Help at our off-grid eco-community and explore magical Rhodope mountains of Polkovnik Serafimovo, Bulgaria

Details

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  Description

  We are a non-profit organization and an off-grid eco-community, based in the magical Rhodope mountains of Polkovnik Serafimovo. In the past, we’ve run a range of workshops such as Natural Building, Permaculture, Organic Farming, holistic and spiritual retreats, Waldorf/ Steiner children's education, forest school, foraging, and survival courses.
  
  I, Benji, moved to Bulgaria a while ago and I started the NGO-- in 2019. At the moment, apart from me, living on the NGO grounds permanently is Paul, our resident permaculture teacher. This year we are hoping to restart our efforts from previous years and expand on them- organizing workshops and retreats as well as improving the living facilities and further developing the land. We are looking for responsible, experienced, and environmentally conscious people to join our project, and help build our vision with us for a thriving off-grid community, a collective of conscious teachers and healers, living in accordance with Nature.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Depending on when you can come and what we are working on during that time, you will be able to learn and take part in:
  
  Natural Building, Permaculture, Organic Farming, Holistic and spiritual techniques, Waldorf/Steiner children's education, Forest School, Foraging, Survival courses, and more. If you have any preferences as to what you want to learn, please include them when you reach out. Similarly, if you have any skills or ideas you want to develop which aren’t a part of this list, let us know, we are very much looking forward to expanding the scope of our work and exchanging knowledge.
  
  In our free time, we sometimes organize hiking, climbing and day trips to the local hot springs etc. In The Rhodopes mountains in Bulgaria, you will not only be able to hike through amazing untouched nature- many waterfalls, hills, meadows and rivers, but you will find many remains of the culture of the ancient Thracian tribes. Some examples of what you can see in The Rhodopes include:
  
  Utroba (Womb) Cave & Thracian Sanctuary, Ancient Sanctuary city Perperikon, Madjarovo’s Stone circles, Yagodinska cave, Mushroom rocks, The Devil’s Bridge and Rock formation as well as traditional villages and towns such as Kovachevitsa, Zlatograd, Leshten and Shiroka Laka. Moreover, the city of Plovdiv, named European capital of Culture in 2019, is a 2-hour drive (or 2.5h with a bus) away. It is very much worth seeing, with its mix of Roman, Ottoman and Bulgarian cultural heritage.
  
  We can send you a Google Maps list of what you can see in the area.

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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

  Workawayers will be helping prepare the gardens on Permaculture principles, developing infrastructure (rainwater harvesting, solar systems, compost reactors, etc.) and building natural structures - strawbale and adobe brick design. Additionally, if you’re here whenever we are running a workshop or a retreat, additional help may be needed to set up these events - rigging stretch tents and bell tents, setting up sound systems, cooking in the kitchen and welcoming our guests.
  
  At the moment, between April and July 2024, we need help with the following:
  Permaculture and natural building: we are currently building and improving our living spaces, intending to finish them as soon as possible to be able to provide better conditions- fully ready living spaces- for long-term residents and volunteers. We need help with all aspects of this as well as planting and taking care of our permaculture gardens. Tasks will include natural plastering and insulation, building compost toilets, showers, earth bricks and a sauna as well as making Hugelkultur beds and planting a food forest.
  
  Additionally, we will need more online technical help to develop the online presence. Therefore, we need some people who have experience with either Marketing, Social Media, Website creation, Photography or Videography- creating promotional content as well as running a YouTube channel with educational content we will film on-site, etc.
  
  Although it’s desirable, you don’t need any previous experience in permaculture or building to join us, we will teach you all the useful skills that you need. Minimum stay is 2 weeks. When you apply, please include as much information as possible about your travel plans and possible dates and duration of your visit, a bit about yourself and if you have any experience.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Bulgarian: Beginner
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I'm happy to share my knowledge of English in exchange for learning Bulgarian and Spanish.
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  Accommodation

  Winter Time: We have three eco-off-grid properties that are warm enough for winter use.
  
  Paul’s House - a strawbale house with two rooms, both with rocket stove mass heaters and solar.
  
  Benji’s House - old Russian train carriage with green roof, wool insulation, natural plaster and recycled windows. Further plans to surround it with slip straw walls. Currently with a wood burner and solar power.
  
  Triangular cabin - wool insulation, earth plaster and wood burner.
  
  Summer Time: We have a selection of bell tents set up with one of the finest views in the Rhodope Mountains. Tents will be provided with foam mattresses, sleeping bags and a pillow.
  
  At the moment, we can offer 3 vegetarian meals a day on work days in exchange for 5 hours a day/ 5 days per week while on rest days we offer breakfast.
  
  Currently, we can host 1-2 people. Later on, as the weather gets warmer, we will be able to take on more people.
  
  Please let us know in advance of any allergies or dietary requirements you have.

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  What else ...

  To get here, you need to reach Plovdiv first. In Plovdiv, you need to get to Rhodopes Bus Station and purchase a ticket to Smolian where we can pick you up. The bus takes around 2.5 hours to arrive, costs about 8 EUR and leaves every 1- 1.5 hours, both ways. There is no online booking system for this bus so you will have to purchase it on the spot, either from inside the bus station or from the driver in case the bus station is closed. In Plovdiv, Rhodopes Bus Station () is right next to the main Train Station, so it is very convenient if you’re going to Plovdiv by train. You can check the train timetable here: razpisanie.bdz.bg/en . Further, BDZ’s (Bulgarian National Railway) Information Center (+359 2 932 111 11) has an English line (Mon- Fri | 7:00- 21:00) in case you need it.
  
  Please also note that if you want to buy tickets for a train through the online platform, purchasing tickets closes automatically 3 hours before the train is due to leave. This doesn’t mean there are no spaces left- you can still buy a ticket when you arrive at the train station.

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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 host digital nomads

  We have decent WiFi connection on the project.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  If you’re coming with a campervan, you can park it anywhere on the grounds and use it to sleep there while using the rest of our facilities like kitchen, toilets, shower, etc. However, keep in mind that the grounds are off-grid and up a hill. Usually, you’d need an offroad car to get here. We can help bring your van up here (depending on weather and road conditions), however, it will not be easy to go down to the village or city often. Alternatively, if you are planning to use your campervan for traveling and exploring in your free time, you can safely park it in the village and we can pick you up in the car or you can walk to the grounds, and you can live on-site instead of in the van.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  The project is based around a livestock farming community. Animals will need to be well behaved and trained or on a lead at all times.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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