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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
27 Feb 2018
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Details
Description
Eco-friendly help at our sugar mill farm at the beautiful Suarez River basin on the west mountain range of the Andes Mountains in Colombia – South America.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Animal Care
Language practice
Art Projects
Teaching
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
For volunteer world travelers who desire to experience the life of a campesino Colombiano (Colombian farmer), the help required is a unique eco-friendly and rewarding opportunity. Unlike any other travel experience our guests will help us improve the local ecosystem by participating in ecologically friendly projects and local rare-tree conservation projects. Our guests will live in our beautiful farm on the Suarez River Basin and help on various farm projects such as heliconia flower harvesting, chicken coop construction, animal care, exotic tree maintenance and more. In addition to farm work, our visitors will enjoy nature walks on the beautiful creeks and hills of the farm and learn about the food, culture, history, economy, geography and geology of the place. They will also visit guava candy factories, and other local industries and attractions.
What will you learn: In addition to learning the farm work, our visitors will learn about the food, culture, history, economy, geography and geology of the place. Come and learn how regular Colombians enjoy life!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
For the production of agricultural products, our farm specializes in the production of organic fruits and vegetables, tree conservation, sustainable agriculture and tourism in the Colombian North east. Unlike any other farm, worldwide volunteers and local peasants perform the farm work. This provides a rare opportunity for our workers to exchange cultures and collaborate in ecologically friendly and sustainable projects. Our guests can live in the beautiful The sugar mill farm on the Suarez River Basin and work on various farm projects such as organic food production, heliconia flower harvesting, fishery, chicken coop construction, animal care, exotic tree conservation and more. In addition to farm work, our visitors will enjoy nature walks on the beautiful creeks and hills of the farm and learn about the food, culture, history, economy, geography and geology of the place. They will also visit guava candy factories, and other local industries and attractions.
To achieve the mission statement we need to start with the following:
1. Development of organic farming: The farm has 125 acres (50 Hectares). Within the farm, there is a small ‘clean zone’ of about 23 acres (9 Hectares) that has not been treated with pesticides or herbicides for dozens of years. Within the clean zone, there is a 40X20 meter (132X66 feet) green house that has been constructed with the purpose of producing organic fruits and vegetables. We would like to develop this 23 acre clean zone into an organic farm. The project requires the following:
a. Find the market for the organic produce
b. Determine what kind of fruit or vegetable to plant in the greenhouse
c. Obtain organic certification
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
Transportation: Most international travelers arrive to Colombia’s capital Bogota. The city of Bogota is located approximately 5 hours south of Santana (located in the department of Boyaca, Colombia) and there are ample transportation options from Bogota to Santana. Our farm is located 25 minutes away from the nearest town Santana. If you stay at the farm, there are motorcycle taxis for hire. The farm also has a motorcycle that can be rented.
Where will you stay? Three options available:
1. Stay at the Farm’s mill facilities alongside the campesinos who work the farm. You will have a common room with a bathroom
2. Stay at the Farm in a tent with nearby bathroom facilities
3. Stay at a hotel in the nearest town (Santana) on a private room. The distance from the farm to the nearest town is 25 minutes.
What else ...
What to do in your time off:
Travel to Santana and on Saturdays for the town’s weekly market where you can shop for the immense variety of products offered. Between Bogota and Santana, there are many small towns and attractions. If you want to explore further, there are many small towns and attractions between the Bogota and Bucaramanga large cities. Suggestions to the south of the farm towards Bogota are the Zipaquira salt cathedral, or the colonial town of Villa de Leyva with over 400 years of colonial history. To the north towards Bucaramanga, in the city of Curiti you can find the Fique capital of Colombia, cave exploration and more. Other beautiful towns to visit are Barichara, El Socorro, San Gil, and to top it all you can go the Chicamocha Cannon, where you can enjoy the spectacular view while paragliding and bungee jumping.
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 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
