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Come to a cave house finca, help restore an almazara, help with food garden, donkey and dogs, near Guadix, Andalucia, Spain

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  • Last activity: 18 Apr 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    ******Thank you for reading our profile to the end before answering

    NEXT BIG JOBS:
    REFURBISHING THE POOL READY FOR SUMMER

    PLANTING UP THE VEG GARDEN

    INSTALLING SOLAR WATER PANELS

    • WE ARE OPEN TO SHORT STAY GUESTS, FOR SURE, BUT WE HOPE ESPECIALLY FOR A FEW LONG TERM GUESTS, AFTER A PERIOD OF MAINLY SHORT STAYS, WE NEED A COMMITTED TEAM THAT WILL TREAT THE ALMAZARA LIKE THEIR HOME FOR A WHILE. LIVING VEHICLES WITH FAMILIES ALSO MORE THAN WELCOME!

    PEOPLE
    We are a 4 generation family of 8 people
    The oldest: 97 years
    The youngest: 3 years

    We are British Italian and Salvadorian, but living by choice in Andalucía.

    Giuseppina: my mother in law
    Frank: partner
    Me: Clare
    Sam: son
    Chilli: daughter
    Susi: her daughter
    Noé: my son in law
    Bryan: his adopted brother

    We usually have about 4-6 guests helping us here at any time.

    THE LITTLE FINCA
    We live on the edge of the Gorafe desert in a little "oasis" of vegas. We have 2 cavehouses, an old almazara (olive mill), a big food garden, . a woodland, a camping area, a few grazing areas and a chicken run. Oh and a huge old swimming pool which acts as a reservoir for the agricultural water, which comes from a spring through a system arranged by the former inhabitants of this area of Arabic heritage from north Africa.

    PROJECT
    To bring the buildings gradually back into use as a home, a guest accommodation for volunteers, perhaps a bunkhouse for hiker's and bikers, a teaching space for courses and even maybe a performance space.

    To nurture a food garden using a variety of disciplines that work in dry hot climates, using organic and non exploitative methods.

    To bring human life back into these depopulated areas of Spain.

    To enjoy life and hopefully encourage others to choose this area to settle and make life nice for people who come to stay with us.

    S.T.O.P. P.R.E.S.S.

    1. A birth is due in September so we will not be accepting any new guests then, and only a few in July and August. At this time we can only accommodate mature, discrete people either with their own living vehicle or who have been with us for a period of time before and we feel we know well.

    2. We have a donkey, a neighbour gave her to us, he was getting a bit frail to care for her and lead her her out as he used to.
    .

    We bought the property in June 2018, after searching for four years to find “the right place” this place is much more complex than we anticipated and needs a lot more work than we had planned, but if you come you will see why, when we found it, we made a very fast decision to buy it! It seems very special to us, and we love to share it’s strange, harsh magic. We partly moved there Oct 2018, and have completed the process in Jan 2020

    There is limited public transport local to the house, one bus morning one bus 06.45h returns around 1600h in the afternoon, and we will always give a lift if we can.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Elderly Companionship
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Learn about cave dwelling, join in the village life, engagement is strongly recommended.

    You can learn English and Spanish of course, from various members of the household, and the neighbours and maybe a little (Neapolitan) Italian from Josie the grandma. Learn together with us…we are novices too…or share knowledge about simple building techniques including the use of yeso and the unique qualities of cave houses…

    The wider area, also known as the Altiplano de Granada has plenty of history, stronghold of the Moorish Kingdom of El Andaluz, and last part to fall to the Christian conquerors. There are widespread and very visible signs of the Mesolithic culture that flourished here, and remains from settlements of some of the earliest known hominids in Europe nearby at Orce too! Have a look on Wikipedia!

    There's the wonderful lake, Pantano de Negratín, hot springs, even a hot waterfall! Cool mountains, hot desert, and tapas free with every beer or wine in the little bars in the villages.

    However, beyond all that, there is the warm hospitality of everyone in the area. Of course, foreigners are to be observed and to be gossiped about, and present a curiosity. But mostly there is genuine happiness to meet you and you will quickly immerse into village life if you are accepting.

    We have had the privilege to create life long friendships with many of our volunteers, and they have made great lasting friendships with each other too.

    While volunteering with us, you'll have the opportunity to see an amazing part of Spain. If this all sounds appealing then please send me a message.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    Main manual tasks:

    NOW

    1. Planting crops of common vegetables, weed and generally take care of the food garden

    2. Help with donkey and dogs

    3. Stabilise the steep bank near swimming pool. Build retaining wall.

    4. Refurbish swimming pool

    5. Install a solar water heater. Eventually we aim to have solar panels and batteries, we need to plan infrastructure and installation and would welcome help with this.

    6. Several areas of the olive mill courtyard wall is crumbling. Big job there! And needs an army!!

    POSSIBLY IF THE RIGHT PERSON COMES!

    7. Bicycle maintenance...I have acquired a medley of old bikes and need a handy help keeping them safe

    8. Lots of fiddly little maintenance jobs :plumbing,, painting, compost duty, carpentry, finishing unfinished bits of work ... All the usual things on a big place

    And last but not least, Joining in and adding to village life.
    Make life joyful for all you meet.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    We have 3 fluent Spanish speakers, one competent Spanish second language speaker, 3 others with various levels of incompetence. We incompetent Spanish speakers want to learn more. The elder speaks Neopolitan Italian, and all of us speak English.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Quite a substantial part of both houses consists of cave, which is a very different way of living, but wonderfully cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There are some out-built parts, these are hot in summer and COLD in winter (unless heated). Everything is rather basic - comfortable but not stylish!

    The Workaway guests have their own shared space in the old chapel, again a bit primitive, it's like a dormitory, there's a area to relax with sofas and there's 2 bathrooms shared with the family, electricity and wifi

    There's tents and hammocks to relax outside, and a west facing covered patio behind the almazara for beautiful sunsets... and all things evolve e.g. in the past we set up a small performance stage!

    The food is vegetarian or vegan. We do not use meat in this house. All family members are various degrees of vegetarian or full vegan.

    We make porridge and toast for communal breakfast, there's a a snack time late morning and a late lunch Spanish style. It's a communal meal which will always be simple but plentiful. In the evening we don't eat much nor do we provide an arranged evening meal. There is the opportunity to make a sandwich or use any left overs from lunch.

    I'm not good with fussy eaters and don't welcome people who want to eat differently and separately. I have a very small kitchen so like to keep it clear of too much traffic. I also take a moral stance on reducing consumption of animal products and eating junk food so don't want it around me, my house or my grandchild.

    My daughter and I used to run a festival café together so we are not bad cooks. We have a strict budget by necessity but always provide enough protein, carbs, lots of olive oil and work to make sure there's enough vitamins and minerals present in the diet

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Come to the Altiplano de Granada!

    The 2 local towns in the area have theatres, cinemas, clubs, museums, shopping as well as the aforementioned history. Granada is the regional capital and is elegant and we are blessed with all amenities you would expect in such a place. There are direct buses from Baza, Guadix and Granada to all major cities’ airports in Spain. Granada has an airport, and Málaga has flights to all parts of Europe and some intercontinental flights too. Málaga is 2.5hrs drive away, or 4 to 5 hrs on the bus network.

    Enjoy the desert the Geoparque, Parque Megalithica, the Pantano Negratín, the hot springs in the woods, the mountains and the beautiful sky.

    Enjoy the tapas culture.

    Now they have started again, join in the many fiestas and ferias in the villages nearby...

    See cave houses, with the natural temperature control, warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer.. and ramble round the strange troglodyte villages which are all around.

    Public transport exists but better from the big towns I'm sure everyone will co operate with lifts to connect to public transport to go places on your days off.

    Bicycles are also available. But some need mending!

    If you read the feedbacks below, you might be confused, because in summer, until this year many of my WorkAway guests helped me run festivals. So will mention that.

    BIG WARNINGS!
    1. SMOKING, DRUGS, ALCOHOL

    Please... I don't welcome smokers.... I don't like smoking in the house and grounds my partner is in a fragile battle with nicotine, and having other smokers in the group is really bad for his rather feeble willpower! REMEMBER this is a dry area. Fires start easily.

    One strike and you are out with any illegal drugs. I have had enough of people using my place to get wasted, fraternising with all the semi criminal elements in the area and drawing the wrong attention to us.

    Drinking alcohol is only tolerated at fiesta and social occasions. No weekday drinking, and no habitual drinkers, and at weekends no drinking to the point of rowdiness and inebriation. We are trying to raise a family here and do not want this type of life around children. It's also been the vector for destruction, minor accidents and naughty behaviour. So it's now not an option.

    2. FIRES
    No campfires or barbeques, if a fire started it would devastate the area and we would never be welcome back. This is no small matter. Don't leave bottles or drinks glasses abandoned that could focus the sun, the same warning for prescription spectacles. Fire is feared above all else

    3. WATER
    Water is scarce and expensive. Please be sensible about short showers, pausing the flow while you soap and shampoo. Washing machine only use when full, and on short cycle
    Flush the loo only when it's solids, not for pee, unless many have accumulated!
    Watch out for dripping taps, leaks and reuse as much as you can to water the garden.
    Water the geraniums, they repel mosquitos

    4. DRAINS
    don't put paper down the toilet anywhere in Spain. There is always a bin provided. There are times when it's nicer to flush the paper, and in these odd occasions, I'm sure it's fine.

    5. RUBBISH
    There is no house to house rubbish collection, so take your rubbish to the bin and recycle skip in the village. Avoid too much packaging.

    6. ELECTRICITY
    The tariff is CRAZY high and varies throughout the day. Please get familiar with the cheap times and use greedy appliances only then. We are on a very low feed of 3.3kw so go easy and be thoughtful I if the washing machine is on its a good thing we heat a kettle by gas!

    7. The food is vegan or vegetarian, we do not provide meat, and do not tolerate it in the kitchens.

    8. SMILE!

    To show you have read this, please mention "Almazara" in your reply, to show you have read to the end.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We are cautious about the really big motorhomes with a long chassis overhanging the back wheels as there is a steep dry riverbed to negotiate to get to out place. But small campers and van conversions will be fine.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    We can accept a dog only if it is sociable with other dogs, and if you are in a living vehicle not in the house I think our dogs might be too much for a visiting dog Not cats our dogs are hunters by nature and can kill cats

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    4 or 5 hours per day or 25 hours per week, 2 days off per week (usually weekends), must be flexible to fit in with other household needs

Host ref number: 647855692517

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