House & animal sitting and spring gardening in the Dordogne, South West France

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  I am looking for a outdoors couple who can help us with Spring Gardening! (Grass cutting, pruning, weeding etc). We may go away for a night or two, so also someone who has some experience/knowledge with horses.
  For about 3 weeks from around 16th April until 7 May 2025.
  
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  We are also looking for an EXPERIENCED HOUSE and ANIMAL SITTING couple to look after all our animals whilst we are away in JULY 2025! (Animal description below)
  You must have experience caring for HORSES, to be confident and to be able to recognise illnesses/laminitis etc and be an energetic nature lover! You'll arrive a few days before we leave, so you and the animals can become acquainted, know their routine, and be shown local trails to take our dog for walks.
  
  ABOUT US
  We are a British family of 4, a married couple with two sons, age 15 and 12. We have been living in the south of the Dordogne, SW France since 2017.
  
  We live in a semi-rural location with 5ha of land for our 3 horses and 1 pony that are used for pleasure riding. We have hens, 2 cats and our adopted dog, Shadow, who has 3 legs but runs like the wind! We have 1.5ha of grounds; a growing orchard including a fully grown walnut tree ready for harvesting during the month of September; a farmhouse to renovate; a restored 1 bedroomed Pigeonnier and our renovated 4 bedroomed barn for our family.
  
  We are situated in-between two beautiful medieval villages that have markets at the weekend selling local produce including organic vegetables, approximately 7km away. We also have a little shop selling local produce and convenience food, just 2km away.
  
  From our doorstep, we have many off-road trails that can be enjoyed by foot, bike or horseback, with distant views of Chateau de Biron.
  
  My husband works from his home office and I look after the house, garden, animals and my growing boys! My passion is horse riding which I try to do a few times per week. My youngest son also rides. We are a vegetarian household, however my husband and eldest son eat meat when out at restaurants. I run the Pigeonnier as a gîte when we don't have Workaways.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Prática de idiomas

  Jardinagem

  Construção/faça você mesmo

  Cuidar de animais

  Ajuda em fazenda

  Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras

  Ajuda a cuidar da casa

  Manutenção geral

  House sitting
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  We all speak English at home and my children are fluent in French, I speak some French so there is an opportunity to learn a little French or English!
  
  You will experience the way of living in France; the local seasonal produce; plums, mushrooms, hazelnuts and walnuts at the local markets, many restaurants, local breweries, wineries and beautiful hilly countryside with many chateaux, medieval stone buildings and Pigeonniers, a network of hiking trails, Wildlife; many birds, deer, boars; red squirrels, Farming; cow farms, sunflowers crops, hay making and of course many vineyards!
  
  Enjoy our peaceful surrounding of nature at home with some amazing sunrises, paddocks lined with oak trees, river running by the trees, horses grazing, and bright stars on a clear night!
  
  During the July and August there are night markets where locals get together and eat local food in the villages normally with live music.

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  Ajuda

  There are always areas that need work! During each Spring and Autumn we need help with strimming, pruning, weeding, veg patch, fence maintenance and house/animal sitting; looking after the horses and other animals!
  
  ANIMAL SITTING
  HORSES - We have 3 horses and 1 pony who live-out together in a herd within 5 hectares of pastures and 2 track systems that are rotated. They have a shelter they can always access with ad-lib hay and fresh water. There are no stables to muck out but the tasks for them are poo picking the shelter and surrounding area. Hay; we have large round bales and the hay is put into a container under the shelter and sprayed with water. They are fed breakfast (hard feed in the mornings only), so making up the feeds and washing the buckets; cleaning and changing the water buckets, sweeping the concrete area under the shelter etc. No poo picking of the fields is necessary as they are harrowed and rested when necessary. They will need to be brought in or turned out into the fields; putting headcollars on is not necessary as they either come when they are called or can drive them in from behind and they know their routine! (Grooming not necessary as I only do this when riding) The summers can be very warm so we tend to start early and the winters muddy & wet!
  
  HENS - We have 3 free range hens who put themselves to bed at night in their hen house and will need closing up at sun down; They will need letting out in the mornings, feeding and cleaning out each morning that takes no more than 10mins! Don’t forget to check for eggs, late morning and maybe lunchtime or the magpies will beat you to it!
  
  CATS - We have 2 cats (brother & sister) that we rescued as kittens in 2018. Joey, our male cat, is super friendly and loves a cuddle and will want to sleep on your bed! Lola is a little shy, but likes a stroke and a chin rub! We don't have a cat flap so no 'surprises' are brought in, they ask to go in and out when you're around. They have ad-lib biscuits and are fed wet feed now and again.
  
  SHADOW - our energetic young rescue dog, has 3 legs (missing hind leg) but she’s not only very mobile, she's super fast when she runs and loves her daily walks! She goes off the lead and going fast is easier for her. We have off-road walks straight from the house! She has a pretty good recall and is always improving in her training. I always have her on the lead when on or crossing the road. As long as she's had a good walk she can be left for a few hours if you go out and about visiting places. In the day she likes to hang around with you, also can be a good guard dog if she sees anyone around. The garden is fenced so she cannot get out of the grounds. She is happy and relaxed after her walk; either two short walks of a minimum of 20-30mins or even up to 2-3hrs (10-15km). She sleeps peacefully and doesn't disturb you at night.
  
  HOUSESITTING: 2-3hrs per day max, 7 days per week
  
  WORKAWAY HOURS/DAYS: We can be very flexible with when you would like to do tasks. 25hours per week is expected and can be split into more or less hours per day for example, 7 days per week doing 3.5hrs per day or 4 days per week and 6 and a quarter hrs per day depending on weather and what type of help is needed!

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas
  Inglês: Fluente
  Francês: Intermediário

  Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
  I’m interested in furthering my french language and can help with English
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  Acomodação

  We have a cute 2 storey Pigeonnier renovated in 2018; Upstairs offers a king-size bed (150cm), chest of drawers, hanging space and a Bathroom; shower, toilet and basin accessed by a wooden spiral staircase.
  Downstairs offers a kitchenette; fridge/freezer, 2 plate hob, (no oven), sink, cupboard space. Living area; 2 seater sofa and breakfast table. There is electric underfloor heating downstairs and a small electric radiator upstairs. It looks out to the South West enjoying the sunrise and onto the horse shelter and paddocks.
  
  Your FOOD budget is 40€ per person per week, when doing tasks 5hours per day/25 hours per week (we will provide washing up liquid etc, and condiments-salt and pepper etc).
  FOOD WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IF YOU ARE A COUPLE HOUSESITTING AS THE HELP IS ONLY 1hr each per day.
  
  HOUSESITTING: When housesitting you will be staying in the Pigeonnier when you first arrive and then when we leave, you will move into the en-suite Guest Room in our main house as it's better for Shadow.
  
  WORKAWAY: You will be staying in our Pigeonnier; Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed at your leisure (whilst I will be busy helping the children get ready and off to school in the mornings and a working partly in the day). However, we can enjoy and share a couple of evening meals , creating meals for each other (Our evenings vary due to the children’s after-school activities).

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  Algo mais...

  We are looking for a non-smoking couple or friends who respects nature, loves the outdoors, who are calm and patient around animals, especially the horses and enjoys outdoor work!
  
  TRANSPORT is essential as we are not within walking distance to the local shops and tourism, unless you are happy to stay local during your time off. We could collect-drop you from/to our nearest train station (Bergerac). You are welcome to use our bicycles to get around and explore the quiet country lanes and to get to the local villages.
  
  Our nearest airport is BERGERAC for flights to/from U.K and Netherlands (20mins) and BORDEAUX for international flights with train links to BERGERAC (1h15mins)
  
  Taxis are very few and far between.
  
  There are many attractions in this part of France, visiting châteaux, wine tasting, hiking, canoeing, caves etc!

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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  The Pigeonnier has a WIFI connection.

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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  We have an off-road parking area next to the Pigeonnier for an average size camper, where you can hook up with electric. The Pigeonnier can also be used.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  2

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