Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
8 Apr 2025
Reply rate
75.0 %
Usually responds within 23 days
Feedback
26
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Do you like healthy exercise, good company, fresh air, natural surroundings, peace and tranquility? Do you want to learn by doing in a centre where we practice permaculture, eco-building, and sustainable living?
We're Almudena and Robert and we run an NGO focused on ecological restoration and environmental education, based our self-built ecological centre in Cantabria, Northern Spain.
For almost two decades we have been hosting volunteers who come to work and learn with us, in theory but especially in practice, as well as enjoying cultural exchange with us and each other. We believe in life-long learning and that everyone has something to learn as well as something to teach.
At present we are expanding our existing 18-year-old forest garden as well as maintaining and improving the eco-buildings on our site. Tasks include tree planting and tree care, building maintenance and gardening work. We typically work 25 hours a week. Volunteers are expected to stay for a minimum of one week. Accommodation is in a cob cabin, caravan or tent. The midday meal is communal; volunteers are responsible for their own breakfast and evening meals which they can prepare in the shared kitchen, for which we provide the basic ingredients.
¿Te gustan el ejercicio sano, la buena compañía, el aire puro, el entorno natural, la paz y la tranquilidad? ¿Quieres aprender haciendo en un centro donde practicamos permacultura, eco-construcción y vida sostenible?
Somos Almudena y Robert y dirigimos una ONG centrada en la restauración ecológica y la educación ambiental, con sede en nuestro centro ecológico autoconstruido en Cantabria.
Desde hace casi dos décadas acogemos a voluntarios que vienen a trabajar y aprender con nosotros, en la teoría pero sobre todo en la práctica, además de disfrutar del intercambio cultural con nosotros y entre ellos. Creemos en el aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida y en que todo el mundo tiene algo que aprender y algo que enseñar.
En la actualidad, estamos ampliando nuestro bosque comestible existente de 18 años de antigüedad, así como manteniendo y mejorando los edificios ecológicos de nuestro centro. Las tareas incluyen la plantación y el cuidado de árboles, el mantenimiento de edificios y el trabajo de jardinería. Por lo general, trabajamos 25 horas a la semana. Se espera que los voluntarios se queden durante un mínimo de una semana. El alojamiento es en una casita de cob, caravana o tienda de campaña. La comida del mediodía es comunitaria; los voluntarios son responsables de sus propios desayunos y cenas que pueden preparar en la cocina compartida, para lo cual proporcionamos los ingredientes básicos.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Interests
Farming
Sustainability
Culture
DIY & crafts
Carpentry
Writing
Books
Art & design
Architecture
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Learning about permaculture, ecobuilding, and sustainable living, while sharing your own experience with the hosts and with other volunteers.
Help
Principally tree planting and tree care, building maintenance and gardening work.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
May be in a caravan, guest cabin, or tent.
What else ...
We are 15 minutes' drive from the beach in Laredo or Santoña, and 3km (30 min walk) from the nearest shops in Badames.
Public transport is via bus to Laredo or train (FEVE) to Treto.
While it's advantageous to have your own vehicle, we can arrange lifts to and from transport, shops etc.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (16)
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.6)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.6)
Unfortunately, due to space issues, we felt that we had to cut our… read more
I learnt a lot about acology and they place in general is super interesting.
Thanks to Robert and Almudena to make me have a great time!
It was also two other volunteers there at the same time and we was helping out with raking, house renovation (removing paintings from the wall), moving sand to a base around the house and the other two also… read more
Robert and Almudena are very intelligent and interesting people, always willing to share their vast knowledge about eco-building, sustainability and plants.
I also got spanish and english lessons for free, they're both bilingual and they will be happy to help… read more
For me it's been a great opportunity for learning and having my time. The area is beautiful and very peaceful, you can really enjoy just chilling out outside with good weather.
Working with cob is a wonderful experience and also being a little living part of the house we were building.
The… read more
Highly recomended to anyone… read more
