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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
16 Jan 2026
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100.0 %
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Details
Description
*Currently only looking for volunteers between Feb 10th and March 10th 2026*
We are a small farm perched on the Alpujarran mountains overlooking the Contraviesa winemaking region. We (Nina & Laura) bought the house and 2,6Ha property in June 2021 and live here with our very loving and energetic dogs, Frida & Tony, 3 very relaxed, independent cats and 5 chickens.
When we bought the place, 8000m2 was planted with mature lavender bushes but as they were around 15 years old they were reaching the end of their life. In their place we have planted upwards of 100 trees and shrubs to provide food but also shade and protection from the wind. In the long term we would love to create a lush food forest, inviting life back into the sun baked soil. We also have quite a few mature fruit trees in the garden and the small orchard that produce many tasty snacks. Mulberry, apple, pear, cherry, apricot, quince, madroño, pomegranate, kaki and about 25 fig trees 20 almond trees and 15 olives spread out over the property.
Our water comes from the springs of Trevelez, a beautiful area just north of us and is stored in a large communal alberca (reservoir). We are 100% solar powered and can do just about anything on the current system, just not all at the same time. All our toilets are dry composting and the grey water is re-used to irrigate the orchard and veggie garden. Because of this we, and anybody visiting us, can only use natural soaps and detergents and the least amount possible. We have a solar boiler for hot water which is backed up by a gas system so even if it gets cold in the winter, the shower will be hot! There is no central heating but the fireplace keeps the guesthouse nice and warm.
Because of our remote location we play host to the occasional family of wild boars, foxes, mountain goats, grouse, rabbits and a wide variety of creepy crawlers and flying insects as well as the occasional snake and scorpion. They mostly mind their own business so not anything to worry about but please be mindful of this if you do have allergies. If you have any deadly allergies, food or otherwise, you might want to reconsider coming as the nearest hospital is 1,5 hours away and you might have to be flown there by helicopter.
We both had careers in professional fine dining kitchens before moving out here but when balancing tiny leaves on tiny dishes for 15 hours a day got a bit old, we decided to ditch our chef whites and go follow our mutual dream of a permaculture farm in Spain. The love and passion for food has not changed, just the way we approach it. Food will always be an integral part of our lives and we are more than happy to share the knowledge. We pickle, ferment, bake, brew, forage and otherwise tinker a lot so feel free to join in and enjoy!
Our diet is mostly vegetarian and dairy free but occasionally we will indulge in some local cheese and a bit of fish. We eat lots of fruit and vegetables and also forage for wild food on site and in the area when we can. We pop open a bottle of local natural wine or a few beers from time to time but its definitely not a daily thing.
We can cater to most dietary needs or preferences but please let us know beforehand.
We learn new things every day and hope to keep doing so forever!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Interests
Events & social
LGBTQ
Sustainability
Pets
Self development
Movies & TV
Farming
Plant care
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Photography
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Writing
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Astronomy
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Camping
Mountain
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We hope to give back as much as you contribute. Before working in kitchens, we both ventured down many different paths. From journalism and yoga instructing to stage building, event production and hotel management, we've done a lot, collected a fair few skills and made enough mistakes to know we don't know everything and you can't do it all alone. We can teach you all we know and would love to learn from you and hear your story over a nice meal and share ours with you.
Help
Since we moved in we have renovated both houses, fancied up the pool and put down a stone patio, fixed the leaky reservoir, built a yurt with a private deck and outdoor bathroom, started a vegetable garden, did a lot landscaping in the big fields and around the house, transformed an old caravan into a tiny house, rebuilt the chicken coop and the garden shed, built a wood fired ceramics kiln and a wood fired bread oven, finished work on a feature/irrigation pond and lots lots more.
This February and March we are focusing on some long overdue projects. Alongside the daily chores we would like some help with:
- Prepping the land to plant a vineyard in the first week of march.
- Building a sheep pen for 2 sheep and a donkey we will be getting this spring.
- Building a fence around the whole property to keep the wild boar out.
- Cutting a set of stairs into the slope for better access.
Now and then we need to go to the city for a day or go away for the weekend and during those times, the animal care is left in the hands of the volunteers.
Ideally we would like to host a couple or a set of friends. Preferably with some building/landscaping/farming experience but in the end, attitude and commitment are equally as important.
We work around 5 hours a day, 5 days a week and take 2 days off. We usually take normal weekends but it may vary depending on weather. Breakfast is self service from the guesthouse kitchen that we keep stocked with all manner of breakfasty things. In the summer we start early (around 7AM) to beat the heat but in the winter we will be rising with the sun and starting at 9am.
We all have lunch together around 2pm and have dinner between 7 and 8. The afternoons and evenings are for everybody to do whatever they want. :)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Spanish: IntermediateThis 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
We have a guesthouse just 30m from the main house with two ensuite double bedrooms connected to a kitchen and living room with fireplace. We also have a 14ft yurt in the old orchard with a double bed (or 2 singles) private deck and outdoor shower and toilet. It has its own little wood stove that heats up the space very quickly.
There is a swimming pool in the garden for cool summer swims or the odd winter ice bath ;)
We have wifi connection in the main house that can be extended to the guesthouse living room but not to the bedrooms or the yurt. It's stable enough for most things but can be effected by rain storms or heavy clouds.
What else ...
There is not much in the way of entertainment in the area but there is a nice little bar in Lobras that opens on the weekends. Cadiar is a 25 minute drive away and has a few shops, bars and all the essentials. It's a quiet life here and there is lots of time and space for hiking, yoga, foraging, reading, lounging by / swimming in the pool, tinkering and playing with the pizza oven. Being able to entertain yourself is very important.
In terms of public transport, you can easily get the bus from Malaga or Granada to Torviscon, where we can pick you up.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
If you prefer to park up your camper, we have enough space and you can use the facilities in the house. There is not much in the way of shaded parking yet so be mindful of that if you are coming in summer.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
The chickens
Shere Khan, Devendra and Ram Dass (4 years)
Frida (4 years)
Tony (4 years)
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (4)
I was really enjoying my time there, because both are really nice and caring hosts. I also enjoyed the work, because I learned lots of new stuff and they are always open for requests in any way.
Outside the work is was also great, because I got the feeling to be… read more
We stayed for three weeks and worked hard for 5 hours a day during the week: we built a fence, shelves and a wall, helped set up the kitchen and the yurt, oiled some floors and painted the inside of the main house.
The… read more
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I was really enjoying my time there, because both are really nice and caring hosts. I also enjoyed the work, because I learned lots of new stuff and they are always open for requests in any way.
Outside the work is was also great, because I got the feeling to be… read more
We stayed for three weeks and worked hard for 5 hours a day during the week: we built a fence, shelves and a wall, helped set up the kitchen and the yurt, oiled some floors and painted the inside of the main house.
The… read more
Laura and Nina are absolutely wonderful - they are two warmhearted and strong human beings, who have amazing Visions and Projects, that you can be a part of. Both have many skills that they can share with you: from renovating,… read more
