Learn about permaculture and natural building in Gorubathan, West Bengal, India

Details

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  Description

  The Farm is a 3 acre vegetarian property, which we are transitioning from an areca nut plantation into a sustainable permaculture farm and ecolodge. Our goal is to grow a thriving permaculture community and share our experience of the benefits of simple living while creating opportunities for others who desire living life in synchronicity with nature.
  
  Members at the farm include Ujjwal and Valentine, both working and being trained as natural builders and permaculture gardeners. They oversee daily activities and kitchen operations.
  Bhagirath, my partner and owner of the property oversees logistics and coordinating with the local community. He resides 10 minutes away from the property.
  We have 2 carpenter cum masons from the village working with us for the last two years. They both live at their homes 2-5 minutes walking distance from the property.
  I , Sidhartha, live 1 km away from the property and am available during the daytime until around 4:30-5 pm everyday. I am a permaculture practitioner and natural builder and take care of the overall design and functioning of the farm.

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  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

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Hiking
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Volunteers will be working alongside members of our team and others from our local community. We might organize trash walks and plogging and volunteers could share their skills with chidren and adults from the local community. Depending on the season, we get together around evening bonfires with music. Gorubathan Tar has a number of village settlements of different communities (Rai, Tamang, Lepcha, Limbu).

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  Help

  Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in designing and developing permaculture gardens and food forests, natural building projects, engaging and working with the local community, assisting with workshops, helping with guests and a host of other activities. Ours is a paid opportunity on a sliding scale which can be reviewed and relaxed based on periodic assessments of individual volunteers.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Nepali: Fluent
  Hindi: Intermediate
  Bengali (Bangla): Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Volunteers will be accommodated in cottages that are built with natural materials. We can host 2-3 volunteers at a time. Clean bed linen will be provided though volunteers will have to do their own laundry manually.
  
  It is strictly a vegetarian farm. Most of the food prepared is local cuisine with mostly organic, locally procured or farm grown ingredients. We are open to experiments and welcome the diverse culinary skills that volunteers can share.
  
  All meals will be served at the farm for workawayers. Please do let us know in advance should you wish to eat outside during day-offs.

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  What else ...

  There are a number of forest trails around Gorubathan Tar (plateau) which lies on the edge of Dalim forest and merges with Neora forest reserve. Chel khola (river) and Dalim khola are within walking distance of both the farms. The ancient and legendary Lepcha stronghold, Dalim fort is a 2 hour hike into the forest. Volunteers can visit the Fagu monastery across Chel khola. There is a weekly Monday haat (farmer’s market) in Gorubathan town. Kalimpong town is a 2.5 hour drive from Gorubathan. Local shared cabs are the mode of transport between Gorubathan town and the farm.

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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

  While internet speeds are reasonable there are power cuts at times.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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