Woofing
We should say World Wide Oportunites on Organic farms. This world wide organistation allows people of all ages and race to partisipate in the mutual exchange of time and help. Registered woofers are able to stay at Le Chataignier either under canvas in one of our tents (on divan beds) or caravan.
It is hoped that by the summer of 2010 the conversion of the barn loft space will also be available to our woofers!
We provide three meals a days, and are happy to cater for vegetarians but please let us know in advance. For this they help around the farm working in all areas as suited and also learn new skills.
Most woofers arrive by train at Evron 11km away, coming mostly via Paris and changing at LeMans. With prior arangment we are able to collect at the station. Some arrive by car and most information for how to get here can be found on this site.
Last year 2009 we have had woofers from four continents around the globe!
Letting us know the time of your arrival is a good idea so that someone is here to greet you and that the appropriate accomodation is ready for you.
It is essential to bring working cloths and good footware,ie wellington boots. It should be remembered that Le Chataignier is a working farm.
-we do have washing facilities for clothing.
It is also a good idea to let us know if there is something you would like to learn such as cheese making, bee keeping, and / or some form of animal husbandry, so that this can be fitted in while you are staying with us. And let us know what skills you can bring to the farm.
It is good for us to have an idea of your reasons for visiting us so that your visit can be fully benificial.
Work at Le Chataignier is wide and varied, there is a lot to do in all kinds of areas. In the past woofers have helped with lambing, kidding and bottle feeding the kids and any rejected lambs and piglets.
In 2009, they also helped to collect bee swarms, learned how to lime render, fit drains, electrics, plaster ceiling and fencing. the list goes on, including the general running of the farm where all the animals need to be fed including bottles in the spring, (above) and their general welfare looked after, as well as planting and cultivating vegetables, and crops for us all, and our animals.
In all no two days are the same at Le Chataignier and you need to be very flexible there is always something to do and as we all know animals are never predictable. It sometimes seems that they always know when you are about to sit down to eat so that thay can give birth or escape into the next field, so we are greatful for all the help we get all year round from the wonderful people that have stayed with us.
Woofers should be made aware that it is not possible to use the internet at Le Chataignier as broadband is not very reliable in the area, and the phone is for family and buisness use unless it is an emergency, or to report a safe arrival. There is a very good internet cafe in Evron and we are happy for woofers to use the bicycles we have available for you.
We would also respectfully ask that you remember that we are a family and that woofers consider that we have a young impressionable child still at home.
If you are thinking of woofing with us do get in touch, we are able to take up to six woofers at one time and during the summer of 2009 have been full to capacity so getting in touch in advance is a good idea.
We will be happy to help you with any further questions you may wish to ask, to make your stay as pleasurable as possible.
We prefer stays of fourteen days or longer as as it will take a while for you to aclimatise to the farm!
Also the gite is out of bounds to woofers.