Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
14 Sep 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
7
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Details
Description
We are a Canadian couple, Carol and Mike, working to build our dream house and organic farm in rural Brasil, following the teachings of permaculture as much as we can.
Our property is at the end of a small but lively village, a few km from the beach town Imbassai in Bahia, Brasil. We are in The Atlantic Rainforest here. Our property is hemmed in by jungle and bordered by a small creek. We are home to marmosets, fox, lizards of all sizes, rare sloths and armadillos, many species of birds.
Our house is a super comfortable, open and beautiful work in progress. It has turned into a real arts and crafts project kind of house, using lots of recycled materials, tons of color and vegetation.
We are inspired by the landscape around us and wanted to bring it indoors. Every step of the building has been done by us with the help of our local friend . Currently nearing completion of the the kitchen which includes a cork countertop and penny design detail in checkerboard floor.
We have worked for years to rehabilitate our over-grazed property from arid scrubgrass sand and clay, into fertile soil. We are producing some fruits (pineapple, papaya, acerola, mango, lime, avocado, noni, banana, caju, jambo, breadfruit) and nuts (cashew and Brazil nut) now and are eager to turn what we have grown into a more cohesive, abundant food forest.
Our current obsessions are building a labyrinthine vegetable garden and creating enough compost and organic fertilizers to realize our green dreams. The first beds are producing steadily and more is being planted all the time.
Our beloved pets include 25 chickens and 4 cats. New additions are likely. Worm farm is in its infancy and bat houses are in effect!
We have a history of volunteering ourselves and are excited to be hosting now. We hope to find people sincerely into participating in our project, people that can teach us the skills and ideas they have and in turn be taught things by our us and by our land.
The beach is full blown incredible here. A wide expanse and open sea. The Imbassai river flows down into it, making an ever changing landscape where they meet. You can walk for miles.
Appreciators of a quiet life in tune with nature will thrive here.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Pets
Movies & TV
Farming
Music
Plant care
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Fitness
Cycling
Beach
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
From us you will learn what we know about small scale organic tropical gardening, composting, chicken care, etc.
Carol is a burgeoning herbalist and ukulele player, happy to talk plants, essential oils, books, music or animals .
Mike is a keeper of mechanical and construction knowledge. He is a great chef, lover of podcasts and physics.
We both love the beach,music, movies, board games, reading, eating well, yoga and staying home on our farm with animals and friends.
Help
Help around the farm is what me need most.
This might include planting, weeding, harvesting,raking,watering , digging, shoveling, cleaning chicken coop, moving compost, chipping, wheelbarrowing, etc.
There may be sanding or painting projects.
Upcoming projects ideas for 2025 include upgrades to our irrigation system, building a mud oven, finishing our little chalet, shelf building, installing fencing to house some pigs and building a staircase to the second floor.
We invite your ideas for projects that use your talents best.
Volunteers with backgrounds or interests in permaculture, organic farming, food forests, vermiculture, herbalism, aromatherapy, construction, carpentry,solar power, irrigation systems, designing websites or cooking are most welcome!
Also artists, muralists, sculptors that can add to our vivid, visual landscape please join us!
Volunteers are asked to contribute to the cleaning of the communal spaces.
We usually work morning hours, leaving your afternoons and evenings free for beach excursions or trips to town, digital nomad work or just to enjoy some down time in a hammock. Large English book and movie library to while away enjoyable hours.
We ask that you come prepared for farm work please. Boots, gloves, long pants and sun hat are necessary.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Spanish: BeginnerThis 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
We have been hard at work recently fixing up the volunteer bedroom . It is looking so cool!
The volunteer room is a large bed room on the ground floor of our house. Big windows. One or 2 volunteers can stay in 2 double beds. Shared bathroom with composting toilet. Indoor and outdoor showers. Another, free standing chalet is in progress. There is semi reliable wifi and no cell signal.
We provide meals in exchange for your help.
Eggs, fruits and fresh veggies are all around us. We cook healthy meals, some vegetarian, sometimes not.
Mike is an awesome chef but welcomes being cooked for too!
What else ...
Incredible Imbassai beach is 3km away.
Imbassai is a beautiful beach village with a few restaurants, beach bars and shops. Very low key. Sometimes some live music in the town square or at one of the restaurants. Please note that there are no banks in Imbassai, so getting out cash here requires a trip to the next town.
You can kayak the lazy Imbassai River.
Saparinga Nature Preserve is 15 km away.
Whale watching in the spring.
Capoeira, BJJ, yoga, pilates or surf lessons available locally.
10 km from touristy town of Praia do Forte. Many shops and restaurants. Snorkelling in natural tide pools. There is a bank with ATM.
There are many other beach towns up and down the coast to explore.
70 km from the colonial city of Salvador da Bahia. The closest airport is there.
We don't own a car, but local moto taxis will drive you into Imbassai and back for a few dollars. Regular busses up and down highway to visit other towns and beaches or Salvador. Local bike rental available.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Our internet is semi reliable. Does have unforeseen outages here and there that are usually fixed by the next day, sometimes sooner. We have no cell signal, as we are in a valley. Your afternoons and evenings will be free to do your online work.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
The Chix
About 20 laying hens at a time.
Cat-egory
Gorgeous and nearly untouchable.
Cat Mandu
Shy and sweet and super vocal.
Stanley
Just a little guy with big smarts and heart.
Bug Bug
Mama Cat. Big and soft and friendly to humans, assassin to small creatures.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (3)
We enjoyed his company and loved his great sense of curiosity and adventure that would take him off exploring our beautiful area every afternoon.
He worked very hard in our gardens and we are super thankful for his efforts.
A very respectful, funny and independent kind of guy. We… read more
So nice to get to know you M&M! Thank you for all the super sweaty effort and hard work. We will be talking about and attempting to recreate your incredible dinner for a long time to come. The cats miss you desperately....
I hope your time in… 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:
(4.7)
Communication:
(5.0)
We enjoyed his company and loved his great sense of curiosity and adventure that would take him off exploring our beautiful area every afternoon.
He worked very hard in our gardens and we are super thankful for his efforts.
A very respectful, funny and independent kind of guy. We… read more
So nice to get to know you M&M! Thank you for all the super sweaty effort and hard work. We will be talking about and attempting to recreate your incredible dinner for a long time to come. The cats miss you desperately....
I hope your time in… read more
They are so friendly and positive and made each day a pleasure.
Mural painting, bench building, gardening, pipe install, cooking, cleaning, tile cutting....these guys can cheerfully do anything.
Wish it were possible to give a million stars.… read more
