The image depicts a man standing on a stone wall, with a mountainous landscape and trees in the background, wearing a black jacket and hat.
The image depicts a small, unfinished room with a bed and abstract painting on the wall, featuring a red blanket and pillows on a green mattress.
The image shows a group of people sitting around a table, with some holding papers or documents, and others looking at the camera. The scene appears to be a meeting or gathering of some kind.
Two people are working on a construction site, one holding bricks and the other mixing cement in a bucket, surrounded by tools and materials.
The image depicts a cozy living room with a fireplace, featuring a table and chairs, a bookshelf, and a large window, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.
A man is cooking food over an open fire, using a long metal skewer to turn the food on a black metal tray.
The image depicts a spacious room with a high ceiling, featuring a couch, chairs, and tables amidst scattered items, with large windows and a concrete floor.
A woman stands on scaffolding, facing a wall of stone and brick, with a bucket at her feet, engaged in construction or renovation work.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a winding road, lush greenery, and majestic mountains under a cloudy sky with the sun peeking through the clouds.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a mountain range with a valley, showcasing a mix of greenery and rocky terrain, with a clear sky above. The scene exudes natural beauty and tranquility.
The image depicts a mountainous landscape with a prominent tree line, featuring a large body of water in the distance, surrounded by a grassy area and a clear sky.
The image depicts two individuals working in a garden, surrounded by stone walls and structures, with lush greenery and trees visible in the background.
The image depicts a dimly lit room with a stone archway, featuring a staircase, water bottles, and various objects, including skulls, on the walls and floor.
updated  

Join us building an off-grid house in the mountains of Valencia, Spain

  • Spain
  • Last activity : 30 Apr 2025

Profile information

  • rating

    Host rating

    100 %

  • Last replied

    Last replied

    29 Apr 2025

  • Reply rate

    Reply rate

    100.0 %

    Usually responds within 12 days

  • feedbacks

    Feedback

    11

  • Email verified

    Email verified

Badges (3)

Email verified
Good Host
Give the gift of Workaway
read more

Find your perfect host

View the full host list

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

What's this?

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Welcome to Tarbena. For the past 20 years I, Frans, have been building my house. The house is my child of long term vision, labour and love. From the foundation up I've done most things on my own, now that I am older I am looking for eager help, to learn and work with me. I have already had some volunteers here before, who I met by other means. My friend Paola is managing the account so she is the person you'll have contact with. Feel free to ask her anything. I hope this calls to you, and to see you soon.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    The project is 20 years in the making, so we look for people who have something of their own to bring and add to the house, even if its just a fresh perspective. You will learn construction, painting, gardening, brick laying, languages and much more.
    Culturally the local valley has a diverse selection of inhabitants, many foreigners and locals live together. Being in Spain the area is very culturally rich, near the sea and the Costa Blanca there are endless things to see, nearby towns of interest are Altea, Moraira, Calpe and Valencia near the sea, and Guadalest, Concentaina and Bocairent. Also the food is delicious, paella, horchata and other traditional foods from the area will keep your stomach engaged.

  • Help

    Help

    Since 2001 I have been building a house in the Spanish mountains, in the Tarbena valley. I bought a piece of land with some ruins on it, and since then have been working on it everyday. Now that I am older, I am unable to do as much work. I have a lot of experience with bricklaying, designing and generally building houses, I made my money throughout my life through my art.
    Volunteers would learn to build walls out of natural stones, help with projects to improve the fruitfulness of the land and work on the interior as well as the exterior of the house.
    To make the house independent I want to install more solar panels and improve the water collection system.
    I plan on getting chickens and some goats, but first the right housing has to be built.
    On the land I am in the process of constructing a sweat lodge and large teepee tent.
    But most importantly I hope that travellers come with many new ideas and perspectives in mind, to help improve and develope the project, as well as meet new and diverse people.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Dutch: Fluent
    German: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    Here we speak fluent dutch, English and Spanish, as well as a little German. I am very interested in learning Russian and Polish, but would be happy just learning more of any language. In the local valley, there are many international people, so im sure if you came someone would speak your language.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Comfortable beds in the main house, placed in the large room near a fireplace. There are two compost toilets and a kitchen, food will be provided from local shop or local farmers and friends. We tend to cook together, please let us know your food preferences. There is electricity powered by solar energy, and water reserve, nearby we collect drinking water from a local spring, that later on merges with other such sources to form a little river.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Nestled between the mountains, the house is in a beautiful place. There is a local village you can go to, Tarbena, that has a shop,bars and a church.
    30 minutes away there is the Mediterranean sea, many hidden coves as well as populated seaside towns and villages dot the beautiful coast, even in winter it is recommended to visit.
    There are lots of hiking routes and mountain biking trails, apart from many sightseeing attractions. Nearby there is a local stream, born in the same valley, in which you can bathe. The whole valley is teeming with life; boars, rabbits, fox, badger and many birds.
    There is transportation provided by I the host, and my friends who work with me.
    I am am artist and builder amongst other things, I live a simple life, close to nature but also close to community. There are plenty of things to do, and if all has seemingly been done, you can always explore the valley forest.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Plenty of space to park camperized vans and campers. Road to the land is challenging for some.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 253433251578

Website Safety

Feedback (4)

View all 4 feedbacks

Photos

The image depicts a man standing on a stone wall, with a mountainous landscape and trees in the background, wearing a black jacket and hat.
The image depicts a small, unfinished room with a bed and abstract painting on the wall, featuring a red blanket and pillows on a green mattress.
The image shows a group of people sitting around a table, with some holding papers or documents, and others looking at the camera. The scene appears to be a meeting or gathering of some kind.
Two people are working on a construction site, one holding bricks and the other mixing cement in a bucket, surrounded by tools and materials.
The image depicts a cozy living room with a fireplace, featuring a table and chairs, a bookshelf, and a large window, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.
A man is cooking food over an open fire, using a long metal skewer to turn the food on a black metal tray.
The image depicts a spacious room with a high ceiling, featuring a couch, chairs, and tables amidst scattered items, with large windows and a concrete floor.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a winding road, lush greenery, and majestic mountains under a cloudy sky with the sun peeking through the clouds.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a mountain range with a valley, showcasing a mix of greenery and rocky terrain, with a clear sky above. The scene exudes natural beauty and tranquility.
The image depicts a mountainous landscape with a prominent tree line, featuring a large body of water in the distance, surrounded by a grassy area and a clear sky.
The image depicts two individuals working in a garden, surrounded by stone walls and structures, with lush greenery and trees visible in the background.
The image depicts a dimly lit room with a stone archway, featuring a staircase, water bottles, and various objects, including skulls, on the walls and floor.

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:
(4.8)

Communication:
(5.0)

Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in SpainHomestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in EuropeHomestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Valencian CommunityIndividual SpainLast minute Homestays, Volunteering & Working Holidays in Spain
Join our eco-community in the middle of nature in Entrambasaguas, Spain
Stay with a bilingual family close to the centre of Madrid, Spain

Your next adventure begins today

Join the Workaway community today to unlock unique travel experiences with over 50,000 opportunities around the globe.

Join Now