Help with renovation, gardening and more in the countryside of the Gers, France
Última atividade
: 17 out. 2024
Encontre o anfitrião perfeito
Hospedagem min. solicitada: mínimo 3 semanas
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Possivelmente precisarão de workawayers
Sem disponibilidade
Detalhes
Nº de ref. de anfitrião: 534767794564
Segurança do site
Comentário (1)
Deixado pelo Workawayer (Greta) para o anfitrião
What an honor to write the first feedback for Damien&Phill… and at the same time how odd to leave a review to someone which I now consider two dear old friends! :D
Sure it’s impossible to properly describe the wonderful 6 weeks spent at their old french farm, but I’ll try to give some clues for workawayers that might have the chance to go there in
… read more the future.
I was supposed to arrive during the second lockdown in France, so after some thinking D&P agreed to host me anyway, despite knowing that we would end up living very close together on the propriety due to restrictions. If I had some doubts over this situation, I was reassured the moment I arrived at their place: they revealed themselves as the most warming and caring hosts and the house itself is big enough to provide space for everybody’s quiet moments. This old french farm has a very special charm that you will discover day by day…half of it is a building site, some parts are still very messy and full of an unimaginable variety of old objects and tools, other rooms have just been renovated and you could think they’re coming out of an interior design magazine! The garden is also magic: there’s a 1000 square meter plot dedicated to Phill’s flower production, a former ‘drinking pond’ for cows now filled with waterlilies (and soon to be transformed into a natural pool), a chicken coop for cute chickens and ducks, a romantic well, a brand new orchard, a roses and bulbs garden, a mysterious centuries old adobe house, an open lawn ideal for stargazing and a quick exit on the sunflower fields enveloping the farm. If you like discoveries and you’re up to take part in any kind of jobs, this place is like the perfect playground! The inside of the house is pretty much the same: the former stables are being transformed in the biggest kitchen you’ll ever see and on the first floor you’ll find more rooms waiting to be completely renovated…the project possibilities are endless! I particularly liked the fact that they’re trying to respect the original aspect of the farm, upcycling materials found in place and adding some striking design solutions and a very personal ‘vintage’ taste.
The residents of the farm are simply the bests: Phill is a volcano of ideas and you’ll easily find yourself transported by his enthusiasm, Damien has a real know-how on technical topics and can teach you veeery patiently a wide range of things, passing from how to set up an electricity network to how to cook perfect french galettes. They both have a great sense of humor and they constantly spoiled me with their cooking skills. We always had very healthy, organic and often creative meals, and a special mention goes to the tradition of the weekly chocolate tart! The chickens provide daily fresh eggs and I’ve also tasted jams and sauces prepared in the summer from the orchard and kitchen garden production. One day a fancy country café venue will find place under the hangar…
I could never release a worthy review on the food topic, but for sure everyone’s taste will be satisfied…the region also offers many non-vegetarian delicatessen, that you can find at the saturday market in Isle Jourdain.
It’s unthinkable non to spend some words on the others furry residents: big gentle Fritz and Otis the puppy, the mouse patrol team Franklin&Peebles, Evie the nut lover parrot and a bunch of cheerful singing little birds. You’ve got to love animals then, because they are very ‘present’ members of the family and you will for sure find yourself talking with them and learning about animal training. It’s impossible to name a favorite, I miss them all!
During my stay I spent 2/3 of the working time in the flower garden, where Phill grows the ingredients for many beautiful bouquets which are sold in different local shops or used for events…of course, since I arrived in November we just finished harvesting the very last flowers and then proceed to the preparation of the plot for the next spring. We built new framed beds and planted thousands of bulbs, we transplanted seedlings, we divided perennial plants, we added compost and mulch all around, we weeded (never enough), we dug up hundreds of dahlia tubers to be stocked for winter…and many other tasks. With the good weather is simply a pleasure to hang out in the garden, chatting about organic farming methods, wildlife and plans for the future…
When the weather eventually turned bad we concentrate our efforts inside, where again I learned many new things: we prepared a lime mortar and renovated an old stone wall, we tiled the bathroom walls and we did some electrical connections in the new rooms. I also spent some days preparing dried flowers bouquets which we then sold at a local market near Toulouse…
Working days are busy but rarely hard, every accomplished task is truly rewarding ‘cause is a real in-progress project and Damien and Phill are open at every suggestion you can make to develop it.
Due to the lockdown I spent my free time mainly around the farm and chilling in the big and cozy living room or in front of the fireplace, but at the end of my stay we were able to take day trips to Carcassonne and Cordes-sur-Ciel. The unspoiled Gers countryside is punctuated of very well preserved old villages and farms, is simply a pleasure to drive around the hills and imagine the fields in the summer, covered in sunflowers and cereals.
I also had the pleasure of briefly meeting some of my hosts’ friends and everybody was jus warm and happy to welcome me at their own place, to show their land or activity. Thanks to Damien and Phill I felt almost like I’d always been living there, our meeting was very spontaneous and the time spent together was absolutely inspiring for me. And well, since they insisted that I’ll be welcome back whenever I want…I will for sure be back in the harvesting season, to see the fruits of our work in the garden, discover more of the country and help shaping this amazing project!Só é possível entrar em contato com Workawayers com assinaturas ativas.
Comentário
Deixado pelo Workawayer (Greta) para o anfitrião
What an honor to write the first feedback for Damien&Phill… and at the same time how odd to leave a review to someone which I now consider two dear old friends! :D
Sure it’s impossible to properly describe the wonderful 6 weeks spent at their old french farm, but I’ll try to give some clues for workawayers that might have the chance to go there in
… read more the future.
I was supposed to arrive during the second lockdown in France, so after some thinking D&P agreed to host me anyway, despite knowing that we would end up living very close together on the propriety due to restrictions. If I had some doubts over this situation, I was reassured the moment I arrived at their place: they revealed themselves as the most warming and caring hosts and the house itself is big enough to provide space for everybody’s quiet moments. This old french farm has a very special charm that you will discover day by day…half of it is a building site, some parts are still very messy and full of an unimaginable variety of old objects and tools, other rooms have just been renovated and you could think they’re coming out of an interior design magazine! The garden is also magic: there’s a 1000 square meter plot dedicated to Phill’s flower production, a former ‘drinking pond’ for cows now filled with waterlilies (and soon to be transformed into a natural pool), a chicken coop for cute chickens and ducks, a romantic well, a brand new orchard, a roses and bulbs garden, a mysterious centuries old adobe house, an open lawn ideal for stargazing and a quick exit on the sunflower fields enveloping the farm. If you like discoveries and you’re up to take part in any kind of jobs, this place is like the perfect playground! The inside of the house is pretty much the same: the former stables are being transformed in the biggest kitchen you’ll ever see and on the first floor you’ll find more rooms waiting to be completely renovated…the project possibilities are endless! I particularly liked the fact that they’re trying to respect the original aspect of the farm, upcycling materials found in place and adding some striking design solutions and a very personal ‘vintage’ taste.
The residents of the farm are simply the bests: Phill is a volcano of ideas and you’ll easily find yourself transported by his enthusiasm, Damien has a real know-how on technical topics and can teach you veeery patiently a wide range of things, passing from how to set up an electricity network to how to cook perfect french galettes. They both have a great sense of humor and they constantly spoiled me with their cooking skills. We always had very healthy, organic and often creative meals, and a special mention goes to the tradition of the weekly chocolate tart! The chickens provide daily fresh eggs and I’ve also tasted jams and sauces prepared in the summer from the orchard and kitchen garden production. One day a fancy country café venue will find place under the hangar…
I could never release a worthy review on the food topic, but for sure everyone’s taste will be satisfied…the region also offers many non-vegetarian delicatessen, that you can find at the saturday market in Isle Jourdain.
It’s unthinkable non to spend some words on the others furry residents: big gentle Fritz and Otis the puppy, the mouse patrol team Franklin&Peebles, Evie the nut lover parrot and a bunch of cheerful singing little birds. You’ve got to love animals then, because they are very ‘present’ members of the family and you will for sure find yourself talking with them and learning about animal training. It’s impossible to name a favorite, I miss them all!
During my stay I spent 2/3 of the working time in the flower garden, where Phill grows the ingredients for many beautiful bouquets which are sold in different local shops or used for events…of course, since I arrived in November we just finished harvesting the very last flowers and then proceed to the preparation of the plot for the next spring. We built new framed beds and planted thousands of bulbs, we transplanted seedlings, we divided perennial plants, we added compost and mulch all around, we weeded (never enough), we dug up hundreds of dahlia tubers to be stocked for winter…and many other tasks. With the good weather is simply a pleasure to hang out in the garden, chatting about organic farming methods, wildlife and plans for the future…
When the weather eventually turned bad we concentrate our efforts inside, where again I learned many new things: we prepared a lime mortar and renovated an old stone wall, we tiled the bathroom walls and we did some electrical connections in the new rooms. I also spent some days preparing dried flowers bouquets which we then sold at a local market near Toulouse…
Working days are busy but rarely hard, every accomplished task is truly rewarding ‘cause is a real in-progress project and Damien and Phill are open at every suggestion you can make to develop it.
Due to the lockdown I spent my free time mainly around the farm and chilling in the big and cozy living room or in front of the fireplace, but at the end of my stay we were able to take day trips to Carcassonne and Cordes-sur-Ciel. The unspoiled Gers countryside is punctuated of very well preserved old villages and farms, is simply a pleasure to drive around the hills and imagine the fields in the summer, covered in sunflowers and cereals.
I also had the pleasure of briefly meeting some of my hosts’ friends and everybody was jus warm and happy to welcome me at their own place, to show their land or activity. Thanks to Damien and Phill I felt almost like I’d always been living there, our meeting was very spontaneous and the time spent together was absolutely inspiring for me. And well, since they insisted that I’ll be welcome back whenever I want…I will for sure be back in the harvesting season, to see the fruits of our work in the garden, discover more of the country and help shaping this amazing project!Só é possível entrar em contato com Workawayers com assinaturas ativas.
Reparamos que o seu perfil tem menos de três fotos. Com o novo modelo dos perfis de anfitriões, recomendamos ter mais do que três fotos para seu perfil se destacar visualmente.
Reserve um tempo para escolher algumas imagens que mostram onde você vive ou a região:
Por favor, entre em sua conta Workawayer para contactar esse anfitrião, ou
inscreva-se aqui!
França
Se não reside na União Europeia e estiver planejando visitar a França para trabalhar, voluntariar ou estudar, VOCÊ PRECISARÁ O VISTO ADEQUADO. Para obter mais informações, é necessário entrar em contato com a embaixada localizada em seu país, ANTES de viajar.
Prática de idiomas
Ajuda em projetos ambientais
Jardinagem
Construção/faça você mesmo
Cuidar de animais
Ajuda em fazenda
Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras
Ajuda a cuidar da casa
Manutenção geral
