Help at a small eco farm in Duravel, France

  • Favourited 160 times
  • Last activity: 27 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Welcome!

    Me (Beverley) and Charles are both English living in France. We bought this "summer camp" because we fell in love with the area and land and we have a lot of projects for this place.

    Our project is based on Regenerative Agriculture, permaculture and sustainability. The core criteria for everything we are designing is "accessible for all" where possible. We will be as self-sustainable as possible. What has changed since we started is that we are now looking to have as many different ways of sustainable living as possible and hoping to be able to showcase these on the land.

    Here we have 3 donkeys, 5 sheep, few Indian runner ducks, small goats, 3 Kayuga ducks and a lot of chickens and new ones are arriving every now and then, plus 1 dog and 5 lovely cats.

    We have built a cob house for the chickens which was great fun and hard work. We made the donkey shelter out of pallets. It also has a solar electric fence, water harvesting and plastic bottle insulated walls where possible. We also have a walipini and a lot of permaculture beds.

    It's a really exciting project and one that is flexible so we can adapt for new ideas as we go if we wish to tweak or find new ideas.

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
    These are interesting projects that all interwork so everyone will get an opportunity to have a try at everything

    The Walipini vegetable garden is effectively a underground greenhouse and which has raised beds.

    Help
    The land is 2.5 hectares near the Lot river close to Puy L'eveque which is about 1.5 hours north of Toulouse, SW France.


    The everyday life is :

    - Taking care of the animals (feeding, watering, cleaning when needed, collecting the eggs)

    - Planting, weeding, watering, collecting vegetables…


    Some of our projects are:

    - Water harvesting. Monitoring and improving
    - Soil testing
    - Changing soil to enable planting of truffle oaks in top agroforestry
    - Planting up new species in lower agroforestry
    - Growing « superfood » plants in the underground vegetable garden
    - Rotational grazing and monitoring and logging observations for success
    - Making a silvopasture with the donkeys
    - Breeding chickens for coloured eggs



    · Accommodation
    We have 3 bedrooms with their own bathroom for volunteers.

    There is plenty of land if anyone prefers to camp. There will always be a vegetarian option and, if requested, a vegan option. There will be one day off a week for me from cooking.

    What else ...
    The local town is called Puy L'eveque. It is beautiful. Right on the river Lot. The river is about a 10 minute walk from the house and is huge. Boating, fishing, canoeing etc can be done. The town is about 1.3km so easy to bike in.


    Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions !

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    These are interesting projects that all interwork so everyone will get an opportunity to have a try at everything.

    The Wallipini vegetable garden is effectively a underground greenhouse and has raised beds so it will be easy to manage

    The whole project is very inspiring and is an opportunity to build or maintain unusual projects from planning to the finished product.

  • Help

    Help

    The land is 2.5 hectares near the Lot river close to Puy L'eveque which is about 1.5 hours north of Toulouse, SW France.

    We would like help with photographing the land and videos of the animals to help promote their role in helping with the climate crisis. We want to use these for marketing so someone with great IT skills would be great.

    Planting the wallipini and vegetable garden

    Securing all animals pastures

    Reworking pond that leaks

    Improving water harvesting.

    Pruning fruit trees

    Tidying all the land

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    There are ensuite bedrooms.

    There is plenty of land if anyone prefers to camp. There will be 3 meals a day. Breakfast is help yourself and lunch and dinner catered and we are happy to cater for any special dietary needs where possible. There will always be a vegetarian option and, if requested, a vegan option. There will be one day off a week for me from cooking.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The local town is called Puy L'eveque. It is beautiful. Right on the river Lot. The river is about a 10 minute walk from the house and is huge. Boating, fishing, canoeing etc can be done. The town is about 1.3km so easy to bike in.

    We have a dog and several cats at present but no doubt this will have expanded by next year. We have 5 sheep and miniature goats. And lots of chickens and ducks to help maintain the vegetable plot.

    We also have 4 donkeys.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have fibre connections so working from here has not been a problem for the nomads we have had

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Yes this is no problem.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 937315285871

Feedback (10)



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: (5.0)














Experience the French Alps and practice languages, ski, biking in Boëge, France
Explore French culture and sites with us while giving a hand around our home in Moirans