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20 Jan 2025
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Description
Hi, I am Andreas, I am an adopted Asturian, originally from the Netherlands.
I live off grid, and a bit isolated in Asturias a few km from the coast. We have a food forest and farm along permaculture lines. In addition we are restoring some old houses on our land. The farm is located roughtly midway between the towns of Mones and Ballota, but behind the mountains.Our village is more or less deserted and very beautifull. Lots of old stone houses and walled fields.
For volunteers we have built a little temporary wooden cabin (tiny house) and there is a separate cabin shared by volunteers and the odd pilgrim on the route to Santiago. We have a compost toilet, a wood heated hot shower and even a sauna! So living is more or less comfortable, even in winter.
At the moment we have a dog, chickens and cats. Hopefully we get more in future, maybe a pig or sheep.
The help on the main house is typical construction stuff. I use a lot of natural materials from the environment, recycled material and sometimes new stuff. It is a good opportunity to learn about building stone walls, woodwork, working with machines, electricity, solar power, etc etc. If you are a specialist maybe I can learn from you :)
The farming effort is subsistence farming with focus on fruit trees, berries, a vegatable garden in three parts, shitake mushroom cultivation etc.
I speak English, Dutch, Afrikaans :), and crooked Spanish (getting better all the time I hope). Work is hard when we work but there is enough time to relax, explore the environment and do other stuff. (5 hours x 5 days is the guideline).
The minimum time to stay is around two weeks. If the click is good longer term volunteering is possible, especially if you have the idea to start your own place.
For long term volunteers (maybe even a small family) we can skipper a bit to accommodate a local or online job. We can work out the details together.
A little note: I integrate you as best as I can, this means that I sometimes take you along to friends etc. It is important for me that you value this and are actually looking for this kind of experience.:)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
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
English, Dutch, Spanish, permaculture, construction, farming shitakes, building with stone, electricity/offgrid/alternate energy etc. While you are here you are part of our/my family so we go to the beach, visit friends, take walks, go mushroom hunting etc.
Help
Current running projects are:
1. Restoring the old stone houses/basic construction
2. Permaculture/gardening activities
3. Clearing and preparing land for permaculture activities
Obviously I will ask you to lend a hand with some other loose tasks as well :)..Languages
Languages spoken
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Dutch: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
My English is excellent. My Spanish is not that great but we have a lot of Spanish friends and neighbours which we frequently visit. I would love to learn Russian next.Accommodation
Wooden cabin (Tiny house), compost toilet, off grid, outdoor shower (beautifull, with hot water! but fresh in winter :).).
Volunteers have a separate very nice and spacious cabin.What else ...
Asturias is very beautifull, lots of mountains, the ocean, hearty, good and affordable food etc. A hidden paradise. We are a gem in this paradise.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
If you are a digital nomad I can accommodate you. Please coordinate this with me as there are some restrictions.
Space for parking camper vans
You can park your van at various spots. Van paradise...
Can possibly accept pets
Dog.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (57)
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Running a place like his entails a variety of work. We have built some stone walls, did a lot of pruning and weeding, harvesting and some work with concrete.
It… read more
This is a beautiful place in the middle of the mountains, somewhere to appreciate silence and a slow quiet life.
5 golden stars
It is a magical place, out of any scheme of social convention, you feel at home from the first day, and it always makes you aware more than so many things are wrong in society.
I could talk for hours about the… read more
Thanks so much Andreas and came to visit my project in Portugal.
Thank you for everything Andreas (and Ufo !!)
Andreas is very intelligent and will teach you anything you'd like to… read more
The accommodation is comfortable and food was never missing.
Thank you Andreas, for opening your home for us,… read more
Andreas is a very nice and interesting person, so don't hesitate to ask him about things you're interested in.
I hope I can go back there once !
Andreas es una… read more
Venture
The first week we did an intensive work of "mulching" around the youg trees.
The timing where… read more
Ese es un sitio realmente mágico, el trabajo ha sido muy satisfactorio: durante el mes que he estado ahí he trabajado los huertos y todo el conocimiento que ello conlleva.
A parte, Andreas y Paola son unas personas muy interesantes de conocer
Recomiendo esta… read more
The place is great, the work really interesting and different.
I recommend 100% ! :)
Os deseo lo mejor a los dos. Hasta pronto 😊
If you want to learn about literally anything (of course, the most important is about plants and construction), you just have to go to this magical place in the middle of the mountain in the beautiful Asturias and spend some time with them. You… read more
Andreas (y Paola)
all the best !!!!!
pablo.
Andreas y Paola
Andreas y Paola
Andreas y Paola
Incredible place tended to by incredibly people, so much so I had to go twice. Andreas is fun, patient and thoughtful; an all round amazing guy to be around who gives off infectious good vibes and positive energy. He is at the same time a wise teacher if you need to… read more
Say hello to everybody!
Come for a glass of sidra when you pass by
would go back any day:)
The surrounding nature is just wonderful and really makes you feel disconnected from the rat race. A real magical experience.… read more