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Organic farm in an indigenous community of the North Ecuadorian Andes

  • Favourited 334 times
  • Last activity: 12 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hector and Aya manage a very small family farm located twenty minutes walk from Cotacachi in an indigenous community called El Batán in the Andes highland (2400m above sea level) of Northern Ecuador, with a view of the mountains Imbabura, Cotacachi, and Fuya Fuya. The climate is very comfortable, but you do need a jacket for morning and night. (Remember, there are 3 seasons in one day in Ecuador.)

    We are a family of 5 and are half Japanese and half Ecuadorian (Native indigenous Kichwa). We have 3 children ages of 17, 12 and 8 as well as 3 adorable cats and 3 dogs. We speak Spanish, Japanese, Kichwa and English (just Aya).
    We grow herbs and vegetables organically applying some permaculture principles. We will be needing help working in the garden and taking care of our animals.

    Please consider writing to us if you are:
    - able to speak Spanish (at least some)
    - able to stay more than a month
    - willing worker on farming

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Apart from being able to learn organic farming, you will be learning the importance of water by living in a solar-powered shower and compost toilet house and etc.

    And our farm is located in an indigenous community where it still conserves strong indigenous culture surrounded by some great volcanoes. You can enjoy Ecuadorian Andes culture fully.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    Volunteers are expected to help for four days a week (Mon-Thu) 6 hours a day and to stay over at least 4 weeks (arriving on Monday until 4th Thursday = 25 days minimum). Tasks include gardening: seeding, weeding, planting, making seedbeds, composting, watering, harvesting and collecting selecting seeds, feeding animals, cleaning cowshed, plus helping with the promotion and sales at the Thursday farm market.

    Plus, we are working on some community projects such as water conservation (including making compost toilet in the communities (there is no sewage system), harvesting water, reducing trash, purifying water etc.), so if you are professional in coordinating projects, have knowledge in the themes mentioned or grant writing, please let us know!

    Please keep in your mind that minimum Spanish is necessary. And please arrive on Monday afternoon!

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Japanese: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will be staying in an independent house with 2 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, outside space with hammocks, solar-powered shower and compost toilet. We eat together during the week days enjoying homemade, healthy food of both local and international cuisine. It is mostly vegetarian (+dairy and eggs) and prepared with our homegrown vegetables.

    We provide 2 meals (breakfast and lunch) for Monday-Thursday. If you have problem with celiac disease or any other food difficulties, please let us know in advance. We eat a lot of home made bread. If you have many food restrictions, please bring your own food or otherwise we may not be able to have you. For your dinner and weekends, you may cook your own food. Basic utensils are provided.

    IMPORTANT!!
    You should be bringing long sleeve shirt, long pants (make sure you are well covered while you are outside in the garden), insect repellent (lots of black flies), a hat & sun screen cream (very strong sun) and if you think you are very sensitive to insects, you may need some gloves. Rubber boots are needed in the rainy season (nov-may). Please bring toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, detergent for washing clothes etc. for your personal care.

    An internet access is available in the main house. You are welcome to use it during your free time.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    On your 3 days weekends off, you will have time to explore the local indigenous communities, walk to the town of Cotacachi, and visit Otavalo which is only a twenty-minute bus ride away. We offer guided tours hiking to Cuicocha lake and Mojanda lake, climbing Imbabura and Cotacachi, and many other activities (Hector is a licensed tourist guide with a professional driver's license).

    3 days are long enough to travel other places in Cotacachi county such as Intag. It's a subtropical area and it has the most beautiful primary forest and pristine rivers. You will enjoy the totally different vegetation and climate in just a couple hours away from here!

  • 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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    6 hrs a day, 4 days a week

Host ref number: 345218482572

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Volunteer with a Kichwa family in Otavalo, Ecuador
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