Join us to help with our self-sufficiency project in Saint-Clément, France

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hello, this is Tony (28 years old) and Doriane (31 years old), both born and raised in the Lyon region. After traveling for 1 and a half years (we were also volunteers on workaway in India and Tanzania! :)), we returned to France and decided to buy a house to build our dream life project.

    We settled in the Saint-Clément, in the Bourbonnaise mountains, between Vichy and Roanne. Our goal is to create a self-sufficient place where we can eventually live with others. People passing through, staying for a few years... We also plan to rent eco-friendly accommodations like yurts, caravans, etc. to vacationers looking for sustainable tourism.

    Tony is a chef in Vichy, and Doriane has a BTS degree in tourism. Recently, she trained in holistic well-being massage to create her own business.
    We are both vegetarians, but don't care about people who eat meat in our home. Everyone is free to live as they please.

    We have a dog named Pokhan, and two cats named Truelle and Molly (yes, we like to tinker :p). Pokhan gets along with all animals she meets, but she prefers humans, to be honest. The land here is not fenced, so you can come with your pet, but it must respond well to recall or you'll spend the day looking for it!

    The two cats are a bit shy at first, but once the ice is broken, they are lovely. We also have a rooster and his hens, who give us a few eggs when they're not on strike!

    We love playing board games, creating things, and restoring old objects. Tony enjoys skateboarding.
    There are plenty of walking and cycling paths around us, and we can have drinks in Vichy or Roanne. Also a lake 5km from the house where you could swim.
    Near our place, there are numerous alternative projects, such as a community bar that aims for self-sufficiency and a permaculture farm where they make sourdough bread. There is also a Viking group you could meet to learn blacksmithing or archery.
    There are also many climbing opportunities in the Bourbonnaise mountains if you're a climber. And so much more to discover!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We can teach you French vegetarian (or non-vegetarian) cuisine, as well as dishes from around the world (we love to cook Indian food), make kombucha, sourdough bread... We can teach you tricks with Pokhan, a true circus dog! We can also teach you French if you don't speak the language.

    You can benefit from massages if you wish :)

    We can also pass on to you all that we know about self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, permaculture to this day, but perhaps you will have even more to teach us! We could take you to visit Lyon (1h30 from us), Clermont-Ferrand (we'll discover it together, we still haven't visited), Puy de Dôme...

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    As mentioned earlier, we have many projects, but we are working in parallel and are struggling to make progress.
    We have also lived in shared accommodation and traveled for a year and a half, and we miss living with other people a little bit. We are fond of meeting new people, exchanging ideas, and learning from each other.

    We need your help here with the garden, taking care of the chickens, creating a pond, building a shed, and also with administrative tasks if you have some knowledge in this area. If you are an artist, your skills would be welcome here as well. We have 2 hectares of forest that are just waiting to be enchanted ;)

    We are thinking of exchanging your help for accommodation (bed, shower, laundry) and two meals a day (to be determined) in exchange for 4 hours of work per day, 5 days a week.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Italian: Intermediate
    Spanish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    Doriane wants to learn portugese! :)

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have several available beds in an open area on the upper floor (a bit like a dormitory), but if you have your own truck or caravan, we have all the space you need.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    It would be better if you have a driving license and a vehicle to come to our place.
    We are 15 minutes away from the "big village" where you can do your shopping.
    If no, we could drive you no worries :)

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have a weak internet connection, but it's probably sufficient for you. We can watch Netflix and play at the same time, so it should be enough (or maybe not, we're not too knowledgeable about this) :) )

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have plenty of space to park a van or camper, and we can connect it to electricity and possibly water if needed.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We have a dog named Pokhan, and two cats named Truelle and Molly (yes, we like to tinker :p). Pokhan gets along with all animals she meets, but she prefers humans, to be honest. The land here is not fenced, so you can come with your pet, but it must respond well to recall or you'll spend the day looking for it!

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    4 heures par jour max, 5 j/sem.

Host ref number: 858277546955

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