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Help at agroecological farm in the Ricote (or Moorish) Valley, astonishing landscape and culture in Murcia Region, Spain

  • Favourited 830 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Ours is an agroecological project that includes the organic farm in the heart of the Ricote Valley, also known as Moorish Valley and a rural cottage, the Casica de Perintín. The farm it's 3 Ha of lemon and orange trees and a house veggie horture limited by the River Segura and the protected mountains of La Navela and La Umbría (Sierra de Ricote).
    We live at the farm: Natalia, Spanish biologist and translator (from English and Catalan), my daughter Hawa, born in October 2011 and 2-3 volunteers or friends. We share the farm with volunteers some years ago and also with friends and some animals and pets: hens and dogs (maybe a couple of lambs soon!). Volunteers will be lodged at the big house of La Era, where Nat and Hawa live, and there's a powerful wifi available, although apparently in the middle of nowhere ;). Since 2023 we get energy from solar panels, but we are not off grid (...yet)

    We are currently recovering the former structures and functioning of the citric and fruit trees, the orchards, of this unique, beautiful and tranquil spot. So there's always field work to do, like trimming, pruning, cutting and preparing wood, watering the orchards, taking care of the veggie garden for the house, fixing stonewalls and watering channels, picking up fruits, fixing fences, water pipes....apart from regularly preparing and fixing the rural house for incoming guests

    We welcome positive, adaptative and responsible volunteers, eager to help both open air and inside, independent and also sociable. There's a lot of work around the year and we expect volunteers to adapt to our crazy and chaotic rythms; and to take responsability during their stage of certain tasks (like feeding the chickens) every day... even the days off (when they do eat too!). Enjoying cooking and giving a hand regularly with housework, without need to be told are always welcomed.

    You won't probably ever forget the magic atmosphere !

    No dogs allowed, sorry; we have already some and they still do not understand well the concept of "workaway doggies" ;)
    Please, do not apply for less than 3-4 weeks, as it's the minimum stay we can cope with! Gracias!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    The entire farm is a lovely sample of the traditional Murcian orchards (huerta), including the ancestral watering system designed by the Moorish centuries ago, and it's officially under Organic Ecolabel since 2003. So that volunteers will learn and experience authentic and sustainable ways of farming.
    We also maintain a veggie garden for the house and organise workshops on specific techniques (like bokasi, stonewalls...) that can be joined.
    The rural house, the Casica, provides the touristic scope of the management.
    We are an openminded and curious family, who hosts volunteers more than 10 years ago, so that we enjoy exchanging experiences and visions with interesting people!

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    Around the year we must care the oranges and lemons trees and also weeding the horture, and some fixing in the houses, like painting, and redoing stonewalls are often needed....we are always busy down here! Minimum stage is for 3 weeks... preferably 4 or longer, once we are all happy! Please do not apply if you cannot stay for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

  • Languages

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

    This host offers a language exchange
    Many years of experiences in teaching Spanish, so we will correct and help you with yours if you're interested. Support to improve our French and German wi be welcome!

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Volunteers will share the house with Nat and Hawa, having their own room, shared or not depending on how many vols we have (usually 2, eventually 3 or more)

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There are really nice hiking routes around and canoeing is posible nearby. Every neighbour village is worth being visited, and there are also some interesting museums and 2 spas not too far away.
    We can provide you with a bike and ocassionally a car might be available.
    There are some daily buses to Murcia city.
    Ojós is a litle village (350 inhab.) 1 km away and there are 3 bars and a shop. Within 10km there are 6 more villages, Ricote, Ulea, Blanca, Abarán, Villanueva y Archena, all worth a visit, some of them more!.

  • 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

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    There's a good wifi connection, and several comfy places to work

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5hours 5 days per week, Thursdays and Saturdays days off (changeable if told in advance)

Host ref number: 854343423478

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