Rewilding and creative projects, and immerse yourself in an intercultural discovery of Alsace, France

Details

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  Description

  Dear Workawayers,
  
  I am looking for some friendly, good-with-their-hands workawayers to help with a rewilding project for the garden in my new home in Alsace. Additionally, I have some general projects inside the house when the weather is too inclement for the out-of-doors. With a beautiful view over vineyards, the foothills of the Vosges, and morning sunrises over the Black Forest in Germany seen from my home over coffee, the setting is lovely and I would love to share it with you.
  
  Specifically:
  
  I need to have planted:
  - a mixed hedge
  - a few trees
  
  And have built:
  - raised beds for the vegetable garden
  - a shed for the trash and recycling cans
  
  An additional wish is to build a small agility course for my dog.
  
  Inside projects include:
  
  refinishing an oak mission table
  refinishing a small cupboard in cherry
  refinishing and decoratively painting an armoire
  revamping my IT set-up
  
  If you are looking for an intercultural experience, I am a dual French-US citizen with English being my first language and French my second. My neighbors all speak Alsatian, which I unfortunately do not, but it is rather nice hearing it. All this to say that my home is bilingual, English and French, and my neighbors are friendly and generous with their Alsatian knowledge.
  
  We have a Fox Terrier X dog and a European short-haired cat.
  
  If you enjoy and are good at working with your hands, at building things ... if you like fox terriers and gray kitties … if you would like to enjoy rural, village life, simply cooked, fresh, seasonal, mostly local foods … and if you would enjoy mixing cultures and sharing space and conversation, this workaway might be for you.
  
  Please get in touch - I would be very pleased to discuss at length. I do not use WhatsApp, but I do use Signal.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Culture

  

  Sustainability

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Books

  

  Animals

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Cycling
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I'm a US-born French-American teacher-researcher at the University of Strasbourg, specializing in intercultural themes, democratic citizenship, plurilingualism, and linguistic mediation. My work and my life are pretty well aligned.
  
  I live in a small Alsatian village where my neighbors are native Alsatians — meaning they speak Alsatian as well as French. It's a genuinely pluricultural space, and you're welcome to experience it at your own pace, follow your own interests, and add something of yourself to it.
  
  The surroundings are beautiful — mountains, castle ruins, vineyards. I love the Vosges and explore them often. Company is always welcome. Weather permitting, I roll down the windows, put on road trip music, and enjoy all five senses. Finn the fox terrier mix comes with.
  
  Alsace has a lot going on. Village flea markets throughout spring weekends. Festivals and outdoor films in summer. Live music can often be found. Cultural events are constantly changing. You can be as immersed as you choose to be.

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  Help

  I’m looking for a handy person to help with tasks I am limited in doing myself. These included the rewilding project in the garden and also some creative DIY projects inside the house.
  
  I do not have handy skills myself: those you will need to arrive with. I am open to different opinions and appreciate the chat. I'm happy to make some space for your creativity and vision. Design skills welcome.
  
  Your good energy is appreciated here in my home!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  German: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  The house has just been renovated. There is a full bath and a half bath. Your bedroom has an artisanal full-size bed and chest of drawers, two bedside tables, and a low table for a suitcase. There is a full and well-equipped kitchen that opens onto the living room and dining area. There is a porch/covered terrace off the living and dining areas. There is also a basement with garage, storage, and a summer bedroom that does double duty as the potting room.
  
  For meals, I prepare fresh local foods, veggie-heavy and also with meat. I eat gluten-free, low salt, low sugar. If you have special dietary needs, please let me know - we will see how we can meet them.
  
  Of special note: there’s a piano, and I would love to enjoy listening to you play.

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  What else ...

  My village has a limited bus and train service. There is a nearby town that is easy to reach by this limited service, and from there you can get pretty much anywhere. If I am able, I am happy to drop you in the neighboring town as well.
  
  Alsace is an incredibly beautiful region. Germany and Switzerland are very close; the Vosges are very close; the history and culture are vibrant. Strasbourg and Colmar are nearby highlights. You can take day trips or weekend trips all around. Cultural events, cities, small towns, nature, history... I'm a question away with suggestions.
  
  Some personal notes: I prefer non-smokers, including no vaping. I’m happy to share apéro and prefer reasonable alcohol consumption. General good manners, kindness, respect, honesty, and integrity are necessary.

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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

  I have a dedicated office/sewing room. The dining table is often my preferred work space. The breakfast counter in the kitchen and the potting table in the basement in front of a large window are also workspace options. We would just need to negotiate your and my needs, times, and spaces. My first workawayer made use of my office, which I rarely use.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is a camping in our village. This accommodation would be yours to arrange, but I'm happy to share the contact information..

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  Can possibly accept pets

  One dog only, and entirely dependent on if your dog and my Finn get along. If not, I'm afraid the workaway would not work out.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  

  Gary

  Gary joined our family soon after we arrived in France. First, he was my son’s cat. Then he was my second daughter’s cat, until he became my oldest daughter’s cat. But really, I think he is my cat.

  

  Finn

  Finn is a fox terrier x, found at an SPA, with me for 7 years now. He is my constant companion.

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