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Le Mas d'Ayen Summertime eco-campsite, wintertime maintenance

World, Europe, France, Ayen

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Travel dates

About the workproject

We need 2 volunteers

Bonjour !

We are Patricia & Bert, living in a glorious green environment in département Corrèze – Limousin, well hidden from mass tourism.
Three months a year we open up our 7 hectares property as a small scale and eco-friendly campsite.

The buildings create a lush and tranquil courtyard, where you can enjoy the butterflies, bumblebees, owls, kestrels, and loads more wildlife. The oldest part of our house used to be the hunters lodge (anno 1602) for the local chateau (which has long gone since).

We do a little of re-wilding on our land, as in leaving wild areas go even wilder and let nature do its work. On our land there are beautiful walnut trees with a glut of nuts come autumn (fall), fig trees, pears, cherries and plums (all organic, obviously), which we turn into tasty preserves. Our vegetable garden is a minimal affair, for now, but we envisage a real French potager for the future. We never use pesticides or herbicides and for cleaning only eco-friendly products are being used.
We’d also love to acquire some chickens again soon, that is when we can finish a safe chicken coop.

We are located 1.5 km from the village with pharmacy, doctor, small supermarket and a weekly farmers market... It is especially lively during the summer months when a more elaborate market and food-fest, with live music, is being organised on Thursday nights.
Many signposted walks in the area give the opportunity to explore, as well as the possibility for kayaking a bit further afield.
There are many, many picturesque villages nearby, also the small town of Objat and beautiful larger town that is Brive-La-Gaillarde.

A little bit more about ourselves. We live with 3 cats (Fergus, Alfie and Louis) and our 2 rescue dogs - greyhound type (Annie and Jack). We have lived in Belgium, Ireland and France, were we have been hosts on different platforms for many years.
Bert runs an IT business from home. He loves to read science fiction and has collected a whole library of books over the years. Given half the chance, he is a dab hand at most projects in and around the house.
Patricia is a certified art teacher and has a very creative streak, the latter is mainly used in the kitchen these days as she is an enthusiastic cook. She likes to come up with all these crazy projects that she expects Bert to carry out.

We would like to host all year round, there is always something to do and we love to have helpers around from near and afar.
Any help you can give us is always appreciated. Be it gardening, (some) land clearing, building raised beds, making a suitable chicken coop, …, some renovating, decorating , fruit picking and preserving, in the summer so could do with some help on the campsite too. We will work with your capabilities and strengths.

Time permitting we can show you around our area, or you can explore by yourself. Here you can learn about the local fauna and flora, beneficial plants and insects… Simple building and maintenance and gardening . Cooking a varied international cuisine and preserving, also, all kinds of creative projects, like sewing, crochet, drawing, painting, decorating, etc.
Since we’ve lived in 3 European countries with such different cultures, we have a vast experience and knowledge of all three. The main reason to come to France though is to experience a lifestyle in a relaxed atmosphere. We speak Dutch, English and French.

For your accommodation you can choose between a cosy guestroom (with double bed) in our house or the caravan. If you wish you can also pitch your own tent (only advised in the summer). There is also the possibility to park your camper-van in a beautiful spot on our land.
Three meals a day, snacking and coffee/thee in between is on us. We can accommodate vegetarians and omnivores, fussy eaters not.
We ask 5 hrs/5 days per week, might be a bit more in the summer but then you have the added advantage of our saltwater swimming pool.
Minimum stay : 2 weeks. July/August, 1 month or more.

About the host

Bert - Patricia

Host since

2022

Languages

Nederlands, English, French

Our native language is Dutch (Nederlands), we speak English fluently. Bert is good in German, Patricia understands most, but isn't great at speaking. Bert is also good in French, and again, Patricia understands most and speaks 'some'.

Last seen online

more than 6 month ago

A little bit more about ourselves. We live with 3 cats (Fergus, Alfie and Louis) and our 2 rescue dogs - greyhound type (Annie and Jack). We have lived in Belgium, Ireland and France, were we have been hosts on different platforms for many years.
Bert runs an IT business from home. He loves to read science fiction and has collected a whole library of books over the years. Given half the chance, he is a dab hand at most projects in and around the house.
Patricia is a certified art teacher and has a very creative streak, the latter is mainly used in the kitchen these days as she is an enthusiastic cook. She likes to come up with all these crazy projects that she expects Bert to carry out.

Project dates

Open for offers, contact us


Work to be done

  • gardening
  • construction
  • language practice
  • help in the house
  • maintenance tasks
  • tourist support
  • art projects
  • hostel support

Expected workhours

  • 5 hours a day
  • 5 days a week

Work exchange deal

  • private room, camper

Private room in our house, with bed 140 x 200 cm, for a couple or single person.
Caravan, which is still to be finished updating, but clean and bright in beautiful spot, once ready.

  • shared meals

Evening meals will be catered for by Patricia and we sit at the table together. Breakfast and lunch is where everyone grabs some food as convenient and when hungry. There is tea and coffee aplenty, snacks for in between... In short, you wont starve here.

  • no money is involved