the house as part of the family. Furthermore I have many alpacas, as well as two ponies, a donkey and chickens. It is therefore imperative that a volunteer who comes here is an animal lover, as well as a non-smoker.
    Members of the public can visit the farm to learn about alpacas and the different stages involved in the transformation of their fleece into spun yarn and felt.
    I am fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For my own protection and that of my clients I cannot take volunteers without a valid pass sanitair (COVID vaccination passport)

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • 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

    Having lived here for many years, for those who are interested, I will be happy to share our cultural and culinary experiences of the Netherlands, France and Brittany. For those who want to learn new skills, I shall be happy to share my knowledge of animal care (I am a (retired) veterinary surgeon) and what I have learned myself about farming. I also practice the craft of wool transformation and would be happy to teach a volunteer to spin, felt, dye wool, machine knit, etc.

  • Help

    Help

    As this is a working animal farm, as well as a tourist attraction, there are chores to do around the farm all year through (fencing, mucking out stables, maintenance of paddocks and equipment, etc). At the moment the main priority is the garden, as well as maintenance and repairs around the farm.
    The garden is always in need of attention. Hedges and some trees may need to be cut back or felled. All of this is physical work, although not hard. I have petrol power tools and use tractor power for the really heavy work!
    At all times I can use volunteers with farming/gardening experience as well as building skills. I have some little projects that I would like to see realized. which may involve bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, and plastering.
    Sometimes you can also be involved with the alpacas, and help with the training and husbandry tasks (clipping claws, etc) or with sorting out the fleeces, which is great and easy work for rainy days!

    So if you think that you may be able to help, please get in touch.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    I like to exchange with volunteers on languages. I am interested in picking up the basics of other languages, especially Irish and Spanish

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The accommodation is limited to two guest rooms. The smaller room is very light and has a beautiful far-reaching view over the valley. The second room is larger and has a television. Both rooms have WiFi access.
    Bathroom and toilet are shared, but only a few steps away from both rooms.
    I will of course provide all the meals. I bake most of the bread and make my own yoghurt and try too eat healthily with produce from the garden, fields or hedgerows whenever possible. But I am not vegetarian and have only little experience with vegetarian cooking. However, if a volunteer wants to share his/her culinary experiences and help out with the cooking, this would be greatly appreciated.
    I am sorry but I cannot cater for restricted or complicated diets.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The house ls located in a beautiful area in the heart of the National Parc of the Monts d'Arrée in Finistere, where there is lots to see and do. The house is set on a hill, with far reaching views over the Aulne valley and the Montagnes Noires in the distance.
    The surrounding countryside has a wild beauty with both woodland and moreland within walking distance. The footpaths start at the gate of the property.
    The towns of Brest and Quimper are both only a 30 minute drive away, as is the sea with it's sandy beaches. Our town has a railway station, with several daily connections to the major towns in Finistere and to the rest of France via the high speed rail link.
    Due to this central location it is an ideal place for tourists who want explore this part of Brittany, be it by train, car, bicycle, on horseback or on foot. For volunteers without their own transport I can provide bikes or take them to the nearest rail or bus station.
    The region is rich in history, with traces of occupation dating back to the bronze age. The strong celtic identity and the revival of the traditional Breton music and dance is evident in the many village festivals that take place nearly every week during the summer months.

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    internet connection adequate for streaming music, videos, films etc

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    There is plenty of space for one or more campervans.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Only dogs who get on with other dogs, cats and lifestock. We would have to ask someone to leave if his-her dog chased our cats or alpacas.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Average about 4 to 5 hours per day; hours and times may vary from day to day, depending on the weather, visitor bookings, etc

Host ref number: 519545539278

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Accuracy of profile: (5.0)

Cultural exchange: (4.9)

Communication: (5.0)