Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
16 Apr 2024
Reply rate
92.6 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
15
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
George and I (Andrea) have recently switched our London life to an old bastide in our native France filled with olive and fruit trees, with a classical Provencal farm house located between three beautiful villages; La Ciotat, Saint Cyr and Ceyreste. The house lies on top of a hill, giving the garden a panoramic view of the sea, old dwellings and Mediterranean vegetation.
However, there are a lot of things to build and renovate!
In the garden, we are renovating the dry stone walls of the terraces using the traditional method and will need to restructure the paths along them. Then we would like to replant grape vines in aim to produce our own wine in the future. Our olive trees are in need of TLC, although we are already able to produce excellent olive oil.
In the guest house (where the former keeper resided) we would like to extend and convert it into a nicer living area. This house needs work such as extending, re roofing, tiling, plastering and painting.
There is an organic vegetable garden and a greenhouse, 3 donkeys, 7 hens, 2 rooster and Billy our lovely Border Colly.
As we live on a hill, a car would be a bonus if you want to explore around.
We would love some volunteers to join us and share this beautiful Mediterranean heritage! We are looking for guests with knowledge and experience in renovation/construction or skilled gardeners as our fruit and olive trees need serious pruning.
Please note that we are not taking volunteers from June till September included
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We will be happy to exchange about the French and Mediterranean culture which we are trying to preserve (traditional meals and skills). We hope that during your stay with us you will enjoy meeting and socialising with the volunteers and local people
Having lived in London for more than 25 years we also offer a friendly English speaking environment.
Help
We have several projects at once as work depends on the weather and seasons.
We are looking for motivated and keen to learn volunteers with a strong back and big arms as it is quite physical. Skills in renovation/construction and gardening is important to us.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a studio with 2 bedrooms a bathroom and a private terrace in an outbuiding
We are offering 3 meals a day, but only cook for diner
What else ...
La Ciotat is a lively friendly town along the Mediterranean sea with 2 weekly markets, bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, art exhibitions and shops. In your free time you can relax in the property or explore the beautiful surroundings as there is a lot to see: beaches and calanques, islands, costal and mountain walks, beautiful villages and towns. Marseille, Toulon and Aix en Provence are all within 45 minutes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We do have enough space to accommodate a camper van
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (7)
I had an amazing two weeks with George, Andrea, and family.
They are a very knowledgeable, kind, funny, and generous family.
They took the time to get to know each Workaway’er and provided us with delicious meals and lively and thought-provoking dinner conversations.
They are very fair… 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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I had an amazing two weeks with George, Andrea, and family.
They are a very knowledgeable, kind, funny, and generous family.
They took the time to get to know each Workaway’er and provided us with delicious meals and lively and thought-provoking dinner conversations.
They are very fair… read more
George is a philosophic, open mind, smart and pragmatic man, it's a pleasure to work and talk with him.
Andréa is a funny, attentive and kind woman, easy to live with her. She's also cooking very well!
I went there to… read more
Work wise just amazing!! He is motivated, independent, hard worker. He engages in projects and… read more
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback. For us also it was a great experience: you were our 1st Workaway guests and you made us realise that was the way forward for us and our project. We really appreciated your manual skills with an artistic touch, your attention to detail, your dedication to work knowing that the… read more
For me and my girlfriend, it was the first workaway experience and we found what we were looking for: two friendly persons, open to share their experience, their knowledge and their vision of life. I think this really enriched us, we had great time… read more
They both care a lot about the workawayers well-being and can give you a lot of tips about the area. Also we had really great talks, while eating the delicious food Andrea prepared for us.
The work was… read more
Andrea cooks very well, the hen lay delicious eggs...I had a… read more
