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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
13 May 2026
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Details
Description
Our farm is currently under-going renovations in the family house and we are interested in building new infrastructure in the future. We are looking for capable welders, carpenters, plumbers, and masons to complete construction projects on the farm in exchange for accomodations. There will be periods that we are also living on site, and periods when we are living close to the farm, but you would mostly have the farm to yourself.
We are a homeschooling and homesteading family. We began the farm in 2012 and grow cacao, coffee, and many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. We sell fine artisan chocolate bars and do all processing on site.
The farm is located about 7 km north of the small town of Santa Fe, on the Rio Santa Maria, on the edge of the Parque Nacional de Santa Fe.
Rachel is a Zen Shiatsu massage therapist and teaches yoga and meditation. She is dedicated to human relationships with nature, growing food, and natural healing.
Andros is almost 13 years old and he loves photography, art, crafts, birds, frogs, and all critters. His favorite past times are birding, hiking, going to the river, archery, fencing, and playing baseball.
Ocean is away for a few years, but was the main builder, planter, and visionary behind the farm- a horticulturist, plant biologist, permaculture designer, artist, and jack of all trades.
Our neighbors have a lot to offer and exchange, such as kids who visit to learn, play, and do art/crafts; as well as adults and elderly who enjoy teaching their crafts and knowledge of medicinal, artesanal, architectural, and culinary use of local plants. The local community is still rooted in a traditional subsistance farming lifestyle, practicing lifestyles rich in traditional knowledge and culture. It is truly a blessing to exchange with this local community.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
House & pet sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Farming
Culture
Writing
Plant care
Photography
Music
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Architecture
Animals
Art & design
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Fitness
Dancing
Camping
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Santa Fe is home to a still thriving traditional Panamanian campesino culture. Many neighbors are talented artisans and traditional musicians. The area has a rich history and there is much to learn from visiting with neighbors. Folks love to share their stories, especially since the youth are leaving for the city life and the elders know well that soon there will be noone left to carry on their cultural heritage. We have cultivated positive relationships with the community and feel blessed to have been embraced with warm hospitality by our neighbors.
Our neighbors are mostly subsistance farmers, growing an abundance of food on an abundance of gorgeous fertile land. There is a general reverance for nature here and love of this campo life! We have learned so much about living close to nature from this culture! Bartering and gifting from harvest abundance is a lasting tradition here. There are very few foreigners in the area.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Current project:
Renovations of house
Future projects:
Complete cabaña
Finish chocolate factory/cafe
Build a massage and yoga studio
***Ideal workawayers are:***
-capable construction foreman- self-sufficient in carpentry, masonry, welding, and/or plumbing work
-conscious and responsible
-warm and kind
-Spanish speakers
-comfortable living in the jungle, with rain, mud, bugs, and wild critters
-active and physically healthy
-capable of outdoor work
-open to cultural exchange with neighbors who may stop by to visit
-satisfied with a slow and peaceful lifestyle on the farm and surrounding rivers, waterfalls, forests
-content to be 7km from Santa Fe town and 55km from the nearest city of Santiago: public transport and taxis are best modes of travel
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: FluentThis 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.
Accommodation
Bedroom in the house on comfortable mattress. Use of entire house: kitchen, bathroom, hot water.
What else ...
The farm borders the Rio Santa Maria, where we have many trails that lead to different swimming holes, each more beautiful than the last! There is also a sacred site of petroglyphs within a five minute walk. A ten minute walk in the other direction leads you to the Parque Nacional de Santa Fe, and endless river and rainforest exploration. From here, the trails into primary forest go all the way to the Caribbean coast in a couple days' hike.
A chiva (pickup with covered bed and bench seats) passes by the property every hour. It costs $1.50 one way to town and is more or less reliable. Taxis are available to go anywhere in the area, as well. For a weekend (or longer) trip to the Caribbean or Pacific beaches, buses leave from town and it only takes a few hours to get to a variety of beaches on either coastline!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
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