Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
14 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Some 25 years ago we fell deeply in love with the rough nature and amazing architecture of the Cevennes. Some years later we decided to follow our heart and leave our modern well organized lives in Holland behind. We stepped 'back in time' to restore an abandoned ancient (1592) Mas and it's domain in the Cévennes.
For almost 20 years our family has been restoring this amazing place where we created our home, two workshops, a B&B, a stop over, a few holiday homes and a small Eco-camping. We reclaimed the completely abandoned fields and meadows, now home for our sheep and chicken, planted fruit trees, created vegie-gardens etc etc
And during the season have the pleasure of hosting our guests that come to stay and often also dine at our 'table d'hôte'.
The Cevennes offer an amazing scenery, wild and abundant nature and biodiversity and lots of peace and quiet. Activities include hiking, cycling, horse riding, canoeing, canyoning etc etc Nearby are some natural and historical sites such as grotto's, museums, vineyards, and french markets to visit. The river Luech touches our domain, and provides a wonderful place to bathe and restaure your energy.
Our daily routine follows the rhythm of the seasons. In general:
In winter and early spring we very much enjoy the peace and calm and observing the changes in nature. We do a lot of maintenance work outside as wel as inside and work on new projects (restoration and construction work of the Mas or new projects in the gardens, the camping site etc.) We work in our workshops to create our doors, windows and staircases, restyle furniture and (time allowing) make felted creations. And much of our energy is focused on preparing things for the new tourist season.
In spring and summer we really enjoy hosting our guests, we cook them wonderful meals (mainly with our own (bio) products - veggies, fruits, eggs, meat etc) There are the animals and the gardens to take care of, and off course there is the daily maintenance, the cleaning and washing that keep us quite busy in high-season, which makes some help with things around the home, the gardens and with the animals even more welcome. During summer and even more so in September and October we devote a lot of our time to harvesting and the transformation into juices, jams, chutneys etc etc. In November when the tourist season ends we have family and friends over or go for short trips ourselves. This also is the time to prepare for winter (firewood etc) and general maintenance (on the buildings and the guest houses as well as on the fencing and the animal sheds etc etc)
2024. This winter we picked up again with some restauration and decorating projects. It always is immensely satisfying to see our dream restauration project advancing slowly but surely. Our stairway to heaven.
This spring we are seriously elaborating our solar energie project. And as usual there is a lot of fencing to do (and repair), the annual preparations of the (perma based) vegie-gardens , the grapevines, the fruit and olive-trees as well as the maintenance on the domain.
During the summer we're usually very busy preparing for/ cooking for, and entertaining our guests so some help around the house, our gardens and with the animals animals would really be great.
During summer and automne there' s also the joy of harvesting fruits and nuts etc etc and the transformation into all the Wonderfull jams and juices etc etc. And of course there's all the preparations for winter to do.
Half November we close our doors for a bit and take our time to celebrate life with family and friends.
Workaway volunteers who want to participate in our adventure are very welcome and warmly invited to contact us.
We love exchanging with people from all over the world. Had quite a few woofing & Workaway adventures ourselves when we were young and are happy to do our bit to provide with interesting and joyful experiences in the adventures of others. Participating in nice projects, meeting and sharing with people who are passionate about what they are doing, makes travelling much more interesting we think. Together we will figure out the best way in which you can participate in our activities and also find some time to explore the amazing surroundings. You will have your own quarters, or if you prefer you can camp on our campsite (we can provide you with a tent and equipment).
We ask our workaway guests to come for at least 2 or 3 weeks and preferably with two persons (a couple / 2 friends) so you'll get to know the place, be at ease, have fun and you can share in this adventure together.
We are very passionate about our planet, the biodiversity and a simple sensible way of life, adapted to this amazing place we live in. We are flexi-tarians and adapts to local products. We eat (mainly our own) very healthy slow-food, including our veggies, fruits, juices, jams, eggs and meat. Meals are some times with and sometimes without meat. We are happy to provide vegetarian meals but we do not provide strictly vegan or completely gluten-free meals on a daily bases. We prefer good local products to all kinds of flown in trendy replacement products (that are scarcely available in our local shops)
Please note that our 'little paradise' is a place of particular natural beauty, peace and quiet. Off-season there is very little party life going on around here. Also the villages around us tend to be really calm and quiet. This is why in the off-season period in particular, we really prefer hosting a duo workaway-guests rather than a solo. Even more so for fairly young and unexperienced workaway-guests. Sharing the adventures make the experience richer and much more fun. Ofcourse if you are the experienced independent type of person who prefers traveling alone and likes the sound of silence, you are very welcome to join us and all the birds, beavers, badgers, wild boars and other wildlife....
We are connected to the fiber but it often is pretty slack so if the internet is very important for you be sure to have your G4 connexion going.
We live with our 2 cats and 2 dogs so if you are very allergic to them it may be hell for you over here...
We both have reached our 60years of age (and have stopped counting from there on) Our children are working and studying abroad and come to stay with us every now and again but a lot of the time it's just the two of us and our friends that visit, and off-course during the season, plenty of interesting people from all over Europe.
We speak Dutch, Frisian, French, German and English fluently.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
see txt above
Help
We are working on our dream-project in the unspoiled nature of the Cévennes in the South of France : The resurrection of a abandoned ancient Mas (homestead), renovating it's buildings and it's domain and turning it into an ecological agro-touristic paradise.
In general
From February until June we can really use your help, working in the (perma based) gardens, fencing and animal care, preparing for the touristic season, working on a new part of the project...
In summer and beginning of autumn we can use your help with general maintenance, the gardens, the harvesting and transformation of the harvest, the animal care and the housekeeping jobs.
Late autumn we start with the preparations of winter (firewood, work on the campsite and the animal shelters, fences...
2024.
This winter we picked up again with some restauration and decorating projects. It always is immensely satisfying to see our dream restauration project advancing slowly but surely. Our stairway to heaven.
This spring we are seriously elaborating our solar energie project. There is a lot of fencing to do (and repairs), and the annual preparations of the (perma based) vegie-gardens , the grapevines, the fruit and olive-trees as well as the maintenance on the domain.
During the summer as we're very busy preparing for/ cooking for, and entertaining our guests, some help around the house, our gardens and with the animals animals would really be great.
During summer and automne there' s also the joy of harvesting fruits and nuts etc etc and the transformation into all the Wonderfull jams and juices etc etc. And of course there's all the preparations for winter to do.
Half November we close our doors for a bit and take our time to celebrate life with family and friends.
We hope you’ll join us in this years challenges!
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Accommodation
You are very welcome to join us in our adventure. You will participate in our activities and in return we will provide you with board and lodging of course. You will have your own quarters, in part of a charming old house which is wonderful and still in it's authentic basic state. Or if you prefer you can camp on our campsite (we can provide you with a tent and equipment). Sometimes, in winter and very early spring (before and after the tourist season), we can provide you with a stay in one of our holiday houses.
What else ...
The mas, and the many idyllic spots on the domain and in the area have much to offer and will make an unforgettable impression without a doubt. It's the ideal starting point for your explorations of the Lozère and the Gard. The wild beauty and rich nature of the Lozere and the Park national the Cevennes, the charm of the Mediterranean it's all in reach. Wonderful area for hikes and excursions (by foot, on bicycle, by horse or by car). An abundance of sporty activities can be pursued (e.g. hiking, cycling, climbing, cannoning, canoe, rafting, horse-riding, fishing etc etc). The charming French towns and villages in the surroundings offer a large variety of markets, terraces, restaurants, festivals and museums… a.s.o.
If you like hiking and cycling we've come to the right spot (bikes are available but mind you our roads are very steep)
There's a railway station nearby (Genolhac) in general we can pick you up from there.
There's also the blablacar (carpooling) system that works rather well in France.
In this area there is little public transport!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (6)
They are eager to work, happy to join in group/ family life and respectful of the privacy of others.
We have good memories of our summer together and wish them all the best.
July and August went by with the blink of an eye working alongside Hans and Eva. They are the most generous and hardworking hosts from day one: warmimgly welcoming us but respecting our privacy, showering us with the produce from the potager, sharing their knowledge, encouraging us... We'll remember fondly… read more
To put… read more
Courageously they left everything behind to discover a new life outside of their comfort zone.
They came without a lot of practical & physical skills that might come in handy for our kind of projects but they are not afraid to try and learn and indeed realized a nice part of a… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(5.0)
They are eager to work, happy to join in group/ family life and respectful of the privacy of others.
We have good memories of our summer together and wish them all the best.
July and August went by with the blink of an eye working alongside Hans and Eva. They are the most generous and hardworking hosts from day one: warmimgly welcoming us but respecting our privacy, showering us with the produce from the potager, sharing their knowledge, encouraging us... We'll remember fondly… read more
To put… read more
Courageously they left everything behind to discover a new life outside of their comfort zone.
They came without a lot of practical & physical skills that might come in handy for our kind of projects but they are not afraid to try and learn and indeed realized a nice part of a… read more
Positive and openminded people, eager to exchange and very appreciative for some genuine sharing.
They happily shared many moments of daily working life as well as family life, without ever being intrusive.
Happy to participate in any kind of work that needs to be done, they gladly got involved in… read more
very open and willing to participate in whatever there was to do, eager to learn and exchange
we enjoyed sharing 10 days with them
