Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Reply rate
98.3 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
41
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hello Workawayers!
My name is Teresa (Tere) and I own a small plot of land around 1 hour from the city of Cochabamba near the municipality of San Benito. I bought this land in 1995 and have worked for a long time now, together with many Workawayers as well, to make it a small green oasis with different fruit trees (for example cherries, peaches, apples, walnuts). Especially Olive trees and Aloe vera plants feature prominently on the farm. There is also a fenced in garden as well as a small greenhouse, where we mainly grow vegetables and tropical plants respectively. We also have quite some animals on the farm: seven cats, three dogs, around 20 chicken in three chicken houses and three free roaming lamas! We also produce our own honey with currently three beehives, one more to be installed soon. At times my children, Natalia and Sergio, who are at the moment studying abroad, are staying at the farm as well.
I am currently working 4 days a week from home for a certification body for organic and fair trade products. During the week you will be working mostly on your own and from Friday to Sunday we would be tackling projects together. For this reason I would be happy if you took your free days during the week.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
True rural Cochabamba experience, the food, the language, and the countryside with a clear vision of organic production. We are happy to provide new insights into the culture of our country and will most likely also visit the nearby market town of Punata together.
Help
The work varies widely depening on the season that you are visiting us in. We usually need help with the olives, apples and other trees. We have to attend the parcels and prepare the soil (e.g. putting fertilizer, rearrange the dripping irrigation system), control the weeds (the main task almost all over the year), a bit of gardening (e.g. planting new vegetables or flowers) and to prune/rake the acacia "forest". Also our fences continuously are in need of improvements and repairs. During harvesting season we usually require help with harvesting the different crops.
In general there is always a multitude of building, beautification and construction projects going on where we value creative input. If you would like to, there is the opportunity to teach English (no native level English needed) to interested local children of the community.
The hens and the lamas need attention the whole year, the pets also like to have some extra care.
We intend to build an even bigger green-house soon. For this project we are looking for helpers with some construction experience. We also have always projects that generally require some woodworking skills.
If you have experience with...
1) rain water harvesting
2) renewable energy (especially with planning and installing photovoltaic panels and solar thermal energy)
3) constructing a dry toilet
4) automatization of drip irrigation systems
5) restauration projects
... we would be especially happy to receive you and realize one of those projects together! Naturally knowledge in these areas is no requirement for hosting you, so do not feel intimated to write us if, even if you do not have experience in those areas.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: 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
You will be sleeping in one huge bedroom (double bed and single bed available) with your own bathroom and well equipped kitchen (see pictures). You will have great mountain views.
Fast WiFi (2,4 and 5G), hot shower and washing machine available 24/7.
We generally eat lunch together (and we are happy if you share occasionally your local cuisine with us). Breakfast and dinner you will normally prepare by yourself for yourself. Fridge and pantry full of the basics (no meats), such as milk, cheese, fruits and oats, are available at no charge.
Over the last couple of years we were able to host many volunteers and have gained a lot of experience.
What else ...
Valle alto is a region of Cochabamba, which is famous for its agricultural produce and the clear, beautiful light. Old little towns all around can be visited, mountains everywhere and full touristic attractions a few hours away. Distance from downtown Cochabamba is around 30km and it takes around 1 hour to go there by public transportation (minibuses and buses that pass by on the mainroad every few minutes, price is around 5 to 10 Bolivianos). There are some small shops and eateries available in walking distance. Rural Bolivia is not expesive at all.
Due to the thorns of the acacia trees we recommend that you bring sturdy shoes or boots. The tempureature variations between day and night are significant, so bring some warm clothes as well. Ample solar protection is recommendable too, since we are located at 2.700 meters above sea level. Some of the neighbour´s dogs are barking quite a lot, also during night time. Therefore, you should bring good earplugs if you are senstive to noise.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (22)
The accommodation for the volunteers is spacious and bright, very nice. I also appreciated that Teresa let us organize ourselves as we wanted regarding the working hours (5 hours / day, 5 days / week).
At the beginning, I was a little afraid of the… read more
I enjoyed my time at Tere's small oasis a lot. The work was to me - who was only accustomed to office work - hard. I had quite some blisters, cuts and sore muscles - and I loved it :)
I only worked outdoors,… read more
La habitación dónde me quedaba era muy cómoda, equipada con todas las cosas que se necesita para cocinar y vivir.
Casi todo el tiempo trabajaba afuera lo que me gustaba muchísimo. Estaba cavando la tierra, plantado árboles, sembrando tomates, horneando pan, peleando con las arañas 😅 y lo mejor de todo jugando con los perros cada… 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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
The accommodation for the volunteers is spacious and bright, very nice. I also appreciated that Teresa let us organize ourselves as we wanted regarding the working hours (5 hours / day, 5 days / week).
At the beginning, I was a little afraid of the… read more
I enjoyed my time at Tere's small oasis a lot. The work was to me - who was only accustomed to office work - hard. I had quite some blisters, cuts and sore muscles - and I loved it :)
I only worked outdoors,… read more
La habitación dónde me quedaba era muy cómoda, equipada con todas las cosas que se necesita para cocinar y vivir.
Casi todo el tiempo trabajaba afuera lo que me gustaba muchísimo. Estaba cavando la tierra, plantado árboles, sembrando tomates, horneando pan, peleando con las arañas 😅 y lo mejor de todo jugando con los perros cada… read more
We loved the variety of tasks Teresa gave us. We cut the trees and gras, walked the Lamas, cuddled with the dogs and cats and cooked marmelade from the prickly… read more
We wish you all the best for the next experiences, and I hope you will manage to go to Isla the Pascua during this travel… read more
I can just recommend warmly this place for everyone who like the… read more
Thanks a lot for both!
A la base nous devions resté 2 semaines et finalement nous sommes resté au moins 1 mois . On se sent bien ici , dans la nature avec les animaux et teresa qui est toujours souriante rigolote et intéressante. Elle nous a également appris pas mal de choses . Nous avons aussi partagé beaucoup de discussions autour… read more
Que orgullo tener entre mis workawayers a una boliviana tan especial, vidajera en bicicleta!
Mucha suerte en tu camino!!!
Las palabras se me quedan cortas para expresar todo lo que he sentido en un pequeño mes de estadía. Un mes en el que me llené de mucho cariño por parte de todos los únicos y maravillosos “bichines” que habitan la “Tregua”. En especial por parte de la Tere, una persona bellísima que te hace sentir como en… read more
Thank you Maria for all you gave us, we will always remember you con mucho cariño.
We wish you all the best in your next steps, and keep confident that… read more
Está también la cámara de Glenn: permitó a Glenn tomar unas fotografías maravillosas (por favor… read more
Trabajaron muy lindo en todo lo que les pedimos, y lo hicieron muy bien. Su cuarto ahora tiene un lindo estante que construyeron con pallets regalados, un dispositivo para subir y bajar cosillas (un miniascensor!), colaboraron muy… read more
Siempre felices y con ganas de trabajar. Trabajaron durísimo en todas la tareas que necesitamos (desde apoyo en reconstruir el muro que se nos cayó, hasta plantar y deshierbar el huerto). Siempre dispuestos a colaborar en lo que sea necesario, con… read more
Fellow travellers, if you pick this place, be prepared to amend your travel plans, you WILL stay longer than expected, it will come with LOTS of joy (mark our words)!!!
After a year of travelling across Asia and South America, we were looking… read more
We worked so hard with so much pleasure to make this little corner of Bolivia as beautiful as we imagine to be our own house. Our days passed so fast and as the majority of… read more
We wish you all the best in your next experiences, and that you will have the chance to still improve your Spanish.
And thanks a lot for the beautiful… read more
Thanks a lot again
With Sergio we mostly worked on the field and on maintaining their farm, wich is full of details as evidence for the love they have for the place. Segio always took time to explain you just need to ask… read more
We are grateful to them and to the… read more
