Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
5 Apr 2024
Reply rate
89.5 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
18
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Badges (2)
Details
Description
You like to fill gaps in an old wall? Work in the garden? Mow grass? Scrap old plaster? Renovate a window? Maintain the house?
Whatever, we’ll discuss it
And more: a new project for 2024, restore a tumbling wall around the garden. We destroy a little part, we take roots out and we try to rebuild it. It's a lot of work, but when everybody helps just a bit, the wall will be done end of summer - that would be very nice!
You don’t need any special skills, it’s enough to be enthusiastic about trying new things,
I like very much to show you how things could be done, but you can also look for other solutions.
You might be very young or not so young anymore, you might have plenty of energy to spend or live with a handicap – as long as you feel up to it: WELCOME !
I’m Colette, retired and 70 years old, who has embarked on a great project: restore myself an old house from 1547… As I had an accident with my back, I do need help. There are family and friends from time to time, but on a daily basis it would be very nice to try doing things together
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You could learn a lot about constructing, building, repairing with stones, mortar or plaster
There is also a quite well equipped workshop for woodworking - together with a room full of leftover wood (gets less...)
Projects are discussed and we will decide together, what you want to help with
If you want to improve your french, we could try to speak it as much as possible.
I'm bilingue, that means that my other language is German
And of course you can always speak English :))
The house was a part of a medieval fortress, beside constructing there are old documents to prepare for an exposition next year - there is a quite active group scanning and translating.
The house sits above the little village Passavant, just a few houses and a church in a circle
Plenty of woods and nature for hiking. The river Doubs is at 14 km and Baume les Dames is the nearest place for shopping
30 km away is Besançon with its medieval city and a really impressive chateau
Help
As a 70 year old woman, I try to renovate an old building from the 16th century more or less on my own.
As I'm not getting stronger, and lots are done by try and error, I'm looking for someone who is fun, kind and willing to participate. There are things I can't do alone and I would very much appreciate some help
The property could do with any skills really... ranging from house maintenance, gardening, cutting wood, painting, building, cleaning, to clear some dumping spaces. Tell me about yourself and we'll know how your skills could be put at best use.
I am also happy getting help and DIY skills such as masonry repairing walls and woodworking for floors, doors, windows and furniture
Of course we prepare our meals together
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
French: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Accommodation
A room with a Kingsize bed and its own bathroom
Could also be shared by a couple
The house has a big kitchen where we can prepare food together or sit in front of the little stove when it's cold.
Most of the heating is with stoves, that means that in colder times we have to fetch wood in the barn or even cut some. The bedrooms and baths are heated with electric radiators - not very environment friendly.
There is a dining room, very elegant, but most of the time serving as working space for computers...
The garden is high above the village with a beautiful view - meals are outside when ever possible
Subterranean corridors? Yes, goes with the house. They are all blocked, but I'm discovering!
What else ...
It's really french countryside! Walks and hiking, but of course we will go shopping in the next small town.
In France there are no buses, but in the town is a train station (I'm driving you) and from there you are in Besançon in half an hour.
I started with with workaway last year and I'm very happy to meet new people with other lives and other ideas.
Plenty of discussions about everything is essential.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is wifi and it's ok for working. Downloading can be slow. If you want, I can put a little table in your room, otherwise we share the dining room table
Space for parking camper vans
No problem for motorhomes, there is a parking space
Can possibly accept pets
dogs, only one at a time
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (9)
For the barn he constructed a shelf with a door made of… read more
I've been with her for nearly 2 weeks. At first it was supposed to be only 1 week, since it was my first time, but we decided to extend for 1 more week.
There were 2 other workawayers and together, we spent wonderful time… read more
The house had a good cleaning, she helped setting up the garden and did some gardening for the spring season.
She is very good at cooking, which is a very nice addition to my European one.
Steph is the most… read more
She came to an unknown place, and it was no problem for her to settle in and find her way around the house.
As we just started the new season, there was a lot of cleaning to do – the garden needed some time and everything in the barn had to be taken out.
Evelyn did all of it with a smile and… read more
Feedback
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
For the barn he constructed a shelf with a door made of… read more
I've been with her for nearly 2 weeks. At first it was supposed to be only 1 week, since it was my first time, but we decided to extend for 1 more week.
There were 2 other workawayers and together, we spent wonderful time… read more
The house had a good cleaning, she helped setting up the garden and did some gardening for the spring season.
She is very good at cooking, which is a very nice addition to my European one.
Steph is the most… read more
She came to an unknown place, and it was no problem for her to settle in and find her way around the house.
As we just started the new season, there was a lot of cleaning to do – the garden needed some time and everything in the barn had to be taken out.
Evelyn did all of it with a smile and… read more
I found Colette's work away when looking for last minute hosts in the area for me and my friend to stay with. What hat stood out to me is how open Colette was in her profile to… read more
After a happy season with a lot of wonderful workawayers, Miriam was such a joy
We went along in harmony, and she was a very dedicated helper too – she renovated a pile of very old shutters, from planning to sanding to fine sanding. Primer, two coats of color with sanding in between – of course!
She stayed… read more
Her dog Tripel is well behaved and fits perfect in a household with a garden.
From the beginning it was clear that An loves working outside and she isn’t afraid of heavy garden work, including… read more
She is interested, follows talking/discussions/arguments/conversations with a lot of knowledge and her own… read more
If you… read more
Max is kind and honest, you can always trust him to be there for everybody.
A young man who is discussing and thinking about so many different subjects, always sharing his ideas and trying to see the other side.
Max wants to learn new things, he’s interested in the surroundings and finds easily the… read more
Veronika is the most gentle and and lovely person – you’ll discover only in time how much she has done, what she has seen and how many skills she has.
She tried several new things and didn’t give… read more
From the start I felt very welcome, as I said before, like a friend. Not… read more
His creativity combined with a sense for design is outstanding and the result in triple D 23 design for my extractor hood spectacular
At a brocante nearby, Pete found exceptional things, he helped me chose the pieces who… read more
