Off grid finca permaculture, is looking for additional hands ,Costa Blanca, Spain

Details

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  Description

  ### In 2024 we are open only from September to December ###
  
  Our small off grid farm in the backyards of the Costa Blanca needs some more hands to establish and maintain a small scaled permaculture for self-sufficiency and provide a place for people seeking help in personal growth, natural therapies, meditational retreat and more. Our vision is to create a special yet simple "island" in nature where people are free to find themselves.
  
  We have opened our house to share it with like-minded people so we all can grow and learn together. It is great to get to know people, to share ideas and have inspiring discussions, to live and work together enjoying nice meals from all over the world. We are interested in sustainability, healthy food, healthy mind and different ways of living. We love to make our own bread, to grow our own vegetables and to learn how to use the wild plants growing around us.
  
  Our finca is secluded and surrounded by wilderness, around 2 km away from a lovely village we can see. The next neighbor is about 800 meters away. In 2017 we started to re-cultivate our farm and to refurbish the house. We are a couple, Brigitte 62 and Christoph 73 and live together with two dogs, three cats and a small chicken flock. We do not have a regular water supply. So we are depending on rainwater harvesting and produce our own solar-powered electricity. We own a bit more than 1 hectare of terraced land, still partly overgrown with pine trees and thorny shrubs. We live in a wonderful area for walks in the mountains; the beach is about 45 min drives away, Valencia and Alicante 100km.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  It is not all about work, it is about putting together ideas, creating plans and the feeling that the place is '(y)ours'. There will be no outright instructions but guidance, coordination and creating together. If you want we can teach you german. And we like to improve our spanish ;-)
  
  The area has a lot of history and the valley consists of many small villages which want to be discovered. We can show you some pre-historic sites as well as we can do stunning walks into steep barrancos (dry river beds), carved into the limestone.
  
  Your learning opportunities? Just dive into this area, into a simple yet rich life and soak in all those information you can use. We hope we can teach you few things and techniques, give you some hints how to improve your life (if you want) and we are hoping to get some ideas from you. You have the chance to leave your positive lasting footprint on this lovely piece of land!

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  Help

  Building in and at the house (nearly done) and stables, clearing out the plot, building water catchment areas, designing and doing (!) permaculture, trimming olive trees, planting new trees, gardening, weeding, planting and harvesting vegetables, building outdoor kitchen and shower, a second compost-toilet (one is working), maintain stone walls of terraces, build a wind power system and other things. Don't be afraid: even a weak person without manual experiences however with an open mind can learn and do many things here!
  
  You are welcome to add your ideas, knowledge and experiences to ours. We know and can teach you a lot but not everything, and we hope that you will share your knowledge with us. Inventing and experimenting with "crazy" ideas is welcome.
  
  You should bring with you: strong working boots and cloths which may get dirty as we do not have a smooth green land here ;-)). A torch is essential and depending of the time of the year a warm jacket and something against rain.
  We will give you towels, bed sheets and soap for the shower (because the water is reused in the compost toilet and worms do not like perfume or chemicals).

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

  This 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.
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  Accommodation

  Two caravan with two beds each are available. A seperate room for one person or a couple. An open air bathroom is attached to our house within a distance to the accomodations. Simple conditions refering to limited electricity, internet and water!!!!!
  
  We share the work and so we share the meals. Vegetarian meals are possible if needed. We eat some meat and fish but not so often. We are non-smokers however you may smoke outside the house. Sometimes we enjoy the local wine and you are welcome to join our lives. Limited WIFI is here, however no TV.
  
  We kindly ask you to plan a stay with us of at least 4 - 6 weeks.
  Just getting to know each other takes a few days and getting to know the farm and our work takes a few days more ;-)). So we expect from you some form of commitment and a real interest in gardening, permaculture, self-sufficiency and living together in community.
  
  Of course, longer stays here are also possible - just ask us.

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  What else ...

  In exchange for food and accommodation, we expect you to help us in the farm/house/garden 4-5 hours a day with a break , 5 days a week. We try to have a proper time planning however, sometimes we have to finish a work because of weather conditions - that's farm life.
  We live in a secluded and quiet rural place in the 'middle of nowhere' - so parties and discos are not around the corner ;-).
  You should be able to cope with this situation, as you will experience a time without the noises and distractions of a town. Our place is ideal for sitting out in the sun or in the shade of a tree to read, to meditate or just relax and listen to nature's sounds!
  
  The nearest village is 2km away and we can lend you our bike. Climbing/ hiking routes are available from the house or close-by. To reach the beach or the bigger cities you have to use public transport (we will bring you to the bus stop). You are welcome to accompany us for shopping, trips and other activities.
  
  Access: from Valencia Airport is a bus southwards to Dénia, from Alicante Airport is a bus to Calpe. These are the locations where we will pick you up.

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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 possibly accept pets

  Pets should be educated to adapt easily to new situations and our existing pets and livestock

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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