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Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
92.6 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
89
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Details
Description
This is an off-grid project, access is by walking path only. The nearest (small) village is a thirty minute walk up the mountain from our valley. We are lucky to be surrounded by trees and running water, hidden in a cork oak forest with no immediate neighbours. It's an idyllic and peaceful place. We are creating a space where retreats and workshops can be held, and are also working to build a forest garden.
I used to be a software developer and later a massage therapist, before realising that I would rather live in a forest than a city or a village, and now I have the opportunity to do so whilst managing this beautiful project.
There are lots of mature trees, vines and bushes onsite, including orange, mandarin, lemon, fig, apple, pear, quince, avocado, pomegranate, peach, apricot, kiwi, plum, grape, cherry, khaki and olive. There are also edible mushrooms that grow wild onsite and in the surrounding area. We work with nature, helping build the soil and maintain a habitat for wildlife. There are many kinds of insects, birds and animals (including lizards, snakes, wild boar, foxes and badgers) in the area.
Our diet is vegan (staples are brown rice, potatoes, lentils, chickpeas and sunflower seeds) except for occasional local eggs. We eat lots of fresh fruit (whatever is in season here) and vegetables. We also forage for wild food onsite and in the surrounding area.
We have a solar electricity system, enough for all reasonable purposes - lights, device charging, power tools and kitchen appliances. We have solar hot showers and a washing machine. We have a home-built wood-fired sauna, right next to a large old stone water tank that also makes an excellent dipping pool in the summer.
I normally have 4-7 volunteers with me and I try to maintain gender balance. Men and women are treated equally here. There is no tolerance for sexism or macho attitudes.
Este es un proyecto sustentable, accesible sólo por sendero del bosque. El pueblo más cercano está a treinta minutos caminando de nuestro valle. Tenemos la suerte de estar rodeados de árboles y agua corriente, escondidos en un bosque de alcornoques. Es un lugar idílico y tranquilo. Estamos creando un espacio de retiro / taller y un jardín forestal.
En mi vida fui programador y después masajista, antes de darme cuenta de que preferiría vivir en el bosque, no en la ciudad, ni en el pueblo, y ahora tengo la oportunidad de hacerlo, mientras que manejo este proyecto bonito.
Ya hay muchos árboles maduros, enredaderas y arbustos, incluyendo naranjo, mandarino, limón, higuero, manzano, peral, membrillo, aguacate, granada, melocotón, albaricoque, kiwi, uvas, cereza, caqui y oliva. También hay algunos hongos comestibles que crecen silvestres en el lugar. Nos gusta trabajar con la naturaleza, ayudar a aumentar la vida del suelo y mantener un hábitat para la vida silvestre. Hay muchos tipos de insectos, pájaros y animales (incluso lagartijas, serpientes, jabalíes, zorros y tejones) en la zona.
Nuestra dieta es básicamente vegana (las comidas bases son arroz integral, patatas, lentejas, garbanzos y pipas de girasol), incluye muchas frutas frescas y verduras. De vez en cuando comemos huevos. También comemos alimentos silvestres que se encuentran en la finca y los alrededores.
Tenemos un sistema de electricidad solar, suficiente para luces, la carga de los dispositivos, herramientas eléctricas pequeñas y electrodomésticos de cocina. Tenemos dos duchas y una lavadora. Hay un gran y viejo tanque de agua (alberca) de piedra que hace una excelente piscina para Immersion. Al lado de la alberca, tenemos una sauna, hecho con adobe y caña.
Normalmente hay entre 4 y 7 voluntarios aquí, Mantengo una balanza entre hombres y mujeres, y tratamos todos iguales. No soportamos sexismo ni actitudes machistas.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I live here all year round, and have at least four volunteers at a time. Interests include permaculture, natural building and sustainable living, massage, gymnastics/calisthenics strength training, philosophy/politics/science/economics, and improving Spanish language skills. Also games, riddles and puzzles.
I can teach you how to do handstands and other bodyweight skills, as well as how to build and maintain strength, mobility and flexibility. In a former life I was a massage therapist, and I'm happy to share/teach those skills.
Please tell us about yourself in your response; why you would like to come and work with us, how long you’d like to stay (a range is fine), what relevant experience you have, and what you like to do with your free time. Include the phrase “plena naturaleza” in your subject line so I can be sure that you’ve read the profile. Thanks.
Vivo aqui todo el año, y tengo por lo menos cuatro voluntarios. Intereses incluyen la permacultura, construcción natural y la vida sustentable, política, económica, ciencia, filosofía, el masaje y el entrenamiento de fuerza de calistenia. Nos encanta mejorar nuestras habilidades en español.
Te puedo enseñar como hacer el pino y otras técnicas físicas,así como desarrollar fuerza, movilidad y flexibilidad. Era masajista, y también me gusta enseñar/compartir esas habilidades.
Por favor, cuéntanos sobre ti en tu respuesta; por qué te gustaría venir y trabajar con nosotros, cuánto tiempo deseas quedarte (un rango está bien), qué experiencia relevante tienes y qué te gusta hacer con tu tiempo libre. Incluye la frase "plena naturaleza" en tu mensaje para que yo pueda estar seguro de que has leído el perfil. Gracias.
Help
The routine activities here include; cooking, cleaning, watering, soaking and sprouting legumes/grains, making water kefir and kombucha, harvesting fruits and cultivated/wild plants, gathering and cutting firewood, composting, extracting clay from our soil, pruning, maintaining the fences and paths, bringing supplies down the mountain, and generally supporting one another. There will also always be pruning and soil-building work to do.
We are looking for volunteers that appreciate being in nature, and that genuinely enjoy a physically active lifestyle. The site is a 5 minute walk from the road along a steep mountain path, and you will probably walk at least a few kilometres a day just getting around the site.
We value open-mindedness, adaptability, the ability to question our entrenched beliefs, a problem-solving mindset, and clear, direct, non-violent communication (ala Marshall Rosenberg). Fairness, tidiness, efficiency and good organisation are also very important to us.
I give preference to volunteers who are available for stays of at least one month, less than that is really not enough time for a productive exchange - time passes very quickly here! So unless you have some very specific skills I am in need of at that time, it's unlikely that I will accept you for a stay shorter than one month. Thanks for your understanding.
Las actividades de rutina aquí incluyen; cocinar, limpiar, regar, brotar leguminosas, cosechar frutas y verduras, preparar leña, hacer compost/abono, extraer arcilla de nuestra tierra, podar los árboles, mantener las cercas y senderos, bajando cosas desde la carretera y generalmente apoyándonos unos a otros. También hace falta podar unos árboles y mejorar la tierra del huerto.
Estamos buscando voluntarios que aprecien estar en la naturaleza y que disfruten de un estilo de vida físicamente activo. El sitio se encuentra a 15 minutos a pie de la carretera a lo largo de un empinado sendero de la montaña, y es probable que usted camine al menos un par de kilómetros al día para moverse por el sitio.
Valoramos la mentalidad abierta, la adaptabilidad, la capacidad de cuestionar nuestras creencias, una mentalidad de resolución de problemas y una comunicación clara, directa y no violenta (de Marshall Rosenberg).
Doy preferencia a los voluntarios que están disponibles para estancias de al menos un mes, menos de eso realmente no es tiempo suficiente para un intercambio productivo: ¡el tiempo pasa muy rápido aquí!Entonces, a menos que tenga algunas habilidades muy específicas que necesito en ese momento, es poco probable que lo acepte para una estadía de menos de un mes.Gracias por su comprensión.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Greek: 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
Accommodation is in yurts with stoves, in one of our tents or your own tent on the land or possibly in the attic space of a building we have here if that is preferred.
El alojamiento es en yurtas con estufas, en una de mias, o su propia tienda de campaña o posiblemente en el espacio del ático de un edificio que tenemos aquí, si eso es lo que se prefiere.
What else ...
We are situated in a forest. There are lots of great walking paths from which the natural beauty of the area can be appreciated.
The nearest airports to us are Malaga and Gibraltar, and Ronda and Estepona are our nearest “big” cities.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (53)
The Genal Valley is so beautiful it would feel surreal and Jason keeps everything running so perfectly I think it sets the bar too high for other workaways.
I saw many volunteers come and go and all of them taught me such valuable things about life and I still talk… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)
The Genal Valley is so beautiful it would feel surreal and Jason keeps everything running so perfectly I think it sets the bar too high for other workaways.
I saw many volunteers come and go and all of them taught me such valuable things about life and I still talk… read more
Thank you again!
She was also a very positive member of the group from a social point of view, so I can recommend her on all accounts.
The place is very unique. It’s in the middle of a beautiful wild forest and I spend a lot of my days just watching the trees and listening to nature. To get to the next (tiny) village you will have to walk about 30min up the mountain. I… read more
The work was quite diverse, different tasks. Jason makes sure you don't do the same thing too long.
I wasn't sure if living off the grid would be something I would enjoy, but I LOVED it.
Jason is very organised but at the same time open to new ideas and open for change, which is… read more
She is also excellent company, the group dynamics were very… read more
On the one hand, I did not have the chance to meet… read more
When you are on this website there are the many awesome projects that are lots of fun and then there are the true gems where you feel like it's just too good to be true. This project is one of… read more
I felt fascinated by the atmosphere, from the moment i arrived at Baltazara.
In harmony with nature, peaceful and calm. A lot of work and "Herzblut" that's what this place is made off i would point out.
Jason and his wife are very kind persons, a pleasant company, with a huge knowledge. Very good… read more
For starters the location is spectacular, in a valley surrounded by tree covered mountains which feels detached from the outside world and allowed me to remember that I am part of nature. It is the kind of place I would usually go hiking but this time I got to stay.
The… read more
As a volunteer you live in a cosy yurt in the middle of nature. Our daily tasks consisted of gardening, planting, weeding, digging and watering. You can… read more
Jason is a great person who is always willing to teach you new things, discuss every topic in this world, challenge you with new crazy riddles and never says no to a game of hives. I… read more
I learnt what matters to me most in life, friendship, generosity, health, love and nature. This place showed me that. Praises to my good friends… read more
Three weeks pass very quickly here, we would have been happy for her to stay many more.
I would highly recommend going there. Whatever time you plan to spend there it is always going to be too short. I wish I could have stayed longer. Everyone there is so openhearted and lovely and I felt at home instantly.
He's also very sociable, joyous and full of entertaining stories. He brings a very positive life attitude with him and I would now consider him a friend, welcome back to my place… read more
The work was very varied and always rewarding, and it was great to work with our hands and to spend all morning outside. Finishing the work at 1.30 meant that… read more
The workday is organised, varied and more often than not, interesting and educational.
The property itself is stunningly raw and beautiful as are the surrounding areas and picturesque, quintessential Spanish mountain… read more
Aside from work, I really enjoyed his company. We would play… read more
Jason is a top host and the volunteers the place attracted were great, this exchange was the epitome of what Workaway stands for. There were only positive and… read more
I had a great time with the other volunteers as well, there's a lot of time that you can have for yourself. Go for a hike in the mountains which is amazing.… read more
The work is demanding at times; good if you enjoy physical work and there's plenty of it! I worked… read more
I was given the opportunity to work on different projects (making a greywater system for the… read more
Aparte de aprender mucho, tuvimos la oportunidad de proponer ideas y realizar los proyectos que nos parecieran más interesantes. Una experiencia muy enriquecedora. Jason, el host, es una persona súper amable, muy… read more
Jason and the rest of the group have been super kind with me and thoughtful. We worked on very interesting things and we also had some fun:)
I'll alway remember this experience, absolutely recommend, full of… read more
The location is unique as very cut off from normal civilisation, please… read more
Es un proyecto muy interesante y de gran potencial, Jason tiene muy claro lo que se debe realizar y… read more
Al though the way to the camp from the road is a bit tricky at first… read more
