Help a group of friends maintain a plot in a small village in Quillan, South West of France

France

Favourited 290 times

Host rating
Feedback
27
Last activity
12/12/2020
Reply rate
81.5 %
Average reply time:
within 3 days
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are a little group of friends living in different houses of a small village in South West of France. Together, we grow organic vegetables and we keep goats and hens. We also adopted recently 2 donkeys. We maintain a plot of 2 hectares.
We love yoga, music, ecology, sharing of fraternal values. For us, it's important to cultivate peace and respect in relationships.
We've been working together for 10 years on our land, and we are happy today to have the possibility to host one or a couple of workawayers in order to enrich our cultural exchanges, improve our english, stimulate our creativity, and receive help in our work in the garden.
Most of us are vegetarian, so we prefer to host vegetarian workawayers. For allergies reasons, we don't host smokers.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Animal Care
Language practice
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can learn about garden, speak french, take care of goats and hens, cook, caning, team working...
Help
There is work to prepare the vegetables garden, repair the hens enclosure and the goats enclosure, cut some wood, planting, do some small construction work, undergrowth, prune fruit trees, store and restore storage rooms ...
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
We have one bedroom in our house with one double bed or 2 single beds. Bathroom and kitchen are shared with the hosts. It is in a village house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, one kitchen, one big living room. 3 friends live in this house, as well as 3 cats and 1 small dog.
What else ...
Our area is very touristic for its beautiful natural sites: Pyrenees, forest, Cathar Castles, historic villages, beautiful churches, ... You can easily do water sports, climbing, horse riding, hiking around the village and further, ...
We live 6 kilometers from Quillan where you can take the bus and the train to Carcassonne or Perpignan for 1€. One of us can easily drive you to Quillan.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There is a parking in the village for cars and vans. We have one bedroom to host workawayers. There is no possibility of camping in our garden.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
in Summer: from 8am to 11am and from 5pm to 7pm, from Monday to Friday. Flexible.

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Feedback left by and about host (27)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

16/11/2020

Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host

My experience in Brenac was beyond anything I could have imagined. In just threw weeks I found a forever home, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am to have spent time in this beautiful place with such a beautiful group of people.

With regard to the experience as a workaway exchange, it was wonderful! The work in the garden was very… read more enjoyable, and I had so much fun getting to know all the animals, helping prepare food, and learning about the area. I primarily worked in the garden with Nadine and Mary Christine and got to do a variety of tasks (weeding, working with compost, preparing vegetable beds, harvesting, caring for the animals, etc.) They always explained things and we worked alongside each other most of the time. They were patient and giving of their time and resources, and I never felt confused or unattended to - even with my inability to speak French. The work was not work, but rather opportunities to learn :-). The accommodation was also lovely! I stayed in the cozy and delightful home of Nadine, Mary Christine, Gloria. I had my own room and private shower/sink to use, and they provided clothes for work and harsher weather. We shared all our meals together and the food was DELICIOUS. Gloria is an excellent cook and I had so many farm fresh meals I will try to recreate long after my travels. Additionally, Brenac itself could not be more picturesque. Everyday, I was in awe of the rolling hills, gorgeous mountains, colorful sunsets, and the quaint and historic village. If you want to reconnect with nature and spend time in a peaceful place with a rich history, look no further.

With all of that said, the most special and meaningful aspects of my time in Brenac will be the relationships I developed with these women. Jeanne, Sarah, Nadine, Mary Christine, and Gloria are all individually such loving people, who really opened up their hearts to me. I had so many intimate moments with them that I will forever cherish, and I found them each to be incredibly inspirational in their own ways. As a young women, I am so grateful to have witnessed their sense of sisterhood and friendship, love and respect for one another, as well as their strong sense of independence and autonomy. They are a badass group of women, with deeply caring souls. I am also so grateful for their generosity of time, art, and space. For instance, Devayani (Sarah's daughter and a pianist/composer), shared her brilliant music in intimate concerts. Sarah, a women whose wisdom and deep spirituality touched my soul, also shared the art and poetry of her mother. I didn't speak French, and Jeanne was so willing to translate for me. I enjoyed dinners and parties with their friends and family. I took the Donkeys, goats, and sweet dog Azul on walks. Truly each day was a gift.

I will never fully articulate what this experience meant to me. I am already planning to return :-) <3. Thank you thank you thank you! Merci beaucoup!!!!!!

(Excellent )

15/11/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Julia)

Hosting Julia for 3 weeks has been a wonderful experience for us! She is an extremely sensitive and intelligent person, which makes communication very deep and beautiful. Julia left a bright memory with all of us. Very efficient at work, she is also consciencious and persevering. She gave us a great help in different tasks: gardening, cleaning,… read more

(Excellent )

15/11/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Carlos & Amaia)

Nous avons reçu Carlos et Amaia pendant 2 semaines et ils nous ont apporté une grande aide au jardin et dans toutes les tâches que nous leur avons confiées. Ils sont tous les deux motivés pour travailler avec conscience et bienveillance et avec beaucoup de respect. Très à l'écoute de nos besoins, ils ont fait preuve d'une grande efficacité dans… read more

(Excellent )

25/10/2020

Left by Workawayer (Carlos & Amaia) for host

Estuvimos dos semanas aquí que fueron fantásticas, llegamos a casa de unas desconocidas que rapidamente se convirtieron en nuestras amigas y finalmente en nuestra familia. Siempre amables, comunicadoras, flexibles y pendientes de nuestro bienestar, se comen productos sanos y naturales, excelente cocina (Vegeteriana).
Trabajo duro pero… read more

(Excellent )

16/10/2020

Left by Workawayer (Hanna & Viktor) for host

Our stay in Brenac has been just wonderful! It's not so easy to describe their project, but we'll try:
They are a community of mostly women who are spiritually connected and who live in mutual solidarity and harmony with nature, cultivating their land and taking care of animals.
We lived together with Nadine, Marie-Christine and Gloria. We had our… read more

(Excellent )

03/05/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Rachel)

We were impressed with Rachel's maturity, and very satisfied with her work. She is an intelligent person, very sensitive, very courteous, who has perfectly adapted to our way of life and to each of us. Thank you for the musical evenings on vocals and on guitar.

Nous avons été impressionnés par la maturité de Rachel, et très satisfaits par son… read more

(Excellent )

03/05/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Benoit)

On dirait que tout le monde regrette Benoît! Et nous aussi!
Son séjour parmi nous a été très enrichissant. Il a apporté son enthousiasme, sa joie de vivre, son humour, sa serviabilité à nous tous.
Nous avons beaucoup apprécié sa personnalité rayonnante, très sensible à son prochain, une grande ouverture d’esprit et une humanité et une chaleur de… read more

(Excellent )

29/12/2019

Left by Workawayer (Benoit) for host

J'ai vraiment vécu de très beaux moments, authentiques et humains, dans ce petit village de Brenac perché dans les confins de l'Aude.
L'accueil qui m'y a été réservé et les égards dont j'ai fait l'objet m'ont également beaucoup touché, quand je sais d'expérience qu'ils sont d'ordinaire destinés à la famille ou aux amis proches.
Merci à tous pour… read more

(Excellent )

03/05/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Maria & Martin)

Nous avons accueillis pendant 5 semaines Martin et Maria et nous avons beaucoup apprécié leur présence joyeuse et positive, leur serviabilité, leur facilité à comprendre le travail demandé et leur délicatesse dans la communication. Au cours des différents travaux qu’ils ont effectués, ils ont montré tous les deux une grande persévérance, un sens… read more

(Excellent )

26/04/2020

Left by Workawayer (Maria & Martin) for host

Brenac is a great place to be surprised by a world lockdown. Initially, we planned to stay 2 weeks but because of the quarantine we ended up staying 5 weeks there and our experience was amazing. We lived with Marie Christine, Gloria and Nadine (plus Iudka, Moshi and Shiny, the dog and cats) where we had our own room, and the meals (fantastic… read more

(Excellent )

22/09/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Martin)

Le séjour de Martin chez nous fut un réel bonheur! Serviable, attentif, motivé, il a fourni un travail intense et a été une aide très précieuse pour notre jardin. Nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir à échanger avec lui, à lui transmettre notre savoir-faire en permaculture. Il a été très réceptif, et comprenait très vite ce qui était à faire. Il a… read more

(Excellent )

24/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (Martin) for host

I had a very very good time with Jeanne, her friends and all the animals that live with them. Their gardens (yes there are several!) are all wonderful places, truly in peace with nature. They invest a lot of time, effort and love to take care of all their plants and animals. But they also take very good care of their WorkAwayers :) They went the… read more

(Excellent )

21/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Margherita & Laerke) for host

My friend Laerke and I stayed in this very picturesque and characteristic village, called Brenac, in Southern France, (only 50 inhabitants?) close to the Pyrenées, with a community of amazing women (plus the friendly Pierre Jean, Sarah's husband and Azul, the dog). We had the chance to work in a permaculture garden (4 hectares), which looks much… read more

(Excellent )

03/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Spencer) for host

I stayed with the group of friends for just over two weeks and thoroughly enjoyed it. They were all very welcoming from the first day and really kind and curious. Their garden project has been going for over 10 years now and they’re all eager to explain how they do things and also have numerous books about permaculture and sustainable farming. I… read more

(Excellent )

07/08/2019

Left by Workawayer (Sophie) for host

Staying with this big family of friends in their lovely tiny village was amazing and the best 'first' workaway experience I could have wished for.
They put a lot of effort into making me feel good and at home at their place. When I caught an insolation from the morning sun (guys, always wear a hat!) they cared very kindly for me and gave me time… read more

(Excellent )

07/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Emma) for host

I can’t thank you all enough for making me feel like at home in Brenac. Each one of you were super kind and warm to me, and it was quite emotional to leave after 3 weeks of stay, during which time I have learned so much about bio gardening, looking after the animals, and mostly- LOVE. I am just so grateful for having come to the right place and… read more

(Excellent )

01/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Massimo) for host

Salut , salut ....I had a very nice time with the guys over there , definitely will try to go back one day . Thanks to everyone : Nadine , Marie - christine , Gloria , Jeanne , Sarah , Tarika , Devaiani , Pierre Jean and ... you are so many guys . I really appreciated everything you did for me , my staying was JOYFUL. For the workawayERS :… read more

(Excellent )

09/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (Jessica) for host

I had a wonderful 2 weeks at the garden with the ladies and their menagerie of animals. It's a beautiful and spiritual place, full of love. I helped look after the donkeys and goats and I did lots of gardening. I was incredibly well looked after and had delicious home-made meals everyday, made with fresh ingredients from the garden. I would often… read more

(Excellent )

04/05/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jessica)

Ce fut un bonheur pour nous tous de rencontrer Jessica. Très rigoureuse dans son travail, très attentive et honnête, elle a une grande profondeur et connaissance de la vie déjà à son âge.
Son regard humaniste sur la vie et sur tous les êtres vivants est animé par un idéal de respect et de beauté dans les relations. Elle a soif d'apprendre, et… read more

(Excellent )

04/05/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Estibaliz)

Nous gardons un excellent souvenir du séjour de Esti chez nous! Elle nous a rendu grand service au jardin, a été à l'écoute de toutes nos demandes, a fait son travail avec application, et nous a même régalé d'une tortilla maison!
Très agréable à vivre, pleine d'humour et de fraicheur, Esti adore les animaux, dont elle sait prendre soin avec grande… read more

(Excellent )

23/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Estibaliz) for host

Such an incredible experience that I really don't know where to start!
I spent 13 fabulous days surrounded by these beautiful ladies, helping them in the garden and visiting la región de l’Aude. The garden is situated right next to a river, so after work I always had the opportunity to have a refreshing swim. The hours were flexible and my duties… read more

(Excellent )

04/05/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jamie & Charlotte)

Nous avons reçu Jamie et Charlotte pendant 2 semaines chez nous, et ils ont été d'une aide très précieuse au jardin. Efficaces, faciles à vivre, autonomes, prévenants, très agréables, travailleurs, ils nous ont tous les deux laissés un très bon souvenir de leur séjour. Encore merci pour votre aide et votre bonne humeur!
Nous les recommandons à… read more

(Excellent )

11/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Sara) for host

I had such a warm and enjoyable time with these ladies, for a little more than 2 weeks. Mainly helping in the garden, it was very inspiring to see what they have achieved and participate in it with such a welcoming atmosphere. The help was fun and calming, watering, laying wood chips on the young plants, potting little plants, feeding the goats… read more

(Excellent )

22/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Emmanuel)

Nous avons reçu Emmanuel pendant 13 jours. Il a été très efficace pour nous aider au jardin, et très agréable à vivre. Un grand sens de la communication, de l'intelligence et de la curiosité, un grand sens de l'humour, beaucoup d'humanité... Nous avons apprécié sa sensibilité à l'univers des enfants, son dynamisme, sa joie de vivre et sa capacité… read more

(Excellent )

18/06/2018

Left by Workawayer (Emmanuel) for host

J'ai eu la chance de séjourner 13 jours avec ces hôtes merveilleux.
Le travail est diversifié et ils sont flexibles sur l'horaire de travail, un terrain d'entente est vite trouver. Le travail dans un jardin est concret, on a donc la satisfaction de voir les changements ayant été apportés.
L'hébergement est très confortable. De plus, la nourriture… read more

(Excellent )

03/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Julia)

We enjoyed very much having Julia with us. She works very well, knows what needs to be done and does it very well. Although it rained some days, Julia gave us a great help in the garden. Thank you for all!

(Excellent )

20/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Julia) for host

[in FR & ENGL]
Merci beaucoup!! J'ai vous déjà dit que pour moi c'est incroyable que j'étais la première personne qui est venue chez vous avec Workaway parce que vous êtes des hôtes génials!
J'ai passé deux semaines chez ce groupe d'amis chaleureux. Ils sont très hospitable et ont même cuisiner des repas vegan pour moi (c'était très bon!). J'avais… read more

(Excellent )

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