Currently, the catchment area at the source of the farm is in a small wood accessible to the animals and walkers. In order to protect this catchment, you will create an enclosure around this place. Different techniques will be required: masonry, gardening work, brushing, and especially techniques of installation of a wire fence and a gate. Furthermore, last year's workcamp started a permaculture project at the Fai farm! Those who wish to, may contribute to the work related to this project: development of the greenhouse (ventilation, insulation, siding, window pane liming, ...); wood construction (vermicompost, frame, insect house, perches, storage cabin, chassis, guardians); water management (rainwater harvesting, irrigation system, bearish).
Accomodation & food:
In individual tents located in the welcoming center of Faï, 05400 Le Saix, where volunteers from other workcamps will stay as well. You will also have access to bathrooms and the welcom center's rooms. The entertainment team will also invite you to become more involved in the community's life : menu and meal preparation using local produce, dish-washing, and clean up.
Location & leisure:
The Le Faï farm (3 km from the village of Saix and 30 km from Gap)
The Castle of Prureaux is situated in the center of an old agriculture field surrounded by a wall. This 2-meter wall, that has never been restored, is now covered by vegetation, which has caused some parts to collapse. Therefore, the work will consist of rebuilding this wall and securing the entrance to the enclosure. Doing so, you will learn how to make a traditional lime primer, using your hands and trowels, and discover the advantages of this material when it is used to build old walls: its implementation (calculations and proportions) and the different finishing-touch techniques. Since some parts of the wall are significantly deteriorated, you will also work on brick-laying middle sized stones, as well as bourbon flat tiles, to level the wall. To keep the original aesthetic, you will have to pay close attention to the identical reproduction of the work.
Accomodation & food:
In tents with access to outdoor sanitary blocks and dry toilets. An equiped kitchen is situated in the main building. Food is provided and the meals will be prepared by rotating groups of volunteers.
Location & leisure:
Montcombroux-les-Mines (Allier), 45 km from Vichy.This workcamp will allow you to meet younsters from France and all over the world and to discover the rural way of life of this region. You will visit the nearest cities: Moulins and Vichy and be able to go to the swimming pool.
You will continue the renovation of the Cultural Domain that started more than 10 years ago. You will renovate the façade of a building thanks to traditional and ecological masonry techniques and will also perform some carpentry works. The work is accessible to all without previous experiences.
Accomodation & food:
You will sleep in huts built of ecological materials. You will have access to the toilets and showers of a sports hall. The collective life and cooking will take place under an inner courtyard. You will also have a room for activities, offices, and a circus tent where you stay. Daily life tasks and cooking will be self-organised by the group. We work with locals producers for the food.
Location & leisure:
St Lézin is a small village (800 inhabitants) of Maine-et-Loire County between Cholet and Angers and 80 km far from Nantes. It's possible to discover these cities during your stay. Leisure activities are organized by the group according to the budget. Visiting some cities or discovering the banks of the Loire, bathing, canoeing… It's up to you. A lot of cultural events take place in this period: concerts, festivals … The association can also propose various artistic activities under the circus tent: circus arts, Brazilian percussions, theater … For musicians, we can lend you many instruments. (drums, piano, guitar…)
Age:
18-99
Location:
Saint lezin
Language(s):
English, French
Airport:
CDG: Charles De Gaulle (Paris, France)This project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available
Currently, the catchment area at the source of the farm is in a small wood accessible to the animals and walkers. In order to protect this catchment, you will create an enclosure around this place. Different techniques will be required: masonry, gardening work, brushing, and especially techniques of installation of a wire fence and a gate. Furthermore, last year's workcamp started a permaculture project at the Fai farm! Those who wish to, may contribute to the work related to this project: development of the greenhouse (ventilation, insulation, siding, window pane liming, ...); wood construction (vermicompost, frame, insect house, perches, storage cabin, chassis, guardians); water management (rainwater harvesting, irrigation system, bearish).
Accomodation & food:
In individual tents located in the welcoming center of Faï, 05400 Le Saix, where volunteers from other workcamps will stay as well. You will also have access to bathrooms and the welcom center's rooms. The entertainment team will also invite you to become more involved in the community's life : menu and meal preparation using local produce, dish-washing, and clean up.
Location & leisure:
The Le Faï farm (3 km from the village of Saix and 30 km from Gap)
To continue the previous workcamp's work, you will work on the « Pedagogical farm ». The goal is to allow vehicles to access the farm, and to facilitate the movement and transfer of animals. Therefore, you will clean up the park's entrance: build a wooden entrance gate and restore two of the old door's pillars, made out of cut-stone. For starters, you will have to stabalize the entrance by excavating the top soil stetching 15 centimeters long, in order to make a geotextile that will cover the gravel where the rain water drains. The mud that you recover will be used to build mounds of permaculture in the vegetable garden. Secondly, you will build a wooden gate, where the process will teach you the techniques of tracing blueprints and traditional assembly. Finally, the restoration of the two pillars in the entrance will allow you to learn traditional masonry. The leveling stones and their rejointment, will be completed with lime mortar.
Accomodation & food:
In tents with access to outdoor sanitary blocks and dry toilets. An equiped kitchen is situated in the main building. The food is provided and the meals will be prepared by rotating groups of volunteers.
Location & leisure:
Montcombroux-les-Mines (Allier), 45 km from Vichy.This workcamp will allow you to meet younsters from France and all over the world and to discover the rural way of life of this region. You will visit the nearest cities: Moulins and Vichy and be able to go to the swimming pool.
The main work to be done are landscape and masonry : You will build a community kitchen, in accordance to Citrus' standards, that will feed many groups, as well as landscape the gardens of Mayounelle and the welcoming site's (decoration and furnisment). All the work will be supervised by members of the Citrus association. Each day, you will all work with the group of members on the professional integration of the structure.
Accomodation & food:
In tents at the Citrus site in Mayounelle, with access to a sanitary block and a kitchen under a tent.
Location & leisure:
Laguépie, located 100 km north east of Tolouse, between Albi and Villefranche-de-Rouergue.You will have the opportunity to go swimming and hiking, to meet with the other volunteers from the workcamp and from Laguépie, to organize evening pizza dinners and game nights, and to visit the medieval villages of Najac, Cordes sur Ciel, and Saint-Antonin Noble Val. Food workshops will also be organized so that you can learn the basics of a healthy diet.
You will clear and uproot the shores of the lake. You will also take part in setting up other protection measures to secure biodiversity and environmental conservation in the frame of the Natura 2000 network. You will also renovate a dovecote which will become a shelter for bats.
Accomodation & food:
In tents on the lake camping site. Tents will be provided but you can bring your own if you want. Bring a sleeping bag and a camping mat. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together.
Location & leisure:
The lake of Salagou is located nearby Clermont l'Hérault in the Hérault valley, 40 km away from Montpellier. For more information: www.lesalagou.fr
Age:
18-99
Location:
Clermont l'herault
Language(s):
English
Airport:
MPL: Mediterranee (Montpellier, France)This project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available
You will participate in the renovation of an "Orri" (Occitan term designating a closed parcel of land for breeding). You will help rebuilding an entrance, then rebuild a large stone enclosure. You will also have to rehabilitate the old sheepfold in a sustainable way with dry stone technique while stabilising the building as much as possible, and revalorising old natural basins that were probably used as water reservoirs.
Accomodation & food:
You will be accommodated under tents. Tents will be provided but you can bring yours if you wish. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together.
Location & leisure:
Quillan is located in the Aude department, near the entrance of the gorges Pierre-Lys, 50 km away from Carcassonne and 80km from Font-Romeu. You will have the possibility to bathe in the lake Puivert, located a few kilometres away from Quillan. For more information: www.quillan.fr
Age:
18-99
Location:
Quillan
Language(s):
English
Airport:
TLS: Blagnac (Toulouse, France)Vegetarian food will be available
« If anyone is interested in doing some real volunteering and not paying stupid amounts of money to do it just visit VAP's website or drop them an e-mail. »
