Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
23 Feb 2024
Reply rate
93.8 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
3
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Details
Description
We are starting a Riverbed redevelopment project. There has been chronic mismanagement of the river system since the reconquesidores, 500 years ago! Los Alpujarras were the green jewel of Arabia, a cultural verdant melting pot. Modern monoculture farming and short sighted greed capitalism are turning this green paradise into a desert. Luckily, there’s lots of likeminded people who can see the damage being done and are prepared to try to reverse the trend. Our community want to ensure the valley stays a green paradise. We have successfully fought and won illegal quarrying and entubing the of the ancient water channels (they tried to steal the irrigation water to feed the golf courses on the coast!) Now we want her back to her original glory. Starting on ours, then the neighbours all the way down the valley. We want to recreate & maintain ancient systems for irrigation channels. Many people lost a lot of their land in the last floods, which were in part due to the mismanagement and neglect of the river. Our plan so far is; Erosion minimisation, planting vetiver and replanting the area with local flora and rebuilding flood walls.
The valley used to be a self sufficient community, producing everything for several families (they even had cows before the big fires in the 70s). We need help replanting, especially trees suited to this environment. There are too many avocado farms being installed in a drought riven area. Ancient olives, some hundreds of years old, are being replaced by cash crops. We want to replant with the naturally occurring trees (olive, almond, carob walnut, mulberry.) There’s been millennia of production here, the land and water are available, as long as we return to living in harmony with the earth, not plundering it.
We also want to create a safe space for art and music. We´ve been holding events on this land and in this area for over 20 years and the communal areas need some TLC. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in this area, including open mic nights, dance classes, and many workshops.
We aim to be mostly self sufficient space, so helpers will be able to learn about low impact, off grid living, alternative technologies, permaculture planning and gardening and recreating a zero net carbon homestead., as the ancients of this area strove to do.
We are part of a self sufficient community, so helpers will also be able to build & strengthen the community, which we wish to leave as a functioning off grid haven for the next generation
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We specialise in gluten free and vegan delights but are also omnivores so can cater for everyone. We are complete foodies and love showing people how to cook our favourite dishes. We often put on a pop up restaurant so helpers are invited to join in with the meal preparation if they wish.
We are trying to create a off grid, self sufficient finca in a valley that has been known throughout history to be very independent. We can provide walking tours of the area with our donkeys, detailing the history and give herb and plant tours. This area has been settled for millennia, and there is a wealth of history from the Romans, through the Moors and the Spanish civil war. In our valley alone, there are many cultural and community-building events, but there are even more within the local town.
This area caters to every need you could imagine. We ideally situated within an hour of the sea and the snowy mountains. We are close enough to the town to walk, cycle or drive in but far enough away to be rural and quiet. This is an amazing place to raise a family (there are many alternative schools and a midwifery school) or to relax, study, go to retreats, walk, hike, swim or party! You name it, it´s here.
Help
After a long, hot summer, we are returning to working on the land, to get this project rolling again.
We have 5 main projects to complete in November - each of them is part of the plan to start the proper albeca (water storage pool) at all built in January and February. Our land suffered terribly this summer, due to lack of water. Our temporary alberca didn´t last long at all before breaking! But we have been researching ALOT more about regreening the desert and ways to make the optimum use of the water.
We have a 4 week plan for November and are hoping to find 4 willing workers who can be with us for the whole month. The minimum we will accept is a 2 week stay, due to the carry over of projects. We have 2 spaces for either couples or good friends, plus bell tents for individuals if travelling solo.
We are looking for helpers to come on the 5th November until the 2nd December.
Part of every work day will be spent collecting sustainable building materials from the local area. We aim to follow in the footsteps of the ancestors, using traditional building materials and techniques and aided by our 2 donkeys.
Sundays are our watering day, so every Sunday will be spent in the garden, watering, weeding, planting and creating a new and improved vegetable patch, using various permaculture design techniques.
Our 5 projects are ;
Week 1: Finish the roof on the guest caravan and build the chicken and duck house.
Week 2: Complete and beautify the communal shower area, installing the solar water and power systems.
Week 3: Expanding the workshop and organising the space ready for the big build.
Week 4: Digging and lining the water channels, ready for the alberca.
We will work 4 half days per week, and 2 days a week visiting and participating in the local markets (optional for guests) and 1 day of no work for guests.
We are also hoping to host some workshops on the finca, but these are to be confirmed.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
My partner has been teaching English for 12 years and is more than happy to help We both speak some Spanish but are happy to have language exchanges to learn more!
Accommodation
We have a caravan and campervan for volunteers or we have park up space for live-in vehicles or space for tents.
There are basic amenities ( gravity fed shower, compost toilet, solar system) mobile phone coverage is great, in fact better than wifi!
We would like visitors to commit to the minimum of 2 weeks. Longer-term visitors are welcome, but with a trial period to ensure we all get along. In the future, we are hoping that the right person or people will eventually visit who would like to be involved more long term. As we are getting older, we will need more help.
What else ...
We are a vibrant, off grid, multi-national community within walking distance of Orgiva, capital of the Alpujarras. This area caters to every need you could imagine, literally! We are ideally situated within an hour of the sea and the snowy mountains. We are close enough to the town to walk, cycle or drive in but far enough away to be rural and quiet. This is an amazing place to raise a family (there are many alternative schools and a midwifery school) or to relax, study, go to retreats, walk, hike, swim or party! You name it, it´s here
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
As we are in the mountains, the WiFi can be sporadic if it is very windy or cloudy as all the internet in the valley is on a line of sight antennae. We found that we get better signal using our phones as hotspots and we are happy to share this, within reason (no big uploading or downloading) There is a co-working space in the town however, or we recommend getting a digimobil sim if you plan on staying in Spain for any length of time
Space for parking camper vans
As we are off grid, we cannot supply electric hook up, so campers will have to be self sufficient. There is a compost toilet on the land, however, if you wish to empty your chemical toilet or refill your water tanks, there is a campervan site especially for this in the local town.
Can possibly accept pets
We have several dogs and cats here so cannot accept aggressive male dogs or ones that hunt. However, well behaved animals are more than welcome
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 4 days a week
Feedback (1)
He is a hard worker and always tries to give 110%. He has been an amazing helper and really moved our project on. He is a conscientious worker, with presence of mind and intelligence to ask for clarity when needed. He´s great because if he´s given a task, he can slog away at it until it´s… read more
I'm just going to get the point with the positives and then give my 2 cents about who I think fits here and who doesn't.
Clarabella is an amazing vegan chef (Will share any recipe with great enthusiasm) and a good host who tries to make sure you have anything you need.
The work was around… read more
She tries her hand at any task and always gives her best. She´s helpful and kind and she will give her point of view in a clear, concise and honest way.
We cannot recommend her enough.
By the way, peanut butter is… read more
Feedback
He is a hard worker and always tries to give 110%. He has been an amazing helper and really moved our project on. He is a conscientious worker, with presence of mind and intelligence to ask for clarity when needed. He´s great because if he´s given a task, he can slog away at it until it´s… read more
I'm just going to get the point with the positives and then give my 2 cents about who I think fits here and who doesn't.
Clarabella is an amazing vegan chef (Will share any recipe with great enthusiasm) and a good host who tries to make sure you have anything you need.
The work was around… read more
She tries her hand at any task and always gives her best. She´s helpful and kind and she will give her point of view in a clear, concise and honest way.
We cannot recommend her enough.
By the way, peanut butter is… read more
