Immerse in nature and experience super adobe building off grid in El Nanchal, Oaxaca, Mexico

Details

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  Description

  Hola y Namaste Amigos!
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Update as of June15th:
  Rainy season is upon us and with it all the plants are green and alive yet it comes all the bugs and mold! It's hot and humid! The storms can be sudden and fierce here so please be prepared for that if you plan to work here. Bring bug repellent for yourself. And rain gear.
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  Thanks for taking the time to read this, friends!
  This is my 1st time using Workaway and I am so honored to you host you on my land!
  
  My name is Karuna. Kristen is my legal name, which I used to verify my identity here. But PLEASE call me Karuna.
  
  I moved to some land I bought in a VERY rural area, in February 2024, just 30 minutes south of Puerto Escondido, 45 minutes north of Mazunte, less than 10 minutes from Playa Agua Blanca, in the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico.
  
  My vision is to gather commUNITY to help me put in the infrastructure needed and build with super adobe; walls, cistern, bio-pool, a super adobe hŌMe and Ayurvedic Healing Sanctuary on 2 different lots that are on the same block in a new neighborhood that has never been developed. I'm the only one living here currently. So it's VERY isolated, quiet + peaceful! The stars are amazing here! Sometimes, you can hear the waves crashing when they're big! At night the crickets are very loud!
  
  I am having a well dug, but that project is currently on hold. I have 2 water tanks set up and an outdoor bathtub for your use. There is a solar camp shower as well.
  
  I have some chickens in a coop that I built. I'm slowly adding more hens to the brood.
  
  I've had a casita built! It feels great to have shelter from the sun and rain (during rainy season)! It's a covered space where I offer Ayurvedic healing treatments, and it has an outdoor kitchen / living space! I screened it all in so it's a bug free zone! I've installed a fan that runs on a silent power generator, so this will provide much needed relief from the heat! You can also charge your devices there.
  
  I've expanded the kitchen outdoors and built a traditional cob oven that woks great! Many pizza nights have been had already!
  
  There is a dry toilet. I finished building walls from carrizo (reeds) and the roof is now on!
  
  I need help with setting up a solar system, gray water irrigation system, gardening, permaculture, design, and SUPER ADOBE building. I plan to grow an organic garden, water harvest, and use solar energy. But I need help creating this. I am looking for people with solar, building and permaculture skills.
  
  We've started building my super adobe house! The 2nd level is almost done already! Ramon Diaz from @rad.superadobe is the super adobe builder currently living on my land, leading this project. You can take advantage of learning how to build with the earth in this process while he is here.
  
  If you have interest in camping in the tents provided or bringing your camper van / RV, you are welcome to live here for free in exchange for 5 hours of work per day. I now have a generator that you can plug your RV into!
  
  You will have 2 days off per week also.
  
  I am currently living in my RV. I'm a longtime Yoga instructor (25+ years), Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Panchakarma + Ayurvedic Bodywork Specialist, as well as an ArŌMaTherapist. I have an online health + wellness business and mobile spa and apothecary here. There's a good chance you will benefit from all of this! Ha!
  
  I have Starlink internet which works when the sun powers my solar system. You are welcome to use it when it's on. I have great wifi service here but no cell phone service. WiFi hours are usually 8-5pm.
  
  I rescued some animals, a boy cat named Bunny, a Rooster, Rani, a hen, Cleo and 2 boy dogs, Bruno and Valentino. Balam, means jaguar in Maya. This baby kitten stumbled like a drunkard in front of my car at barely a month old on September 16th 2024, on Mexican Independence DAY! Lua, is adding herself to our pack. She was pregnant and starving so I've been feeding her for the last few months. And I'm taking care of Poes, my friend's gatita while they are in Europe for the summer.
  
  I am looking for people that are willing to:
  ~ live off grid in the elements
  ~ work hard
  ~clean up after themselves
  ~be positive + friendly
  ~communicate clearly
  ~be mature + Independent
  ~take responsibility for themselves
  ~be conscious + mindful of others
  ~work well with others
  
  Thank you so much for considering volunteering with me!
  I look forward to meeting + hosting you!
  with love,
  Karuna
  ❤️🕉️🌿
  
  Helpful Tips for Getting Around from my Land:
  1. You can get numbers from the taxis drivers, or use the colectivos and buses to travel around the area.
  
  2. It takes about a half hour to walk from my land to the highway entrance to Santa Elena El Tule. (Where the taxis are.)
  It's about 1 hour walk to Playa Agua Blanca.
  
  3. It's about a 10 minute drive from my place to Playa Agua Blanca. (depending on the road conditions)
  
  4. Rainy season here is June - October. Please bring what you need to cool and dry.
  
  5. November / December are the best months to be here.
  
  6. January - May are very dry, hot months.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Van life

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Architecture

  

  Art & design

  

  Plant care

  

  History

  

  Books

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Beach
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You have the opportunity to live in Mexico, close to the coast, immersed in nature! It's like a retreat here! You can slow down.
  
  Puerto Escondido is only a half hour drive, Mazunte and Zipolite, are about 45 -50 minutes away, respectively and the closest beach (Playa Agua Blanca) is less than 10 minute drive!
  
  There are countless things to do in this area.
  
  Learn and practice Spanish, Yoga, Natural remedies and Ayurvedic Self Care practices!
  
  Share your skills, and receive some Ayurvedic treatments or remedies!

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  Help

  I am looking for motivated, independent, skilled people with good communication skills to help with digging foundation trenches for the super adobe structures and wall, odd and small building projects, permaculture, design, clearing the land, composting, planting an organic garden, building super adobes, woodworking, plumbing.
  
  Please be kind, mindful, respect others, pick up after yourself and do your own dishes.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I would love to become fluent in Spanish! If you are fluent in Spanish that is a bonus!
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  Accommodation

  Cozy tents with a thin mattress, bedding and pillow.
  Drive your RV / VAN up and call this home while you help me build super adobes!

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  What else ...

  There is so much to do nearby!
  It's a pretty remote area. It takes about a half hour to walk to the entrance to the highway (carretera) in Santa Elena.
  From there, you can grab a bus, taxi, colectivo or a Delfines (AC vans) to where ever you want to go; the beach, Puerto Escondido (30 mins north), Mazunte (Boho town, 45mins south), Zipolite (50 mins south / Nude beaches), Pochutla, (50 mins south) cultural and artists mercados, festivals, a mezcal or tequila tour, bio-luminescence, turtle preserve, turtle or whale watching (seasonal), surfing, swimming, water sports, fishing, boating, Oaxaca City (new highway opened and it's now only a 3 hour drive), exploring, hiking, waterfalls, rivers and more!
  
  You are welcome to come with me to town whenever I go.

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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

  You will have internet access via Starlink when the solar power is on. Wifi hours are usually 9-4pm. Sunny ☀️ days only.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is room to park your RV / Trailer! I have water but no dump. However, I have a generator so you can plug your RV in and get some power!

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Poes

  I’m taking care of Poes for 3 months while her caregivers are away in Europe during rainy season!
  
  She’s a LOVER! She loves to be petted and will purr away! But she and Bunny hate each other! So we try to keep them separate so they don’t fight!
  
  She’s a month younger than Balam so those two are like 2 peas in a pod and love each other!

  

  Cleo (1 year)

  Cleo is the only remaining chick n from a group of 6 chicks i bought last year! They were growing strong and laying eggs but then a few months ago they died servers weeks to months apart! I don’t know why! These are my first chickens! So I’m learning!
  
  Cleo is an egg eater! She’s going to be someone’s dinner soon, I think 🤔

  

  Ronaldo aka Rani

  I rescued Rani from being killed by 2 dogs when he was just teenager! He was bitten and his wing and leg were broken. But I nursed him back to health when I was living in San Pancho. A month and half later , I found out he was a neighbors rooster! They wanted him back! So I gave him back. The next year I lived in the same place and rescued him AGAIN from being killed by 2 different dogs! At this point he would run to me every morning to hang out and wouldn’t go home until dark! I was moving here to my land so I asked my neighbor if I could have him! He said yes and I bought a bird cage and drove him across Mexico with Bunny who was my only animal at the time! He used to free range now he’s angry with me because I keep him in. A large coop with Cleo, the hen! He’s a Silkie and very special!

  

  Lua Wiley

  Lua was a local street dog who forced herself into our pack! Bruno and Valentino brought her home one day and she never wanted to leave! She’s been having out with us for the last 3 months. She’s loca! She’s Wiley and crazy eyed and won’t let anyone touch her yet! She won’t even eat fresh meat out of my hand! She must have been very abused by people. When she arrived she was pregnant. She had her pups somewhere I can’t find, sadly! So here she is, crazy, wanting to play and be loved but not quite sure how to handle it yet! At least now we can look her in the eyes! 😝🙏🏽

  

  Valentino

  Valentino arrived with his buddy Bruno from the mountains of Oaxaca. He was neglected and had a chain around his neck which left him with a collapsed throat so he sometimes has coughing fits. There’s also a scar there where no fur has regrown yet. He’s a huge lover and would sit in your lap all day if you let him! He walks around like Eeyore but don’t let him fool you! He’s a very happy boy!

  

  Bruno

  Bruno came to me with his buddy Valentino. He was really abused and neglected by his previous owner who only fed him plantains as he was tied to a short chain. Now he’s a happy, loving boy, eager to give and receive love! He’s sneaky though!

  

  Balam (10 months)

  Balam walked in front of my car when he was 1 month old. He was alone, looked hungry and haggard so I asked ok him home!

  

  Bunny, he’s a boy! (5 years)

  I adopted Bunny in Los Barilles, Baja in 2021

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