Seeds Of Wild Love

Team fundraiser

Aletheia Sophia and Pete Wilson are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello friends and family! We are Anaiya, Pete, and Dinah (and also Patrick in spirit) and are the new owners of Les Contes, (meaning tales/legends) a very magical place in the French Pyrennes. Once a Colonie de Vacances for children, Les Contes, is being transformed into an idyllic healing sanctuary for both humans and animals.

We represent the unwanted, the discarded, the past their sell-by date, the small, the old, the raggedy, the lost and not looked for, the unseen, the unheard and the undefended. And we bring them into our fold, where they are spoken to, brushed, nourished, attended to, made healthy, shiny and strong, befriended and celebrated. Their unique character is sought out, encouraged, often painted, sketched, made a song of and written about in stories.

They become somebody. They belong. They have a family. No one is going to take them away again. Their lives are prayed over and prioritised. They do not come second. They are not just animals or birds.

They are magnificent joy-bringers, heart-stoppers, smile-makers, and tear-jerkers. They rip your clothes, nibble your hair, nick your hat, lick your face, pee on your coat and poo on your boots.

We seek to be proactive in the changes that need to be made at this time on our planet. Our current world crisis has profoundly highlighted our mistakes, vulnerability and utter dependancy on the health of our Earth.

Together, we can sow the seeds of Wild Love.

Our number one priority is to create gardens that express the creativity of nature with fresh chemical-free food, biodiversity & an eclectic array of flowers, healing herbs and home-produced essential oils. A place of abundance, filled with plants, fruit trees, flowers, insects, mushrooms and wildlife.

Our products will be taken to the local markets, or for our community to pick up themselves as they pass.

We also plan to make 'how-to' videos and to create a Seeds of Wild Love Video channel on YouTube and various other social media platforms. If the people cannot get to us - we will get to the people.

Seeds of Wild Love prioritises animals. We currently have 30 goats, 2 pigs, 60 odd chickens and five turkeys as the gardening team. We also plan to have donkeys onsite for walking holidays in the local Pyrennes, as well as an educational facility for people to interact with the animals, and to bridge the gap between human and nature. We also facilitate retreats and workshops at the house, based on opening up, healing, becoming whole and stepping into natural living, permaculture, nutrition and the latest developments in systems and projects that place the regeneration of the environment, and our place in it, first and foremost.

On of the great gifts of Les Contes is it's numerous healing waters. We currently have eight natural sources, as well as a mountain river. The animals and gardens are soaking up this abundance and thriving. Making the waters accessible is another high priority.

The main building at Les Contes will be used for Bed and Breakfast and Retreats. There is a chapel and group space that could easily hold over 100 people. We plan to host all kinds of 'new' visions and ways to live, ranging from nutrition to greening the earth, from animal tracking to survival skills, from trauma healing to somatic wisdom.

In other words - this is a new Eden, where we start again, learning from the past as we humbly apply our skills to do better.

What The Funds Are For

We are raising money for supporting us as we renovate, build and continue to observe the environment and begin to implement our vision, of an animal sanctuary and healing gardens. Already a large amount of money, time, saved resources and energy have gone into the creation of this project. We have implemented a filter-bed sanitation system, laid the ground for the foundational steps of the permaculture design, provided the funds for the animal shelters, veterinary bills and the tools needed to be able to maintain this amount of forest. Another portion will go towards the countless hands that have stepped forward longing to be a part of this project. We are now planning the creation of a cafe where we can platform our local vegan and vegetarian young chefs.

Our main outlay is the animals and keeping up with the good condition of the house. Our latest job - is the replacement of the roof!

About the Land

Our land is situated in the French Pyrenees in a very peaceful and wild location, yet it is close to Carcassonne and Toulouse & an hour and a half drive to the coast. The region is drenched in history and known for its healing powers coming from the countless springs, caves and gorges. There is a sense the Sacred Feminine is particularly potent in this corner of southern France. Perhaps it is the fecundity of the land which feeds the underground stream of the feminine or, perhaps, it is something more. Something almost forgotten, yet continues to more than survive.

The surroundings at Les Contes are mostly pristine ancient forest and some farmlands, the neighbourhood is very quiet; the slopes are quite mountainous and they form a magnificent green shield towards the cold winds, while on the other side our local river blesses the valley with its clear waters and abundance of fish.

Our property extends on 8 hectares it is very well exposed to all four directions. There is a wide variety of environments, with some areas that are more steep and wild, but also a good amount of flat. There is an abundance of old fruit trees and new younger ones are coming, ancient grapes with an enormous mountain house, comprised of 15 bedrooms, and 4 gites forming the main living space. We have a spring at the back of the house, and one underneath which provides year-long fresh mountain water.

There is plenty of space for the expansion and creation of new structures and fields for growing food and medicines. It's a place of magic. Come and see for yourself!

About the House

Les Contes is the name of the house and it means "tales or stories". We have many stories to tell about this land and its history, and Les Contes is a place where you can receive them. This 15 bedroom mountain house, which also comes with four self-sustainable gites, is home to a chapel called Notre Dame de Sophia with an enormous spring out the back, the Goat Ranch Farm and The Red Rose Cafe. So there is rather a lot going on! And the vision is big - but by golly, we have a lot of invisible help! The house will 'house' all those who are ready, willing and able to take the 'red pill' and begin the journey of creating Heaven on Earth. The French Pyrenees has often been the breeding ground for this kind of renaissance, based on the values of Love, Honour and Generosity.

About Us

We are one big family. Patrick and Dinah are Anaiya's parents, and Pete is her husband. Anaiya's parents took a leap of faith in the summer of 2020 when in their late 70's they decided to up sticks from the UK and relocate to France. Back in 2015, Pete did exactly the same thing. Sadly, Patrick passed over just days after moving in, yet his generous presence is the light that continues to guide the way.

How You Can Help Us

If you feel a resonance with our mission and have the ability to make a financial contribution please know that every donation is received with deep, heartfelt gratitude and the desire to continue to delight you with our growth. However, what we would really prefer, is for you to come and visit us, and to spend some time here. Our proposal is that you earmark some time in the future to come to Les Contes and to pay now for your future stay. That way, we use the money for when it is most needed - now, in the renovation, helping hands and endless materials!

We hope that you will spend time with us at the Bed and Breakfast, to explore, learn, heal and help us grow. We can almost certainly promise you - a life altering experience.

So here are a few options where you could really help.