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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
8 Apr 2024
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Details
Description
We are a German family with 3 kids (Lucia,9, Walburga,12 and Ludwig, 15) who live on a former farm property in the East Pyrenees since 2022. My wife, Kerstin, holds a master degree in pedagogy and a master degree in Aikido (5th Dan). Me, Robert, I have an Engineer's diploma in Forestry, and I am a registered Budopedagogist and as well holding a master degree in Aikido (6th Dan).
As a family, we live a life in peace and harmony amidst the mountain nature, practising Aikido on all levels. We will establish different training spaces, an Octagonal mountain temple, a Yurt Dojo and grounds for Aikido weapon training.
The two farm houses have been fully restored and are well equipped, but the land was in little use for about 25 years. Now, we reactivate the overgrown infrastructure (streets, ways, paths) and ancient stone terraces all over our property (18 ha) to establish permaculture and forest gardens step by step. We also have a dog, two ponies, a donkey and five goats.
Since we live at the southern slopes of the Canigou massive (2784m), the holy mountain of the Catalan people, we love mountain hiking in this vast area without tourism. We combine our tours with traditional exercises of the Japanese Yamabushi (mountain warriors) and offer that for youth education and initiatic travel projects, coaching, etc. to create our income.
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Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
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
First of all, a co-creative family life in peace and harmony can be experienced.
The 35 sqm Mediterranean kitchen is the centre point of living, sharing organic food, preparing internationally, mostly vegetarian meals together.
Working hours are always followed by reflection honouring the achievements made.
There is the chance to experience various Aikido practices on and off the mat, as well as taking part in meditative and contemplative exercises in magic places in nature. Occationally we also sing and dance the Paneurythmia, a Bulgarian mountain practice. Therefore, we are a living example for the integration of Oriental and Occidental cultures.
It is our 'German' style to work physically efficiently and concentrated only a few hours per day and all the same having time for social, mental and spiritual work every day, maintaining consciously an integral conduct of life.
Since we are well equipped with machines and tools for farming and forestry, as well as our workshop is, especially outdoor work competences can be acquired.
Moreover, we can teach educational competencies. We are experts for youngsters and adolescents.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Depending on the season we need help in establishing a self sufficient homestead in multiple ways: clear cutting, fencing, gardening, building (greenhouse, root cellar, shelters), making hay and firewood, etc. Also small repairs and maintenance around the houses is required.
Our children are very well self organized (Montessori), but they are thankful for some support in learning, especially in languages (English, French).
They are very competent in taking care of themselves. Nevertheless it is great help for them, someone communicative just being around ("holding the space") in case we are on mountain tour with clients for a few days sometimes.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Japanese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are german native speakers. For both our daughters English and French beginners level would be great. For us and our son French advanced level and communication training is fine. Some Spanish beginners level also wouldn't be bad.
Accommodation
The little house with the large Mediterranean kitchen mentioned below provides two guest rooms at the souterrain. We also can offer our big family caravan (3 rooms) nearby the farmhouses, as well as different caravan sites for your own camper van.
Our property, reaching from 850m to over 1100 m altitude, offers a variety of camping grounds for tents, from the meadow down at the little river, over places in deep forest to terraces with great view on the Spanish mountain border.
What else ...
Although we are at the end of a valley up in the mountains, we are only 50 km away from the Mediterranean sea, which is a little more than an hour's drive. The wonderful coastline of the rocky Côte Vermeille with its picturesque villages is as well an option as the endless sand beaches of Argèlés sûr Mer.
You also can visit places like Perpignan and Figueres (Spain) in the same travel time. Barcelona is 120 km from our place. There are also various natural hot spas around the Canigou massive.
Our little village Montferrer is 4 km away and offers a little cafe and leisure grounds (pool, boule, ping-pong). We can provide our e-bikes to reach it in a 15 minutes ride.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
So far we cannot offer internet access. But we have very good LTE mobile net.
Space for parking camper vans
A smaller place near the houses and a big one a little below. Electricity can be provided.
Can possibly accept pets
Not inside houses.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
