France
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I am looking for one or two people to stay at my place for the month of January, February and possibly longer - to look after five cats and enjoy the space. Would ideally suit someone who has an online or independent income and who can pay for their own food during the stay. You would not be expected to do any work apart from feed and cuddle the cats. I am currently away supporting a friend who is unwell. There is high speed internet, lots of books and a woodstove. You are welcome to stay longer if you are happy to contribute to food and help out for no more than 15 hours a week.
I am also looking for someone vegan who would like to stay longer term to help me maintain the land (food growing) - I can offer a lovely room in the house. I would like to welcome someone who can contribute to food while helping part time (no more than 15 hours a week) and who has an online income (or who doesn't need one). There is high speed internet at the house.
I have created an association here at my home in the Normandy countryside with the idea of sharing ideas and practices related to permaculture, veganism and sustainable living. The project is currently coordinated by myself with the help of friends and volunteers. I am a bilingual (English/French) English woman with qualifications and experience in plant based cooking, ecoconstruction, furniture making, organic/permaculture gardening, teaching and art and craft. The idea is to ultimately offer courses, informal apprenticeships and work experiences related to vegan cooking, permaculture and aspects of sustainable living.
Help so far has centred around renovating an old earth house with natural materials and creating an edible landscape on almost one hectare of land using many ideas and techniques of permaculture. This year we will continue to develop the food growing and vegan cooking aspects of the project. We grow wild plants, edible flowers, herbs, perennials and ancient variety seeds. There is a mandala garden, a fledgling forest garden, an apple orchard and many different kinds of beds (hugulbeds, raised beds) Depending on time, budget and help, we would also like to create an edible wildlife pond as well as work on designing a solar shower, a dry toilet block and solutions for low cost energy generation.
It is tranquil here. There is wifi but no television, plenty of books you can borrow on all aspects of ecological living and a couple of guitars and a eukoleli.
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
In coming here you can learn about aspects of vegan cooking, eco-construction and/or permaculture gardening (I am qualified in all of these). I have a good number of books on many aspects of permaculture that you can borrow. I love to play the guitar and sing so always interested to exchange songs.
It would be great to have some longer term help with the garden food growing project. In an ideal world I would love to welcome someone who has at least some knowledge of food growing/horticulture/agriculture to help with developing this aspect (the vegan edible landscape) and who would be interested to stay for a longer period of time . I would like to develop the use of herbs, green manures, beans for protein and more edible perennials. We built a solar dryer last year and drying and storing more herbs would be great.
I will also be working on vegan cooking workshops and permaculture weekend courses (that we plan to run this year) - so people interested in these subjects (or even helping out with the workshops) are welcome. I would like to design and build a solar cooker.
If someone has Knowledge of plumbing, electricity, carpentry and/or building and the interest/motivation to do research; we could work on designing and possibly building a solar shower, low cost energy production systems, rocket mass stove and dry toilet block.
If you have IT skills I would love some help with developing a website and publicity/marketing for vegan cooking and permaculture courses that we would like to run this year - as well as how to use social media.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
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Accommodation is in caravans and a camping car or camping if you have a tent. In the winter months and during some other months there is a room in the house available.
We have a couple of cats that live here so this is not a good place for someone with a cat allergy!!
Mont Saint Michel is half an hours drive away and there are many interesting old towns and cities to visit like Fougeres (with its old castle) Granville, St Malo and Dinan. There are beautiful waterfalls not far from here and a busy weekly market at the nearest town - Saint Hilaire du Harcouet (6km away). You can borrow bicycles to get to town or to explore the local area. It is possible to cycle to the waterfalls and Mont Saint Michel from here. There are buses to different places that you can catch at Saint Hilaire du Harcouet. We are in the middle of the countryside so it would suit people who enjoy peace and quiet.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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