Woodland and house maintenance near Vic en Bigger, France

Details

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  Description

  My wife and I moved to the farm in summer 2016, my wife speaks great French and can help Workaways get to a great basic level. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats who range and manage the farm and its outhouses. Our 5 male alpacas and 8 chickens add a wonderful vibe to the farm. Anybody joining us on the farm will have a private room in a separate Gite area with all amenities, and you can borrow my bike anytime to nip in to town for a beer :-)
  
  Our dream is to be as self sufficient as possible with the Alpacas being our "Mindfulness" element, we have a small gym and there is a 50m open air swimming pool 3 km down the road, so mind and body are catered for. The best thing is the pure darkness at night, the Milky-way runs right through the middle of the farm, so evenings / nights are spent in the garden looking skywards.
  
  Our day always starts with a nice walk with the dogs, either round the local lake with a Pyrenean back drop or through the local village to the 15c Church with panoramic views of the Pyrenees and then back through the Roman ruins along the Route "Camino de Santiago" which runs past the front door, to have an hour in the gym. You can stay in bed of course :-). The work requirements are basically farm, animal and garden maintenance, cutting back, weeding, dead heading, fixing posts, clearing areas. I have a 1965 Massey Fergusson tractor and many many industrial garden tools so the work is a little easier. We are 1 hour from deep Pyrenees, it’s incredible to visit if you are out Doorsey. The Atlantique is 1h30 away and again well worth the trip as is Spain, just over the mountains, 2h30 away.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We live in VERY rural SW France, no Brits, it's all French and extremely friendly. You can learn a lot about living in real France, there is a Farmers market every Saturday and the local cinema in the village plays some sub titled movies so its way to learn the language. All our neighbours and friends are French, so again, you would be immersed in the local village culture. My wife attends a Yoga class twice weekly, delivered in French by an English tutor so again huge opportunity to learn. The local tourist areas are Pau, Auch, Toulouse, Northern Spain, The Pyrenees and many more attractions such as Marciac, famous for jazz festival plus the Tour de France passes through the region. Ski schools are no more than 1 hour a way so weekends can be very relaxing or event and activity filled.

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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

  Hi, the farm is a continuous circle of work, it doesn't take a day off but its a wonderful place to do a few jobs. So take a look at the jobs below, some are ongoing and always available to do and some are one off jobs, like the painting. Please take a look at the jobs below and decided what best suites your holiday requirements. Obviously I will update you as to what has been done throughout the year so what is left to do.
  1. Tend and manage the well maintained garden out front, Rose management, border weeding (5 hours) - weekly
  2. Mow the lawn and weed the front area (3 hours) - every 2 weeks
  3. Tend and manage the small orchard - I have all the tools, generator, Compressor and garden equipment and tractors (8 hours)
  4. Rub down and repaint / varnish / treat all the windows and shuters (10 days+)
  5. Treat the internal wood, floors, beams, doors etc (4 - 5 days)
  6. Spray paint the animal shelters (4 days)
  7. Cut back and clear an area and build a small fenced area to protect a drainage system - (2 Days)
  8. Using the strimmer and mower, clear back and cut the grass in the Fossway (3 Days) 4 times a year
  9. Daily cleaning around the Gite, the house or the studio area (2 hours a day)
  10. General Farm tree / hedge management with hedge trimmer - fence post replacement
  (on going)
  11. Clear out woodpiles and hay store in outside barns. Empty to the tip in my trailer (3 days)
  12. Treat the garden wood edging and the sun patio, all wooden (5 days)
  
  I have a 1965 Massey Ferguson tractor, Sit on mower, push mower, large trailer for dump runs and many other "Industrial tools" you need to run a farm.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  We are learning French and would like continue whilst sharing our English capabilities.
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  Accommodation

  Own self contained Gite with all facilities. Double bed, shower, heater, tea making facilities in a separate part of the home building so very private.

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  What else ...

  Hi, we are on all major bus, train and air routes. We are 5 mins from the village. The area has a catchment of 3000 habitants so isn't rammed with cars and other traffic. We are 2km from chateau de Montaner, 90 mins from the Atlantic coast so Biarritz and Spain are in easy reach.

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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

  We have 4G network across the whole farm, it’s not the fastest but it works well if your doing 3D CAD CAM design 😁

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  Space for parking camper vans

  I have a secure courtyard and a parking space at the rear of the farm. Electric can be provided and water ofcourse.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Not cats but friendly dogs would be great, we have 2 very friendly dogs.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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