Help on a organic coffee and fruit farm in Sindhupalchok, Nepal

Details

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  Description

  Dear volunteers.
  
  Our project is a space for inspiration, learning, and research, dedicated to empowering local farmers through sustainable practices. We focus on growing permaculture crops like coffee, and we're seeking passionate volunteers with experience or interest in organic farming, permaculture, and village development.
  
  If you're proactive, independent, and eager to learn, join us in creating a model of success that benefits both people and the world!
  
  We are a group of motivated people, Deepa and Thomas, Ama, Mangale, Bishal and Dinesh (5 nepalese and 1 norwegian) who love farming and want to make positive change in our village areas.
  
  Many people leave the village these days for work, and we would like to provide opportunities; be an example, show the way to grow profitable organic permaculture crops, like high quality coffee.
  
  The farm is situated in a beautiful part of the Himalayas. Surrounded by fields, forests, birds and wildlife. Located 2,5 km from nearest town and main village.
  
  As a research and study farm we working long term to develop climate and alltitude adapted seedlings, continually trying out new projects, new crops, new processing methods.
  
  We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help us, and with whom we can exchange ideas, share knowledge, research and learn.
  
  The only prerequisite is that volunteers are:
  
  *Are motivated, disciplined and capable to put in the required 25 hours a week of work.
  
  *Are able and willing to communicate and interact with locals to make a good cultural exchange.
  
  Because It takes time to fully experience our place and local area, to get into the farm routine, to have a solid learning and cultural exchange - we encourage and give priority to longer stays, 14 days and more.
  
  In your request kindly let us know:
  
  Do you have experience with the skills required for this position? Do you have experience or interest in farming?

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Farming

  

  Plant care

  

  Gardening

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You will work with local Nepalese people and live closely with us during your stay. There are many opportunities to learn;
  
  Learn through experience! Get stuck in with practical tasks led by the Nepali members of the Farm’s family. Language may be limited but by watching how we work, doing it yourself, and communicating in other ways you can connect to the team and practice lots of skills.
  
  Get an insight into the lifestyle of rural Nepali villages and people, learning some Nepali language from the team and exploring the local area.
  
  Read all about farming and Nepal by borrowing books from our little library!
  
  You will see our organic methods for increasing soil fertility and field management, see how coffee is made from seed to roast, learn how to harvest and process the different seasonal crops – such as hibiscus and nepali hog plum (lapsi).
  
  Understand more about the culture and landscape through trekking and attending local festivities on your days off. You can visit a monastery, stupa, the local town and – if the weather is right – get a view of the himalayas. Langtang range and Shisapangma.

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  Help

  Tasks that my be given to volunteers include:
  
  weeding, helping with tree care (we will direct), coffee and fruits picking and processing ( seasonal) tree planting, cutting grass with sickle, help with projects around living quarters, construction tasks, nursery, watering, mulching and compost making.
  
  Our specialty crop is coffee, but we also grow hibiscus, different species of citrus fruits, guava, nepali hug plum, sichuan pepper (timur), black cardamom, mulberry, strawberry, herbs and many more.
  
  Help from day to day may vary a lot, depending on the time of year.
  
  Help hours is : 09.00 to 12 noon and 14 to 16.00. Days will be active.
  
  P.S June to August – rainy season
  
  The monsoon is a wonderful time for connecting with the local life and to be in lush green nature.
  
  However, the hot and humid weather makes work challenging and travel may be disrupted and slow. We do have volunteers during monsoon but we require the capable person only, that can cope with the challenges.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Hindi: Fluent
  Nepali: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  All of us likes languages and to learn new words in any language. We all speak Nepali, some of us speaks Tamang as well. We all like to practice English.
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  Accommodation

  We have one 3 bed room in the small house and 2 twin rooms in the main house, furnished with wooden beds. There is one shared squat toilet and solar shower with hot water.
  
  At the farm, you will eat the typical Nepali mountain food. At noon and in the evening, we make “Daalbhat” Rice, lentils and vegetables. Meals are mainly organic, sourced from our local area or own field.
  
  The high-grown organic rice in our area is tasty and nutritious, so we try to keep a year-round supply sourced from nearby farmers. We grow ginger, turmeric, chili and many other seasonal fruits and vegetables for the household.
  
  Volunteers are welcome to take part in cooking by request.
  
  In between meals, we serve snacks, fruits, tea and coffee. Our food is basically vegetarian, but we can have meat occasionally too.
  
  Breakfast is cooked in outdoor kitchen and is is typically beaten rice, bread, rice, egg, porridge, seasonal fruits.
  
  HOUSERULES:
  
  We expect you to be respectful, friendly and positive.
  
  We don’t permit alcohol.
  
  During working hours, we appreciate it if mobile phones are turned off or left in the room.
  
  Be on time, ready and focused when work starts.
  
  In the evenings, we kindly ask for low voice from 20h00 and silence from 22h00.
  
  We prefer that you are back on the compound before dark.
  
  Small household tasks ( sweeping the floors, cleaning the toilet, doing the dishes..) will be executed by everyone.
  
  At the farm, it is ok for both men and women to wear shorts and sleeveless tops. Shoes are not permitted inside the house or covered outside areas. Bring easy-to-wear slippers/sandals.

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  What else ...

  BUS DIRECTIONS from Kathmandu:
  
  Sindhu Helambu yatayat sewa (Helambu bus park).
  Bus to Nawalpur at 7.00 (3,5 hours)
  and 8.15 (5 hours)
  
  Be there 45 minutes before departure to reserve your seat. Tickets at counter (370 npr)
  
  The bus route is via Shivaghat or Melamchi.
  
  To ensure a smooth journey, you'll stay connected with us both before and during your travel. This will allow us to coordinate and arrange to meet you in Nawalpur.
  
  The Farm is 2, 5km / 40 min walk from Nawalpur. We will meet you in Nawalpur on arrival and walk to the farm.
  
  In Kathmandu, Thamel, we have relatives that runs a travel office and a small family hotel. Our volunteers may contact with them. For a touch base, information, directions to bus. Airport pickup / accommodation in Kathmandu.
  
  The temperatures in our area are similar to Kathmandu. Winter is cold, especially at night. Summer rainy and warm. Bring warm clothes, socks, hat and raincoat, gumboots accordingly.
  
  P.S after your application is received we will provide detailed information about seasons, travel, packing list etc.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  The wifi works well most of the time but we do have occasional power break.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does Workaway allow some hosts to charge a fee?

  
  

  Workaway provides opportunities for non-monetary cultural exchanges where hosts provide food and accommodation in return for help from Workawayers. In some exceptional cases, a small fee/ donation request (typically no more than 5 dollars per day) may be approved for hosts such as registered charities with a history of positive volunteer feedback. Any fee must directly go to the charity and can only be used to cover the volunteers' food costs. This will be clearly marked on the host's listing.
  

  Listings by agents, "middle-men" or projects that appear to profit from a volunteer's stay are strictly prohibited. Any fees must be discussed and approved in advance by the Workaway team.

  US $7 per day to help host family with food costs

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