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Live free, learn how to rebuild your home or build a new one and live off-grid on the East coast, Jumilla, Spain

  • Favourited 1613 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am a Norwegian man (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️1), who owns a valley high up in the mountains, in the middle of a Nature Park! Here I am rebuilding an old house to become a retro-fit Earthship (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️2) with Aquaponics (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️3).

    I will grow my own food using permaculture techniques in the fields. I will grow vegetables, fruit, and herbs all year round in the huge Aquaponics system I am building in the Earthship greenhouse.

    NEW in 2024!
    I am very excited about this year, as I have just opened up The Seasonal Experience Academy here in my valley. The academy is a comprehensive and immersive academy designed to teach people everything they need to know before they waste time, money, and energy on “just winging it” by buying a piece of land and learning by trial and error.

    This year I plan to allow WorkAway volunteers to join in on smaller parts of the Academy for free, by opening up for 1 or 2 weeks of last-minute hosting. As a WorkAway volunteer, you are subjected to the same conditions that are described for every WorkAway volunteer; You live for free (water, food, and accommodation are included), and in return, you do 25 hours of volunteer help/week (5 days of 5 hours/day). Every week you will be invited to participate in some of the classes of the Academy for free. The classes are both theory and physical practice of any subject related to sustainable living (see below). After the classes, your volunteer help will be related to what you just have learned. The paying students will continue on other classes, while you and other volunteers finish the builds before joining another class. Below, under "availability" I will write down the classes I will offer WorkAway volunteers to join in for free. It will also give you an idea of what volunteer work to expect. In your spare time, you are welcome to also join in on any classes for free, to learn more.

    Requirements:
    You must be older than 21 years old. You must come with a car and agree to car pooling, you must be able to climb a ladder and carry 25 kg. Volunteers and students are expected to be responsible for cooking and cleaning for everyone (it will be organized and shared).


    ----------------availability -------------------

    April 2024:

    1 volunteer with a car.
    7 days: From Saturday 20th, 12:00 to Friday 26th, 12:00. 25 hours help in total.
    Meeting point: Pinoso, Alicante.
    Topics: Building a large Aquaponics system. Building a water catchment/filtration/underground storage system. Building a storage shed for Earthship materials.

    May 2024:

    2 volunteers with their own cars.
    26 days: From Monday 06th, 10:00 to Friday 31st, 16:00. 4 weeks of 25 hours help/week in total.
    Meeting point: Alicante Airport, Alicante.
    Topics: Building a complete self-sustainable Studio apartment from scratch with all Earthship systems implemented. Building a Solar hot water system.


    Keep an eye on my calendar for more upcoming
    workshops or last-minute availability.
    ---------------------------------------------------





    WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER AT MY PROJECTS:
    Official language: English. Possibilities for practicing Spanish.
    Easy and hard tasks on self-sustainable projects and maintenance projects.
    A lot of fun and laughter with a highly motivated international crew. Plenty of "me time" to recharge and reconnect. And social time to create valuable friendships with the rest of the crew. Fun and interesting excursions and leisure activities. And deep conversations and relationship-building, at a stunningly beautiful place. With a host that really cares!

    I have been hosting volunteers from all over the world over the last few years, and I am now using my on-site workshops for wood, metal, stone, concrete, glass, and electricity (including Photovoltaics), to teach building any self-sustainable systems from scratch. Including different house-building techniques, like Earthship, straw bale, cave house, cob, rammed earth, shipping containers, Ferro cement, etc.
    In addition to this, there will be dozens of smaller projects going on all the time to cover most other aspects of building self-sustainable systems. So regard the place as a playground filled with any kind of tools and materials, ready to receive your creative ideas and inspiration (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️4)!

    This place is a very magical place. The energies are unbelievable (seriously!), and the mountain is like an amplifier. What you bring in of good or bad attitude, will be mirrored doubled back at you. So use this opportunity for personal and spiritual growth, to learn new skills, and to create a good experience for yourself and others. Leave any need for drama or any bad attitude back home. We treat each other with respect and understanding. And for those who are interested in learning new skills in communication that may improve your relationships drastically, I hold regular classes in A Language Of Life (NVC) - originally created by Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD.

    You may do what you like in your time off. You can even use my workshops to build your own private stuff. The property is surrounded by 2 million square meters of a beautiful nature park. There are hundreds of mountain bike/hiking paths and an extensive dirt road system throughout the park. I have a mountain bike you can use for free.
    In our time off, we might decide to go exploring the park, just hang out in the sun or in the hammocks in the shade, And maybe tell stories and play the guitar in front of the fireplace in the evenings. We might go to the beach, visit some vineyards or towns/cities, or check out the many well-kept local secrets. Like the secret bathing place with a waterfall, or the secret rooftop bar in Alicante city, or the not-so-secret private Ice cream factory/shop created by a famous Belgium Chef (ooh, you're gonna love that one!).


    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️1 - ABOUT ME.
    Being an INFJ and born in August (Which makes me a Leo), I was set out to go through life with a very strong personality. Fortunately, my life experience has rounded the edges and I have grown to become a gentle giant that genuinely cares about other people's needs and feelings. And I have finally learned how to listen. :-D
    Also being a former soldier in the Special Forces (now I am a pacifist), I learned to be patient but also not to take any crap. So you can feel safe that I will have no problem making hard but necessary decisions or removing people that are not beneficial for the group, the project, or myself. If you google INFJ personalities you'll see that even though I am a very open and extrovert person (the Leo in me), I also have an introverted side. So I need some time to myself to recharge now and then. When I allow that, I have so much more to give.

    I am a philosopher and a creator. But I have gained skills in many useful trades, for this project. And I have experience in building houses, self-sustainable systems, and survival techniques. I spent the last 15 years developing my own philosophy and worldview, which I am open to discussing and sharing with anyone interested in deep conversations and self-awakening (But you will have to ask). Basically, it is founded on the idea that "You create your own reality". I just took it beyond the physical level and into the mind and spiritual level, to see how deep I could go in the self-sustainability way of living. And it worked!

    I strongly believe that we are actually in for a brighter future! My project is my personal attempt to show what happens if we take personal responsibility for our own lives. And how that affects the rest of the world. My favorite words of wisdom are "In order to be able to take care of others, I need to know how to take care of myself". So that is what I explore. On all levels.


    MY DREAM (I recommend watching my video on YT: "White Rabbit - My dream", to get the best out of this text below)

    In my dream, I am sitting under the big tree looking out over my valley.
    Taking in the stunning view, as the incredible colors from the sunset are dancing over the mountain tops and on the clouds above.

    Feeling the satisfaction, the gratitude and the wistfully feeling when thinking about all the joyful moments with each of one of the amazing volunteers from all over the world that have given me their time, their smiles, their physical and emotional support to let me fulfill my dream;

    My own little valley high up in the mountains in the beautiful and warm country of Spain.
    Protected by the National park, the mountain itself, and its natural inhabitants.

    I'm taking in the feeling of being surrounded by former volunteers, now close friends, and almost like a family. Living in their own Earthships right next to mine. Sharing their dream with me.
    And how we are helping each other and new visitors to discover, remember and become the ones we need to be.

    As my fellow owners come and join me under the tree, sharing the moment, the view, and the connection,
    I finally feel relaxed.
    We did it! We have built our Earthships.
    We have finished the workshops and created a way of guiding people to use the tools, our support, and our skills, to create amazing art and new inventions.
    We grow our own food using natural techniques like permaculture and aquaponics.
    We produce so much with so little effort, that it is a pure pleasure to give food for free at our "Cafeteria of hugs" that we made for the users of the park and for ourselves.

    Together we created a retreat for people with good energies.
    A place to grow personally and spiritually and receive healing.
    A place to meditate and contemplate.
    A place to discover our own powers.
    A place where we found a higher and more powerful value than money, to keep our lives going and have the freedom to make mistakes. And the responsibility to correct them.
    A world of free-share and appreciation for who we really are.

    We created the valley to look natural.
    We designed the houses and the structures in such a way that they blend in perfectly with the surroundings.
    Allowing us the full attention to nature and our own connection with it.

    We feel the wind.
    We know where the shade is moving throughout the day and where the rainwater will run over the land.
    We are connected to the soil and know its temperature, moisture, and even the smell deep down in the ground.
    We feel natural.
    We are proud.
    Because we showed it was possible!

    And now we are free. Absolutely free!
    We can do everything we like to when we feel for it because we don't HAVE TO do anything.
    Our Earthships and systems are providing all our basic needs for us.
    For free.
    Forever.

    As the light breeze, which has kept us cool from the strong sun, fades away along with the daylight,
    we all take a moment to watch the brightness and clarity of the stars in the sky, up here at this altitude.
    And we all find the connection with each other in the gratitude and excitement for what life soon will present for us,
    of new possibilities and new people... tomorrow.
    Just as we all return to the privacy of our homes with our loved ones.

    It has been a good day.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    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

    In your time off, you are welcome to join any Academy classes for free, to learn about things like starting your own project one day. How you can end up having a complete house with a property only starting with 0-2000 euro and the skills and mindset learned here. How to start small businesses with minimal effort and capital, to create a constant flow of income with no or minimal work, so that you can free your time to create a better life and explore the world and yourself. Learning about spiritual insights and mental techniques to reduce resistance and discomfort in your life, and improve communication with your loved ones.

    The official language on the property is English, but you may also practice your Spanish there or on the cultural excursions we do with long-term (more than two weeks) volunteers.

    The area is rich in experiences, so we can choose from a huge variety of possibilities in our spare time. Anything from bathing in river waterfalls, hot springs, or natural SPA's and going to the beach, to go mountain walking/biking, rock climbing, cave exploring and visiting towns/cities and local culture like vineyards, olive gardens, ruins, archeological sites, museums, castles, theme parks and water parks (June). My favorite is the local town's monthly organized "Tapas Rounds" where you get a map and walk from restaurant to restaurant paying only 2 euros for Tapas and a beverage. A great chance to make new friends in the local communities and to try out their best food and vine.

  • Help

    Help

    Volunteering include building on the Earthship (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️2), Aquaponics system (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️3) and any other self sustainable inventions (*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️4) we want to build together. There will also be a chance to do Permaculture and landscaping.

    Examples:

    - Design.
    - Landscaping and gardening.
    - Creating wonderful international dishes (and eating them too).
    - Building solar panel, wind turbine or a water pump from scratch.
    - Building compost toilet, biogas digester, greenhouse, foundry, rocket mass heater, rocket stove, evaporation fridge,
    - Practicing constructing an Earthship (tire walls, tin can walls, bottle walls, vaulted roof, woodwork, plumbing).
    - Building Earthship systems (water, electricity, sewage, heating, cooling, food production).
    - Building Aquaponics systems (from small kitchen window systems to large greenhouse systems).
    - Experimenting with inventions and permaculture.
    - Making art.

    No experience required. But you need to be positive and willing to make an effort.
    You need to have a sense of practical work and be solution oriented.
    And you need to be willing to contribute to the team with motivation and teamwork.
    If you can lift 25 kg and climb a ladder (not even at the same time), you'll be fine.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Norwegian: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Volunteers and students will share the upstairs bedroom with very comfortable wooden bunk beds. Single beds with double mattresses. No need for a sleeping bag. Bedding (duvet, pillow, duvet & pillow covers, sheet, and a blanket is included in the stay. New clean bedding every second week. The beds have reading lights, private storage boxes, storage shelves and curtains for privacy.

    Indoor WC, outdoor compost toilet.
    Indoor and outdoor showers with hot water.
    Electricity: 220V, 12V. USB and 220V charge outlets.
    3G Wifi, unlimited data.
    Fully equipped kitchen with stone pizza/bread oven, fireplace, electric oven, induction plates, microwave, air fryer, rice cooker, blender, ice cube machine, popcorn machine, electric stove and gas stove, fridge, and freezer.
    Living room with a large fireplace, Dining table with chairs.
    Laundry: You can use our washing machine for free, but bring your own detergent (biodegradable is not required) We also made an amazing DIY 50 liter(!) hand-cranked solar washing machine/dryer for anyone to use.
    Outdoor dining area with tables, chairs, and shade.
    Indoor and outdoor workshops and storage.
    Private secure outdoor parking and camping facilities.
    Outdoor hammocks under a huge tree.

    The house is still being renovated/rebuilt, but most of the living areas are finished.
    Yet, the impression will be dominated by tools, materials, and unfinished work, here and there.

    We decide on the menu together and go shopping for the food and pick from the garden. We cook together and take turns being the Chef. Food scraps are composted in several different ways.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️2 - AN EARTHSHIP
    - produce its own WATER (rain catchment, storage, filtration, solar heating), its own ELECTRICITY (solar, wind, hydrogen, bio gas), Its own BIO GAS, COMPOST and WATER for the garden.
    - uses the phenomena of nature to COOL DOWN (ground cooling and cross ventilation) and to HEAT UP (solar air and water heating.) the house and the attached greenhouse. And to store the heat in thermal mass.
    - produce its own FOOD. Either by traditional earth growing indoors, or with Aquaponics (like in my case).
    - recycle grey water to water the indoor garden and refill the toilet cistern.
    - recycle black water to water the outdoor garden and to produce natural gas for cooking, heating and cooling (fridge, freezer). It also uses the sun to treat the black water to become compost for the outdoor garden.
    - is build by recycled materials, by the owners and volunteers to reduce costs and at the same time spread the idea out into the world.

    To get an idea about what kind of work we are doing on an Earthship, search YouTube for the documentary: "Earthship Solution Full Version AMVgrow-Reloaded".


    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️3 - AN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM
    - Is a completely self sustainable mini eco system that takes care of itself and just produce ecological food all year round with about zero work (10min a week) and energy used (50W/h). It produce any kind of vegetable, fruit and herbs. And also eatable fish and freshwater shrimps.
    My system will grain up the food scraps thrown in the kitchen sink to feed the black soldier fly farm and the red wriggler worm farm. The larvas and the worms turns the food into extremely concentrated nutrients for plants. Then the filtered nutrient liquid drips in to the aquaponics system and into small bottles for sale. So the only work is to pick the food from the greenhouse, eat, throw the left overs in the sink and push a button. The over population of larva, worms and shrimps will enter the fish tank by themselves and become food for the fish. The fish also eat duckweed that are being automatically fed directly from the grow trays in the aquaponics. The fish poo dissolve in water and microbes living naturally in water and on the pebbles supporting the plants in the Aquaponics system convert it into plant nutrients and at the same time clean the water that is returned into the fish tank. The shrimps live in protected habitats at the bottom of the fish tank, cleaning the fish tank and providing for extra fish food. The worms also lives in the plant trays, eating dead leaves and roots, keeping the system clean and at the same time produce nutrients and fish food.
    To seed the system I just spit the seeds back into the plant trays as I am eating the food. That's all the work I do.


    *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️4 - INVENTIONS.
    We normally do a lot of experimenting and invent and build many different things in between the normal work. Things like a wind powered washing machine, portable bottle size solar operated refrigerator, portable solar generator, Greenhouse window modules with Air and water heating capacity, adjustable shade and special security system built in. We do soldering, welding classes and glass cutting classes.
    And we experiment with perma culture, inventing systems like the 5 liter water bottle self watering mini greenhouse.

  • 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

    Digital nomads are welcome! Free access to Skylink Wi-Fi with unlimited data and the highest speed.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    I have plenty of space for your campervan. You will have access to electricity and water. Parking with a view. Free unlimited access to our Skylink Wi-Fi in your van!

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    25 hours work week (5 days a week, 5 hours a day)

Host ref number: 335339372946

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