Long-term stay in basic mountain shed vines, valley to coast views, helping us build an off-grid life on The Costa Tropical, Spain

  • Favourited 183 times
  • Last activity: 21 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    *Into a private stay with or without working there*
    As I don't live there year-round, I'm currently looking for people who want to maintain the cottage and potentially plants for longer periods. The place is in a better condition if people are around and windows/doors are regularly open and some proper projects can be done which allows a better stay.

    *My/our background*
    I am a Dutch guy from Amsterdam with strong desires to enjoy freedom, sun, nature, good food, healthy and active living in life more and more with a vision on mission to bring together people(s).
    life in a country hosting lots of clouds,
    My boyfriend finished his AI studies and works as an engineer mostly from Amsterdam, sometimes from Spain. Most of the year we live the city life, combined with 3 months van life in summer. But as I notice an even stronger those mentioned desires I also decided to buy this land and my Volkswagen van to travel through Europe and further build my Spanish cortijo dream!

    *My dream. Yours too?*
    -Andalusian life with an abundance of sun, sea and mountain, organized around a great sleep and meals (and beer/wine if you like), socializing with locals and each other (globals) learning each other's cultures and languages.
    -Active life: swimming, biking, hiking, jogging, surf (kite/wind/wave), waterpolo, one day I want to paraglide from the cottage to the coast! And by working on the land and the cottage
    -Relaxing: meditate each sunrise (and sunset), mindfulness, body scan
    -Improve the cottage and garden: further make it a comfortable place to stay with its own fruit trees and year-round veggie and herb garden.

    *The vineyard*
    To realize my dream, I found this vineyard (3,000 m2) in the mountains on the Andalusian Costa Tropical with a small cottage on it with very basic living conditions. A local guy takes care of the vines, to sell the grapes and to make wine (Moscatel) from it. Max nr pics here reached, but find more on insta haroldvanlife

    *Cottage and energy resources*
    After the vineyard came the cottage. The cottage is quite small (about 45 m2) and very basic and like the other small cortijos in the mountains nearby, is not connected to the municipality's services. We already bought, brought, installed solar panels charging batteries, so we and the sun are creating electricity in the sunny mountains! We finally managed to get gas bottles and currently use huge water bottles for cooking and washing.
    Please state in your message that you're aware of the very basic camping-like life there. In winter it could be chilly and the chimney doesn't work properly yet.

    There is no bathroom yet. We use a compost toilet ('flushing' with mountain soil!) and just let the mountain compost that eco-friendly. As a city boy that seemed weird at first, but following other off-grid YouTubers now it seems perfectly natural actually.

    We will be making a connection to a mountain well and/or create a deposit. There is a septic tank. There is limited power from the solar panels and no WiFi router. But if your phone provider has internet in the EU then you'll probably find a good 3/4G connection, everyone else can even watch live video streaming that way.

    *How you can help*
    DIY paint walls, furniture, assembly (DIY or from instruction manual)
    -help with construction (creating a terrace, shadow corners, shower, sink, chimney)
    -from small gardening (planting and maintaining herbal, veggie garden) - only for longer stays (I can't with just my own week visits)
    -heavier stuff (cutting branches, incl. vines), maintain driveway
    -language lessons
    -positive energy of a shared purpose to create something beautiful together

    The basic cottage is an ideal learning place to try out something new, advance skills and make mistakes. Any experience with furniture/interior/exterior construction work, electricity, drains, carpentry is much appreciated but definitely not expected.

    *Household*
    Outside of the 5h work on weekdays, you'd be running a shared household (buy, prepare food, clean)
    -by yourself (long-term stays throughout the year are more than welcome!)
    -with your friend/partner
    -me
    -other workawayer.
    Please indicate your preferred period and company, so we can find a possible match!

    *Costa Tropical Region - Best climate for humans and fruits*
    You can see the Sierra Nevada's snow tops driving up the mountain. The mountain range creates the ideal micro-climate of the Costa Tropical. one of the nicest in Europe: 17-18° C (winter), 22-26° C (summer). Here on a 1 km altitude, it's generally pleasant outside. Inside it's warm on winter nights and cool on warm summer days and nights.

    The sea and mountain 360° (not Celsius) views are stunning and de-stressing. All day you can look at the green valley (and a village from the far, beautifully lit overnight) towards the coastline, where you see Salobreña Alto (old mountainous town with castle and Bajo (with a long beach). On a bright day you can see the coast of Africa. Usually nights are bright with a sky full of stars (and maybe even some planets if you're lucky and using a Sky Maps app).

    *Me/us in a nutshell*
    -world citizen (and traveler), non-racist, inclusive, open-minded to all cultures, languages, eco and bi/gay-friendly LGBTQI+, open to all ages and backgrounds.
    -respectful, people and nature caring travelers.
    -expecting the above also from Workawayers
    -aspiring polyglot (I'd love to be able to speak your language by the end of your stay or practice other shared languages)
    -sports (long-distance outdoor swimming, (wave) surf, kitesurf/windsurf, biking, hiking) interested in most sports really
    -meditation, mindfulness, (daily practice); yoga (interested)
    -extravert but also got this place cause I love to charge in the tranquility of nature.
    -non-smoker, flexitarian (, vegan optional
    -fully vaccinated by end of July. you too?

    *One time visit or looking for a regular house sit every year?*
    With all contacts in life we care about those values and we have built many great long-lasting friendships. Perhaps also with some returning volunteers who can then see how the project evolves over time that they've helped building in the initial phase and can enjoy when returning more often as a house sitter to the place we're building together!

    off-road 4x4 drivers/owners and van life (vanlife) lovers to the front please!
    Update:
    As we're now looking for people who can stay there long-term
    Please indicate your mode of transport, possible duration to stay (the longer the better), with whom preferred (with me/us or if you're also fine there by yourself, couple, friends), if you prefer to do a project there or just stay).
    Looking forward to your reaction!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

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

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Travellers can enjoy the off-grid life in the mountains and that way learning how you can have an amazing time:
    -engage in many important projects that will be in use right after
    -enjoy the outside life in a very pleasant climate
    -get to know the off-grid life (use of alternative energy and water resources, drainage, etc. compared to normal houses)
    -see how we can do without certain luxury from modern life
    -what life is like and how to feel good with no bars and shops within 30 mins travel time
    being outside between the grapes, in nature around
    -you can get to know Andalusian culture, that influenced much of Spain. In your free time you can include that in your food, drinks at home or at bars and restaurants in the mountain/coastal villages nearby and historic Moorish cities such as Granada, Cordoba, Malaga, Seville and further west Cadiz, Ronda, Jerez de la Frontera. The whole Costa Tropical region has an amazing cuisine, and most bars offer tapas alongside the drink you order. You can imagine why we love it and bought this place! You can also enjoy flamenco music and dance, beautiful architecture from several kingdoms,
    -enjoy the nature around you: sleep outside while watching a sky full of stars
    -sports: apart from exercises in and around the house, go and hike, run, mountainbike, swim in the sea, parapent, kitesurf, dive, ski (and go to the beach on the same day!)
    -exchange skills with me/us. I am an entrepreneur, teacher and I can help you learn and practice languages (perhaps in your own as I've learned more than 10), share travel and life experience and world views, love to cook, have a broad interest and I'm eager to learn from others as well and very open-minded and respectful to other people.

  • Help

    Help

    Project work (5 hrs/day, 5 days per wk)
    Depending on the needs during the period and a volunteer's skills and preferences, activities may include:
    -renovation/small construction: paint walls in/outside, roof, fix holes in the wall, fit the solar panels, help build a terrace, porch, sitting area, improve the driveway, walkway stairs, bathroom, create/improve irrigation system, water tank (saving for plant irritation, which we might construct so it can be used as a pool/tub! ;
    -farming and gardening: maintain the vines (the baby grapes are visible since March and fully grown in September) plant and maintain tropical fruit trees, herb garden, compost system, irrigation system ;
    -refurbishment: putting simple furniture together or for those creative/handy ones feel free to write me if you want to make something of your own! ;

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    Italian: Intermediate
    Catalan: Beginner
    Portuguese: Beginner
    Russian: Beginner
    Swedish: Beginner
    Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    Off-grid, self-sufficient, ecological, DIY, camper van, van life; Polyglot, languages, linguistics; Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, nature; Food, cooking, curry, tropical fruit, olive trees, grapes, vines; Sunrises, sunsets, watching the sky and stars, sea view, beach, siesta; Sports: long-distance outdoor swimming, hiking, biking, surf, kitesurf, windsurf, adventure HSP, ADHD, HSP, ENFP, LGBTQ+, ETC ABBRVTNS LOL :)

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Although the cortijo/cottage is basic as described, you will be able to sleep in one of the two rooms, which will have two one person beds with new clean pillows and linen provided, so you don't have to bring any (although you're welcome to of course). Depending on the period, this room is for your private use or shared, which I can let you know when you contact me.

    We're happy to provide you with food throughout your stay and share breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks with you.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Larger Andalusian cities nearby are Málaga at 1 hour drive west from our highway exit, Granada (1 hour North from our highway exit), Córdoba (2,5), Sevilla (3h) or further away Valencia (5h) or Madrid (5h) -or even Barcelona (9h) or Africa 20 min ride + 7h boat ;) Please note that from the highway exit, it's still another 25 minutes up the mountain to the cortijo, but I could pick you up from your bus stop or if you like airport (Malaga/Granada). You might enjoy combining your time at the cortijo with visits to some of these great cities at the beginning and/or end of your stay or with other locations in national parks nearby, such as Cabo de Gata or in Sierra Nevada.

  • 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

    the internet is from your own phone. Generally, there always is internet on the mountain. It may occur that it drops on cloudy days. Fortunately, that doesn't happen but can't be predicted too well. The speed is ok-ish, depends on the type of work. Not suitable for developers/engineers, but for general internet usage, emails etc the speed is ok. We can watch series normally.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Your campervan would need to be high and ideally 4x4 in case the rain created holes in the mountainous dirt track!

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    It depends on the type and size of pet;) we can definitely discuss bringing your dogs, cats, birds and elephants. Maritime animals not suitable for mountainous life.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Max 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 757626776925

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