Create and grow with us in Garos, Rural South West France

Details

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  Description

  Hello from the Béarn, south west France
  
  We’re Beverley & Kevin, a British couple living in a small rural village in the Béarn region of southwest France. We’ve been renovating an old farmhouse and its outbuildings and nurturing a creative and welcoming space.
  
  Our home, is a blend of everyday life, practical projects, and creativity. We love cooking, grow much of our own food, and share our space with a lively flock of chickens and two cats.
  
  We are 30 minutes north of Pau and 30 minutes east of Orthez, surrounded by rolling valleys and beautiful views of the Pyrenees. We love the tranquillity, the friendly Béarnaise environment, the appreciation of good food and the relaxed pace of life. The mountains, the ocean, and Spain are all within a 90-minute drive — and we make the most of that.
  
  Kevin comes from a construction background, so he's always building, repairing, or improving something. Bev is an artist and teacher, working with painting, creativity, food, and the garden. Between us, there’s a lot of knowledge and experience to share .
  
  Food is an important part of life here. Much of what we eat comes directly from the garden — the seasons tend to dictate our meals, to which we add locally sourced produce. We’re environmentally aware in a practical way: we compost, recycle, and try to make good use of what we have without being extreme about it.
  
  We’re fairly straight-talking, enjoy life, and have built a good circle of friends locally, as well as regular visitors from the UK. We genuinely enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories.
  
  We value openness, respect, and kindness, and our home is a relaxed, inclusive environment.
  
  If you feel you’d fit in with this, we’d love to hear from you.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Farming

  

  Culture

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Art & design

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / Wellness
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Cultural exchange
  
  For us, this is very much about genuine exchange.
  
  If English is not your first language, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice and improve your English naturally through daily life, shared meals, and conversation.
  
  For English speakers, Bev speaks good French, and we’re well integrated into local life. You’ll have the chance to experience authentic rural France, meet neighbours and friends, and build confidence with the language in a relaxed, real-world setting.
  
  You’ll also learn through doing. Kevin can share practical knowledge and problem-solving skills, while Bev brings experience in art, creativity, growing food, and cooking from scratch. There’s always something to observe, try, or get involved in.
  
  Life here follows a seasonal rhythm — from working in the garden and preparing food, to making the most of the surrounding area. When time allows, we enjoy trips to the mountains, the ocean, or into Spain, all within easy reach.
  
  This is a place where you can develop practical skills, improve language confidence, and experience everyday French life in a genuine and down-to-earth way.

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  Help

  We’re looking for people who genuinely want to learn, contribute, and be part of a real exchange. We love to do stuff, create and be proud.
  
  We’re looking for people who are physically capable, willing to tasks with us outdoors, and who take pride in what they do.
  We ask that anyone staying with us, is respectful of others, open-minded, and comfortable in a shared, inclusive environment
  
  In exchange for the food and accommodation, we ask for help with our everyday tasks. This could be helping us in the garden to grow, collect and preserve food or helping with chickens and cats. You may help with tidying up or watering the garden, collecting eggs and then creating delicious meals from them! Or you might be helping in the art studio, mixing paint or cutting paper or with Kev in his shed, sorting tools and millions of screws!
  
  You will stay in an apartment that we use for friends and family and occasionally rent on bnb but you will have sole, independent use of that space and won't be doing any trades tasks, handyman tasks or maintenance of it.. that is all done by us!
  
  We are in a rural location with no public transport, so you would need to be comfortable with that. You can either arrive by your own vehicle, or we’re happy to collect you from the nearest train or bus stations in Pau or Orthez. We have bikes, you’re welcome to use locally, and we can occasionally help with lifts when needed, but a level of independence is important.
  
  This is a calm, rural setting — ideal for people who enjoy nature, purposeful tasks , and meaningful exchange rather than busy nightlife.
  
  If you’re practical, curious, and open to learning — whether that’s language, skills, or a different way of life — you’ll find a lot here.
  
  We look forward to welcoming the right people to our home.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Very interested in all cultures and languages. We may be clumsy in our second languages but hope to practice and learn in an exchange of ideas and skills.
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  Accommodation

  In exchange for your help, we offer;
  
  • Free comfortable accommodation with all bed linen and towels.
  • WiFi, TV with Netflix and Amazon.
  • Food and drinks with shared meals.
  
  You’ll have your own private space in our guest apartment, giving you time to relax independently as well as spend time with us. There are 2 double bedrooms, shared bathroom, kitchen, open plan dining/seating area.
  Theres also a private balcony with table and chairs.
  This is guest accommodation on bnb but we only let it for a few months year. The rest of the time is for friends and family visits and people like you!
  
  We don’t normally eat breakfast but will supply you with what you need and you can eat independantly.
  Lunch is normally the main meal of the day, between 12:00 - 14:00
  Light meal in the evening.

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  What else ...

  There’s plenty to explore if you enjoy the outdoors and local culture. We’re within easy reach of the Pyrenees for walking and hiking, the Atlantic coast for beaches, and Spain for day trips. Locally, there are small towns, markets, cafés, and plenty of opportunities to experience everyday French village life.
  
  We have bikes available for getting around locally. As we’re in a rural area, having your own vehicle can offer more independence, but we’re happy to help with lifts when we can and can collect you from Pau or Orthez on arrival.
  
  Life here is fairly relaxed but follows a natural rhythm. We tend to start the day at a reasonable time (especially in warmer months), take breaks when needed, and often come together for meals. Evenings are generally calm — a chance to rest, chat, or enjoy the surroundings.
  
  A few simple house expectations:
  
  * Respect for shared spaces and cleaning up after yourself
  * Being mindful of others in a shared environment
  * A willingness to join in and communicate openly
  * Comfort around animals (chickens and cats are part of daily life)
  
  We are non-smokers. Smoking is fine in outdoor areas, provided it is done respectfully and with consideration for others and the space.
  
  We’re not a party house, but we do enjoy good conversation, shared meals, and a bit of humour along the way.
  
  If you’re looking for a genuine experience of rural French life, with a balance of work, learning, and time to enjoy your surroundings, you’ll feel at home here.

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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 welcome digital nomads who are happy to combine remote work with a practical, hands-on stay. We have fibre WiFi, which is generally reliable and suitable for most remote work. However, as we are in a rural area, there can occasionally be short power cuts, so this may not suit those needing a completely uninterrupted connection. We ask that your work schedule fits around the agreed help hours and the shared rhythm of the day. If you’re comfortable with a simple, rural set-up and enjoy a balance of independence and shared time, this can work very well.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We’re happy to welcome those travelling by campervan or motorhome. We have plenty of space for parking in a quiet, rural setting. We can provide access to electricity if needed, and water is available via hosepipe. Please note that we do not have facilities for emptying chemical toilets or grey water, so you would need to plan for this elsewhere. We ask that the space is treated with respect, particularly when using outdoor areas

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Les Poulettes (2 years)

  There's a whole proud host of these chickens, each with their different characters. Meet the original gang: Josephine, Marie-Louise, Jeanne, Eleanor and Karen . ....and their creative friends: Bovary , Pompadour and George

  

  Napoleon (2 years)

  Napoleon is leader of the poulettes in the chicken house. Daddy to many a poussin, he looks after them all with authority yet calm pride.

  

  Poivron (3 years)

  A very cool cat who loves to be curious and help on the tools.

  

  Curcuma (6 years)

  A golden princess , bathed in golden sunlight.

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