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Off grid living and permacuture in Asturias, Spain

  • Favourited 1229 times
  • Last activity: 19 Apr 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi, I am Andreas, I am an adopted Asturian, originally from the Netherlands, my partner Su is English.

    We 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. We are located roughtly midway between the towns of Mones and Ballota, but behind the mountains.The village we live in is more or less deserted and very beautifull.

    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 wood heated hot shower and even a sauna! So living is more or less comfortable, even in winter.

    At the moment we have 2 dogs, chickens and cats. Hopefully we get more in future.

    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: We integrate you as best as we can into our little family, this means that we take you along to friends etc. It is important for us that you value this and are actually looking for this kind of experience.:)

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    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

    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: Fluent

    This 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.

  • Accommodation

    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 ...

    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

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    If you are a digital nomad we can accommodate you. Please coordinate this with me as there are some restrictions.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    You can park your van at various spots.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 491866481923

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Accuracy of profile: (4.9)

Cultural exchange: (5.0)

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