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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
5 Dec 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 6 days
Feedback
66
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Details
Description
Hello friends,
My name is Takihiro (you can call me Hiro) and my wife Sophea is our farm communicator. If you contact us, you’ll likely be chatting with her first. Together with a few close friends and supporters, we started an organic farming project, located in the peaceful mountains of Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia.
🌱 About Me
After completing a one-year program in Sustainable Agriculture Management with CEDAC, I worked with them in 2017 as a freelance farmer mentor and organic internal inspector for coffee plantations in Mondulkiri. My role was to help farmers adapt to climate change and practice sustainable agriculture.
But I soon realized that what we learn in school and what we believe about balancing farming with nature is not always easy to apply. Sometimes, I felt regret—especially when natural solutions didn’t improve farmers’ lives or caused unexpected problems. We had many documents about organic farming, but each place has its own unique challenges. I felt we needed to focus deeply on Mondulkiri’s specific farming conditions.
So, in 2018, I decided to leave my job and start farming. My friends and I began buying land to grow our own fruit and coffee—safe to eat, kind to the earth. Organic farming in Cambodia is not easy. It brings many challenges compared to conventional agriculture. But we believe in it.
Even after the pandemic, when our farm faced difficulties like many others, we kept moving forward—still holding onto our dream.
🌱 Plantation
On our farm we grow a mixed plantation: coffee, banana, passion fruit, cacao and avocado. We also raise fish, which we use both for food and for storing water and fertilizer. We have a nursery where we grow seedlings for the farm. Most of our trees—coffee, cacao, and avocado—are propagated by ourselves.
We are happy to share our knowledge and experience, and we are always ready to learn from new ideas brought by Workawayers. We live in a mountain house, surrounded by forest. Our philosophy is simple: what we have, we share.
For us, the farm is not just land—it is like your house and your happy farm too.
Coffee Cleaning Service
We also partner with a local coffee company to clean beans harvested by farmers. Since coffee is often picked and dried using traditional methods, the beans may contain rocks, sticks, or plant debris.
At our farm, we use machines to separate and filter the beans, ensuring higher quality for roasting and export. This work is usually done by our farm staff and villagers.
We don’t specifically recommend this task for volunteers, but if you are interested, you are welcome to observe or join in. It can be a good way to learn more about the coffee journey from harvest to cup.
🏡 Farmstay
Our farm has three houses, but only two are available for guests.
I keep my personal house reserved for volunteers, so you will always have a comfortable and private space to rest.
Living here means sharing life in the mountains—simple, peaceful, and close to nature.
🏡Location
Our farm is located in Loakar Village, Mondulkiri Province, in the northeast of Cambodia.
Mondulkiri means “the center of the mountains.”
We are based near Saen Monorom City (whose name means “beautiful city”), in Sangkat Sokadom (Sokadom Commune). The farm is about 12 km from Saen Monorom City.
We have trusted tuk-tuk partners who can pick you up from the bus station and bring you directly to the farm.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Pets
Farming
Plant care
Music
Cooking & food
Books
Art & design
Animals
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our farm is close to the forest, where you can go trekking to enjoy beautiful views of nature.
We sometimes visit local farmers in our community, including Indigenous families who also take part in coffee cleaning services. We hope you will enjoy traveling with us and learning how local people and Indigenous communities live.
In the evenings, we gather for free conversation and sharing ideas. This can include singing, playing music (if you have an instrument), or simply exchanging stories. I once had an electric piano, but sadly it is broken now.
We would love to exchange stories about the history of your country and share ours with you too.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
🤝 Help
Our jobs depend on the season of the year—dry season and rainy season.
☀️ Dry Season (December to May)
Focus on watering plants
Clearing grass around coffee trees and other crops
Caring for plants in the nursery
Making compost for yearly use
Coffee cleaning also takes place during this season
🌧️ Rainy Season (May to November)
Cutting grass (done mainly by farm staff)
Planting new crops
Cleaning grass around coffee trees and other plants
Caring for plants in the nursery
Applying compost fertilizer to coffee plants
From October: harvesting avocado and Arabica coffee
In Mondulkiri, the rainy season is a hard time for farm work—sometimes it rains for a whole week without stopping.
🌱 Organic Practices
Our farm follows organic methods, though not 100%. We have not applied for an official Organic Certificate yet, because certification is expensive and we don’t have enough products to cover the cost.
However, we are proud members of an agriculture association.
We grow a mixed plantation and do not use chemical pesticides or herbicides. Volunteers may encounter diverse creatures such as wasps, bees, and many kinds of butterflies. During the rainy season, you may also see earthworms as thick as a little finger and 10–15 cm long coming out of the soil.
🐍 Snake Warning
Since we began working with volunteers in 2018, we have never had a snake attack. There was only one case involving our staff, who encountered a non-poisonous snake.
Our strong rule is: stay away from all snakes and immediately inform our staff if you see one nearby.
🐒 Wildlife Warning
We do not eat wild animals, and hunting is strictly forbidden.
If you see wildlife such as monkeys, wild pigs, or civet cats, please keep your distance. Each year, some wild animals escape hunting and appear on nearby farms. They usually stay temporarily before moving on.
During the rainy season, you will see and hear many birds that travel long distances to nest in our farm and nearby forest—creating families for the next generation.
📚 Teaching Program
I am also an English educator for a community school, supported by my friend (who built a farm nearby) and a group of teachers from South Korea.
It is a part-time program offering free English classes for children and adults:
Classes run Monday to Friday, from 4:00–6:00 PM
One hour for children, one hour for adults
Most students are Bonoung children from nearby villages or traveling from Senmonorom City
The school is connected to our farm, and we encourage volunteers to join if they wish. Many rural students face dropping out of school, often due to financial problems. Most cannot afford professional English classes.
Volunteers don’t need to be native English speakers—your contribution can be as simple as sharing dreams, stories, and imagination. Talking with foreigners is the key to improving their English.
Note: If you decide to join the English classes, it will not be counted as farm work. If you have a teaching background and wish to help more formally, we can discuss and arrange together.
🌾 Our Hope
We hope that after working with us, you will gain a deeper understanding of farmer life and countryside living in Cambodia.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Khmer: Fluent
Accommodation
🏡 Accommodation
We have two houses for volunteers: my personal house and our farm project house. These are normally provided for guests to stay.
On the farm, we also offer a camping-style option. There are places set up for camping with basic facilities such as a bathroom and lighting. If you wish to stay more privately, camping is a wonderful way to enjoy the night sky and see the stars and galaxies.
🍲 Food
Our food is local, and we usually eat meat.
We are sorry that we cannot prepare meals for vegetarians or vegans, but you are welcome to cook your own food.
If you would like to apply to work with us, please tell us about your situation and share any needs or concerns. This helps us understand each other better.
🎒 What to Bring
To make your stay more enjoyable, we suggest bringing:
Natural mosquito repellent, soap, laundry powder, and eco-friendly toiletries
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, stained, or torn
Card or board games
Books
Power bank
Headlamp or flashlight
We also have Wi-Fi available on the farm.
🤝 Volunteer Plans
Since 2018, we have been grateful to many volunteers who helped us. To give more options for working and exploring the countryside of Mondulkiri, we designed three flexible plans:
$6 USD per day (three meals) – Work 3 hours/day, 5 days/week
$0 USD – per day -- Volunteer might prepare your own food and work 3 hours/day, 5 days/week, with free evenings to explore Mondulkiri
Note: These plans are flexible. You can choose, change, or adjust your plan before or during your stay. Just let us know one day in advance if you are working on the farm.
What else ...
If you arrive in Cambodia (Phnom Penh or Siem Reap) during the rainy season and reach Mondulkiri at night, we recommend staying in town overnight. Internet connections may be difficult at night.
You can contact us by Facebook Messenger (Sophea Kuch) or WhatsApp/phone (+855 78535025) to let us know when you arrive. We will arrange a tuk-tuk to pick you up from the bus station.
The tuk-tuk fare is usually 20,000–25,000 riel ($5–6.25 USD).
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Foxy
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (32)
We would to like say thank you for Clara and Noemie for help us at farm and help for cook and take care of our daughter Hirain. We hope you enjoy with us. and wish you happy with you trip. Thank you
Sophea Hiro and Hirain
It was great to learn more about coffee cultivation, spend time with little Hirain or having interesting discussions with Hiro and Sophea!
We worked from Monday to Saturday with Sunday free for 5 hours per day (divided in 3 in the morning and 2 in… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
We would to like say thank you for Clara and Noemie for help us at farm and help for cook and take care of our daughter Hirain. We hope you enjoy with us. and wish you happy with you trip. Thank you
Sophea Hiro and Hirain
It was great to learn more about coffee cultivation, spend time with little Hirain or having interesting discussions with Hiro and Sophea!
We worked from Monday to Saturday with Sunday free for 5 hours per day (divided in 3 in the morning and 2 in… read more
Thank you
Hiro sophea… read more
It was an incredible opportunity to get to know rural life in Cambodia, meet the friendly locals, understand more about the history of the country and learn lots about planting and growing coffee!
Though the work was sometimes hard and hot, it… read more
we also volunteered at the local village school which was really good fun and the kids were adorable.
we had a great time with everyone, working, playing volleyball and spending evenings eating together and making… read more
I drove directly to them after arriving in Phom Penh and it was the best start I could have wished for. I stayed with them for two weeks. They are very kind people with a big heart. You can ask them anything about Khmer culture and will get a wonderful insight in the culture. We also talked… read more
I had 2 fantastic weeks… read more
I wish to see you both again and… read more
Thank you
Sophea
The food is good, the place is amazing, you… read more
We wish to see you again… read more
Thank you so much
Thank you so much for help us at farm. They are so kind and sharing. and also like cook as well. They are really nice people
When I arrive in Cambodia, I felt I would stay longer and when I met Sophea, Hiro and Sa, I knew I was in front of big souls with a marvellous energy and a wonderfull heart. I… read more
I would like to say thank you for help and sharing our knowledge with us. I learn a lot of thing from you. you are so kind, people . We wish you happy in your life and see you one day.
Thank you
Sophea And Reaksa
During she spent time here she helps. us a lot of work and she drew a nice on the wall to keep our memory.
thank you for come to our farm, we wish you enjoy ur lifestyle and hope to see you one day.
Sophea Hiro and Reaksa
Anyway the host was quite easy to join, and I think we could have spent a nice stay there and I recommend this place !
Thank you from Hero Sophea and Sa
What should I say. This workaway was an amazing and unique experience. I did some other volunteers before but non was so intense and maybe mind changing like this experience that I still think about it weeks after I left this beautiful place. You get into another world, so peaceful and surrounded by the most… read more
Be ready to loose yourself in the passion fruit, banana, coffee, cacao... plantations.
If you like nature, living the real local life and talking politics, environnement, food and all the subjects of the real life, this is the place.
I recommand totally!
We learned a lot about the farm, and the work was very interesting.
We lived like Cambodian people, it was a nice experience to change lifestyle.
Thank you so much and all the best for you and your… read more
Sophea
Sophea
Sophea
First of all, sorry for the late feed-back, we complitly forgot. But know that we think about it, we really want to say to you that we loved our unique experience with you on your farm! It was a bit to short but getting to know you was a pleasure! It's true that you live in a very rural way but it's part of the experience… read more
We shared a lot about agricultural practises and our different cultures and that was really an exchange !
We hope to come to visit you again and to see you on this beautiful project you have.
And, also, we wanted to say we love your sense of humour and the… read more
Thank you so much for spent your value time work with us. And especially for your join our sister wedding and chicken house for Niko. We would to say you both is really good guys and hope see you someday.
I will take photo and send to you soon,
The Farm
It was very interesting to live like them in a farm in Cambodia, it's not so comfortable like in the hostel (no real mattress and no hot shower) but when you accept to live with huge spiders evrything it's ok.
I really liked learn about farm work even if… read more
Thank you so much for coming here (Cambodia), especially our farm. We miss you so much mostly when we eating and drink hhhhhe. We want tell you that your tomato are good.
We hope see you again soon.
The Farm
Still Remember us?
Thank you so much for coming and help us. However it was short time with you but it really good time and good memory for doing farm in Mondulkiri province Cambodia. I wish you have nice day for your trip.
We hope see you oneday,
Hiro, the Farm
In just one year at the farm, they already did a lot, we loved working there and the place is so nice ! Moreover they are so much implied for the development of organic farming in Cambodia.
We liked so much the life at… read more
Really thank your for your best helping for us. We are remember you all time. Oh Pearun very sad when he was hear your leaved from Cambodia. We wait and welcome to Cambodia again. I will send your dancing video to you on your facebook soon. Hope the world is small and we see you again.
Heartbreak when we leave.. See you soon in Paris !
I felt part of the family instantly ! We did many different things such… read more
