Help with permaculture forest garden project in Languedoc Roussillon, France

Detalles

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  Descripción

  July 2026.
  Hi, I'm Kai. It's so difficult to write these lines but my project is gone. It burned to ground in the recent wildfires. No more tiny house. No more project.
  All I need help with now is fencing and taking care of the plot/vegetable garden as much as possible under the circumstances.
  
  June 2026
  we are Kai (German/Dutch) and José (Spanish), 61 and 58 respectively. In 2020 we bought a 7200 m2 plot in a small town near Perpignan in the South-East of France in the foothills of the Mount Canigou (Eastern Pyrenees) where we started a permaculture forest garden project with dry toilet and tiny house. If you love the simple life, we think you will love it here. We've now passed the early stages of preparing the plot, getting recycled material, designing, building plant beds etc. and are more occupied with maintenance work and a few last building projects (extend greenhouse, build pergola in front of the kitchen, build shed for bike, pond, pool, platforms...).
  Workawayers will be hosted in a cabin built on the plot, but you can also live in a tent or in your van, if you travel in one.
  
  I have 2 PDC diplomas and in May 2021 I did my 5th course with Rakesh Roots 'n Permaculture (highly recommended!), in this case on Forest Gardening, so if you are interested in permaculture I am sure I can teach you a lot of what I learned. You will experience the medium stages of starting a PC project, which I think is the nicest part :)
  My partner José and I live on the plot now and work on it (almost) every spare moment we have and at this point in time (June 2026) we are still perfecting the tiny house, collecting wood for the winter, pruning trees, cutting the grass, improving/expanding the irrigation system, finishing the greenhouse, cabin insulation, planting trees, weeding the veggie garden etc.
  In 2026 we will continue building raised beds, building the wooden structures, platforms, planting/sowing the medicinal garden etc.
  We are looking for people who are not afraid to put in some hard work and who are happy to do tasks alone if necessary.
  if you have skills in carpentry, DIY, and know how to work with your hands, if you are enthusiastic, hard working, dynamic, resourceful, and pro-active, you are very welcome!
  We both have a good work rhythm and really don't have time to host someone who needs to be constantly pushed.
  We are both outgoing, fun-loving and positive people.
  
  Things we have achieved so far:
  (January 2021 through to June 2026):
  - repair fence (check)
  - build fence with pallets (check)
  - make new fence
  - Designing the forest garden and the whole PC project (ongoing)
  - Designing and building the dry toilets (done)
  - gathering recycled material (stopped)
  - gathering wild trees and plants for replanting (ongoing)
  - preparing raised beds (ongoing)
  - Dig pond (check)
  - planting hedge (check)
  - Planting fruit trees (ongoing)
  - pruning trees (check)
  - gathering materials for cabin (check)
  - Build a cabin (check)
  - Dig canal for water access (check)
  - Dig trench(es) for water access (We're on it :) )
  - Dig rainwater deposit (check)
  - build rainwater deposit (check)
  - build tiny house (= refurbish existing building) (check)
  - gather (recycled) material for the conservatory made of old doors and windows (check)
  - build conservatory (check)
  - build outside shower (check)
  - build "kitchen" area (check)
  - build rocket stove for cooking (check)
  - building greenhouse (check)
  
  Still to do:
  - plenty of finishing touches
  - build new fence
  - dig holes for new trees
  - extend greenhouse
  - paint greenhouse
  - Paint kitchen
  - sand and finish cabin terrace
  - Paint cabin
  - paint cabin bathroom
  - finish cabin details
  - cutting wood for the winter
  - build pizza/bread oven
  - finish pond
  - building 2 yoga platforms out of pallets
  - Design natural pool
  - build natural pool
  (...) = all the things I forget to mention ;)

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos

  Jardinería básica

  Proyectos creativos DIY «hazlo tú mismo»
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  Intereses

  

  Agricultura

  

  Sostenibilidad

  

  Vegetariano o vegano

  

  Autodesarrollo

  

  Idiomas

  

  Historia

  

  Jardinería

  

  Cocina y alimentación

  

  Yoga / bienestar

  

  Naturaleza

  

  Senderismo
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  There are several things I hope I can offer you: language exchange (I speak fluent German, French, Spanish, Dutch and English so you can train any language you might be learning or wish to learn. I can teach you how to cook vegetarian/vegan meals.
  As this is a permaculture food forest project, you can participate in my design process to start a permaculture garden and I will be more than happy to share what I know about the permaculture approach in gardening but also as a life-ethics.
  I am passionate about psychology and if you need it, we can have some deep conversations about any part of your life you may need some help or guidance with (or just a good ol' chat).
  I can also help with some holistic life-design.
  If anyone is up for it and there is time, I'd love to try and make vegan cheese. Depending on the season, we will make preserves (chutneys and marmalade) and we can make bread, homemade cosmetics etc.
  The surroundings are stunning so you can enjoy hiking and discovering the Pyrenees in your spare time (I'm happy to go hiking on weekends!).

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  Ayuda

  Main projects at this point in time:
  (June 2026):
  - paint outside doors and windows
  - improve watering canals
  - take care of the (very neglected) vegetable garden
  - weed, weed and weed!!
  - build pizza/bread oven
  - preparing raised beds (= weeding, building the (very simple) structure, covering with manure and hay)
  - build pond (already dug)
  - dig more trenches for water access
  - improve fence (wind protection)
  - lay stone path
  - finish all the rainwater collection systems
  - design natural pool
  - build natural pool
  - continue designing the forest garden and the whole PC project
  - building 1 yoga platform out of pallets
  
  
  Later stage:
  - dig rainwater deposit nº2
  - build roof for rainwater collection nº2
  
  Cooking will not be considered as part of the helping tasks, so that will be done outside of helping hours.
  In the garden, we're well on our way but more or less 50% still needs done there.
  Things like initiative, reliability, commitment and respect are very important to us, but behind all the serious talk, we are generally quite relaxed and flexible.
  
  We looove a good debate about just about any topic (some basic Spanish would be a plus as José doesn't speak much else ;) ) and we love playing board games in the evening.

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas hablados
  Alemán: Fluido
  Inglés: Fluido
  Español: Fluido
  Francés: Fluido
  Holandés: Fluido

  Este anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
  I can help teaching Spanish, English, French, German and Dutch. I would love to learn Arabic
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  Alojamiento

  Accommodation will be in a small cabin on the plot (very few commodities) or in a tent if you prefer that (there is a brook for water (washing) and we will provide drinking water and food.
  Limited electricity is now available on the plot and there is a possibility to charge mobile phones and laptops if necessary.
  
  We hardly eat any meat or fish and the main meals will be generally vegetarian and healthy. We provide some staple foods for breakfast and dinner (no dairy or meat!). Lunch will be cooked and eaten together. Dinner is for yourself to sort as I have irregular work hours (this is subject to change but don't count on it).
  If you want to eat meat, drink alcohol or eat white bread, cookies, junk food, sugary stuff etc, you will have to buy that yourself. Otherwise I have no limitations in regards to food and drink, but obviously won't accept anybody getting drunk (or high) whilst on my property.
  We prefer non smokers.
  General rules are simple: be punctual (very important), don't be lazy, clean up after yourself & be open if there is any problem. Communication is key to you having a good stay here. Please keep the place clean and care for it as if it was your own.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you stay in our place, we expect you to leave it spotlessly clean and in perfect condition the day you leave.

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  Algo más...

  The nearby airports are: Perpignan/Rivesaltes (30 min), Carcassonne (80 minutes) and Gerona (80 minutes) or Barcelona (150 min) and you can get here by Blablacar, bus, train...
  Our town is well connected so you can get almost to my door from anywhere.
  If you get to Perpignan, you can get here either by bus or train for 1€ (Transport in this area is brilliant as you can get everywhere for just 1€).
  If you have a problem in getting to us, let me know and we'll discuss possibilities.
  
  I teach most mornings and some afternoons so the rhythm will be:
  Working in the mornings (winters 9.00-14.00h, summers 7-12.00). Cook and have lunch, afternoons off.
  When José and me are busy, I will get you started and join you as soon as possible.
  
  Weather permitting, we can have barbecues outside some days.
  You can explore some of the surroundings by bus or train. When I'm free, I'll be more than happy to go hiking with you and explore the surroundings myself as I haven't had much time to do any sightseeing. If you like the city, you can go to Perpignan or Prades by bus.
  
  Anything else you're curious about, please just ask.

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas

  Este anfitrión puede proporcionar un sitio para autocaravanas.

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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  Mis animales / mascotas

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