Partnership offer
Would you like to join Erica at La Volée? The farm is owned by an SCI (a French legal structure for joint property ownership) and is valued at €400,000. A quarter share is available with the chance to live here in the farmhouse and to participate (if you wish) in a small-scale retreat business based on nature and horses.
I own the rest of the shares and my former partners who are selling theirs have already returned to the UK. Being able to come and live on the farm and share the tasks of caring for it with me is a condition of sale. I could sell you another quarter if you would prefer to own on a 50/50 basis.
Any applicants from outside the EU would need to meet the conditions for French residence.
I am an active single woman in my seventies and own a herd of nine rare-breed gaited mountain horses which are at liberty on the land. The land covers ten hectares and descends into a stunning private valley drained by spring-fed ponds, with organic pasture and woodland. At the entrance to the farm is a small hamlet with three renovated houses, and a big barn with planning permission and an apartment undergoing renovation (further details on request; there is also a drone video on YouTube along with description of the farmhouse and gite).
I’m looking for younger partners to enjoy the farm with me and help me maintain it and, if we agree, run the business. The philosophy and values of La Volée are expressed on the website and I’m looking for partners who identify with these and would like to carry them into the future.
The offer would be ideal for a family with a member interested in pursuing a career with horses. It also offers a great opportunity for those interested in woodland management.
Although you would be a minority shareholder (unless you’d like to buy half instead of a quarter) that is just for purposes of legal ownership, and the farm and the business would be run jointly on the basis of consensus decision-making, with mutual support and respect. If you aren’t interested in running a joint business, La Volee will make a lovely peaceful home, and I’m open to your ideas about how to make the most of it.
This is a wonderful opportunity to share what many have called a piece of paradise, with a relatively small capital outlay. For the investment you could never buy anything like this as sole owner. At La Volee there’s the ability to enjoy autonomy and privacy as well as the creativity and energy that sharing brings.
Contact me, Erica Flegg, through Facebook Messenger, or my email is ebflegg@gmail.com.
Partner Specification
Essential:
- Enough capital (€100,000 or about £84,000) available to buy the shares from my absentee former partners (they may be open to an instalment plan, but this would complicate and likely delay matters; there is a possibility of buying a larger stake of up to 50%)
- Enough income to support yourself (the business has the potential to pay the costs of running the farm but not to provide a livelihood)
- Previous experience with horses or willingness to learn how to handle them safely
- Sympathy with the vision of the existing project as described on the website
- A desire to make La Volée your home long term and ability to move in without undue delay
- Physical and mental fitness and willingness to engage in all the tasks of running and maintaining a farm like La Volée
- Previous experience of co-operative living and working or enthusiasm to participate in it
- Sufficient self-awareness and interpersonal skills to engage in consensus decision-making, problem-solving and conflict resolution (you will be asked to evidence this).
Desirable (any of these characteristics would be a significant asset to your application; please volunteer any other ones you can offer):
- A younger person, couple or family is preferred so as to carry la Volée into the future
- Construction, DIY, woodland management or smallholder skills (such as using machinery or mending fences)
- Business skills (such as internet advertising or book-keeping – if you want to join in a business here you will need to register as a micro-entrepreneur to administer the business)
- Interest in some food production such as permaculture grow-your-own.