Workshops

Join us for a weekend of discovery and relaxation in the beautiful Vosges mountains. In less than an hour’s drive from Strasbourg or Colmar, you will find the small village of Maisonsgoutte nestled in a picturesque valley.

Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the countryside. In the permaculture garden, each season is unique. In spring, watch the bees and butterflies on the first flowers; in summer, enjoy the abundance of fruit; in autumn, take in the vibrant changing colours; and in winter, experience the intense silence. We invite you to take your time and breathe in nature.

In a small group of up to six people, you will reconnect with the history of our planet during a transformative walking experience that fosters a deep connection with Gaia. You will learn the basics of permaculture, including its ethics and principles, design, and how to start implementing them in your life and garden (or balcony!). During a collective intelligence game, you will explore the principles of a food forest and learn about its key elements and benefits. Naturally, we will get our hands dirty to put theory into practice and see what we can harvest from the garden for our meals.

Your trainers

We are Roos and Julien, and we have lived in Maisonsgoutte since 2022, where we started Le Nouveau Printemps. We have transformed the large grassland behind our house into a permaculture garden and planted over 150 trees and shrubs in recent years.

Roos started out gardening in a small communal garden in the Netherlands, where she followed Permaculture Design (PDC) and foraging courses. She is a member of the Natural Garden Association in the valley. Julien is an experienced trainer in food and agricultural transition, as well as being a certified Deep Time Walk facilitator. He works with professionals and university students.

What you can expect day to day

Friday

16h00-18h00 : Arriving and time to unpack

18h30-21h00 : Official start of the weekend and diner

Saturday         

07h00-09h00 : Breakfast is served in the common room

09h00-12h30 : Deep Time Walk (4,6 km)

12h30-14h30 : Lunch and leisure time

14h30-17h00 : Introduction to permaculture, theory and practice (I)

17h00-19h00 : Leisure time

19h00 : Diner

Sunday            

07h00-09h00 : Breakfast is served in the common room

09h00-11h00 : Workshop food forest

11h00-12h30 : Harvest and preparing lunch

12h30-14h00 : Lunch

14h00-16h00 : Introduction to permaculture, theory and practice (II)

16h00-17h00 : Apéro and sharing experiences

17h00 : End of the week-end

Where you will stay

We have 3 double rooms: 2 with single beds and 1 room with a double bed. There are two shared bathrooms and toilets (1 compost toilet and one flushing toilet). Bed linen, towels and dressing gowns are provided. The common room has a large table, board games, books and comfortable seating. There are two terraces in the garden with an amazing view. You can walk straight into the forest from the guesthouse.

Things to know before booking

• The planned weekends are conducted in French. We can provide the full weekend in English on demand.
• The minimum number of participants is 4, maximum 6.
• There is 1 bedroom for a couple (with double bed) and 2 shared double bedrooms (with single beds).
• The weekend includes: 2 nights in a shared bedroom, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners (organic, local and vegetarian), tea/coffee/water/infusions, and all the workshops.
• The price includes tourist taxes (0,88 per person, per night), VAT is not applicable.
• We will ask you to make a 50% deposit upon booking. If you cancel up to one month before the start of the workshop, you will receive a full refund (this cancellation limit date is indicated in your booking confirmation). No refund of the deposit will be given after this date. The full amount of the weekend must be transferred 10 days before the weekend starts. Additional charges can be paid at checkout.
• 1 month before the weekend begins, we reserve the right to cancel if the minimum number of participants (4 people) is not reached. You will receive a full refund, or you have the option to join another weekend if there is availability.
• The program may be modified due to weather conditions.
• We highly recommend that you bring good (hiking) shoes and suitable clothing for gardening, light rain and colder conditions. A hat and suncream are also recommended because we will be spending most of our time outdoors and we are hoping for some sunshine.
• The house is built on a rock with the land stretching upwards on a slope. To reach the rooms, the common room, the terraces and the garden you will need to use the stairs. Unfortunately, this makes our place not suitable for wheelchair users.