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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
23 Mar 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
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Details
Description
The project:
We are a retired but still very active couple, Australian and Swiss, John and Elena. After many years of work in international institutions dedicated to environmental protection, we decided to invest our efforts, time and knowledge to active hands-on nature restoration and protection.
Our project is a private nature protected area and is focusing on several aspects of ecosystem restoration, the main being large-scale and nature-friendly reforestation with native trees, complemented by wetland and other ecosystems rehabilitation, erosion control, de-farming activities, land conservation, protection from uncontrollably developing local tourism and long-term legal protection. The project is a non-profit private initiative, it has now been in operation for about 20 years. The reason for such a project in the region of Aysen is the fact that the ecosystems (mainly ancient forest) were severely and irreversibly destroyed by colonisation through deliberate fires and subsequent cattle raising in the mid-XX century. The project is designed to attenuate, where possible repair, the catastrophic damage done to nature by the colonisation of the last century.
It is located in Leones valley, in the heart of Chilean Patagonia, 260 km South of Coyhaique (the capital of the region and the airport), between the villages Puerto Rio Tranquilo and Puerto Guadal. The area is isolated and remote, far from any public transport, it is neighbouring the Laguna San Rafael National park. You will feel like at the end of the world, and it is the case indeed.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Farming
Animals
Carpentry
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Depending on your interests, you will learn how to set up life in a remote place off-grid (energy supply, communication, sanitation etc.), different aspects of nature-oriented reforestation and problems related to it on regional and local levels, the reality of the degraded state of the ecosystems of the region. There will be very limited exposure to the local, mainly colonial culture, as the project is designed to repair the damage done by it.
As the damaged nature of the area does not need publicity encouraging additional stress, we will ask you not to expose the project to social networks and other media, for the sake of nature protection and the volunteering programme. It is focusing on protection of the privacy of nature until the times when nature's rights are accepted as part of legislations. Therefore, please DO NOT apply if you are linked to any type of media, photography or film making industry, or intend to do any filming, interviews or develop posts for social media. If any, such an exposure of the project would be legally contested. Also, please not apply if you are interested in tourism development: global tourism is one of the main drivers of climate change which is impacting badly the local ecosystems, in particular glaciers which are melting very fast in the region.
Help
Our project cannot be used as a life-changing experience: we would ask you to use the skills that you acquired in your professional or personal lives, so please tell us more about your skills. The skills that are of particular value now are hands-on forestry; work on farms; experience with power tools, brush-cutter and chain saw; electricity. The priority needs of the moment are:
Managing and thinning pine trees in plantations
Installing fires breaks
House maintenance, eg painting buildings;
Maintaining trees in orchards;
Work with seedings in nursery;
Repairing fences, and cutting grass and vegetation along fences;
Clearing trails and water lines;
Cutting grass for hay;
Collecting firewood;
Maintenance of energy systems: pico-hydro, solar and wind;
Installing and reviewing camera traps for wildlife;
Monitoring for neighbours’ animals in the property;
Control of invasive plants;
Feeding a couple of horses;
Maintaining a little organic garden.
Most probably, you will help with small individual projects. For the time being you will not participate in the tree planting as, in order to be effective, it is done by professionals and is season-depending.
We would appreciate it if we can learn new skills from you.
The jobs are mainly physical but rewarding, and depend on the season and weather. Life and work are not separated here, like on farms in the old days. In order to keep a humane dimension and a family style of the volunteering experience, we can host 2 volunteers (grand maximum 3), prepared for lonely life in the wilderness. The project operates in English, so you would need to speak English, we also welcome French-speakers so we can practice French.
Some maturity is required for such an experience. It's important you have a driver's licence, as the project is located away from any type of transportation and you would need to cover long distances within the project.
Please do not apply if you are anti-vax, it is not tolerated in the country, nor in the project.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Accommodation
Accommodation is simple but comfortable: an independent small house with electricity, running water and cooking facilities. We will provide groceries, of course, but you will have to cook for yourself. There is no TV, and internet connexion is reasonable but not ideal, breaking frequently. We are not connected to the grid, the power is generated locally by small sustainable sources (you will have an introduction to those).
What else ...
You will be able to travel in the region around the lake General Carrera. The national parks, including the neighbouring Laguna San Rafael park, have restricted access. Glaciers, such as Exploradores or Calluqueo, are within reach in neighbouring valleys. You can also hike in the property and might have privileged encounters with wildlife (native foxes, local protected deer huemul, armadillos, lots of birds). The region is interesting in terms of geology and geomorphology.
Publications about the area are available.
You shall be ready for difficult times with mosquitoes and horseflies. Lots of pollen in summer, allergies can occur.
Take all necessary medication with you, no medical assistance is available in the area.
As we are not a business or a company, we are not covered by the same insurances as a business activity, so you should take it into account.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (13)
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If you like nature, landscape, wildlife, calm, I don't think you can found a better place to have a stay than John and Elena farm.
The job is very interesting and depends of what you like. It's really not so difficult, and John is always listening to you. For example, I… read more
Their project of rehabilitating the forest is great and done with awareness and intelligence. So, you can see the change in the environment on their propriety compare to the other properties around. John knows a lot of things and I had learned to read better… read more
We were very lucky to participate to his project and happy to meet him and his wife who have been very helpful and nice.
There is no better ways to… read more
Johnˋs company and the excited feedback of the previous… read more
John is a chill guy to work with, generous, humorous and curious. I enjoyed many interesting and challenging conversations. I learnt so much about everything including myself. Patagonia is truly magnificent and how fortunate I am to have… read more
This is not a place where you are gone meet a lot of people. This place is is at the end of the world. The land is huge, and it is at the end of a beautiful valley, with the lake and the Leone glacier at the end.
John is a really kind and fascinating man. He worked in agriculture, I… read more
