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Off-grid, self-sustainable, vegan friendly farm in the making in the hills of Kerala, India

  • Favourited 1822 times
  • Last activity: 27 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    **looking urgently for people who know construction** Located on 45,000 sq. ft. of dry land on the hills of Kadampara, Kerala, it is envisioned to be a model farm founded with the aim to create a self-sustaining pocket. The main long-term objectives are to achieve complete nutritional autonomy by growing all of our own food (organically) and promote off-grid living. In the future, we also plan on collaborating with local tribal villagers to help create similar self-sustaining farms which in turn can grow into a co-op of tribal farmers. The project will also promote permaculture, sustainable architecture, veganism/vegetarianism, natural farming and unconditional gifting. We recently received a very prestigious grant recognizing our work and enabling us to further our conservation efforts.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Kerala is known as gods own country. However, in the village of Kadambara, the local villagers (who are mainly comprised of tribals) have for long faced a severe enemy: malnutrition. So much that malnutrition-related deaths in Kadambara is one of the highest in India. We thought this would be an appropriate place to start a project that would work not on aid but on empowerment. But first, we need to empower ourselves. Hence, the idea of an off-grid self-sustainable farm. If this project succeeds, then we can use it as a simple model that can be replicated anywhere. As a participant, you'd mainly be helping out in this goal. This collaborative goal can only be achieved with a sustained and dedicated effort of all those who have the time, energy and maybe even the skill to share.

    PS - So far we've already succeeded in installing our own solar system, constructing shelters using local materials and with the help of local villagers and we've also managed to raise the local water table and have become water sufficient. The year we will spend most of our energy toward the food sustainability aspect of our project.

  • Help

    Help

    Our daily work includes planting and watering trees, taking care of the vegetable garden, digging water catchment pits and ponds, creating water conservation structures such as bunds, trenches and retaining walls, mulching, composting, cooking and building structures that facilitate storage and shelter.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Bengali (Bangla): Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Hindi: Fluent
    Sindhi: Fluent
    Spanish: Beginner
    Haitian Creole: Beginner

    This 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

    Accommodation

    We have three different options to stay in. Open air camp beds to sleep under the stars, tents and a large newly constructed volunteer dormitory and yoga space.

    We have an open kitchen which is well equipped and solar powered electricity sufficient to charge small devices.
    We compost our poop which means there are no wasteful flush toilets (update: we have one flush toilet now for the elderly). we convert our "business" into humanure. We have a small pool which we use during hot summer days and we also have a water-conserving mist shower. Volunteers can also take bucket showers or bathe at the local river which is a 10-minute walk away.

    *️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️Please note that we are just starting out which means we do not have the financial means (yet) to provide free food for participants. The accommodation is in exchange for 15 works hours a week and a minimum stay of two weeks.

    Participants have multiple options for food while they are here:

    1. Bring their own vegetarian food for their duration of stay.
    2. Source their own vegetarian food locally, from the village, which is a 20-minute walk from the land.
    3. Choose to participate in daily meals [healthy, non-spicy and vegetarian with lots of fruits, nuts, vegetable salads, porridge, pancakes, our world famous hummus (in the area) :) etc. - thrice a day] that are prepared by all members and contribute $5 toward the daily meals. Please note that this payment goes entirely toward the food and is not used for the projects operational expenses. Any additional amount incurred for food is borne by us. This is not mandatory.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We spend our free time having discussions on philosophy, spirituality (non dual Vedanta) and brainstorming on sustainable ways to make enhancements to the project. We also spend break time at the local river which is very secluded and away from any sort of habitation. A local yoga and ayurveda center is located a few kilometres from here and there is also a national park at driving distance. Buses, jeeps and autos are available at the nearest bus stop which is a 30 minute walk from the land. We've just finished constructing our dorm space which doubles as a yoga/meditation shala. Harsh (the founder) is also a personal coach and has helped innumerable people determine their course in life. He does donation based consulting to prepare roadmaps for personal development and developing emotional autonomy.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    15 hours a week

Host ref number: 131593945253

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