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Help us stabilise our dryland food forest center and share permaculture knowledge living with our family in Lanjarón, Spain

  • Favourited 867 times
  • Last activity: 19 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Drylands, and permaculture, if you like that, this could be your place.

    At the moment we are looking for one boy who is willing to stay in our caravan. We offer Vegetarian (+Eggs/cheese) food + accomodation, in exchange for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. (Vegans are also welcomed, as we just adapt the meal we share together. :)!


    - The main tasks will be gardening (following permaculture) and general DiY taks, spending some quality time with Row and Alma, our daughters (they love going foraging, and walks, but also drawing...), and general maintenaince work.


    We are in a 4000sqm smallholding located above the village of Lanjaron in Las Alpujarras of Granada. It sits at an altitude of 1100m above sea level with a view of the Mediterrenean Sea on the horizon, and on clear days, the coastline of North Africa.

    David (37, from England), Celia (41, from Spain), and our two daughters, Alma-Blossom (11) and Rowen (8) are the permanent residents on the land. When we arrived 4 years ago, the land was empty except for some olive trees that had clearly been neglected for some time. The soil was mostly bare, a compacted red clay that looked pretty infertile. At the moment we have a little demostration camp, and a webpage, to share with other people how to make the most of the water resourses living in dryland climates.


    Since then, we have built a small straw bale house to live in, and have crowdfunded and planted a permaculture food forest which has dramatically changed the appearance of the land. We’ve worked hard on improving the soil and the vegetable garden is really coming along.

    Now is the time to share all this knowledge and that is the project you would be getting involved with.

    We are focused on teaching and showing water management and is specialising in this area. We’ve already done a lot with rain water harvesting, both in tanks and in the soil through earthworks, and we’re looking into establishing and efficient greywater system.

    After water, come the trees. At the moment we have the stablished 5 years old food forest, and we are documenting the creation of a little new area, so people can learn online about what to plant, and how to planted in dry arid climates.

    We receive between 1 and 2 volunteers on a work exchange from the middle of April until the middle of June, (please do not apply other dates), and then from end-August to the end of September. We ask for 5 hours of work a day, 5 days a week in exchange for full-board, or 3 hours per day, 5 days a week and you pay for your own food. The minimum stay is 1 month. The work tends to be a mixture of agricultural, construction, housework and child care. Volunteers should be happy to work in any and all of these fields.

    Volunteers camp in tents next to a caravan which acts as their kitchen / living room. We have a dry composting toilet and the shower is outside, but with hot water coming from a solar water heater.

    The food is simple, nutritious, delicious and mostly organic. Volunteers prepare their own breakfast and dinner in the caravan, whereas lunch is eaten all together at our house. Lunch tends to be vegan, but there are sometimes local eggs and cheese available for those who desire for dinner. The drinking water comes from a spring which we share with neighbours. According to analysis, it’s extremely pure, purer in fact than the bottled Lanjaron mineral water!

    We have a modest solar power system which is enough for people to charge their phones and laptops during the day, until 8pm.

    The village of Lanjaron is a half an hour walk away on the way down and 45 mins on the way up (depending of course on a person’s hiking prowess!). If we are going down by car to do something, volunteers can sometimes get a lift. From the village there are bus connections to other areas of Las Alpujarras, as well as to the coast and to Granada, which may be interesting for the 2 days off a week.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    This is for those wanting to change their life style and learn new skills, without forgetting the spiritual side of life; We want you to experience and learn a different way of living, organic, more sustainable, and share our daily life. If you want to improve your spanish or english, we can talk to you in the prefered language. WE DON´T MIND, and we were both teachers in the past.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    At the moment we will need SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER AND PHOTOGRAPHER.
    Our activities planned are:
    General care of the permaculture project Food forest.
    General childcare of Alma and Row
    REAL NEED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Catalan: Fluent
    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    French: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    In tent, with access to a little cute caravan.
    The accomodation at the moment is in a big tent (Glamping but shared). We also have a little caravan, where you can have breakfast and spend some of your free time. The caravan is our multifunctions room, also PLAYROOM for the girls (our two daughters, Alma and Rowen, 6 and 3)

    En tienda más caravana.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are mainly vegan (plus sometime, honey or eggs). We do not usually eat meat on the farm. We also live with two girls, so if smoke volunteers are asked to do so in private, and always respectful of the space. We don´t mind sharing a bit of wine on an special occasion but we try not to drink alcohol.

    Very important is that we have kids, and they like to spend time, speak and play with us all. :) YOU NEED TO BE READY TO TALK AND PLAY WITH ALMA AND ROWEN if they suddendly pop up towards you.

    The area is breathtaking there are amazing walks that start on the doorgate, facing the ocean. Surprisingly near town, so that is also a plus.

    Somos veganos (comemos a veces miel o huevos). No solemos comer carne en la finca También vivimos con dos niñas, así que si los voluntarios fuman, se pide que lo hagan en privado, y siempre respetuosos con el espacio. No nos importa tomar un vino o beber una cerveza en ocasiones especiales, pero no cada día y no aquí.

    Nuestras dos niñas son muy sociales y cariñosas, y les gusta hablar y jugar con nuestros invitados... te tienen que gustar los niños!
    La zona es INCREIBLE por su belleza, varias rutas de montaña que comienzan desde la finca...

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 3 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 338495173534

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