Family, sea & self-sufficient living in Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda, Chile

Details

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  Description

  We, an originally german family ( mom and some children aged 9-21) are looking for practical, hands-on people who are not afraid of physically demanding work and who enjoy getting things done. You should be reliable, adaptable and able to work independently, while also being happy to become part of our family life.
  
  It is important that you like children and animals and are comfortable with a very remote lifestyle. We live directly by the sea, in a beautiful and wild place with only one neighbor. There is no shop nearby, electricity comes from solar power, and the internet is not available 24/7. Sea weather can be rough, so you should be comfortable with changing conditions and able to adapt to a simple, sometimes unpredictable way of life.
  
  There are many different kinds of work, depending on the season and what needs to be done: building and construction projects such as fences and corrals; harvesting and gardening; taking care of animals; helping the children with schoolwork or playing with them; cleaning the beach; collecting and preparing firewood for winter; and many other practical jobs around the property.
  
  You don’t need to know how to do everything — willingness to learn, initiative and a good attitude are just as important as practical skills. What matters most to us is that you are someone who can roll up your sleeves, take responsibility and enjoy working together with us.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Light 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

  Living with us is a chance to experience a very different way of life — close to nature, the sea and the seasons.
  
  You can learn about self-sufficiency and how to make things work with what you have, even when resources are limited. We try to build, repair, grow, preserve and create things ourselves rather than simply buying everything we need.
  
  You will experience life directly by the sea and learn how much our everyday life depends on the weather, tides and seasons. You may learn about fishing, collecting seafood, gardening, keeping animals, preserving food, working with wood and other traditional practical skills.
  
  Our way of life is partly influenced by the traditional Patagonian lifestyle: practical, resourceful, independent and closely connected to the land and the sea. Living here also means learning to slow down, adapt to changing circumstances and appreciate simple things.
  
  Most of all, we hope to share a genuine cultural exchange: you bring your own experiences, skills, language and way of seeing things, and we share our family life, our knowledge and this very special place with you.

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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

  our small tourism activities and guests
  * And, of course, there are always unexpected little projects that come up when living and working in such a remote place!
  
  You don’t have to be experienced in all of these things. We value practical skills, motivation, initiative and the willingness to learn. There is usually a good mix of physical outdoor work, practical projects and time with the family.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  You will have your own small guest house, giving you your own private space. It has a gas stove, a wood-burning stove for heating and cooking, hot water and solar-powered electricity. Internet is available, although the connection is not always reliable.
  
  We provide basic food supplies, including pasta, potatoes, rice and oats, as well as fish, mussels and sometimes meat from our own animals. Depending on the season, we may also have our own milk, cheese, yoghurt and vegetables.
  
  We live a very simple and practical lifestyle. Because we are so remote, many foods have to be brought in by boat and truck, which makes them considerably more expensive and sometimes difficult to get. For this reason, things like coffee, butter, cooking oil and fresh fruit are not always available in unlimited quantities.
  
  We provide the basic food essentials, but anything beyond what we normally have or provide would need to be purchased at your own expense. We simply want everyone to understand beforehand that this is not a place with a fully stocked supermarket or unlimited supplies — part of the experience is learning to make the most of what we have.

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  What else ...

  We are located in a very remote part of Patagonia, surrounded by national parks and untouched wilderness. Our place is directly by the sea and can only be reached by ferry. The ferry does not run every day, so getting to and from the mainland requires some planning.
  
  There is a small neighboring island, Melimoyu, which can be reached by boat in about 40 minutes. It has a small local shop and a basic health station for essential needs.
  
  We are truly surrounded by nature and far away from towns, shops and everyday conveniences. This is a beautiful place for people who love wilderness, the sea and a quiet, simple life — but it also means being comfortable with limited access, changing weather and a certain amount of independence.

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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 do have Starlink, so internet access is generally available and can be quite good. However, this is Patagonia and we rely on solar power. During long periods of rain, especially in winter, there may not be enough sunlight to keep the batteries fully charged. This means that electricity is not always available 24/7 and we sometimes have to switch the power off at night. We do have a generator as a backup, but for environmental reasons, noise and fuel costs, we only use it when necessary. If you are a digital nomad, remote worker or need a stable internet connection for work, please keep this in mind. It is possible to work online here, but you need to be flexible and comfortable with occasional interruptions and a lifestyle that is not fully connected around the clock.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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