Help at a small scaled integrated agro-ecological seed farm in San Jose, Costa Rica

Details

• 

  Description

  We are a young couple in the process of solidifying our own agroecological project for over 10 years now. We have bachellor degrees in Management of Natural Resources and complemented studies in Organic Farming School. The farm is located in a southern mountain, only 13 km away from downtown San Jose, it is a rural area with a dry climate where we have 1 hectare (10,000 square meters) of land.
  
  Projects
  
  Fermented compost
  Organic agriculture on raised beds (association, rotation, diversification)
  Ancient varieties of chickens
  Ecological dry toilets
  Conservation areas
  Botanical extracts & mineral broths
  Open pollinated Seed conservation and selling
  Seedlings
  Educational tours
  Rural tourism
  
  
  Currently we dedicate the farm exclusively to seed production and own a seed company.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ×

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our main benefit for volunteers would be if they are really interested in getting to learn about agroecology and integrated systems, we are very open in sharing all our experiences.
  
  We always try to give a good culinary experience as well, cause we love eating tasty food!
  
  We also have very good knowledge about the geography of Costa Rica so if volunteers want to travel, we can recommend different places for alternative rural tourism and other great volunteer programs. if you are travelling costa rica this is a good place to start cause its in the central valley, it can be a rural/urban journey.

• 

  Help

  We have many projects and activities going on but basically volunteers have one fixed job: feeding the animals in the morning and afternoon. In between, they help us out doing the same jobs we do: making compost, cleaning, preparing the soil, weeding, planting, spraying the crops with organic fertilizers and other preventive methods, irrigating, harvesting, building, planting and taking care of trees and ornamentals, helping out with groups of students.
  
  STAYING AND LOOKING AFTER THE FARM AND DOGS while we are not there on very busy days or specific activities, is extremely helpful and important for us, amongst many many many other tasks.
  
  VOLUNTEERS ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT FOR OUR FARM, your help is highly appreciated, cause being a dedicated farmer is serious buisness.
  
  MINIMUM & MAXIMUM STAY IS 2 WEEKS

• 

  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

• 

  Accommodation

  Depending on the day, we pick up volunteers at Plaza del Sol, Curridabat, (8km away from downtown San José) or at Ferreutil in Higuito town, Desamparados, which is very near from the farm (13km away from downtown San José)
  
  WITH NO EXCEPTION, WE ACCEPT ONLY COUPLES due to the dynamics, it works better for us!
  
  Currently our financial situation is limited as we are constantly investing to make the project grow, also Costa Rica is an expensive country and the cost of living is very high, thats why we recieve volunteers that are willing to share equally the expenses for food, WE DONT GAIN ANY PROFITS FROM THIS! We provide good quality food and portions.
  
  We share all food equally and alternate the cooking and washing dishes chores. Since volunteers cook often, we need people with good basic and creative cooking skills. When the days are very crazy with work, volunteers help us cook several times in a row.
  
  We offer a very cool cabin, nice conditions. Volunteers have their own private room with queen bed, 1 table & 2 chairs, hot water, private dry toilet and WIFI.
  
  PLEASE, we need volunteers that have great INITIATIVE and willing to work hard, responsible, organized, very clean and respectful of independent spaces, cause we share a lot of common areas.
  
  PLEASE, only apply to the farm if you are really interested in what we do and hope to learn and exchange agroecology knowledge.
  
  We live out in mountain conditions, not extreme wilderness but there are spiders, insects ect....

• 

  What else ...

  On their time off, volunteers usually take hikes up the mountain, 15 min away there are great viewpoints of the whole central valley. There are many places to relax, read, enjoy and excercise in the farm or in the surroundings.
  
  THE NEAREST SUPERMARKET IS 3 KM AWAY BY FOOT, so please make sure you bring your personal provisions and snacks if you want.
  
  We use a special biogarden which cleans and depurates the shower systems that cant have heavy chemical substances, so we provide biodegradable soap and shampoo!
  
  We are always open to help volunteers out with what they need!

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

• 

  Hours expected

  3 hours a day 5 days a week

• 

  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does workaway.info allow listings of hosts who charge money?

  In developing countries (Where most hosts are involved in charity work or community development) some of our hosts may ask for a small donation to help the host family or charity (often less then 5 dollars per day) Workaway will allow this listing when the donation goes directly to the family or charity and is just to cover the cost of the volunteer‘s stay.  (This will be clearly marked on the host listing).
  We will strictly not allow listings posted by agents, “middle men” or projects who we feel are looking to profit from a volunteers stay.
   

   

   

  sharing food costs (no more than US$5 per day)

Feedback (45)