Experience life in the stunning countryside in the Nouvelle Aquitaine, South West France

Details

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  Description

  Hi Workawayers!
  
  We need some help this April with our animals and in the garden. We'd love to hear from you ......
  
  English couple, living in beautiful, rural France for over 20 years, looking for help with gardening (large vegetable garden) and general maintenance of our 50 acre property.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The Dordogne, in South West France, and particularly the Perigord Noir, the area in which we are located, is so full of interesting sites that it would be impossible to visit them all during even a lengthy visit. The area is particularly well known for its 'Pre-history' and the best known site here is Lascaux 4 located in Montignac, a 25 minute drive from us and which is definitely worth a visit.
  
  The Dordogne has hundreds of Chateaux ranging from ancient ruins to beautifully restored buildings, many of which are virtually on our doorstep. There are markets every day and night markets (in the summer months) where you can buy your food from the various stalls and sit down at long communal tables to eat your meal - you will have the opportunity here to talk to locals and other visitors from all over the world. There are musical concerts, again, almost every evening and in terms of outdoor activities there is canoeing, horse-riding, cycling, walking, swimming in the pristine rivers, zip-wiring, etc, etc, etc.
  
  I am a very keen cook and amongst other things, I enjoy making preserves. I am happy to share this knowledge.
  
  One thing that is not available is 'night-life'. The area is most suited to people who enjoy nature and outdoor activities, visiting historical sites, good food and peace and tranquility. If you are looking for an exciting, 'party' time, then the Dordogne is definitely not for you!
  
  If our workawayer is not a native English speaker, as a qualified English teacher (TEFL) I can provide some assistance if he/she/they wishes to improve their English. My husband and I are both competent French speakers.

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  Help

  We live in an idyllic, restored farmhouse surrounded by approximately 50 acres of fields and woods, a stream and a little lake. We have a large second home on our property, also lovingly restored, which is rented out, fully, during the high season, to guests. There is a stunning, large swimming pool for the guests and our use.
  
  Our requirements for the first half of this year, 2024, have changed slightly. We require a fair bit of help outside, tidying up the gardens, vegetable garden, fields, woods and general maintenance in preparation for the summer. It's physical work but not difficult. We also now have 2 donkeys and help looking after them including some fencing work would be really great. We would love to have some help this April for 3-4 weeks. Despite the fact that the weather in April can be very mixed it's a great time to get loads of stuff done.
  
  As before, we are looking for a couple, ideally, (or a single person who is aware that, whilst we are very sociable, we are quite isolated), to help us with all of the above, in return for being able to spend time in this truly stunning part of South West France.
  
  We have 2 elderly, deaf dogs and several chickens. The chickens need cleaning out regularly and the dogs just love all the attention they can get.
  
  We would really appreciate the clearing of some of our extensive woodland . There are fallen trees that need to be removed and there are trails that need to be cleared so they are more accessible. In addition, we constantly need brush-cutting done, along the stream and in many other areas. The more you would like to do, the more we can find for you!
  
  I am a qualified English teacher (TEFL) and so can provide some assistance if you wish to improve your English.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am a qualified English teacher (TEFL), and during the summer, from time to time, I host French students (one at a time) who stay with us for a week on an English immersion basis.
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  Accommodation

  We have a very comfortable fully en-suite guest bedroom available to our workawayers. It has a double bed and therefore this offer is suitable only for someone either traveling on their own or a couple. The bedroom is part of our 2nd house, but has a separate, private entrance. There is plenty of storage in the room and there is also a mini-fridge. The bathroom has a large shower, WC and sink.
  
  The guest bedroom will obviously be spotless on our workawayer's arrival but the daily cleaning of the room will be their own responsibility. We expect our workawayers to thoroughly clean and tidy the room prior to their departure.
  
  Our internet system works very well in our house, however, the speeds may be slightly reduced in our Workawayer's room, in which case, access to the internet will be available to our workawayers in the main house.
  
  During the week all food is provided (breakfast, lunch and dinner). At the weekends or on days off, our workawayers are responsible for their own lunch and dinners.
  
  For summer workawayers only: Please note that our paying guests have priority over the swimming pool, but if they are out, then the pool is also available for use by our workawayer, assuming correct observance of our pool 'rules'.
  
  We do not allow any smoking in or around our property.

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  What else ...

  A driving license and car is ESSENTIAL for our workawayer. If you do not come with a car, it is possible that we can loan you ours. A clean valid driving license (which must have been valid for at least 3 years) and refundable cash deposit are required for this. Whilst we are not isolated, we are a good 20 minute walk from the nearest small village, but by car, everything is very accessible. We are a 6-7 minute drive from one local village (with a train station, bars, cafes, small shops and important tourist sites) and a 10 minute drive from another. We are 45 minutes drive from Perigueux, our nearest small city (which has a train station with major city connections) and an hours' drive from Bergerac where there is an airport. (Ryanair).
  
  Once here, a bike is also fun.
  
  From a tourist perspective, the towns of Sarlat and Montignac are each 30 mins drive from us. Les Eyzies is our nearest town (less than 10 mins drive) and although only a very small town, it hosts the National Museum of Pre-history. As such, it is very busy in the season and has several bars and cafes as well as other facilities.
  
  We are into our 9th year with Workaway. Our first year, we had a really excellent experience with a young Italian couple who initially came to us for one month but ended up staying for almost 2 months. We were incredibly sad to see them leave! Subsequently, we have had a large number of lovely, charming couples and one young man stay with us for around a month each, many of whom we have remained in contact with. It has been great!
  
  Before Covid entered our lives I was a volunteer 3 or 4 times a month at a nearby Old Age Home and did so for about 6 years. I find it an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience and can therefore appreciate others who like to offer their time, just for the pleasure.
  
  I would re-iterate that the Dordogne offers many, amazing things, a lot, but not all, of which I have listed above, however, if you are looking for a buzzing night-life, then our project is definitely not for you.

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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 space for your camper van or motor home

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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