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23 Mar 2026
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Description
About the Project
We are a Canadian family—Soa, Simon, and our two daughters Miali (10) and Luana (4)—living our permaculture dream in the heart of Ecuador’s endangered coastal dry forest. Over the last nine years, we’ve planted nearly 2,000 trees and nurtured a thriving food forest.
Right now, we are looking for independent, nature-loving "farmstayers" who want to immerse themselves in a sustainable lifestyle. This is a unique opportunity to live simply, spend time with Soa and the girls, and enjoy the profound quiet of the forest.
The Lifestyle & Space
Life at here is raw, beautiful, and intentionally simple.
Yoga Terrace: You will have full access to our yoga terrace—the perfect spot for morning stretches, meditation, or just watching the birds.
Digital Nomad Friendly: If you work remotely, this is your sanctuary. We have spaces where you can set up your laptop and work online while surrounded by nature.
Sustainability: We live a very sustainable lifestyle, which includes the use of dry toilets.
Independence: You will spend time with the family, but you should also be comfortable being alone on the farm and managing your own rhythms.
Who Are You?
We are looking for people who:
Are proactive, independent, and comfortable with a "slow" pace.
Embrace sustainable living and are totally cool with dry toilets.
Love animals and feel at home in a rural, forested environment.
Are looking for a long-term base to work remotely or disconnect from the world.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Animal Care
Farmstay help
House & pet sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Animals
Hiking
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We don't pretend to be experts, but we are dedicated practitioners of an alternative way of living. By staying with us you aren’t just visiting a farm; you are stepping into a lifestyle of intentionality, simplicity, and resilience.
What you can learn and experience:
Sustainable Rhythms: Experience the daily flow of a life powered by nature—from using dry toilets and composting to understanding how a food forest functions in the endangered coastal dry forest.
Animal Husbandry: Learn the nuances of caring for a diverse "farm family" including ducks, chickens, cats, and dogs in a tropical environment.
The "Slow Life" & Mindfulness: With access to our yoga terrace and the quiet of the forest, you will have the space to practice mindfulness, disconnect from urban stress, and reconnect with the land.
Resourcefulness: Learn how to live comfortably with less, whether it's hauling groceries up our 15-minute trail or harvesting your own dinner from the trees around you.
Life here is never boring! As "forever students" of the world, we believe the exchange goes both ways. We are eager to learn from your life experiences, your professional skills, or your own cultural background while you immerse yourself in ours.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The help:
We need someone self-sufficient to handle the essentials:
Feeding the Animals: Caring for our 3 dogs (including our energetic pup Semilla), 2 cats (mellow Rasta and Queen Chloe), and our many ducks and chickens.
Daily Watering: Keeping our garden and food forest lush and hydrated.
Presence: Being a mindful, helpful presence on the farm.
Commitment: We are looking for a minimum of 1 month, with the option to stay up to 3 months for the right fit.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
Everything on our land is hand-built with love, mostly using recycled materials: from the furniture to our yoga terrace. While our style is rustic and in harmony with nature, we provide a comfortable, independent space for you to call your own.
Your Private Space:
You will have your own independent farmhouse, offering the privacy and quiet you need to focus or relax. The house is equipped with high-speed Starlink internet, making it a perfect workspace for digital nomads. We provide fresh sheets, mosquito nets, and plenty of drinkable water.
Sustainable Living:
We live by deep sustainable practices and invite you to join our rhythm:
The Kitchen: You have your own kitchen to cook your meals. You are also welcome to enjoy as many fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm as you like!
Eco-Facilities: Our bathrooms feature hand-built compost toilets and a shared shower system. Our water is sourced directly from a forest well and supplemented by rain collection.
Zero Waste: We are mindful of our footprint. Food leftovers go to our chickens (or the dogs, if they’re fast enough!) or into the compost pit. We ask that all soap, shampoo, and toothpaste used on-site be biodegradable.
Relax & Recharge:
When you aren’t working or helping with the animals, there is plenty of space to unwind. You’ll have full access to our large yoga terrace and hammocks scattered throughout the property—perfect for catching a breeze and enjoying the peace of the land.
It takes a little extra effort to live in harmony with the earth, but we believe it is very much worth it.
Food & Logistics
To keep this arrangement sustainable, we operate on a self-catering basis:
Food: You are responsible for purchasing and preparing your own food.
The Walk: Please note that the farm is a 15-minute uphill walk from the main road. You should be physically comfortable carrying your groceries up to the house!
Shopping: Basic items can be found in Canoa (15km away). For a larger selection, there is a big local market in San Vicente (40 mins) or a mall in Bahía (45 mins).
Farm Harvest: You are always welcome to harvest seasonal fruits and veggies from the food forest (lemons, bananas, etc.) and we often have fresh eggs.
What else ...
Lots of activities can be done around the farm, besides chilling and being artsy. Countless walks can be done on the land and around it. The views are diverse and outstanding on the farm as well as nearby.
The beachtown Canoa on the coast of the Pacific Ocean is only 15 km from our farm. Some volunteers like to go there on the weekends and practice surfing and other beach activites.
We also often use a taxi for food runs; we can always make the best of both a share the ride.
As far as transportation to the farm goes, to get to Canoa there are buses from Quito, Guayaquil or Manta. We can also ask trusted drivers to pick you up at the airport and drive you all the way to the farm. We can help you out with the information by email.
If you choose a bus to Canoa, you have a few options but the best, in our opinion, is to take a 6$ taxi to our farm from Canoa. At the end of the ride there's a 300 hike up a hill to the farm.
There are also buses from Canoa to the entrance of Tabuchila (our village), but you'd have to walk 4 kms from the bus stop to the farm. Then, you just walk into town asking around for the gringo farm! It's gotta be an hour walk (Don't do it at midday). If you are up to it, there are buses every 15 minutes to the entrance of Tabuchila.
However way you come, we would be communicating and assist your arrival.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are fully equipped with high-speed Starlink internet, providing a reliable and fast connection perfect for video calls, remote work, and streaming.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chloe (2 years)
Chloe is our daughter’s cat and the undisputed queen of the house. A high-energy explorer, she spends her days hunting across the farm or patrolling from the rooftops. When she finally decides to take a break, you’ll find her perched majestically on the highest furniture, surveying her kingdom.
Rasta (6 years)
Rasta is our resident lady cat and the farm’s gentle grandma. Calm and affectionate, she’s the perfect companion for laptop work or hammock naps. She loves her scratches and will happily claim your lap the moment you sit down to relax.
Semilla (3 years)
Semilla is our youngest, full of energy and farm-ready spirit. From hammock hangs to high-speed runs, she’s always on the go. She loves attention, thrives on belly rubs, and is sure to keep you moving all day long!
Mada (10 years)
Mada is our big old baby lady! She is always looking for attention and is a real ball of energy!
Kebo (10 years)
Kebo is the alfa of the farmdogs. He is Mada's brother. He has also the sweetest, calmest soul you will meet here. He likes hugs, especially when he need reassuring during thunderstorms !
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In the green hills of Tabuchila, not far from the coast, Soa and Simon built up his beautiful food forest and yoga farm and you can see that they truly do everything they do with love, from sawing cucumbers to giving yoga classes!
I was the only volunteer at this time so i had a huge wooden… read more
Canada will be lucky to have… read more
En la finca el trabajo es muy lindo, relajado y con amor. Ellos permiten que desarrolles tus ideas y tus proyectos con total libertad.
Solo pudimos estar dos semanas con ellos pero la… read more
Gracias por la rica fruta, por la paciencia para enseñarnos y las siempre sonrisas de cada uno.
Un abrazo a Soa, Simon y Lily
