Join us and experience rural family life in beautiful Mayenne, France

Infos

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  Description

  Hello!
  
  We are a British family living in the beautiful French countryside in Mayenne, France. Our family consists of two adults (Abbie and Chris), two children (Sophie and Lucy), dogs, cats, horses, and other farm animals. We are surrounded by peaceful countryside and are looking for enthusiastic, reliable Workawayers who enjoy rural life and don't mind getting their hands dirty.
  
  About Us
  
  We enjoy a simple, family focused lifestyle and appreciate people who are respectful, independent, and happy to become part of daily life. Evenings are often relaxed, spent with the family, animals, or enjoying the countryside.
  
  Good to Know
  
  • We live in a rural location, so enjoying country life is important.
  • A driving licence is helpful but not essential.
  • We are best suited to individuals or couples who enjoy nature, animals, and practical work.
  
  If this sounds like the sort of experience you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you. Tell us a little about yourself, your interests, and any skills you'd like to share.
  
  We look forward to welcoming you to our corner of France!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Technologie

  

  Films et télé

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Ferme

  

  Musique

  

  Photographie

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Langues

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Livres

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Sports d’hiver

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Sports d'équipe

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée

  

  Fitness

  

  Cyclisme

  

  Camping

  

  Plage

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We believe that one of the best parts of Workaway is the opportunity to share cultures, experiences, and skills with people from around the world.
  
  As a British family who have made our home in rural France, we offer a unique blend of both British and French culture. Workawayers can experience everyday life in the French countryside while also sharing family meals, conversations, traditions, and customs with us.
  
  We are happy to help visitors improve their English through informal conversation and can also share our experiences of adapting to life in France, navigating French culture, and living in a rural community. Depending on the season, Workawayers may have the opportunity to attend local markets, village events, fêtes, and community activities that provide a genuine insight into French country life.
  
  We love learning about other countries and cultures and enjoy exchanging stories, recipes, traditions, and perspectives. Whether it's teaching us a favourite dish from your home country, sharing your language, or simply talking about life where you're from, we see Workaway as a two way exchange rather than just help around the house.
  
  For those interested in animals and smallholding life, there is also an opportunity to learn about caring for horses, managing land, and the practical aspects of rural living in France.
  
  We also have high speed fibre internet if required too.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  We Welcome Help With
  
  There is always plenty to do on our smallholding, and tasks vary depending on the season. These may include:
  
  • Gardening and vegetable patch maintenance
  • General outdoor maintenance and tidying
  • Painting and DIY projects
  • Fence repairs and land management
  • Help caring for animals and keeping their areas clean
  • Household tasks and occasional cooking
  
  No specialist experience is required. A willingness to learn and a positive attitude are far more important.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Espagnol: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Language exchange is something we genuinely enjoy. English is our native language, and we are happy to help Workawayers improve their conversational English through everyday discussions, meals, family activities, and practical tasks around the property. At the same time, we continue to develop our own French and enjoy opportunities to practise and learn from native speakers. We welcome Workawayers from all backgrounds and love learning new words, expressions, and cultural perspectives from different languages and countries. Our home provides a relaxed environment for language learning, with plenty of opportunities for natural conversation rather than formal lessons. Whether you want to build confidence speaking English, practise French, or simply share your own language and culture with us, we would love the exchange. Abbie is a qualified Level 5 TEFL English tutor, and is more than happy to provide English lessons as part of the stay too.
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  Hébergement

  We offer:
  
  • Comfortable accommodation in our family home
  • Meals and use of household facilities
  • The opportunity to experience life in rural France
  • Plenty of opportunities to practise English or French
  • Time to explore the local area on your days off
  
  Workawayers will have their own private bedroom within our family home. The room features a comfortable king sized bed with a memory foam mattress and beautiful views across the surrounding countryside, providing a peaceful place to relax after a day of activities.
  
  Guests will have access to a shared bathroom, WiFi, and all the usual amenities of family life. We aim to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment where Workawayers can enjoy both privacy and inclusion in family life.
  
  We provide three meals a day and encourage Workawayers to join us for family meals whenever possible. We regularly prepare a variety of meals, including vegetarian, vegan, and traditional options. We enjoy sharing food from different cultures and are happy to accommodate dietary requirements with advance notice. Mealtimes are an important part of the cultural exchange and a great opportunity to practise languages, share experiences, and get to know one another.
  
  Our home is located in the peaceful countryside of Mayenne, surrounded by fields, horses, cats, and nature. It is an ideal setting for anyone looking to experience authentic rural French life, enjoy the outdoors, and become part of a family environment.

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  Autres infos...

  Free Time and Local Activities
  
  During time off, there is plenty to enjoy in and around our rural corner of Mayenne. The surrounding countryside is ideal for walking, cycling, and simply relaxing in nature. A 14km hiking route passes directly by our property, making it easy to head straight out on foot and explore the local landscape.
  
  There is also a nearby swimming lake with a range of outdoor activities available, particularly popular in warmer months. It is a great spot for swimming, picnics, and enjoying the outdoors.
  
  Guests can also explore quiet country lanes, woodland paths, and scenic farmland right from the doorstep. Local villages offer traditional markets, cafés, and occasional community events such as fêtes and seasonal celebrations. Larger towns within driving distance provide shops, restaurants, historical sites, and cultural experiences for those wanting to venture further.
  
  We are always happy to suggest places to visit depending on your interests, whether that is nature, food, history, or simply experiencing everyday French village life.
  
  Transport Options
  
  Although we are in a rural location, transport links are more accessible than you might expect. There is a train station approximately 20 minutes away with TGV connections to both Paris and Rennes, making it possible to enjoy easy day trips or weekend travel further afield.
  
  Public transport locally is limited, so having your own car is helpful but not essential. We can usually help with occasional lifts to nearby villages or the train station when needed.
  
  For those without a car, cycling can be a good option for local exploring in good weather, and we can advise on safe and enjoyable routes in the area.
  
  House Life and Expectations
  
  We live a busy but relaxed family life, and Workawayers are welcomed into our home environment. We value respect, kindness, and consideration for shared spaces.
  
  We ask that communal areas are kept tidy and that everyone helps maintain a calm and friendly atmosphere in the home.
  
  We are not a party house, but we very much enjoy conversation, shared meals, games, and relaxed evenings together.
  
  We believe in clear communication and mutual respect, and we find that Workaway works best when everyone feels comfortable, included, and able to speak openly about needs or expectations.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We are happy to welcome digital nomads as long as they are comfortable balancing remote work with their agreed help hours. WiFi is available in the house, and there are quiet spaces for working, although this is a family home so the environment is naturally lively at times. We find this works best for people who enjoy a relaxed rhythm and can manage their own work schedule around shared mealtimes and agreed help times.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  For those travelling with campervans or motorhomes, we may be able to offer a simple parking space on our driveway depending on availability and season. Facilities can be discussed in advance, as this is a rural property and not a formal campsite. We are happy to be flexible where possible, especially for respectful and self sufficient travellers.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Regarding pets, we are generally open to discussing this on a case by case basis. We already have animals here, so any visiting pets would need to be well behaved, sociable, and compatible with our existing animals and family life. Prior agreement is essential before bringing any pets.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

  

  Chickens and geese

  We have many chickens and 2 geese (Gertie and Gandalf)

  

  Kevin, Runty and Oliver

  Kevin and Runty are our 2 pet Kunekune pigs, they love nothing more than belly rubs and back scratches.
  
  Oliver is our pet Ouessant sheep. He's very small, and likes to observe from afar, if you can gain his trust he loves a good head rub!

  

  Cobweb

  

  Pixie

  

  Nemo

  

  Berlioz and Toulouse

  

  Rosie

  

  Wally and Odie

  Wally is a haflinger, Odie is an Irish Cob

  

  Holly, Teddy, Bella

  Holly is a Black and Tan Australian Shepherd X
  Teddy is a brown mixed breed
  Bella is a Red Merle Australian Shepherd
  
  All very sociable
  

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