Help at our project with gardening, fencing and wood chopping at our house with pool in the Dordogne, France

France

Favourited 193 times

Host rating
Feedback
27
Last activity
19/01/2021
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Availability

2021

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are Nick and Judy, a couple with grown up children and we live in the South of the Dordogne area, situated between 3 beautiful old bastide towns. Our nearest town is Bergerac. The property is the remains of a 17th Century hamlet. There are 3 houses, two barns and a swimming pool. The grounds consist of 26 acres – woodland, meadow, vegetable patch, walnut grove and a small lake. We moved here from London 10 years ago and during that time have restored the 3 houses, installed photovoltaic panels and put in eco-friendly sanitation systems including a reedbed. We have a dog, cat, some sheep, kune kune pigs, ducks and chickens.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Help with Computers/ Internet
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
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What's this?
Help
Potential projects for this year include:
•wood clearance and management -the aim being to be self sufficient in firewood but also to gain access to woodland that has not been managed for about 50 years
•stone wall repair/maintenance
•plant propagating
•fruit and veg growing, harvesting and preserving

We find it best to work with couples or groups of friends rather than with a workawayer travelling on their own.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Beginner
Russian: Beginner
Accommodation
Accommodation would be on the first floor of the main house (two large double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms) plus two single rooms in the pigeonnier.
What else ...
Life here is never boring and is characterised by good food, good wine, good company and lots of sunshine – at least for March through to November .
We welcome anyone who feels they can contribute to the projects we have in hand either by offering muscle power, relevant knowledge and experience or simply a willingness to muck in. French or English lessons can be offered in return.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
4

Photos

Feedback left by and about host (27)

08/06/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Simon)

Simon is highly skilled and very helpful. He did lots of really useful work for us, fitting out a kitchen in a tepee, making a workbench, finishing of a walk in wardrobe etc. And he even did some washing up which was well above and beyond the call of duty!

(Excellent )

22/02/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Robin & Mélissa)

Robin and Melissa are a lovely young couple, entertaining company with a great sense of fun. They helped us with gardening, moving furniture, stacking wood and cracking walnuts. They also made excellent pesto with our home grown basil.
They both speak very good English.

(Excellent )

17/02/2017

Left by Workawayer (Robin & Mélissa) for host

Nick and Judy are very good persons and will make you feel very confortable at their home.
The property is absolutely gorgeous, full of life, and the old house is stunning !
They both have thousands of stories to tell, and they are very funny also. We spent two weeks there, and we have lots of good memories.
Judy is an awesome cook, and it… read more

(Excellent )

09/07/2016

Left by Workawayer (April) for host

Nick and Judy were our first workaway hosts and we couldn't have asked for a better welcome to the workaway world! I stayed here with my two friends and we had a very comfortable stay in their beautiful home and were provided with delicious meals. They very kindly showed us the local area which is extremely beautiful and we loved spending time… read more

(Excellent )

13/05/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (April)

Ruth, Imogen and April were a great team. They responded positively to any challenge we confronted them with and worked really hard. Good company too - I would have them back any time!

(Excellent )

20/05/2016

Left by Workawayer (Ruth) for host

Nick and Judy were great hosts and we immediately felt at home on our first workaway stay. They have a lovely house and accommodated three of us in nice bedrooms. The food we ate was really tasty and Nick and Judy were good company. They have a friendly dog and cat and their neighbours were really nice and welcoming. We worked gardening on nice… read more

(Excellent )

13/05/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Ruth)

Ruth, Imogen and April were a great team. They responded positively to any challenge we confronted them with and worked really hard. Good company too - I would have them back any time!

(Excellent )

14/05/2016

Left by Workawayer (Imogen) for host

Nick and Judy were excellent hosts for our first workaway. We came as a three and they were very accommodating, with plenty of room for us all in their lovely house. They kindly showed us around the local villages, taking us to sales and driving us to go on walks with their friendly dog Ortie. They also took us out to their friend's, to a French… read more

(Excellent )

13/05/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Imogen)

Ruth, Imogen and April were a great team. They responded positively to any challenge we confronted them with and worked really hard. Good company too - I would have them back any time!

(Excellent )

06/02/2016

Left by Workawayer (Tom ) for host

Judy and Nick were very kind and interesting and immediately I felt welcome. It was great to work with Nick and with Neils who also taught me a lot. Judy's cooking was very homely and tasted amazing. I would recommend Nick and Judy to any workawayers.

(Very good )

03/02/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Tom )

Tom is a delightful young man. He worked hard particularly when it came to chopping wood and fitted in with us really well.

(Very good )

04/02/2016

Left by Workawayer (tomasz) for host

Well. Me and Caroline spend almost 3 weeka in Judy and Nick ...and Otis place. They treated us like a part of family
Nick has so big knowledge about building thinks, feel welcome if you are there and you want to learn something about building; he have similar like mine sense of humor. Judy - magic chef. She cook amazing delicious. Her dishes… read more

(Excellent )

03/02/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (tomasz)

We hosted Tomasz and Caroline for 3 weeks in total and they were incredibly hard working and cheerful - full of energy and ideas. They are both very practical people and get on with things. Caroline likes cleaning, cooking and decorating. Tomasz likes to work on building projects and generally working outdoors. A great combination!

(Excellent )

14/07/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Frithjof)

Frithjof is a really nice helpful person with a gentle sense of humour. Very easy company and very hard working. Really enjoyed hosting him.

(Excellent )

03/07/2015

Left by Workawayer (Frithjof) for host

Nick and Judy love their land and it shows. 10 hectares of grass land, vegetables, walnut trees, woodland, a pond and so forth. This was my 1st work away experience and I had a great time. Unfortunately there were no other work awayers when I was there but Nick and Judy are great company. Add some friendly neighbours and 2 lovely dogs and I was… read more

(Excellent )

27/11/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Heather & Rachel)

Heather and Rachel are lovely, positive and energetic people. I really enjoyed having them around and they adapted very well. Would welcome hem back any time!

(Excellent )

24/11/2014

Left by Workawayer (Heather & Rachel) for host

Rachel and I stayed with Nick and Judy for only a week in October. We really enjoyed our stay here--the weather was great, the work was hard but rewarding, Judy's cooking was absolutely amazing, and the company was wonderful, as well. Two other workawayers were there at the same time, and we really hit it off with them! Nick and Judy also took us… read more

(Excellent )

02/11/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Gemma & Chris)

Gemma and Chris were a delight to host. They fitted in instantly and were very hard workers. Chris likes working with cement, Gemma loves weeding....what more could you ask! They also have a very good sense of when to use their own initiative and when to ask for advice.
Added to which they were very good company and we had a laugh.

(Excellent )

22/10/2014

Left by Workawayer (Gemma & Chris) for host

Nick and Judy made us feel at home as soon as we arrived. We were well fed and well watered during our time there. They even introduced us to their friends (who are all wonderful people) and their Scottish Country Dancing group (so much fun!).

As our first Workaway experience I don't think we could have asked for more. The work was really… read more

(Excellent )

22/08/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Kateřina)

It was a real pleasure to host Katerina. She has a lovely gentle calm personality - nothing phased her, not even getting charged by our ram! She worked well and very cheerfully even when dealing with recalcitrant weeds. Can recommend her wholeheartedly.

(Excellent )

13/08/2014

Left by Workawayer (Kateřina) for host

I had really great time with Judy and Nick! The place is really beautifull, I already miss the sunsets. They are very friendly, made me feel really welcome. There is variety of work, weeding, feeding animals, I tried working for first time with cement! Food was delicious (gorgeous green beans). Thank you very much for the great time (and say hello… read more

(Excellent )

30/07/2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Julie)

Julie is the ideal workawayer - lots of energy, lots of skills and a really nice person to be around. She did everything we asked and more. She's a very cheerful, positive person with high standards and made a real difference to the appearance of the gite and garden. As other hosts will know sometimes you just need that extra energy to help you … read more

(Excellent )

29/07/2014

Left by Workawayer (Julie) for host

This was my 1st Workaway experience and I was really lucky to have spent it with Judy and Nick. Their place is great,own bedroom and en-suite with beautiful grounds, I very soon felt at home. There were lots of different jobs to do,weeding vegetable/flower patches, helping mix cement for the building of the wall, help with the sheep and geese,… read more

(Excellent )

01/10/2013

Left by Workawayer (David) for host

Nick and Judy made us feel extremely welcome from the moment we arrived. They have a fantastic sense of humour and are great conversationalists. We enjoyed our long summer evenings on their terrace with a glass of wine and excellent food. Later in the evening, there was a cracking fire by which we solved the world’s problems. They have some lovely… read more

(Excellent )

24/09/2013

Left by host for Workawayer (David)

Peta and David stayed with us for 10 days and were a great help - working on fencing, weeding, building a pergola, weeding, painting doors and of course weeding. Most importantly we cooked some nice food together. They were really good company and relaxing to be around so I recommend them heartily

(Excellent )

20/05/2013

Left by host for Workawayer (Alison)

Alison and Nigel were our first workawayers and couldn't have given us a better start. They are really helpful, positive and easy going people. Importantly for us they are also very practical - Alison arrived with her own toolkit! We had quite a lot of work piling up when they arrived and they made an enormous difference to the speed and ease with… read more

(Excellent )

13/05/2013

Left by Workawayer (Alison) for host

We had an amazing 2 weeks with Nick and Judy and their friends and animals. It is a beautiful place and they made us very welcome. We carried out a variety of jobs and enjoyed helping them. We were rewarded with lovely home cooked food and wine. We were sorry to leave and look forward to returning in the future. We would recommend Nick and Judy… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 938421852378

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