Visiting the Land

We hope your first visit to Queercus will be a memorable and meaningful experience—one that leaves you wanting to return. Below are a few things about our community that we hope will help you prepare for your stay.

Queercus aspires to become a "traditional" community in the sense that residents spend most of their time living on the land. At present, however, that’s not yet the case. For a variety of personal and professional reasons, all but one of us maintain a second residence elsewhere and divide our time between locations. Typically, there are 2–3 residents at Queercus at any given time, though the number sometimes varies. We look forward to a future when we can establish a more permanent and consistent presence on the land.

We usually share our meals together—often the main time of the day when we connect. Each morning at 9 a.m., we also gather in a short circle to share our plans for the day and discuss any practical matters. Once or twice a week, when the mood strikes, we hold social nights to play games, watch films, or sit together in a heart circle.

The house is an ideal place to unplug and reconnect with nature, surrounded by 20 hectares (50 acres) of meadows and woodland. While we do have fast internet, we live in relative isolation. The nearest village has no shops or services, so we ask visitors to be self-sufficient in how they spend their time. There are beautiful walks all around, and in summer, a pool large enough for swimming laps. The land is home to rich flora and abundant wildlife, including roe deer, wild boars, foxes, salamanders, owls, and bats.

Work on the land is varied and ever-evolving. We maintain a large garden with lawns to mow, trees to prune and an orchard to care for. Living in an old hamlet means there are always repairs and restoration projects underway. There’s always something to do—but we also know when to take a break, ensuring that nobody feels overwhelmed. The house and land are a constant work in progress, and there's beauty in that imperfection.

We welcome visitors whenever we can. For those who are not coming as volunteers, we ask for a contribution to help cover the cost of food, utilities, and transport. The suggested donation is currently €10–20 per day, plus €10 per pickup or drop-off at the nearest train station in Angoulême. As a Radical Faerie community, we follow the principles of NOTAFLOF (No One Turned Away For Lack Of Funds), GAYABAGS (Give As You Are Able But Always Give Something) and LOTOFLOVE (f you're able to contribute more, your generosity helps make it possible for others with fewer resources to visit).

We strive for balance—between being open and generous, and honoring our need for rest and the financial sustainability of the project