Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
43
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Time flies—I came to France 24 years ago and built a small farm from the ground up. In the beginning, my husband and I focused on beekeeping, managing nearly 100 hives. With around 20 hives mounted on a trailer, we moved them to different locations, leaving them there for a month or two to produce a variety of honey: rapeseed, sunflower, forest, linden, wildflower, and more. During the week I sold our honey at the market along with a range of honey-based products—honey vinegar, honey mustard, jams made with honey instead of sugar, pollen, propolis, cakes, and whatever else we could create.
Unfortunately, my husband suffered from an incurable disease. Despite his hard work there were days when his illness prevented him from tending to the bees, particularly the precise work required for queen rearing. Since timing was crucial, we ultimately decided to sell the hives and shift our focus to raising decorative birds—geese, ducks, peacocks, and pheasants—purely for their beauty, never for consumption. At one point we had more than 100 birds, housed in various enclosures, with some tame enough to wander freely in our garden.
Alongside the birds we always kept a small herd of cows. We started with Charolais before switching to Scottish Highlanders, typically maintaining around seven. However, when my husband passed away eight years ago, I found myself alone with a workload that was becoming overwhelming. Though I always had helpers, managing everything on my own was too much. I decided to sell the cows and most of the birds, and today I have seven geese, a pair of black swans, some hens, a cat, and a beloved pygmy goat adored by everyone.
Of course farm life still requires upkeep—repairs, garden maintenance, and general care. As I plan to leave France at some point, I need to put things in order, so I’m once again looking for a helper.
I’m originally Swiss but have lived in many countries: Sri Lanka, Kenya, Thailand. Before deciding to move to France I lived in Switzerland for a number of years. My home here is deep in the countryside, 375 km south of Paris and 150 km north of Lyon. The nearest small town with a supermarket is 12 km away, though there is a small village store for essentials. Summers here are quite hot, and while winters rarely bring snow, temperatures can drop well below freezing.
For recreation, there’s a Swin Golf course behind my house—a simpler version of golf that requires no prior experience. The area also offers some wonderful places to visit, such as the caves at Moidon and Baumes-les-Messieurs, the latter featuring a lovely waterfall, a picnic area, and a historic abbey. A walk through Château-Chalon provides breathtaking vineyard views and the chance to taste excellent local wines. Other nearby attractions include the château museum at Pierre-de-Bresse, the salt museum, and, most notably, the famous medieval hospice in Beaune.
I enjoy hosting Workawayers for at least 2–3 weeks, preferably longer, and I appreciate non-smokers.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
They can practise French, English or German.
Help
The tasks are very varied, just whatever needs doing most urgently. At the moment it is a lot of help outside. It might also include helping with housework.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
A bed downstairs in a sitting room, next to the bathroom. Sometimes the bathroom has to be shared with visitors. We have a big kitchen, where everybody is welcome to stay, and a sitting room that can also be used.
What else ...
I live out in the country. There are no public buses.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
I have a large parking place
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (16)
I learned several things about management of gardening, wood and animals.
Also the capital Lons le Sonier is close by, and other nice places like Pierre-de-Bresse or Beaun. With good public transport access. Also Helen can bring you close.
I have a… read more
Photos
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:
(4.9)
I learned several things about management of gardening, wood and animals.
Also the capital Lons le Sonier is close by, and other nice places like Pierre-de-Bresse or Beaun. With good public transport access. Also Helen can bring you close.
I have a… read more
Le travail dépends des besoins du moment, et il n'en manque jamais. Si vous… read more
She is pleasant, kind, and talkative, but a little particular.
I was given a feeding job as a daily task and often weeding. what I did the other things on her farm was to rub with a scourer, then paint the shed, and cleaning their… read more
Since she was already hosting another workawayer, she has been so kind she lent us her own room during our stay. The daily tasks were fun and had very often to do with helen's animals, and she was always willing to explain/teach whatever, in… read more
The days started early, Helen teach… read more
Working for Helen has been absolutely satisfying for me because I learned a lot about rearing Scottish highland cattle, life in the French countryside and birds (being at home now, I’m still very intrigued by them).
Along with that, I enjoyed the quiet, the… read more
The outings to the animal market in Louhans, the day we spent in Lyon and neighbourhood together… read more
During my stay I learned a lot and they have so much to tell you. On the… read more
