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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
27 Jul 2026
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Reply rate
93.3 %
Usually responds within 23 days
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Feedback
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Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
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Description
About the Project
An evolving eco-project nestled at 1,100m in a stunning, off-grid mountain location right next to the Picos de Europa.
After a hiatus back in in the UK for family reasons, I’ve been mostly back here since 2020 working mostly solo to revive and evolve this beautiful space.
We live a sustainable, simple life here. The infrastructure is a labor of love: a cob-wood and earthbag house, an earthbag kitchen, solar and gas showers, and long-drop compost toilets. We are surrounded by a large permaculture-style garden, incredible wildlife (wild boar, birds of prey, and the occasional trace of bears or wolves), and endless outdoor adventures like wild swimming, hiking, and climbing.
While we feel beautifully remote, a traditional Spanish town with friendly locals, cheap drinks, and free tapas is within easy walking distance.
What We Are Looking For
We welcome volunteers who are resilient, independent, and don't mind getting stuck into rugged mountain life.
Main Season: May – October.
Off-Season Winters can be snowy or sunny, they are long, and beautiful. We generally only host during winter if you have advanced building, carpentry, or natural woodwork skills or super tech help abilities
Pet & House Sitters:
We occasionally need responsible people for a couple of weeks - a month, to take care of and cuddle our dogs and cats.look after the land, and water the garden ( in the warmer months ),
Current Projects & Tasks:
The Garden
Constant planting, weeding, and permaculture maintenance.
Land Management
Strimming, clearing brambles, and managing the landscape.
Woodwork
Collecting, chopping, and debarking wood for building and winter fuel.
Creative & Tech Support:
Digital marketing, video, photography, or tech skills to help document the project and support its longevity. and help me earn some much needed money to keep going here
In the Kitchen:
I love plant-based cooking Veggie and gluten-free cooking skills are highly celebrated here—whether we are sharing recipes or taking turns cooking.
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The Off-Grid Reality (What to Expect)
We love our lifestyle, but it requires a down-to-earth mindset.
Please ensure you are comfortable with the following before applying:
Note the photos on here do not do this place justice!
it is a stunning peaceful locaion fully immersed in nature with great mountain views.
Amenities:
We are fully off-grid. Expect to live without hairdryers, straighteners, or instant hot water (though our gas shower works great all year round!).
Eco-Living:
We use strictly eco-friendly, biodegradable toiletries. Absolutely no plastics or sanitary products in the compost toilets.
or chemicals in the showers
Terrain & Climate:
The mountains are beautiful but rugged. Even in summer, nights can be cold and dark.
You will need some practical clothing & footwear for walking the land and into the town.
Accommodation:
You’ ll be staying in a cozy caravan or occasionally a beautifull bell tent in the woods
Language.
I am uk native but speak good spanish, the local town is entirely Spanish. Speaking some Spanish is a massive advantage!
Essentials for Volunteers
* Patience, stamina, and the physical strength required for mountain work.
* The ability to work happily both independently and as part of a team.
* A flexible attitude and a willingness to get dirty, hot, and sweaty.
* Strictly no divas or dicks
Travel Note
Leon City is 40km away with great connections. You can catch regular buses mon - fri
or the local Feve train daily from leon or bilbao
a beautiful route to Boñar that often doesn't show up on standard digital maps, so just ask us for the schedule!).
There is also a direct bus from Bilbao. i think!
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, get in touch! Please quote *Sueno Verde* in your message** so I know you’ve read and understood the magic (and the realities) of our mountain home.
can't wait to hear from you! -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
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Interests
Culture
Vegetarian or vegan
Van life
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Self development
Pets
Writing
Performing arts
Music
Gardening
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Sailing / Boating
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Fitness
Dancing
Cycling
Camping
Beach -
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
*️️️️️️️️️️ eco building skills,
*️️️️️️️️️️ off grid living experience
*️️️️️️️️️️ power tool use
*️️️️️️️️️️ spanish / english language spoken here and in the town its all spanish so helpful for improving spanish or english.
*️️️️️️️️️️ veggie and vegan cookery skills sharing, occasional opportunities to join yoga and pilates classes or wellbeing foraging workshops
*️️️️️️️️️️ Amazing walks and wildlife.
*️️️️️️️️️️ permaculture style organic gardening and food preserving. -
Help
We welcome individuals, couples, families, and groups of friends, who are resilient, independent, and do not mind getting stuck into rugged mountain life.
Our main season runs from May to October for general land maintenance, gardening, and repairs.
We have a massive, almost-finished wooden roundhouse extension that needs one last push. If you have professional roofing or advanced carpentry experience, we are looking for you right now.
For our off-season winter months, we can also host people with digital and creative skills who want to experience a cooler, possibly snowy climate, there is also the possibilitie if you drive to take advantage of the climbing or skiing opportunities nearby
Current Projects and Tasks
I really want to do some more cobbing this summer make a new wall (cob and wood) and finish
For the garden and land, tasks include constant planting, weeding, strimming, clearing brambles, and general repairs. The work is physical and can get hot, but remember we are at 1100 meters, so it can also turn cold.
For creative and business support, we need help with photography, video creation and editing, social media management, and digital marketing to help support the project's longevity.
In the kitchen, I love plant-based cooking. Anyone with vegan or gluten-free cooking skills is incredibly welcome to help keep us well-fed. It is a great chance to share recipes, learn new ideas, and free up time for other projects.
Life on the Land and Expectations
We expect everyone to share the daily washing up, and keeping things tidy of communal spaces,
We usually have a lot of fun with our volunteers, but we also highly value and respect everyone’s need for quiet space and privacy.
Please bring practical clothing and something waterproof, especially outside peak summer.
If you are traveling light, we usually have some old work clothes you can borrow, just check with us before you arrive to make sure we have your size.
We are proud to say many of our volunteers return year after year or send their friends to us.
Please check out our feedback to get a real feel for the place.
However, off-grid mountain life is not for everyone.
To make sure we do not waste each other's time and are a genuinely good fit, we always schedule a quick video or phone call before confirming your stay. -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate -
Accommodation
You would be staying in a cozy caravan or or bell tent.
Or you can bring your own tent or van.
Even in summer tho most vehicles can get up here, some cant.... depends on your van and your driving!
happy to chat about that too.
Accomodation here is basic and rustic, although we are improving every year and getting more luxurious!
We have many more charging places, for lap tops cameras phones etc. as well as a big fridge freezer for keeping your beers cold, and one all year round hot gas shower is up and running
The Solar shower is dependant on the sun to provide hot water
the toilets are compost / dry toilets.
Be prepared to adapt to a simpler way of life while here!
no hair straightners or hair dryers or electric kettles or toasters! -
What else ...
Please contact me for more information; and to find out who will be around and what projects will be happening when you would like to visit, as this is an often changing thing!
There are decent transport links to Leon the local city and from there u can take a bus or feve train into Boñar where we will meet you.
If u are coming from Bilboa or anywhere on the feve train line from bilboa to Leon you can also take the feve direct to Boñar.
If u need any specific info. Please ask.
I am in the process of setting up an online Wellness Memebership based up here, so there is sometimes opportunities to join yoga pilates and other health and wellness classes .
We are right in the middle of mountains and wild woodlands, full of great opportunities to explore by foot or bike.
Wild swimming areas and the Picos de Europa mountains are all close by.
IF you are a climber you will be in paradise here. Especially if you have transport as we are 2o mins from several world class climbing areas. -
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 host digital nomads
If u have mobile wi fi and arent working full time you are weclome to combine work and volunteering here. We usually have good vodaphone and movistar connection up here and u can have a space with a desk to work 😊 there are also plenty of bars within walking distance in town with Wi Fi. we just use our mobile data up here to run our work and personal life....
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Space for parking camper vans
If your van can get up our track you are welcome in your vehicle Our ford transit does it regularly and our huge bus and Mercedes horse box got up and down a few times before settling here. The main problem is if you are super low to the ground which some vans are. we are happy to advise. If you are worried there maybe alternative places to park available a few mins walk away.
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Can possibly accept pets
For peace of mind the Dogs need to be well behaved. And Not sheep or cat chasers, or kept on a lead up here. We have cats and a very sociable friendly bull terrier dog and a young border collie cross. I am hoping to get some chickens . so please feel free to ask and if we can we will accommodate you and your pets
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How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
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My animals / pets
lucky
the most energetic of all three dogs. he is a stick addict who will never ever tire of having things thrown for him
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x4 Brucie Pedro & Violeta plus mumma
4 little kitties live here with all the poochies.
3 pictured here Plus minnie the mumma not in the pic
they are all bad ass and will steal your food or your heart, or both.
BB
the most gentle giant you will ever meet.
A huge mastine who has adopted us rather than guard the local cows
he is the biggest but the soppiest of all.
pictured here with lucky the collie cross. who by normal standards is a medium sized dog
Nelly
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (45)
Adaptable friendly helpful, considerate and
Happy to get on with any random job I gave them.
I would have loved to have them here for longer.
We weren't working on any big projects while they were here but they got busy with loads of little jobs and made me a lovely meal on their last night.
The dogs loved … read more
She has been to volunteer here many times over the years (forcing me to reassess my own rule about not hosting such young people)
An exceptionally intelligent and independent young woman, she first started regularly volunteering when she lived in Madrid where she moved when only 17.
Here she has helped with a huge … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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:
(5.0)
Adaptable friendly helpful, considerate and
Happy to get on with any random job I gave them.
I would have loved to have them here for longer.
We weren't working on any big projects while they were here but they got busy with loads of little jobs and made me a lovely meal on their last night.
The dogs loved … read more
She has been to volunteer here many times over the years (forcing me to reassess my own rule about not hosting such young people)
An exceptionally intelligent and independent young woman, she first started regularly volunteering when she lived in Madrid where she moved when only 17.
Here she has helped with a huge … read more
Mark came to volunteer for a few weeks in the spring.
What can I say? He was an amazing volunteer , easily fitted with everybody worked hard. . Did all jobs i gave him well and helped around thinking of little and big things to do too.. He wanted to get stuck into a bigger project So came up with the idea of making a much-needed floor between … read more
Such a beautiful place to spend some time in nature.
The work was varied and interesting and Fay was really flexible around working hours and tasks.. she even agreed to let myself and Linus build a big swing as a work project which was one of the highlights of my … read more
Lots of … read more
Quiet at first but soon got into the swing of things
He turned his hand to all sorts of jobs and was able to fix things and come up with solutions when i was stuck by thinking "out of the box "
He was also able to use his inititive and get on or do things that were needed and helpful even when i hadnt asked him too.
He is … read more
she was easy to have around and you can check her you tube for some more about her adventures here.
she helped me out loads, and was fun to have around, and her climbing skills definitely came into their own when we had to patch up the roof.
snap her up if you get a chance to host her
Sorry it took me this long to leave feedback.
she helped out with a massive range of things alot of gardening, general maintenance ,
and the never to be forgotten day of removing pallets from the car when the boot wouldn't open....
she was easy to have around and alot of help,
I hope she can come back again soon
She was extremely welcoming and hospitable, and lots of chats about a whole bunch of different topics, like whether there are cows in Australia or not haha
She's built a wonderful finca over the years with help, it's gorgeous and just a short walk to the town of Boñar. went … read more
He even cooked some lush food ( I can be a nightmare when other people are cooking for me! )
He is very welcome back … read more
I didn't really know what to expect as we didn't do the usual zoom o phone call to suss each other out, but i had a good feeling that things would work out and they really did.
She was very easy to get along with, happy to get on with all the jobs I needed help with.
(a mixture of helping sort the garden for … read more
Not your typical 18-year-old lad., he was kind and conscientious and happy to get stuck into a range of jobs.
I think it was right out of his comfort zone to come here alone, but he did brilliantly.
As well as the usual … read more
Aside from annoying neighbors, … read more
like Jack he was easy to get on with and hardworking.
we got loads of different jobs done in the time they were here. plus Ollie took some yoga pics for me and did a short promo vidio
They had great taste in music too :-)
highly recomended
He was a pleasure to have around, keen to get stuck into a variety of jobs.
while they were here they built up the bank of the stream with huge rocks, dug lots of the garden over, made me a new logo and a short promo video, Jack made some new shutters for the new outside kitchen from old pallets, and … read more
he was adaptable and worked hard.
Not your average 30 year old, he barely drank, didn't smoke or even do caffeine which I was most in awe of!
he was interesting company, and hardcore enough to get in the icy waters of the mountain river … read more
but we got loads done in that time.
Douglas and Magnus made a great team. and we smashed through doing an experimental floor in the new outdoor kitchen.
They were all great company too, the kids are lovely, very sweet and kind.
All in all a great … read more
I hope she didn't get too bored with us, as for much of her stay it was pretty quiet here, and we were exhausted after a really hectic few weeks.
you will be lucky to have her help if she applies to work with you.
Welcome back any time .
super easy to get along with. Willing and capable of getting stuff in to almost any jobs.
A strong bright and resourceful young woman with a good eye and a great sense of humour.
She had a good understanding of basic … read more
Your place is just magical, up in the mountain! It was so resourceful!
Waking up with the noise of birds, crickets and the warmth of the sun with a magical view of the mountains was amazing!
You have been, both of you, so welcoming, that I felt like home since the … read more
They are welcome back anytime
They were easy to get along with, really helpful and friendly. I wish they could have stayed … read more
The place is so beautiful, in the middle of the mountain, you wake up with the sunrise from the caravan (where we sleep), it is wonderful !
Then, both of them are really friendly, open minded, and they make you feel home, we had really good … read more
What can I say, I wish I had been here for more time when Jenka & Pieter were, as Jonny said he couldn't sing thier praises highly enough.
From what I did see , and what he has said; they both are easy to get along with & hard working . They both already come with a lot of useful skills and strengths, but are also quick … read more
Thanks to Johnny's hospitality we felt immediately at home … read more
Hard working, de barker extraordinaire
with inititive.
Easy to get along with,
welcome back anytime.
And his bark stripping skills were the best. !!
For the first two weeks Johnny was in charge whilst Fay was away in the UK, and he was a fantastic host and teacher. Always kept us all laughing and entertained … read more
:blush:
During our stay we helped with the … read more
"heartfelt helping hands is just what you will get!" Although she is young and petite, she is very mature, kind and hardworking. She adapted well to all the different work , helping both on the roof extension and the very physical earth bag building.
Good luck and enjoy finishing the camino and hope you will visit us again … read more
I mostly helped out … read more
An intelligent, charming young man and a pleasure to have around, welcome back any old time. We would … read more
everything hear is beautiful, the country side, the atmosphere, the food was fantastic and fresh. we got to work on some really interesting projects like building three long drop compost toilets, re fencing the veggie … read more
Maybe not the best … read more
And the Pizza Brendan I will never forget that Pizza.
Apologies for the gap with the rating response major tech problems.
Welcome back anytime and I would have no hesitation in recommending Konrad to others.
I spent 3 weeks here, it was stunning. We mostly worked on the cob building, where we built the roof construction and started tiling afterwards. I love this project and learned a lot during this time!
Fay and Jim are awesome and easygoing people, we had a great time together.
I loved the place in … read more
Kate is a great vegan cook and coped well with the tiny kitchen and extreme heat that is cooking in the bus I'm the summer.
You were fantastic. A perfect workaway.
Hard working energetic & easy going.
A pleasure to host.
Hope to see you again sometime.
they have a little garden, compost a great shower outside (loved it) and super nice … read more
me quedé en la finca por un unas semanas. Fue una de mis mejores experiencias...
Fay es una mujer sensacional, transmite muy buena energía y tranquilidad, siempre esta lista para ayudarte y enseñarte.
La cabaña es preciosa y el entorno también...en absoluto lo recomiendo!
Muchísimas gracias Fay...volveré pronto ;-)
Ella es maravillosa!
Un encanta mujer que cocina y trabajar bien.
Muy tranquila & adaptable.
Espero que vuelves Manu!
Manu is wonderful, she cooks and works well, is super easy going and adaptable, although we doesn't speak alot of English she understands alot more and even the others with no Spanish were … read more
He stayed for a week just before I was due to leave for the UK and his help at this time was invaluable.
I don't think I could have done everything I needed to without him there that week.
Make sure if he comes to you that you have some projects … read more
Luise and Yuval come to us on their first workawayer experiance so I was worried that there may be alot of breaking in to do! However they were great, and fitted in well right from the start.
I didn't find out until half way through their visit that they were on their honey moon!
Yuvals wonderful cooking kept us well sustained while we … read more
They got stuck in right from the start. Despite being on 21 and still at Uni, they are two ofthe most self motivated, innovative, independent, mature people I have had the pleasure to host.
If they want to come to stay with you snap them up … read more
Thank you Fay for … read more
