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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Apr 2024
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91.3 %
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Details
Description
We want to create awareness among the community by introducing permaculture as a whole - this is our mission. Our practices are guided and carried out by permaculture ethics, principles and design system.
Our farm is on top of one of the many hills of the highlands of Tanzania and compromises of 15 hectares. We have five zones based on permaculture principles and three trained permaculture experts.
The farm is the place, where you will spend most of the time. You will enjoy a natural environment and share the daily tasks with the family, farm workers and maybe other volunteers.
On our farm we have some forests and are slowly but constantly enlarging our farming area. We are growing different types of vegetables (in endless beds and a nursery), have a small amount of animals (cows, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and soon ducks) and beehives.
The site structure is still developing. We already have some infrastructure ready, but there is enough work to do ahead. So your skills in constructing shelters and/or buildings will also be welcome. Right now we have a small dormitory, a kitchen, an open dining house, a house for our tools and some sleeping tents (partly on a wooden platform) in the forest.
You are heartily invited to support this project, experience Tanzanian life on a farm, and exchange ideas, culture, know-how, learning, ...
I am happy and excited to work with different people from all over the world, who can teach me new things, share ideas and knowledge, collaborate on projects and further aid me to fulfil my goal of helping the local community and environment.
Our plan is to develop this site further to be able to receive more people interested in permaculture from around the globe to demonstrate the positive effects of permaculture and educate individuals on the practices of sustainable living following the key concepts of practical permaculture.
In Tanzania - and I can say that this is also global – farmers and even people in general do not realize that conventional farming practices are killing our lands and destroying natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Unlike these money-focused conventional farmers, my wish is to first create awareness on a local scale and then hopefully progress to educate people nationally.
I want to encourage people to have a respectful and environmentally sustainable relationship with Mother Nature, so that the future generation may continue these practices and utilize and enjoy the rich natural resources that surround us. My aim is to educate the community so that they may realize and readjust the way they think, produce and live.
I hope to demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of permaculture, so the local community can observe the small changes they can implement in their own lifestyles without needing to compromise important aspects of their lives.
After some years we are very happy with the success so far. Some families of the nearby village passed by on a regularly basis and now are learning about permaculture to implement it in their farms.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be sharing a good time with us and experiencing the Tanzanian way of life.
We will be happy to spend time with you, teaching you some Kiswahili and if you like the local language (Hehe).
We will also be glad to help you discover the area. Mdabulo Ikanga is a small village, where everyone knows each other. The local people are very friendly and always willing to have a conversation with you regardless of your fluency in Kiswahili! There are small shops and bars, but no nightlife.
Sometimes people are coming to the farm to visit the permaculture site and to observe the design and benefits of practical permaculture. So there are always opportunities to meet and interact with the locals and practice your Kiswahili.
We are close to the Ruaha National Park, the biggest one in Tanzania, famous for the number of lions and other big cats. Our volunteers described their excursions to the national park as awesome, mindblowing.
So if you want, we can help you organise a safari during your days off or any near adventure you want to undertake.
Help
You are welcome to offer any help around the farm, e. g.
- preparing garden beds for new crops, planting seedlings, distributing natural fertilizer, removing weeds and grass, turning compost, watering the plants, etc.
- building new houses, stalls, stables, sheds, barns and help with electricity or water issues
- cleaning the animal pens and feeding the animals,
- picking fruits and vegetables and preparing meals, ...
We want to build a house (ground is levelled, bricks are ready) and a duck shelter
There are always jobs where you can help with around the property and all kind of help is welcomed!
Besides these daily tasks, the aim is to keep the project and dream growing, so we will work on several ideas which imply designing, building, and repairing.
Do you have any computing skills? I would appreciate some help with documents, webpages, social media - and your help to improve my computer skills.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
Accommodation
You will be staying at the farm, which is situated on top of one of the many hills of the highlands. It is 100% safe, a very peaceful and quiet place with a beautiful environment and often awesome sunrises. You are surrounded by nature: the farm and forests.
You will have your own sleeping tent. Most of the tents rest on wooden platforms, all of them ensure enough privacy. Bedsheets, blankets, and pillows are provided - but if you are used to your stuff, please bring it along.
We serve 3 meals per day: breakfast, hot lunch and hot dinner in a wooden hut with a long table. Tea is available everytime. Most of the food you eat will be provided by the site's crops.
We have wooden cabins, where you enjoy showering with a bucket of hot water, which we cook every evening. The water is pumped from a nearby stream.
Our toilets are 100% compost toilets.
Please bring nature-friendly shampoo/ soap
Electricity on the farm comes through our solar panels. You can easily charge mobile devices and computers.
In the middle of the farm we have 4 big benches, ideal to relax and enjoy the beautiful view (and good network).
What else ...
There is no Wi-Fi at the farm nor in the village. If you need internet, please buy a local sim card. Best network connection at the farm is with Vodacom.
The weather is very nice in Mufindi area. That means it is not too hot but it can be rather cool at night. So please make sure, you have enough warm clothes and a rain jacket with you. 😊As you will be working on a farm, think about good shoes or rubber boots and !!! working gloves.
We are not so far from Ruaha National Park, the biggest park of Tanzania, and we can organize some unforgettable safari for you at a good price!
I am able to help all travellers with their journey to Mdabulo, as I have friends in many places, who are happy to help and make your journey as smooth as possible. The local transport can be quite confusing if you dot speak the local language!
Just let me know your travel plans and I will be happy to help!
Looking forward to exchanging ideas with you and developing the Practical Permaculture of Africa vision. :)
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
You may park your campervan on the farm and use our facilities, but we are not able to connect you to electricity!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Usually 4-5 hours a day (however can vary depending on the work required), 5 days a week
Feedback (16)
Such a lively and… read more
Feedback
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Such a lively and… read more
You are left with gifts of knowledge to take you further in this life,… read more
They are amazing, hard workink, full of kindness, creativity, responsibility and really present and conscious. I wish our ways are gonna stay connected.
She is amazing , hard working, full of kindness ,creativity, responsibility and really present and conscious!
I wish our ways are gonna stay connected.
1. All the people were open minded, helpful, soft, friendly and with an incredible spirit.
They all work on realizing this dream – and it looks already so very well! Ottomans knowledge around permaculture is impressingly deep and profound. Angelista, his wife, knows a lot about plants. She is such a kind person… read more
Communication is easy, he helped me to organize my journey to the farm. I was staying at the permaculture site, 20 min walk far from the village. The village is about 2 hours from Mafinga. The place is peaceful, green and surrounded by… read more
The landscape is really… read more
Nina is a very nice girl, hardworking, respectful, curious and she teached me a lot of skills, especially tips about seedlings that have been very useful and that I… read more
Everyday there is something to do on the farm, if it is feading the animals, cleaning an… read more
They helped me to plan and design the buildings of the institute,… read more
