Sustainability, permaculture, organic farming and learn about the Middle Anatolian and Cappadocian way of life, Turkey

Details

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  Description

  Hello everyone! Unfortunately we won't be able to have volunteers before April 2023 due to harsh weather conditions. You can apply for anytime as of April 1st!
  
  This is a remote residency in the depths of the Kings Valley in Goreme/Cappadocia. The land belongs to a local Cappadocian family for centuries. Later on the landlords have built an eco-friendly cultural center and hotel on that land. The idea behind presenting it as a workaway location is to create a team that can work with us to help our farm live up to its potential. As in every farm, we need help mostly in spring, summer and fall. It’s important to know that winter here is harsh and cold, and there might be times when the farm gets inaccessable due to the snow or mud. Please note that this is the first time we are doing this, so we will be learning and discovering as we go.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General 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

  This cultural center/farm is a family heritage. Members of the family are deeply rooted in Cappadocia for centuries and they aim to protect and keep alive the traditional way of farming and producing. You will learn about Middle Anatolian and Cappadocian way of life. You will learn how they cook bread, make grape molases, traditional food and desserts... You will meet and spend time with family members as well as with people who joined later but found something special there.
  
  Documenting/filmmaking/photography/storytelling/music/literature
  Such skills and talents are a bonus for us.
  Anyone with such interests (and many others) is welcomed here, we appreciate exchanging skills and creative ideas. The place in its nature encourages and inspires artistic activity. You can take part in its inspirational atmosphere that will boost your creativity.

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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

  We need help with:
  Feeding the animals (Chickens, geese, sheep, cows)
  Milking the mama cow
  Collecting, cutting wood and making fire
  Baking traditional breads and sour dough bread
  Fermenting food (yoghurt, pickles, komboucha, kimschi and so on..)
  Keeping the place tidy and clean
  Making compoust
  Making cheese (anyone with knowledge on making cheese is welcomed to come and make it here with us)
  Gathering ideas about sustainability, permaculture and organic farming for the next season
  …and many other things that you might come up with.

  In the spring, summer and fall we will have more diverse activites. You might volunteer to take part in the activity that we organize every morning. You can help the guests around the farm, perhaps accompany them down to the valley… Or you might prefer to work on the land, collecting fruits and vegetables, pruning, planting seeds, watering… We will have special activities in the season such as wine tasting tours where your help will be appreciated.
  
  We will be preparing jams with the fruits, making vinegar, harvesting the lavender, collecting wild herbs to make infused/essential oils, filling our jars with our tasty summer vegetables to have them ready for the winter.
  
  Once the fall comes we will collect the grapes to make traditional grape molasses (pekmez) with our guests from the hotels, we will make wine, vinegar, grape seed extract… Basically everything you see around will be made use of to the extent possible.
  
  We would love to have you here if you have previous experience in maintaining a farm, or if you are familiar with farm life in general,
  if you have knowledge on organic farming, herbs, plants, animals, making dairy or plant based products that you would like to share with us,
  if you are a person who can come up with work to do on your own.
  
  Please let us know what you can help us with in your message.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Turkish: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  You will have shared accomodation in an old cave room which has a stove and a fireplace.
  
  We will need to keep our number small for the winter, and we will need more people as of April. You can inquire about this winter as well as about spring or summer ahead of time. Minimum stay is one week for winter. For the rest of the year it will surely depend on our communication and the work we do together but we will need people who are willing to stay longer and contribute in a way that this place deserves.

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  What else ...

  You will be a 30 minute hike away from the nearest town which happens to be the center of Cappadocia. Our jeep will also be going back and forth to the town so you can hop on it as well. In your free time you can visit museums, hike in different valleys, discover nearby towns...

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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