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Description
Stay with us in a growing food forest near Lake Chapala, wake up to the sound of birds, enjoy the sunrise from our garden, disconnect from the noise, become immersed in the garden, feel a slower pace of life in nature and hike the multiple trails near the property.
We are looking for self-sufficient and collaborative individuals to join our team as a volunteer dedicated to maintaining and improving the property. We offer a straightforward exchange: your work in return for food.
If you value independence, love being surrounded by nature and embrace a self-directed way of living, this could be a good fit for you!
Hello, my name is Santiago (age 35). Along with my family, we have created a small co-housing compound in Lake Chapala, Mexico. I am currently developing a system of food production working with vegetables and fruits that grow well in the area. I share the space my family, a neighbour with 3 cats and one dog, and other occasional visitors and volunteers.
Currently, we aim to put in the least effort for maximum enjoyment and optimal production from the resources we have available.
We value diversity in housing and here we have a main house, guest studio, 2 rental apartments, volunteer studio and a Camp and RV site in progress. I’m on a journey to create abundance in this paradise and there are many fruit trees and garden beds to tend to. We have common areas for doing yoga, relaxing, and gathering around the fire pit.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The property is located in San Juan Cosala, one of the oldest towns in Lake Chapala. The inhabitants of San Juan Cosalá, are hardworking, friendly and active day and night. It is quite common to see locals set up food stands outside their homes in the evenings and to see children, families and youth out in the street. This vibrant town is not just a place to visit but a cultural experience in itself.
There are other neighbouring towns that can be visited by bus. These include Jocotepec, Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan and Chapala. Once there, you can immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the plazas, markets filled with handmade crafts, clothing and fresh produce. You can also withdraw money, enjoy a meal or a coffee at one of these town’s restaurants, or buy a SIM card to stay connected. From Chapala, you can catch a boat ride to Isla de los Alacranes which hosts various restaurants of Isla de Mezcala which has an old military prison.
In terms of cultural exchange on the property, you’ll have the chance to interact with myself, my family, neighbours and our local team members Juan and Alfredo who help with tasks several times a week. They speak Spanish, so if you’re looking to improve your language skills, this is a great opportunity!
While you're here at the project, your free time can be as active or as relaxing as you like. We encourage creativity and personal projects, offering tools for those who want to build, carve, or craft something unique. The lake is unfortunately quite polluted and not apt for swimming or fishing. You might also find joy in painting, reading, lounging in a hammock with the sounds of nature all around you, or going on hikes.
For those eager to explore further, we can suggest different hikes that offer a variety of duration and difficulty. These include: -Cruz de la Fatima (1 hr) -Chupinaya (3-4 hrs) -Sendero del Caracol (6 hrs) For more leisurely pursuits or to dive into the rich culture of the region, there are several tourism and relaxation options available. You can immerse yourself in local traditions, visit art studios, join a cacao ceremony, participate in Sunday temazcal ceremony, or visit the natural hot springs.
Help
We are working on the following tasks:
-Nursery: we’ve created a dedicated plant nursery space where we care for over small seedlings. This nursery is our effort to a ensuring a continuous supply of nutritious and decorative plants.
-Irrigation system: we use a simple method of hoses to water the property. This method ensures constant observation and care of the different plants and serves as a form of meditative exercise, while we trim for decorative flowers.
We water the small seedlings with a smaller and softer device.
-Tree forest: half of our land is being reforested with a diverse mix of trees—native trees, jacaranda, avocado, papaya, grapefruit, lemon, chaya and other decorative, and fruit trees. This growing forest will provide resources for and restore the natural balance of the land.
-Composting: all of the food scraps are processed in our composting area where we mix leaves, green clippings, earth and other organic scraps to produce compost.
Our typical activities include managing the compost area, watering our crops, trimming and shaping, caring for new plants, and harvesting, and cutting flowers.
New projects that we are looking to implement:
-Transforming raw materials from jams, hummus, tinctures and floral arrangements to sell/exchange at the local farmers market
-Building a new compost station with wood
-Building an outdoor wood and gas stove with stone
-Building a shaded structure for future campers/volunteers
-Building an outdoor shower, bathroom and composting toilet
-Expanding our volunteer experiences to travel on weekend to do edge planting in an emerging camp site in the beach in Lo de Marcos, Nayarit
-Expanding our volunteer experiences to travel on weekend to do edge planting in an emerging camp site in the mountains in Chiquilistlan, Jalisco
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation includes a studio unit with kitchen, fridge and bathroom. In the kitchen, you'll find a well-equipped setup with a gas stove, fridge, a boiling pan, a cooking pan, and essentials like plates, glasses, and cutlery. There's a futon bed big enough for two and a small garden outside the studio. It has private access for guests.
Food is provided weekly for guests to prepare their own meals, including a mix of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals. Guests can prepare their meals in the studio kitchen or the outdoor kitchen. Shared meals happen once or twice a week.
What else ...
We have electricity, heated water for showering and WiFi. Cooking, cleaning and tidying up the common areas are shared responsibilities and while these tasks are not included in work hours, we expect everyone in our community to pitch in equally.
We align with nature’s rhythm by waking up early around 6:00 AM and going to bed around 8:00 PM, encouraging a lifestyle that follows the natural cycles. This is not the place for night owls, as noise from late-night activities can disturb those who are already resting. Furthermore, working very early in the morning is crucial to avoid the heat of the sun. Currently, I spend the week working in as an independent architect in the Lake Chapala area and visiting Guadalajara once a week. On weekdays, I usually touch base with volunteers and meet in the garden for tea/coffee at 7:30am, for organizing tasks. Volunteers are expected to live independently during these days, which may involve spending some time alone or with other volunteers.
Additionally, there may be periods when I’m out of the country and not present at the project at all. This independence is an integral part of the experience. Although I can provide assistance whenever I’m here and remotely when I’m not, if you need a host who’s constantly available on-site, this arrangement may not suit you.
We share this beautiful land with a diverse array of wildlife, including some potentially dangerous creatures like snakes, black widows and scorpions. Fortunately, these animals are rarely active during the day, so maintaining a daytime routine is a good precaution. While we've never needed it, the nearest hospital is just a 10-minute drive away, giving us peace of mind. Our location is close to town yet peaceful and remote. Due to our altitude, temperatures here are generally 15-35°C throughout the year. The dry season (Apr-June) usually brings little to no rain and is quite hot.
The rain season (late June- Sept) sees afternoon showers daily. We are currently not hosting volunteers during the rain season.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Campervans welcome
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
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