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Come learn some new skills helping us to restore a farmhouse in the Pays de la Loire, France

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Favorito 177 vezes
Última atividade: 18/01/2023

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Classificação do anfitrião
100 %
Taxa de resposta
100.0 %
Usually responds dentro 10 dias
Comentário
22
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Medalhas (3)

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Visualizar a lista de anfitriões

Disponibilidade

2023

Hospedagem min. solicitada: mínimo 1 semana

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O que é isso?

Detalhes

Descrição
In 2011 Nick (that's me) and James (and Luna, the dog) bought a collection of ruined farm buildings on 3 hectares and have been steadily restoring since. We have welcomed the help of many friends and family over the years but only joined workaway in 2018. The main house is nearly complete and fully habitable now. There are 7 other buildings awaiting restoration. The aim is to develop an already pleasant location for us and others (such as yourself) to enjoy. We aim to be as self sufficient as possible. Jamie is away at the moment and I'm looking for some quality help in early June. Ideally a French speaker because you can help me learn some more French :)
Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado
Ajuda em projetos ambientais
Jardinagem
Projetos de construção/faça você mesmo
Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras
Manutenção geral
Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado
I am English speaking but also speak French to a reasonable level. I was a school teacher and Mountain Leader when I lived in the UK. I love working and exploring outdoors. I would delight in teaching travellers any of the work related skills listed above. Once a week I run an evening class teaching locals English.
Projetos que envolvem crianças
Este projeto pode envolver crianças. Para mais informações, veja aqui nossas diretrizes e dicas.
Ajuda
The tasks are hugely varied and things can be found to meet your skills and or interest, we could be working on the house, an outbuilding, or out on the grounds.
No specific skills are necessary, as most things can be taught, although a keen interest in DIY and aspects of building restoration and garden maintenance would be advantageous.
We could be doing anything from building, or restoring walls, roofing, carpentry, tiling, plumbing, electrics, painting, fibre-glassing, dog walking, or mowing grass and tending the vegetable garden.
Mostly we want you to enjoy what you are doing and we will enjoy teaching skills in return.
Idiomas
Idiomas
Inglês: Fluente
Francês: Fluente
Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
We speak English and some French. We are interested in learning more French.
Acomodação
There are several spare rooms here. A photo of one is included. All the rooms were built in the recently refurbished main building during the last two years. Each has a double bed and access to WiFi. You will have access to your own private bathroom, your own lounge and a sun terrace as well as the gardens.
Algo mais...
The location is fairly remote. There is a small village 1km away, there is a tennis court, fishing lake, many miles of countryside walks and cycling routes. The nearest town is 6km away and has numerous shops, a weekly traditional French market, a beautiful Château, bars and restaurants. Despite the remoteness there is always something going on. We want you to enjoy your stay, learn new skills and remember your recreational time as much as a holiday. We have bicycles for you to use and explore, there is an off road go-kart track, dart board, various games (including Kubb). There are numerous fruit trees and a neglected vegetable garden. The skies are not light polluted and on a clear night the star gazing is stunning. We are a young (ish) gay couple.
Mais alguns detalhes
- Acesso à internet
- Acesso à internet limitado
- Temos mascotes
- Somos fumantes
- Pode hospedar famílias
Pode hospedar nômades digitais
We currently have about 6-10mbps internet
Espaço para estacionar campervans
Plenty of parking is available
Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?
Mais de 2
Horas previstas
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Nº de ref. de anfitrião: 944767156313

Comentário (11)

10/11/2022

I stayed with Nick for 3 weeks in October. He is very kind, flexible with the work, and there were no issues :). I wish Jamie could have stayed longer. Luna, the dog, is very nice. I would recommend seeing the castle in the nearby village

(Muito Bom )

01/03/2020

To start we have to mention the hosts, what a fantastic pair! We spent most of our time with Nick who was more than generous with his hospitality, sadly we only met James at the end of our stay but he too could not do enough for us. The accommodation was the use of the whole first floor consisting of a choice of 4 bedrooms, a bathroom and lounge… read more

(Excelente )

29/02/2020

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Nicola & Ian)

The moment Nicola and Ian arrived, it felt as though I was welcoming old friends. They are so kind, friendly, considerate and easy to get along with; they fitted into life here immediately and with ease. Both are an absolute pleasure to have around. Socially they are humorous, great company and work wise they are incredible. They helped me by… read more

(Excelente )

05/08/2019

I stayed at Nick's for the whole month of July and it was an incredible experience. I always had a keen interest for manual jobs and building in general and Nick's was the right place to further explore into that world. I was able to improve on skills I already possessed and learned completely new ones.
Nick and I built a garden wall, finished… read more

(Excelente )

05/08/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Charles)

It was an absolute pleasure having Charlie here for July, he fitted into life here immediately, he is good company and it was like having an old friend visit. Charlie is extremely polite, considerate, tidy and helpful. He was willing to help with all kinds of tasks, he did everything enthusiastically, he enjoyed the work, he used his initiative… read more

(Excelente )

View all 11 feedbacks

Fotos

The house May 2017

Back of the house across a field of linseed May 2018

Bedroom 1 (with landing study beyond)

A collection cottages - currently overgrown and in ruins

"The lake" March 2018

Main House February 2018 (Barn to the right, ruined cottage to the left)

Barn renovation progress halted by snow February 2018

Exibir todas as fotos

Barn renovation progress May 2018

James, Luna and Nick

The house undergoing re-roofing 2013

Comentário

Essas classificações são opcionais e foram dadas junto com os comentários dos membros.A classificação média deixada por cada opção é exibida.

Precisão do perfil:
(5.0)

Intercâmbio cultural:
(4.5)

Comunicação:
(5.0)

10/11/2022

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Adair) para o anfitrião

(Muito Bom )

01/03/2020

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Nicola & Ian) para o anfitrião

(Excelente )

29/02/2020

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Nicola & Ian)

(Excelente )

05/08/2019

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Charles) para o anfitrião

(Excelente )

05/08/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Charles)

(Excelente )

10/06/2019

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Laura) para o anfitrião

This is the perfect place to learn about construction! I stayed with Nick for 3 weeks and he taught me so much. Nick is very patient and thoroughly explained everything I needed to know about the techniques we were using and the materials we were working with. I worked on building a wall in the garden, making wooden benches, lime rendering and a… read more

(Excelente )

06/04/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Laura)

It was a delight to have Laura stay with us for 3 weeks in March. She fitted into life here immediately and worked enthusiastically on a wide variety of tasks. Keen to learn new skills, she learnt them very quickly. Laura learnt how to build stone walls, she worked independently, and showed determination to finish a huge project, to a high… read more

(Excelente )

29/03/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Adam)

Adam joined us in January and stayed for two months, longer than any previous workawayer. We found Adam to be honest, friendly and polite. He worked the hours expected and he was helpful. During his time here Adam helped building a slate roof, putting up and taking down scaffolding, building a garden wall, making concrete floors and with gardening… read more

(Excelente )

27/03/2019

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Adam) para o anfitrião

This was my first experience of workaways on my journey and I am glad it was in Nick, Jamie, Ari, Mariea and Luna’s company.
Nick is a patient and easygoing host and the local area is so very peaceful allowing time to think while working on the projects.
I found my stay at Nick’s mentally and physically rewarding.

(Excelente )

07/03/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Mariea)

Mariea joined us from Miami for an unseasonably warm and sunny week in late February. When Mariea arrived on the station platform at Vaas she worked it like a super model on a catwalk. I’m not sure that these sleepy, rural, French villages have experienced someone like Mariea before. She’d landed and couldn’t have seemed more out of place. This… read more didn’t discourage her, she settled in very quickly with us and Luna, as well as the other workawayers. Mariea got stuck in, with enthusiasm, to the new opportunities that presented themselves. Mariea has a keen interest to learn new skills, she tried hard at everything and certainly left her mark.

On her first day Mariea familiarised herself with the surroundings and seemingly felt right at home from the outset, which was great for us as hosts. We explored various projects options and Mariea was keen to get started!

She picked up new skills quickly and before no time at all, she was working solo on our ‘friendship wall’ – a name given to it by Mariea as all of the workawayers who have stayed so far, have laid a least 1 stone in the wall.
Not Mariea though, who chose to spend most of her time on the wall, and completed approximately 2m during her relatively short stay. It was great that she was able to keep herself busy for the day and we all enjoyed watching her progress stories on Instagram at the end of the day.

A few days before she left Mariea also took part in something of a production line, making circa. 45 wheelbarrows’ full of cement for a new barn floor! Mariea kept up with us ’English boys’ as she called us, and never fatigued despite lugging countless buckets of gravel around for hours!

It turns out that Mariea is also a very talented masseuse and after a hard days’ work she would often offer massages to any willing participants. Jamie and I both welcomed her deep tissue techniques.

In the evenings, she enjoyed the company of the other workawayers and engaged in lively chats in the main lounge, which was great to be a part of. Mariea also shared with us her great sense of humour and unique fashion lines.

All in all, we are pleased the universe spoke to Mariea and told her that a stint in rural France was the place to be! It’s a shame she couldn’t stay longer but others were in need of her help. We do hope she visits again in the future, to see what progress has been made, and to check out how her section of the friendship wall is fairing.

(Excelente )

06/03/2019

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Mariea) para o anfitrião

This workaway was the first stop on a journey through Europe for me and it couldn’t have been a better start. I had a long travel day and when I arrived a cup of tea was waiting for me made by a volunteer named Ari. Nick and Jamie planned a day off, the next day keeping in mind I might be jet lagged. They took us to a quaint little French… read more

(Excelente )

05/03/2019

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Ari) para o anfitrião

I stayed at Nick's place for three weeks that I could not believe went by as quickly as they did. The farmhouse and the land are beautiful, Nick is incredibly kind and chill, and I learned so much.
You can make your own schedule (though to be honest I did stick to the same schedule Nick and other workawayers kept). Nick was never strict about… read more

(Excelente )

26/02/2019

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Ari)

It was a pleasure to have Ari stay with us for 3 weeks in February. We found Ari to be an honest, friendly, independent, enthusiastic and willing worker with a terrific sense of humour. Whilst here, Ari chose to tackle a collection of farm buildings that had been untouched since the 1950s and consequently were completely over grown with ivy and… read more

(Excelente )

02/12/2018

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Jason)

Jason stayed with me for 3 weeks in November 2018. I would recommend Jason to other workaway hosts. Jason is an extremely polite, kind, considerate and friendly young man. He has a wise head on his shoulders. Jason tackled a variety of tasks whilst he was here. He learnt how to use a cement mixer to make cement and chaux render. He helped with… read more

(Excelente )

21/08/2018

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Lowri & Caprice) para o anfitrião

It was an absolute delight to stay with Nick and Luna for a week. Nick was extremely welcoming, teaching us new skills, such as building stone walls with a pierre apparante finish and gardening techniques, amongst numerous life skills for 21 year olds! The set up was great - we quickly acclimatised to the peace and quiet of rural life in France… read more

(Excelente )

21/08/2018

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Lowri & Caprice)

Good friends Caprice and Lowri visited me for a week in August. It was a pleasure to have them here. They are both lively, friendly and were keen to get involved. The rural environment is not their natural habitat and I believe Caprice had her first encounter with a stinging nettle but this did not deter them from bravely entering this new world!… read more

(Excelente )

02/08/2018

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Ben) para o anfitrião

I stayed with Nick (and Luna) for two weeks. I felt comfortable and welcome from the moment I arrived and thoroughly enjoyed my time. Nick was always checking in to make sure that I was enjoying the work that I was doing and offered alternatives in case I wasn't, which wasn't necessary. It was all great! I learnt new skills like picking away old… read more

(Excelente )

27/07/2018

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Ben)

Ben stayed with me for 2 weeks in July. I found him to be a decent, honest, easy-going, polite and sociable man. Prior to his arrival, as my first solo workawayer guest, I was concerned that he may get bored here. There was no need for me to be concerned. Ben was more than able to entertain himself and was very self-sufficient. When mixing with… read more

(Excelente )

30/06/2018

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Verena & Martha) para o anfitrião

Myself, Verena and Martha stayed for two weeks at Nicks wonderful home. It was our first workaway trip and it was amazing.
Nick showed us how to build a wall, mix zement and cover it up. We also did some gardening, painting and destroy some old walls.
We had the pleasure to meet some of his nice friends and his lovely dog Luna and could be part… read more

(Excelente )

27/06/2018

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Verena & Martha)

Verena, Martha and their friend Lea stayed with me for 2 weeks in June 2018. They all speak near perfect English. They are a wonderful, conscientious and intelligent group who have been friends for many years; this shows, they really care about each other. They all worked well, learnt new skills quickly with minimal instruction. They worked… read more

(Excelente )

29/05/2018

Feito pelo anfitrião para o Workawayer (Caragh & Perran)

Caragh and Perran stayed with me for 2 weeks in May 2018. I thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent here. I found them to be friendly, enthusiastic, hardworking, honest, intelligent and tidy. They have lots of fascinating stories to tell and are on an amazing adventure with their lovely campervan.
As their main focus they chose to rebuild an old… read more

(Excelente )

27/05/2018

Deixado pelo Workawayer (Caragh & Perran) para o anfitrião

Myself and my husband Perran stayed two memorable weeks with Nick in May 2018 and it was our first Workaway. The experience was everything we hoped it would be - with some wonderful surprises.
We called the farmhouse "little paradise" because Nick really has created a very beautiful sanctuary here - renovating the main farmhouse, barn and… read more outbuildings. It really is an inspirational place.
Nick was a kind, thoughtful and generous host who really looked after us. He made sure we were comfortable, well fed, warm enough, cool enough, had sufficient instruction on tasks and provided us with lots of guidance and advice on things to do and see in the local area.
He showed us gorgeous local walks, where to get a cold beer on a Friday night and involved us in evenings out with friends.
We stayed in a beautiful bedroom with exposed wooden beams, a lovely bed and furniture (all finished with his own hands) and had a modern bathroom nearby with a wonderful hot shower. The facilities provided to us were excellent.
The farmhouse is set in very pretty countryside surrounded by wonderful walks through woodland and fields. It's peaceful and teeming with wildlife and we will not forget seeing the different families of birds bringing up their young.
We were thrilled to be able to work on building a stone garden wall from scratch - Nick taught us all the skills we needed from clearing the area of vegetation and old stones and building the foundations, then creating the wall, mixing cement, applying the mortar and stacking the stones.
We achieved 16 metres of new wall (about 4 feet high) and once we had built it Nick then taught us to render it using lime render.
He's an excellent teacher and showed a lot of patience, but also showed a lot of trust and would never fuss over us.
Nick has vast experience in house renovation and is very resourceful so if you work hard, show enthusiasm and a willing attitude you will learn a lot here - this is what we were really interested in - learning new skills that will help us with our own home in the future. And we did - learn loads!
Nick was very flexible about when we did our hours, so if we wanted to start later and finish later that was fine.
We felt as welcome here as if we had been with family. Nick has a playful side and it's not all hard work - he likes to have fun too - and we did.
Luna the dog is a very loving and entertaining labrador who will walk or go running with you and give you cuddles and kisses galore. Jamie was working in the UK most of the time we were staying but we did get to meet him at the end - and he's just as adorable as Nick. We were so glad we got the opportunity.
We had bicycles and our own transport so we could explore the local area easily - it is located about 10 minutes drive to the nearest shops and supermarket.
There is very little in the way of evening entertainment so if you need bars, shops, cinemas etc, then you will have to travel a bit further to find it - personally we were very happy with watching sunsets and going for evening strolls so it suited us perfectly.
A fabulous experience we will never forget...
PS If you know how to make chocolate brownies then Nick will love you!

(Excelente )

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Férias em casas de família, voluntariando e trabalhando em França Férias em casas de família, voluntariando e trabalhando em Europa Férias em casas de família, voluntariando e trabalhando em Pays de la Loire Família França Última hora Férias em casas de família, voluntariando e trabalhando em França

Come learn some new skills helping us to restore a farmhouse in the Pays de la Loire, France

Informações do perfil

Classificação do anfitrião

Taxa de resposta

Comentário

Facebook verified

E-mail verificado

Medalhas (3)

Encontre o anfitrião perfeito

Disponibilidade

Detalhes

Descrição

Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

Projetos que envolvem crianças

Ajuda

Idiomas

Acomodação

Algo mais...

Mais alguns detalhes

Pode hospedar nômades digitais

Espaço para estacionar campervans

Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

Horas previstas

Comentário (11)

Fotos

Comentário