Growing a food forest at our rural family home near Lussac-les-Églises, France

Details

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  Description

  We are Gerlof and Anneloes, and together with our two daughters, We live in a beautiful, peaceful corner of the Haute-Vienne, in the heart of rural France. We fell in love with this place the moment we saw it — surrounded by nature, filled with birdsong, and offering endless space for our children and animals to roam freely. It's our little paradise, and we’d love to share it with others.
  
  Before moving here, we lived in the rural north of the Netherlands. Although we already had a connection to nature, we felt the need for even more peace, space, and a closer relationship with the land. That desire led us to make the leap to France — to start a new chapter focused on living more simply and sustainably.
  
  We are now in the early stages of developing a food forest based on permaculture principles. It’s a long-term project with lots of love and labor involved — and that’s where you come in!
  
  🧘 What kind of experience can you expect?
  We aim to create an inspiring, relaxing place where people can connect with nature, learn new skills, and contribute to something meaningful. Whether you’re interested in permaculture, small DIY projects, simple living, or just want to take a break from city life, this is a great opportunity to slow down and get your hands in the soil. We have a camping, but you will only be helping in our private home and garden.
  
  💌 Interested?
  If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, Feel free to message us and tell us a bit about yourself. Let us know:
  
  Why you’re interested in our project
  
  When and how long you’d like to stay
  
  Any relevant experience (not required but helpful)
  
  We’d love to hear from you and welcome you into our little food forest adventure!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Events & social

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As a Dutch family living in rural France, we bring together different influences — Dutch practicality, French countryside life, and a growing interest in sustainable, off-grid living.
  
  Volunteers have the chance to:
  
  Experience daily life in rural France — including local markets, traditions, and the peaceful rhythm of the countryside.
  
  Learn about Dutch culture and language through conversations, meals, and shared activities with our family.
  
  Share your own culture with us and our children — we love learning about different customs, foods, music, and languages.
  
  Exchange ideas about sustainability, permaculture, and DIY living — we’re always curious to hear how people live in other parts of the world and enjoy learning from each other’s perspectives.

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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

  🛠️ What kind of help do we need?
  We’d love your help with a mix of daily and seasonal tasks, such as:
  
  Watering plants and young trees
  
  Helping with harvesting fruits, herbs, and vegetables
  
  Processing the harvest (e.g. preserving, drying)
  
  Feeding and caring for our animals (we currently have chickens, ducks and dogs.)
  
  Supporting small DIY projects – think compost bins, animal enclosures and upcycling
  
  General maintenance around the property
  
  Sometimes help in the kitchen.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Dutch: Fluent
  English: Intermediate
  German: Beginner
  French: Beginner

  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.
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  Accommodation

  You’ll stay in a folding trailer or a large tent, suitable for 2 people. It's a simple but cozy setup with access to basic facilities:
  
  Compost toilet
  
  Outdoor shower or washing area
  
  Outdoor kitchen and shared meals
  
  Fresh produce from the garden whenever available
  
  Peace, fresh air, and a beautiful natural environment
  
  We’re happy to cook and eat together, but you’ll also have space to prepare your own meals if you prefer.

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  What else ...

  The village of Lussac-les-Églises is located just 2.5 km from our place.
  In the village, you’ll find the following amenities:
  
  A small supermarket: SPAR
  
  A restaurant: Hotel des Mines
  
  A bakery: Au Pain Doré
  
  We have two bicycles available for guests to borrow.
  
  A 10-minute walk from our home takes you to a lovely picnic spot by the river, next to the medieval ruins of a watermill.
  
  For Workawayers with a car:
  If you enjoy visiting cities, the famous porcelain city of Limoges is 70 km away — definitely worth a visit.
  
  A wonderful place for swimming, picnicking, and relaxing is Lac de Rochegaudon, located about 20 km from us.
  
  "We kindly ask that dogs are kept on a leash, as our chickens and ducks roam freely around the property."

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have a spot for the camper in front of our house, here we can also provide electricity.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  "We kindly ask that dogs are kept on a leash, as our chickens and ducks roam freely around the property."

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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