Beautiful permaculture farm surrounded by gorgeous mountains and jungle in Utuado, Puerto Rico

Details

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  Description

  Note: we generally cannot plan more than a month or two in advance so if your preferred start dates are more than 2 months in the future, please wait to contact us unless you are interested in a longer term stay with us of more than 2 months. Also, we usually give preference to people who are able to stay for a minimum of a month as we like to have continuity.
  
  Our place is a small farm set on 37 acres of rugged jungle terrain and sits at 2,200 - 2,600 foot elevation (average year-round temperature of 72F/22C degrees) in the south central mountains of Puerto Rico near the town of Utuado. We've been told that we have some of the best views and private hiking trails on the entire island. The farm used to be a coffee farm but had been neglected for many years. We are in the process of regenerating the property using syntropic and agroforestry principles and hope to develop the property into a small group retreat center. At the moment, we operate an bnb during our high season which is generally November through May. Our property is about 25 minutes drive time from the center of Utuado and situated at the top of a rugged road, so your opportunities to leave the property will be limited. Your social interaction will be limited, but we do have a lot of interesting guests from all over the world, and we do have some opportunities to go on excursions by ourselves or with guests. We also go to town once or twice a fortnight.
  
  Amenities/Benefits:
  - lots of fresh cultivated food and fruit in season including wild berries and other fruits and plants that grow wild in the jungle
  - fresh air and natural spring water
  - peace and tranquility
  - high speed internet (we do not have a TV)
  - opportunities to visit local swimming holes and waterfalls (some within minutes of our property)
  - opportunities for beach visits and some overnight beach trips
  - opportunity to learn and/or improve your Spanish
  
  Primary Duties:
  - cleaning and hospitality (depending on season)
  - gardening/permaculture/weeding
  - construction for those who are interested in carpentry or construction
  
  Where you'll sleep and eat:
  If you are with us during our bnb high season (Nov-May), you'll be sleeping under a tent or carport canopy either on a cot or hammock and we have a dedicated outdoor bathroom and shower facility. We cook and eat meals in the main house and provide a variety of healthy ingredients from both the farm and local stores.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  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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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The farm is quite isolated but you'll have opportunities to interact with our closest neighbors who speak very little English. You'll also have some opportunities to travel around Puerto Rico to visit other farms, beaches, and waterfalls/swimming holes.

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  Help

  Workawayers will help with:
  - clearing trails and hillsides with tools like a machete, weeding sickle, weed trimmer if you have experience.
  - general property maintenance
  - road maintenance (the road leading to the property is dirt and requires regular maintenance)
  - Creating terraces, paths and steps
  - planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables and fruit.
  - small DIY projects
  - specialty projects like solar and spring captivation
  - photography and videography
  - cleaning (maintaining common areas)
  - cooking (associated with any shared meals)
  
  Expectations
  - you'll generally be helping 4-5 hours/day 5 days a week. Schedule will vary depending on projects in progress, season, and weather.
  - we are looking for hard working person/s who don't mind physical tasks that can be hot and dirty at times. You'll be using a lot of hand tools like shovels, hoes, rakes, pick axes, etc. You'll be doing a lot of walking on steep roads and trails. Temperatures are fairly mild but you are going to sweat a lot because of the humidity.
  - our property is very steep with paths and roads criss-crossing the property... so you'll need to be fit in order to enjoy the full experience.
  - you'll need to be a good listener, follow instructions and work independently at times
  - we often start our day by 6:30-7:30 am to beat the mid-day heat. If you cannot rise and be ready for work early, then please do not apply.
  - we lead very busy lives and while we will like to socialize, there will be many times that we'll be focused on our own projects.
  - we recommend you have your own primary source of income from a part-time online job or other source. Some minimal compensation may be offered to those who are staying for an extended period.
  - we live a healthy lifestyle. No smoking or recreational drugs. Alcohol and fermented drinks in moderation are fine.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Arabic: Intermediate
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  We are slowly working on our Spanish language skills and improving every year. If you'd like to practice Spanish, we could learn together or you might have some opportunities to practice with the neighbors.
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  Accommodation

  Sleeping Arrangements:
  You'll likely be sleeping on a cot or in a hammock under a protected shelter/roof and you'll have close access to toilets and an indoor/outdoor shower.
  
  Food:
  We are personally flexitarian and eat a variety of foods. Very little of our food is harvested from our own property as we have yet to ramp up food production. However, we try to eat a variety of healthy non-processed foods as much as possible. You'll be preparing most of your own meals with ingredients that we provide but we'll also have family meals several times a week.

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  What else ...

  For additional details about the property and this workaway opportunity, please drop us a message.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  We are digital nomads ourselves and spend part of the day at our computers and part of the day working outside or exploring the surrounding trails and ridges. We have very reliable redundant internet connections along with some pleasant work spaces.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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