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Join a Dutch family on their goat farm in Midi Pyrenees, South of France

France
Last activity : 4 Apr 2025

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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
3 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 17 days
Feedback
33
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

Details

Description
We're a Dutch family (Elisabeth, Chris and our two sons Koen & Lucas) running a goat farm in the Gers, South West France. We have about 130 Alpine goats, 40 goat kids 6 billy's, 2 pigs (the local "Porc Noirs" -breed), some chicken, cats, a dog that eats the chicken, 50 ha of arable land and 20 ha of woods.

We manage the farm in a sustainable way (Chris is an agricultural engineer with a specialization in organic agriculture) and try to keep farming and nature in balance. Our work differs with the seasons: In spring we have busy period with the lambing; summertime is hay making, harvesting cereals and seeding covercrops; in autumn the fields are preared and seeded for the next year.

Beside the daily work (milking, feeding the goats, taking care of the other animals, the vegetable garden, repairing anything that breaks down) there are lots of projects (e.g. cutting firewood for the winter, breaking down a shed, building a chicken barn to painting the woodwork of the yurt, building an outdoor kitchen). And of course there is work on the land, however therefore you need to have some experience with tractors. Everything is possible depending on your skills and interests. In general its hard physical work but there is also plenty of time to walk/cycle/read/relax and doing nothing.

Our farm is located in a very rural area but not isolated. There is a village at 5 min down hill by bike with shops, restaurants and a market every Friday. A larger town is at 20 minutes drive by car. The Pyrenees are at 80 k

We provide three meals a day. Veggies come mainly from our own garden, meat from our pigs & goats, but we also like a good old pizza now and then..
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Help around the house
Animal Care
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Feeding / milking the goats and bottle-feeding the lambs (in the lambing season)
Helping out with all types of farm related work (adapted to your skills and interests)
Repearing anything that breaks down (and over the year that's a lot)
Working in the vegetable garden,
Strimming, mowing, cutting / chopping wood
Cooking
Lots of (bigger and smaller) building
Walking/cycling/readinng/relaxing and doing nothing.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
You will stay in a yurt or a caravan. There is electricity, water, an outside shower and a dry toilet. In the yurt is a woodburner. But of course you can also make use of a bathroom in the house and other house facilities.
What else ...
From the airport in Toulouse (Blagnac) you can either take the train or hitchhike to Auch. There we will pick you up.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two

Host ref number: 988953944244

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Feedback (17)

4 Apr 2020

Left by Workawayer (Richard & Lucy) for host

We were fortunate enough to stay with Chris, Els, Koen, and Lucas for three weeks during October, and we can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences we've ever had. This was our first ever Workaway, and we could not have asked for a more wonderful time. The whole family was so welcoming and throughout the whole time that we were… read more there, they were at ease, always happy to share stories, information, have a chat, and really made us feel included with family activities. We would often be talking all evening after dinner over cups of tea. The farm is in such an idyllic location, and it was amazing to see photos of how the farm and farmhouse have changed since Chris and Els first bought it. We really enjoyed all of the work that we did on the farm and our daily routine. It would start with feeding the goats first thing in the morning, and this was always so joyful to see the goats waiting for their breakfast, and giving them some scratches and strokes (the goats are so friendly and curious). Then we would lay new straw down for them, doing these jobs whilst the goats had their morning milking. We would then go up for breakfast, and afterward would maybe move onto working the vegetable patch, collecting vegetables, digging out weeds, or we might collect the walnuts that fell off their 3 walnut trees! Or we might be cleaning, or de-cob-webbing the milking stables, which was so satisfying getting the industrial hoover out clearing it all away! It would then be time for the lunchtime goat feed and family lunch. The afternoon was open to do some more jobs around the farm, and we often got involved with the evening goat feed. More fun came from the fact that all of these jobs would be done whilst you’re surrounded by animals; 7 or 8 cats, Django the dog, chickens, and obviously the goats! The whole atmosphere was very chilled, the work was physical, but the kind that gets you motivated and Chris and Els were so accommodating, always letting us try new things, and would tell us to have breaks or enjoy cups of tea in the sunshine! We really admired the balance that they found with work life and family life. It was also inspiring to see how resourceful Chris and Els are, they have a dedication to eating fresh, home grown, organic food. Most of the vegetables were straight from the garden, they had beautiful local honey, liked to make their own bread and pizzas, and we now have so many delicious recipes to try ourselves. The farm is located about a 20 minute walk to the local, very typically French village which has a weekly market and a few nice shops, but we were also able to explore Auch and the Pyrenees.
We learnt so much from the whole family, especially from seeing hands-on how a farm is run, and the issues and challenges that have to be considered. Chris and Els are very knowledgeable, and we really appreciated how much they spoke with us, answered all our questions, and taught us! Whilst staying on the farm we were housed in an amazing Yurt with its own log burner which was very homely and cosy. We would enjoy just sitting outside and enjoying the peace (and surprising amount of October sunshine!) around us. After spending a great year in Bordeaux, we both agree that our time spent on the workaway with Chris and Els was the cherry on top. Thank you for everything and we hope that we will be able to visit again soon! P.s Keep practicing your moonwalk and music knowledge! ;-) xx

Lucy and Richard

(Excellent )

11 Nov 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Richard & Lucy)

These two wonderful people stayed with us for three weeks. Very short after they arrived we had to go to the Netherlands for a couple of days due to a family situation. They took over the farm without problems and when we got back it felt like they had been here for months already.

Richard and Lucy did all the work in a good mood, structured and… read more

(Excellent )

29 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (MUNEEB) for host

I really enjoyed my stay with Els and Chris. It was my first real foray into farm life, and they did their best to teach me. As soon as we met, I felt very welcomed, so there will be no issue with feeling like you're part of the family. You work together, eat together, and sometimes, travel together. With the family there's also a big opportunity… read more

(Excellent )

24 Jul 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Dieuwertje)

We were very happy to host Dieuwertje for two weeks on our farm. Though initially maybe a little bit overwhelmed by all the jobs, she got up to speed in a couple of days and developed herself as a real ‘cleaning monster’ (her own words). Dieuwertje performed every task with 100% commitment en enthusiasm: the milk machine, milk tanks, window panes,… read more

(Excellent )

View all 17 feedbacks

Photos

The image depicts a serene scene of a yurt and a caravan situated in a lush grassy area, surrounded by trees and a blue sky with white clouds.

The image depicts a man cutting wood with a chainsaw on a trailer, with a van parked in the background and a grassy field with trees and a blue sky.

The image depicts a goat standing on a wooden table in a covered outdoor area, surrounded by chairs and trees in the background.

The image depicts a rustic farm scene, featuring a tractor and hay bales in a barn, with a gravel driveway and a serene background of trees and a blue sky.

The image depicts a serene rural landscape featuring a stone house with a tiled roof, a wooden barn, and rolling hills covered in trees and grass.

Feedback

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

Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)

Cultural exchange:
(4.7)

Communication:
(5.0)

4 Apr 2020

Left by Workawayer (Richard & Lucy) for host

(Excellent)

11 Nov 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Richard & Lucy)

(Excellent)

29 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer (MUNEEB) for host

(Excellent)

24 Jul 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Dieuwertje)

(Excellent)

11 May 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jacob)

Jacob stayed with us for two weeks. After three days we thought he was ready to take over the farm and we could go on holiday…Jacob is a quick learner, organized and very motivated to do well. Feeding the goats, weeding in a veg patch, electrical wiring, cleaning the milk stable and much more: every task was done 100% and at high speed. This meant… read more

(Excellent)

2 May 2019

Left by Workawayer (Jacob) for host

I stayed on the farm with Chris, Els, Koen and Lucas for two weeks in April. Another great Workaway experience! It was a nice opportunity to learn a bit about France, the Netherlands, goats, and farming. I hadn’t worked with farm animals before, but I had the impression that goats were funny creatures, so I wanted to see for myself. I was there… read more

(Excellent)

3 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Guerra & Miltner) for host

The first thing that comes to my mind regarding our experience is that last day, when Els left us in Auch and we were not able to tell if we had only spent two weeks with them or rather two and a half months. For me, this shows that every second was so easy that we never felt like ‘strange’ people, but we could make part of their wonderful family… read more

(Excellent)

5 Sep 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Guerra & Miltner)

We had a great time hosting Julia and Markus. They're smart, inquisitive, very easy to get along with and brought a very positive vibe into our house. We had lots of nice conversations at the dinner table and also good laughs. Markus & Julia were open to every task on the farm and in the house, either feeding the goats, the long ‘meditative’… read more

(Excellent)

16 Jun 2017

Left by Workawayer (Maggie) for host

Sorry for the late response!

Chris, Els, the boys, and "kids" were just an amazing experience for me. A really loving and wonderful family they are, with a beautiful farm and acres of land. I helped them out by feeding the goats, helped out with the newborn "lambs" and absolutely fell in love with them. :) I also did some gardening with Els! It… read more

(Excellent)

5 May 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Maggie)

Maggie was our first American workawayer and it was a joy to have her! She is always in a good mood and has a very relaxed personality. She's not afraid of anything! Being an outdoor pro we did not have to explain her anything about yurts, dry-toilet or making fires... Also at the farm it seemed like she was in her natural environment. Maggie did… read more

(Excellent)

26 Apr 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Phil)

Phil stayed on our farm for two weeks during the kidding season and he has been great. He took on every task at the farm with ease and enthusiasm: from goat tackling, feeding goats, weighing kids to spending patient hours with a group of stubborn goat kids teaching them how to drink from a bucket.
Phil is very pleasant company, we had many good… read more

(Excellent)

15 Apr 2017

Left by Workawayer (Phil) for host

Loved my stay on the farm and i couldn't recommend it enough. This was my first workaway job and it was a great experience; Chris and Els are brilliant hosts and just genuinely, really nice people.

Only had chance to stay with them for 2 weeks but I'm already planning my return later in the year!

(Excellent)

17 Apr 2017

Left by Workawayer (Thomas) for host

I can't believe it has been nearly a year since I stayed with Chris and Els, and I also can't believe I haven't left feedback!!
I had the best time on the farm, I learnt so much about a completely different way of farming which has helped hugely with my work back in the UK. More than that though was the enjoyment of living with such an amazing… read more

(Excellent)

9 Sep 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Thomas)

Tom stayed with us for over a month. As off day one Tom blended in very well. He is a very accessible, sociable person and quite the entertainer! Each meal was enlightened by his funny stories and he's very good imitating various accents, we were not spared with our Dutch accent. Besides having a good laugh it was interesting, Tom being an… read more

(Excellent)

6 Oct 2016

Left by Workawayer (Rasmus Stentoft & Frederik Philip) for host

We had a wonderfull time staying with Chris and Els. We stayed for to weeks in the very hot late-summer. We helped feeding the goats three times a day and did various tasks around midday. There were loads of different tasks available and we were able to choose the sort of tasks that suited us best. It can be hard work at times, especially when the… read more

(Excellent)

10 Sep 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Rasmus Stentoft & Frederik Philip)

Rasmus and Frederik stayed at our farm for two weeks in August. From day one they were faced with two challenges: an unbearable heat and a fly invasion. Easy going as they are, they took it very well, we never heard any complaint and they did all the work highly motivated and with great enthusiasm (and sweat..)
The true Viking spirit became… read more

(Excellent)

10 Sep 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Sienna)

In the five weeks that Sienna stayed with us, above all she surprised us with her balanced, cheerful and creative character. She picked up the daily routine in and around the stables very quickly, soon being completely autonomous in the feeding. It was obvious that she really enjoyed the goats and the kids (she simply Looooved them). Furthermore… read more

(Excellent)

21 Jul 2016

Left by Workawayer (Sienna) for host

I looooved my 5-ish weeks at Chris and Els' farm. They were truly generous hosts whom I immediately warmed to and felt comfortable with. Their big family of boys, goats, cats, chickens and the dog all welcomed me into their beautiful home and life.
I helped with feeding and mucking out the goats, weighing the kids and tagging them, and even got… read more

(Excellent)

15 May 2016

Left by Workawayer (Lonneke) for host

I had a great time at the goat farm. Chris and Els are amazing hosts, this was my first workaway experience and it couldn't have been better. I went there during the kidding season, to learn more about the goats and farming. Chris and Els took the time to explain everything, even though it was a very busy time at the farm. On some days we had to… read more

(Excellent)

11 Apr 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Lonneke)

Lonneke stayed with us for a whole month during the kidding season. This is a very hectic period with a lot of work and long days. Lonneke adapted very easily and was always there where she needed to be. She was great with the goats (she's an excellent goat catcher!), the dog, the cats, and very patient and caring with the new born goat kids (and… read more

(Excellent)

15 Apr 2016

Left by Workawayer (Jolanda) for host

I forgot to give my feedback 2 years ago.. shame on me. But I loved staying with Chris, Els, the kids and of course all the animals. I liked it so much that I will return next month.. what more do I need to say.. It is a beautiful place if you want to expirience rural life in France. Loved your way of living with respect to nature and animals.

(Excellent)

10 Jul 2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Jolanda)

Jolanda stayed at our farm for three weeks and has been a great help. She has worked really hard and picked up every new task very easily and always with great enthusiasm. It was nice to see her care for the goats, pigs, cats and even "Django" our badly trained dog..

Thanks again Jolanda and good luck with your future plans!

(Excellent)

27 Mar 2015

Left by Workawayer (Hanka) for host

Chris and Els are amazing hosts, interested in their work and respectful to their animals. The farm is perfect place to stay and learn; watch their approach to different things. Chris was really opened to discussion and patient with my endless questioning "why?" :). I visited in a busy season of lambing and feel very grateful for being allowed to… read more

(Excellent)

22 Nov 2014

Left by Workawayer (Kathrin_Ko) for host

I stayed at Els' and Chris' farm for two weeks in October and it was a great experience! Both of them (and the kids, too, of course!) are very nice and I felt at home immediately. Besides helping with feeding and milking the goats, I worked on various tasks on the farm and in the garden, like digging for potatoes, collecting nuts and cutting old… read more

(Excellent)

23 Oct 2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Kathrin_Ko)

Kathrin worked with us for 2 weeks in October 2014. She helped us to feed the goats and pigs three times a day. Furthermore she harvested countless buckets of walnuts in a very zen way. As well she helped to prepare the vegetable garden for the winter and had no problems digging up long rows of potatoes. It was all hard physical work and she coped… read more

(Excellent)

18 Sep 2014

Left by Workawayer (Leonie) for host

I very much enjoyed my stay at the goat farm of Chris and Els. They give me a warm welcome and they are generous people. They teached me a lot about goat farming and took the time to explane me all about the tasks. As well highly recommend!

(Excellent)

4 Sep 2014

Left by host for Workawayer (Leonie)

Leonie has been on our farm or almost eight weeks and it has been a pleasure! She's a very hard working woman who does magic in a vegetable garden and takes her responsibility in taking care of the goats and other animals. We can highly recommend Leonie for other hosts!

(Excellent)

2 Oct 2013

Left by Workawayer (andrew_vuckovic) for host

Absolutely brilliant hosts and an amazing 'authentic' farm experience!
It was a delight to stay at your farm and help with the feeding and milking of the goats each day, working the land on the tractor, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings, local villages and great food...and all the while learning about what it takes in running an ethically… read more

(Excellent)

30 Sep 2013

Left by host for Workawayer (andrew_vuckovic)

Andrew the Awesome Aussie! It was really great to have him at our farm. Within a few days he was completely independent on the tractor (impossible to get him off until the work was done), a great hand with the goats, and completely on top of the weeds in the garden.
But besides of the work it was a pleasure to have him at the table, not only… read more

(Excellent)

11 Jul 2013

Left by Workawayer (Till) for host

When we arrived at Els and Chris Farm we planned on staying for 2 until three weeks, but stayed for four weeks with. We really enjoyed our stay with them. We liked it a lot to work with their goats. In general it was a good mixture of work. Literally hundreds of different projects we could choose. Very generous and funny people, hard not to get… read more

(Excellent)

11 Jul 2013

Left by host for Workawayer (Till)

Stefanie and Till have been absolutely wonderful. They are both hard workers, quick learners, always in a good mood and great with the children. It's a joy to have them around.
We recommend them to any other hosts without hesitation. Thanks a lot Steffi and Till, good luck on your journey and hope we will see each other again!

(Excellent)

13 Aug 2012

Left by host for Workawayer (Seb)

Seb is a very friendly, easy-going, reliable guy who will be of great help on whatever project. On our farm he fed the goats three times a day, did a lot of strimming :-), lawn mowing and even children's entertainment. Seb was always on time and he is tidy: he cleans up after him and doesn't mind doing the dishes. Last but not least, he makes… read more

(Very good)

29 Jul 2012

Left by Workawayer (Seb) for host

Yes really nice hosts , i learnt a lot wile i was hear ,the yurt is really peaceful. The food was very nice there was a nice lake near bye thanks Chris and Els speak to you soon Seb.

(Very good)

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Join a Dutch family on their goat farm in Midi Pyrenees, South of France

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Last replied

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Feedback

Email verified

Badges (3)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

Projects involving children

Help

Languages

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

Can possibly accept pets

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (17)

Photos

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