Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
49
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello! We are Cecilia and Alvaro, and we own an organic poultry farm outside of Algarrobo and Casablanca Chile. We also have 2 wonderful female dogs, LouLou, & Gala ; Hugh, the father of Loulou and partner of Gala passed away from natural ageing , we are very sad for his loss he was a beautiful kind soul . Now we also have Olsen 1 year old male puppy son of Loulou , he’s very playful and joyful , he resembles Hugh a bit .
We´ve owned the farm for about 15 years and have been welcoming helpers to our farm for the past 7 years , we have had many wonderful experiences.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We love sharing and learning from our volunteers. We spend a lot of time together in the kitchen, so bring your recipes! We cook from whole ingredients (and are very accommodating with dietary restrictions), and eating and drinking well is very important to us. Cecilia can teach you some traditional Chilean recipes, as well as many others from her giant collection of recipe books collected over the years.
We can help you learn Spanish, and during your days off we can suggest and indicate the good and interesting places to visit i.e. towns, cities, and beaches that surround us. It is safe and easy to hitch hike back and forth from our place to town and beaches .It is the cold Pacific Ocean don’t imagine the tropics , it is quite beautiful though. Last but not least the beautiful stars at night .
Help
We were a real productive farm, now we are transiting to offering lodging to guests in a container we transformed in a cozy loft . We’ll require help with housekeeping and hospitality .
At present there is a small group of fowl ,they will require help caring for the ducks, chickens, and quails. This includes cleaning penns and equipment .
Other than caring for the birds, our volunteers work in the garden, take care of the dogs, help to maintain the property, also help with construction and other tasks if their skills are aligned.
Currently we are very motivated reforesting native trees of our bosque esclerófilo . We are passionately preparing the soil with the Miyawaki Method .The mix of the soil takes place all year round , planting goes on during our autumn .
We look for independent reliable volunteers who we can trust to work on tasks we mutually agree upon on their own , if we are away from the house and also when we are present .
We often make trips to Santiago (1.5 hr away) and Valparaiso (45 min away) and depend on our volunteers to be responsible and capable.
It is a real natural farm so all the life cycle goes on . Be prepared to experience real farm life ,the concept from farm to table has been valued by our customers .
The business part is also important , so we are eager to offer our products to families . All our produce used to go to the best restaurants and hotels in Santiago , regionally and Patagonia .
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Portuguese: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
At the farm we have a separate cabaña for our volunteers, with 2 separate bedrooms 1 twin bed in one and a queen bed in the other .
It has a complete kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace for staying warm in the cool nights and is very comfortable. We often cook together supper in our house up the hill ( around 5 to 8 pm ) , but you´ll be on your own for breakfast.and lunch We have plenty of eggs, oats and tea and coffee for you to enjoy, though. Life here according meals is flexible so some of the time you will be on your own doing the cooking and being neat and caring in your cottage and ours . We have laundry facilities available.
We have a family orchard filled with citrus, peaches, apples , as well as berries and produce growing in our vegetable garden. It is important to enjoy composting , learning to prepare organic ways to improve the soil .You will also be responsible for weeding and watering . Watering during the long summer period .Some evenings we´ll collect a few limes to squeeze to add to whatever cocktail we´re drinking that night.
What else ...
Getting to the farm is quite easy. We can pick you up from the bus stop on 68 highway in front of Casablanca, easily accesible from Valparaiso/Viña del Mar or Santiago, and provide transportation there and back on your days off. On those days you can visit two of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda´s houses in Valparaiso or on the coast in Isla Negra, or see our beautiful secluded beaches 15 minutes away from the farm.
We have had dozens of positive experiences on a similar work exchange (HelpX) and many more now on Workaway .
We look for interesting, inquisitive people from all over the world. We look forward to hearing from you. At present due to the nature of our activity and life style we look for volunteers who are able to spend 3 months with us, so they can really get settled in, if not possible the longer you can stay will have priority when offering availability and choosing our volunteers .
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Faster wifi is only available in the main house , the volunteers’ cottage has slow not good signal wifi . We can now host digital nomads , there is a room out of the way in the main house that you can use to work online . Our wifi signal is fast now ! We have recently acquired Starlink !
Space for parking camper vans
We have enough space close to the volunteer’s cottage.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (22)
Our main duties included:
-Taking care of the chickens, quails, and ducks by feeding them, changing out their water and letting them out to graze /… read more
In that time we felt extremely welcome and loved helping out around the farm.
This was mainly around taking care of the birds (quail, hens and ducks) as well as helping maintain the plants around the property.
I… read more
Both were of great help, joyful people .
Sweet with my Mom and super caring with our dogs .
Benito has an open heart ❤️
Hannah is a passionate cook and good gardener , weeded and sowed merrily.
I highly recommend them to any lucky host .
Good and safe… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Our main duties included:
-Taking care of the chickens, quails, and ducks by feeding them, changing out their water and letting them out to graze /… read more
In that time we felt extremely welcome and loved helping out around the farm.
This was mainly around taking care of the birds (quail, hens and ducks) as well as helping maintain the plants around the property.
I… read more
Both were of great help, joyful people .
Sweet with my Mom and super caring with our dogs .
Benito has an open heart ❤️
Hannah is a passionate cook and good gardener , weeded and sowed merrily.
I highly recommend them to any lucky host .
Good and safe… read more
Since the first day, I have felt like home with members of my family, I wish I could have stayed longer discovering… read more
We enjoyed your Japanese dishes , done with so much love and joy .
We are happy we contributed showing you a different way of life .You have a very peaceful energy .
Wish you happiness and many… read more
Mi primera experiencia como workawayer fue algo que nunca imaginaba y desde el primer día,
disfrutaba diferente ambiente de la vida chilena (con Humita, ONCE, Tricahue etc... ) gracias por la idea de Ceci y Alvaro.
De nuevo, DOMO ARIGATO por recibirme con cariño y buena paciencia durante mi estancia.
Aunque me quedaba… read more
The children were always happy , creating projects , helping , caring for the dogs and birds .
Matt built a beautiful walking closet for us in pine wood , very elegant and perfectly designed and finished .On top of that he build… read more
Thank you very much for your help and kindness .
Goodhearted ,well intended , hardworking . Totally recommend Noah to any host looking for a good volunteer.
Noah is a very cheerful , kind , polite , motivated young man . He learned the chores and helped us… read more
She is talented in many ways , one of her projects was a big painting of our dogs , signs , difficult to name so many good… read more
Let me tell you it was a fulfilling , wonderful experience .
Yasna and Patrick resourceful , hardworking , generous , helpful and creative .
Patrick and Dominique made a great team working outdoors , improving the garden , tidying , discarding junk . Patrick built a stairway to the porch of the volunteers cottage… read more
Hardworking , creative , animal lover .
She learned very quickly the flow and needs of the farm . Very very responsible volunteer .She has been one of the most outstanding generous volunteer we have had the fortune to have in our lives . She was willing… read more
OOO LAH LAH , Gee
What is there to say about our truest ,kindest , generous , grateful ,thoughtful , caring and loving volunteer (now our dear friend )of every being ( us also) on our farm .
Well let me start to name the highlights:
Hanif truly enjoyed the simplicity of living in his little cottage ,and helped us doing all chores and… read more
Enough of my rubbish Spanish!
You have been so kind, generous and a great host. So much happened… read more
You are positive and giving and very thoughtful ,intuitive ,resourceful and intelligent.
I would also like to say your honesty and directness is a very valuable trait .We enjoyed so much… read more
Elisa has excelente language skils ,her Spanish improved in 4 weeks time . She is very intelligent ,always with a positive attitude .She is an animal lover , our dogs , Loulou, Gala and Puppies adored her .
We cooked together , we shared recipes.
She… read more
Always happy , extremely positive towards projects and life .You are a great team Definitely proactive , hands on , reliable, caring , loving and generous .
We enjoyed very much being with you , you brought a breeze of happiness from. Santa Barbara , our farm , dogs and us much appreciate your good work and company .
Wish you… read more
It has taken some time to write your review, my apologies for that .
The month we spent together was outstanding !!! You two make a virtuous couple . We were so lucky you chose us .
The farm vibrated with your generous and joyful energy . There is so much to thank you for .
The food we cooked together , the meals you prepared for… read more
I would say they are generous souls ,open minded , worldly people , love outdoors , reliable , responsible , effective , polite ,Proactive , very helpful and proud of what they commit to do .
We shared so many good moments and difficult ones too.
Both of them ;… read more
When… read more
Ceci is a bubbly, open-minded animal-lover who… read more
It was very fortunate for us tho have their good quality help with our fowl , our full time employee employee was with sick leave during their stay . Due to this they managed and learned very quickly the farm chores .
Andrea… read more
During our stay, our work was mainly to take care of the ducks, chickens and quails. We had to give them food and water around 3 to 4 times a day. Also, we had to clean up their cages and sometimes change them from one place to another as they were… read more
What a wonderful experience to have you 4 on our farm and family life .
We really enjoyed to have this adorable family of 4 .
Nick is a relaxed , polite hands on perfectionist and Dawn his perfect partner . Both did a great good quality renovation in a 40sq feet ship container . They manufactured a wooden ramp,… read more
What an unexpected bonus… read more
Dear Ceci and Alvaro, you already know how grateful I… read more
Angela is a passionate young lady with many skills , she is gentle and intuitive with plants overall animal lover and specially a good cook.
She was a very good personal assistant… read more
We were super lucky to be their first Workaway hosts . They learned quickly to help Roxana our full time employee doing all chores caring for our birds .
Matt cleaned 5 big empty duck penns full of manure and moved it to our compost… read more
I believe Carole ,a highly qualified pharmaceutical engineer PhD ( she must tell me espicifically in what area of her studies is her PhD ), has big courage to go out of her comfort zone and explore Chile and South America participating… read more
You were both incredibly generous and welcoming and I couldn't have asked for a better stay. The farm is a beautiful place with many things to… read more
She learned quickly the farm chores , backed us up when our employee asked for a day off . She managed perfectly well caring for our birds , dogs and cat .
Chiara is a cheerful , happy young lady , polite and well intended .She is a well self assured person . She did dirty work cleaning penns… read more
His work in the garden was very valuable : he prunned the lavenders and installed recycled bottles burying them next to the plants for watering .This system is helping… read more
Joyful while doing demanding and dirty work with the birds.
She is highly recommended volunteer .
She also helped me tidying and organizing clothes in our house.
Kathleen helped me with my deliveries in Valparaíso , we enjoyed… read more
Me ayudó muchísimo a organizar el quincho y nuestra casa , nuestros closets lo agradecen .Limpió y ordenó un gran espacio en forma dedicada y con gran entusiasmo… read more
True , real good team . Both Jerome and Xavier were excellent helpers with the farm chores .
Jerome helped to finish closing the vegetable garden, build a penn door. The 2 continued to put a roof , unfinished waiting for handy hands .
Xavier cooked for us a bouf bourgignon and Jerome cooked many many delicious dishes and… read more
I've started with some construction works while Luciana was taking care of the ducks, quails and chicken with the other volunteer, then we did everything together. Some tasks like feeding, giving water, cleaning, have to be done in the morning and in the… read more
high standard of responsability , good quality performing their work we mutually agreed on.
Thank you Stèphan for your super tiling in the sea container that will be a flat for lodging , for all your help on the farm chores. Thank you… read more
They are a happy , well intended , polite ,generous couple.
We were their last host during their long trip round the South Cone . Enthusiastic and hard working people. They helped us a great deal with passion and pride… read more
