Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
4 Jun 2025
Reply rate
80.7 %
Usually responds within 5 days
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Details
Description
The Gardens are a sustainable, organic, and socially responsible agricultural enterprise founded and managed by three Swiss professionals (Roberto, Benno, and Dieter) each with a close tie to Cambodia. On site, there are 4 passionate Cambodian team leaders and around 20 farmers in gender parity.
The Gardens are located in the Kep Province within the Kampot Pepper Geografical Indication Area, where the finest pepper in the world is grown and processed. The unique blend of a special microclimate and a quartz-rich soil with natural agricultural practices and centuries old expertise create are foundations of the exquisite Kampot Pepper PGI, the King of spices.
The Gardens have been established in 2014 on a total surface of 33 hectars, 6 of which dedicated to the cultivation of Kampot Pepper PGI. The remaining land comprises veggie gardens and is populated on an ongoing base with a variety of plants and trees, the ultimate goal being to recreate a forest like environment which shall provide the highest possible botanical diversity. This is a serene, safe and very enjoyable natural space populated by animals, and by the infectious smiles of the local workers.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
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
As a volunteer, you will be 100% immersed in the daily life of the Pepper Gardens. You will eat, live and work with friendly and caring Cambodians and be fully exposed to their language, food and habits and to the serene and inspiring natural environment of our Pepper Gardens. There are no off-limits areas! We just expect our volunteers and visitors to keep an open mind, treat the people and the environment with respect and bring some degree of self-initiative.
Help
"Stay with us (only) if you have the time to watch and listen to the pepper growing, leave a tangible and positive footprint and take a piece of the place with you, if for nothing else at least for your taste buds and for your memories."
We are happy to welcome people who are motivated not only to assist in the seasonal activities of the place but also to leave a tangible and positive footprint according to their respective skills and areas of interest. If you are an open-minded and pro-active person, you are welcome to stay with us.
We are dealing with several volunteering requests every week, which make us happy and speaks for the appeal of the project and vision. On the other side some applications are framed in such a general way that could apply to almost any kind of host. This makes it for us difficult and time consuming to select suitable volunteers, plan accordingly and respond in a timely fashion.
Therefore, we will give priority to targeted and well founded requests that may bring specific skills and experience which are relevant to our current activities and projects versus a generalist contribution. Some degree of self-initiative is also welcome. Moreover, experience shows that to make a meaninful experience for both you and us a minimum stay of ca. 10 days is preferrable. Thanks for understanding and considering our expectations regarding form and content of your applications.
Generally, we are looking for volunteers with an active and self-starting approach who can help us with one of the following projects:
1) volunteers who can bring skills, ideas and connections about how to refine, improve and further diversify our agricultural practices with regard to natural agriculture, soil improvement and conservation, water catchment and storage, agroforestry, permaculture and sustainability practices.
2) imaginative volunteers who can help with natural materials and do a lot out of little by helping to maintain, fix or beautify tools, furnitures, buildings and by imagining new natural spaces and landscapes which are suitable to further enrich and beautify the gardens.
3) someone who possesses food processing and culinary skills and experience to dedicate time to our Kampot Pepper and other products of the gardens and try new or perfect existing pepper focused recipes or pepper-based products. Volunteers who are willing to share their skills and ideas with our cook Romduol.
4) someone who cannot only shoot some good pictures and videos but who might also be willing and capable to making a self-sufficient marketing product or marketing strategy out of it. Suggesting and planning of marketing materials, writing appealing content to promote our work and vision; give visibility to the gardens on the social medias
5) Last but not least: Entrepreneurial volunteers who are willing to stay for a an extended period, to initiate and carry out projects related to the above mentionned areas of activity or research in these fields and maybe become somehow part of the family.
We generally expect volunteers to help in the seasonal agricoltural tasks and/or to work on their specific project/tasks for around 25 hours a week spread on 5 days a week.
Languages spoken
Khmer: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Accommodation
The accommodation includes a private room with a double bed, fan and morquito net, a shared bathroom and shower (no hot water but it’s always warm outside). Standards are simple/basic but clean.
You will be provided with three meals per day that you will share with our farmers and other volunteers. Unlimited drinking water and consumption of all seasonal products of the farm are included.
So far none of us and of our volunteers has ever reported food or health-related issues in connection with their stay.
We recently dismissed our Wifi connection due to the poor quality of the connection. We strongly advise you to by 5G SIM card with data.
The neighborhood is safe, our staff caring and friendly and we never experienced a security issue since we started in 2014. Nevertheless, we don't take any responsibility for any injuries/sickness/damages which might happen during or in connection with your stay and we assume that you will take the customarily insurance arrangements involved in similar traveling activities.
What else ...
Nearby the farm there are Kep Beach, Rabbit Island, Bokor Hill Station which you can explore.
The Kampot area also offers several other attractions including pre-Angkorian ruins and caves, jungle trekking, bicycling tours, river cruises, island trips, fishing trips, isolated beaches, bamboo train rides, and some beautiful rural countryside.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (7)
If you like being outdoors, this is a place where you can really find peace.
Our project consisted of two parts, while Luciano was… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
If you like being outdoors, this is a place where you can really find peace.
Our project consisted of two parts, while Luciano was… read more
Thank you so much Roberto and Benno for this unique opportunity.
Immersed in the pepper fields and surrounded by plants, animals and fruit trees, we felt like we were in paradise. We learned a lot about growing pepper and many other plants in the Gardens.… read more
