March 2023. What a beautiful and brilliant week with Sylph. I was a complete beginner. I wanted to learn ceramics for a long time.

My husband found out about Sylph. I talked with her on emails and WhatsApp. She was very friendly.

Then I decided to go and learn from Sylph. On 5 to12 March 2023 I was there for a whole week. That was a wonderful full experience for me. Her accommodations is beautiful and peaceful. Weather was still cold but the bedroom was so warm. Every morning she came early with coffee and lit the fire in the fire place. When I came down the drawing room was already warm.

I am gluten intolerant. She has full of gluten free food in her kitchen. She made gluten free cake especially for me. She has lots of good flavoured teas . Every day we went for lunch in local restaurants. She talked in advance to the restaurant to prepare gluten free and vegetarian food for me. She is so caring.

Sylph is a very good, excellent and experienced teacher. I learnt a lot. I threw lots of useful things that still I can’t believe I made. My husband and my family were so surprised to see those things. I worked with stoneware and porcelain. I learnt about glaze, underglaze, paint on glaze and dipping in glaze. Every evening she showed me very informative and interesting video clips. That was very useful.

Najma Sheikh

Volunteering

Would you like to stay at this beautiful permaculture small holding for free in exchange for some volunteering work?

We can accommodate up to two volunteers at a time (couples, retired people, travellers, students and digital nomads). We ask for 4-5 hours work per day, Monday to Friday, with the preparation of evening meals being a shared event.

If you are nature lovers, sociable, positive, motivated, interested in organic gardening and enjoy being away from it all - you are welcome!

You would be involved in general ground and garden-work in the vegetable and fruit gardens, paddocks and woodlands and caring for our animals. Some experience is useful but training can be given for keen visitors who would like to learn about permaculture and organic gardening practices.

In addition to environmental work, you can also be involved with housekeeping, maintenance and renovation from electrical work, plumbing, carpentry to general building and fencing.
We especially need people in the autumn for apple picking and processing, foraging, herb drying and canning and jam making.

Minimum stay is 2 weeks though longer stays are possible.

The accommodation is comfortable.

We have bikes for you to explore locally. For people who come with their own transport there is much to be explored in the Dordogne.

We can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets but prefer someone who is happy to eat what we grow here and forage or source locally! We would also prefer you to be non-smokers and if drinkers, moderate drinkers please!

If you are interested please apply by emailing info@sylphbaierceramics.com giving brief details about yourself and what volunteering work you would be interested in doing. Also please supply contact details of two referees.

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