Help on an off-grid homestead bordering the Sierra de las Nieves National Park in Andalusia, Spain

Details

• 

  Description

  Hello! I’m Babs (49) and together with Lola (little bodeguero dog), 5 cats and 6 hens we live a simple life in the mountains.
  
  Finca La Shangri-La is a haven for nature lovers and those interested in sustainable and eco-friendly living. Nestled in a small green valley on 4 hectares of steep hillside, the land is covered with olive and almond trees, along with a mix of fruit trees. A small stream runs through the bottom of the valley. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a bit wild as well.
  We spend most of our time outdoors—working on the land, cooking in the outdoor kitchen, or just enjoying the surroundings. Most food is grown on the land following permaculture and organic farming principles.
  
  In 2012, I embarked on a journey to discover a more sustainable way of living, volunteered and took part in several natural building workshops. This journey brought me to Andalucía, where 4 years ago, I found my little paradise. Since then, we’ve been in the process of slowly renovating this former sheep farm and shaping the land. There’s still plenty to do to make it more comfortable for both me, the animals and the volunteers who come to help.
  
  As a former fashion designer, I love to be creative, upcycling handbags and making jewelry and run an Etsy shop where my creations are sold. Working with my hands and giving new life to old materials is something that deeply inspires me, and this mindset is also applied to other aspects of my life.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Interests

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Plant care

  

  Pets

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Self development

  

  Sustainability

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Architecture

  

  Art & design

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Experience living outside in nature and working with your hands.
  Hands-on experience in making bread, canning, raw chocolate making.
  If you’re creative there’s a sewing workshop too and lots of materials to try out a new craft.

• 

  Help

  We have a variety of projects, and there's always something exciting to work on, depending on the season.
  • In winter, we focus on pruning, clearing, and prepping firewood for the next year.
  • In autumn, it's harvest time—olives, almonds, and carobs.
  • In spring, we prepare the summer vegetable garden and get the alberca (water reservoir) ready for summer
  
  Apart from these seasonal tasks, there are two main ongoing work areas:
  • Building & Carpentry: Small construction jobs and repairs are always needed throughout the year. While I'm a very hands-on person and handle many building jobs, carpentry, electrics, and plumbing myself, I'm not experienced enough to tackle larger projects alone. Skills in carpentry, construction, plumbing, or general handiwork are particularly welcome.
  
  • Landscaping & Gardening: Weeding, clearing, and maintaining the garden are year-round tasks. There's also landscaping projects, such as making paths, building banks, and adding steps to improve access around the finca.

• 

  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner

• 

  Accommodation

  Accommodation is in large bell tents, which are comfortable in autumn and spring but too cold for winter. During the colder months, there's a spare bedroom available in the house.
  
  There are two camper van spots on the land, as well as additional parking nearby on the mountain in case the driveway is too narrow. The spots offer beautiful views and are best suited for smaller vans rather than large motorhomes.
  
  There is an outdoor shower, and a compost toilet is on its way. During colder weather, the inside bathroom can be used.
  
  The kitchen is outdoors but fully equipped, making it easy to cook and eat outside.
  Food is vegetarian, mostly vegan and seasonal from the veggie garden.
  
  For 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, 3 meals a day are provided, lunch and dinner we prep and eat together. On your free days, a little help in the household, like food prep, washing up, …. is greatly appreciated.
  
  We’re solely solar-powered, which is more than sufficient for summer, but on cloudy winter days, we do have to be careful with our energy use.
  
  We don’t have a wifi system, if needed my phone hotspot can provide you a connection when I’m home.

• 

  What else ...

  This place is perfect for nature lovers, with the Sierra de las Nieves National Park right on the doorstep. The surrounding landscape is wild and rugged, with beautiful waterfalls and caves and is home to diverse wildlife and endless hiking opportunities.
  Tolox, is a picturesque little mountain village, which is a 25 minutes walk away, is known for its traditional Andalusian charm and natural spa waters. It has a few small shops, local bars and restaurants, and a weekly market.
  For those looking to explore further, the town of Alozaina is about a 15-minute drive away and has more amenities. From there, buses run to Málaga three times a day.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Digital nomads are welcome if they have their own internet connection. We work through our data connection on our phone which works fine.

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  We have 2 spots to park a campervan. Smaller vans are probably easier as the driveway is quite narrow.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

Website Safety

Feedback (2)