Help starting a small permaculture land in Illana, Spain

Details

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  Description

  During my studies in Biology-Ecology, the more I learned about global ecology, the more concerned I became about local problems around the world. Therefore, I started planning the creation of my own project: an educational garden with integrated accommodation in the forest to reconnect with nature and provide social support to disadvantaged people.
  
  The idea is to create a pleasant environment both to raise awareness among the local population and to support people with fewer resources; promoting a message of acceptance, respect, tolerance and diversity. Therefore, I decided to visit and work on different projects related to these issues, and so I met Jošt, on a permaculture farm in Slovenia where he volunteered and later worked in natural building, enjoying nature and dreaming of one day having the freedom to create and share his dreams.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Depending on your current level you might learn about permaculture: natural building, gardening, living together, assertive communication, personal engagement and commitment, self-reflection, giving and receiving feedback...
  We are a Spanish-Slovenian couple, used to speding time and work with people from other cultures and countries. We love the spoken exchange as well as culinary... :)
  I (Marina) speak fluently Spanish, French and English (and understand a bit of Italian and Portuguese) and Jošt speaks Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian and Russian (and learning Spanish). Depending on your native language, this might facilitate our understanding and communication :)
  We live in a 2.400 m2 land in a quite remote area, with not many things to visit around, but we are less than 100 km from Madrid, and there is a bus that you can take to/from the centre on your own. There you can visit and experience the truly Spanish culture!
  We actually live in Castilla La Mancha, Don Quijote's land! So if you read the book, you know what to expect...

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Little after our arrival to this land, I got prenant! Ainara is already four months old, and we are slowy renovating the house with natural materials and, when possible, local; aiming to at least finish the house this year - that means finish the ceilings, floors and paint some walls. Ideally to make also the kitchen furniture and the doors of the house.
  Therefore, any help is appreciated,
  - whether you know (or wish to learn) about natural building and you can help us with the lime and clay plasters, earthen floor, limewash...
  - the same about the garden: we do a more passive/natural gardening, which would also benefit from your energy and dedication.
  - Daily chores, it would mean the world to us if we could also share the daily chores, cleaning around, cooking, etc...
  - Spending time with our baby girl and tell her stories in your mother tongue ;D
  
  There will be different kind of tasks available, things to do together, things that you can do on your own...depending on your interests and skills, but the most important for us is that you engage in what you are doing and enjoy the time here.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Serbo-Croatian: Fluent
  Slovenian: Fluent
  Italian: Beginner
  Portuguese: Beginner
  Russian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Marina is actually a language teacher (English, French and Spanish)! And is interested in learning the basics of any language and to go deeper in the ones that she's started learning (Slovenian, Italian and Portuguese). Jošt is learning Spanish and is willing to do some conversation with you in the languages that he feels able to (Slovenian, English, Serbo-Croatian).
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  Accommodation

  - SLEEPING: Tents with normal mattresses and warm blankets and pillows. We can also arrange a bed in the library if you prefer.
  - HIGIENE: We have washing machine at your disposal and for now the water for the shower is heated from the sun, so these days the water will gradually get warmer.
  - FOOD: We will arrange the food system with you, but what we initially suggest is that each one is responsible for their breakfast, then we have a hot meal together for lunch and we usually have cold dinner (bread with spreads, cheese, yogurt...), but you can cook for yourself if you wish. The food is always available and you can have snacks (like fruit) through out the day.

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  What else ...

  We live surrounded by other properties, but most people here have their "second residencies", so more a house for summer or weekends, so we are quite calm.
  We have two medium size dogs (1 year old) that are very energetic but we are quite strict in their education. It is important for us that you respect the boundaries that we have stablished with them (no jumping on people, not feeding them while we are eating, not provoking them, only walking them once you -and us- feel confident and comfortable with it). There might be other things that we'll let you know.
  We also have two loving cats, but they will clearly set their own bundaries ;) hahah!

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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 possibly accept pets

  Just have in kind that we have two dogs and two cats ;)

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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