Learn about life on an organic duck and poultry farm near Casablanca, Chile

Details

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  Description

  Hello! We are Cecilia and Alvaro, and we now have evolved to a permaculture organic farm outside of Algarrobo and Casablanca Chile. We also have a wonderful female dog Loulou , the father of Loulou and partner of Gala passed away from natural ageing and recently also Gala joined Hugh in heaven , we are very sad for both of their loss they are two beautiful kind souls that will be for ever with their energy protecting and enlightening our farm .
  We’ve owned the land for about 16’ years and have been welcoming volunteers to our farm for the past 9 years , over this period of time we’ve had many wonderful experiences.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House sitting
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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

  We love sharing and learning from our volunteers. When present we spend a lot of time together in the kitchen, so bring your recipes! We cook from whole ingredients (and are very accommodating with dietary restrictions), and eating and drinking well is very important to us. Cecilia can teach you some traditional Chilean recipes, as well as many others from her giant collection of recipe books collected over the years.
  
  We can help you learn Spanish, and during your days off we can suggest and indicate the good and interesting places to visit i.e. towns, cities, and beaches that surround us. It is safe and easy to hitch hike back and forth from our place to town and beaches .It is the cold Pacific Ocean don’t imagine the tropics , it is quite beautiful though. Last but not least the beautiful stars at night .

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We are a cute little farm, we are transiting to offering lodging to guests in a container we transformed in a cozy loft . We’ll require help with housekeeping and hospitality .
  Also my Mom and mother in law has joined us a year ago , . She is 83 years old , lives in her own house independently.
  She needs assistance with healthy and simple meals mainly boiled vegetables , raw salads , eggs and burgers which we make for her and keep in the freezer .She speaks fluent English .
  Some assistance to help her get dressed will be needed . All together that will take at the most half of the volunteering ours . So you can have plenty of time to work with other projects we have previously agreed to carry on .
  At present there is a small group of fowl ,they will require help caring for the chickens, and quails. These includes cleaning penns and equipment .
  Other than caring for the birds, our volunteers work mainly in the garden, help to maintain the property, also help with construction and other tasks if their skills are aligned.
  Currently we are very motivated reforesting native trees of our bosque esclerófilo . We are passionately preparing the soil with the Miyawaki Method .The mix of the soil takes place all year round , planting goes on during our autumn .
  
  We look for independent reliable volunteers who we can trust to work on tasks we mutually agree upon on their own , if we are away from the house and also when we are present .
  We often make trips to Santiago (1.5 hr away) and Valparaiso (45 min away) and depend on our volunteers to be responsible and capable.
  
  It is a real natural farm so all the life cycle goes on . Be prepared to experience real permaculture farm life ,the concept from farm to table has been valued by our customers .
  The business part is also important nowadays we sell chocolate and all sorts of good quality products to , so we are eager to offer our products to families . All our produce used to go to the best restaurants and hotels in Santiago , regionally and Patagonia .

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent

  This 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.
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  Accommodation

  At the farm we have a separate cabaña for our volunteers, with 2 separate bedrooms 1 twin bed in one and a queen bed in the other one.
  It has a complete kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace for staying warm in the cool nights it is very comfortable and cozy .
  There is a new cool room in our cottage upstairs totally independent with a nice toilet that needs finishings , no shower , shower is downstairs in the main toilet .
  We often cook together supper in our house up the hill ( around 5 to 8 pm ) , but you’ll be on your own for breakfast.and lunch We have plenty of eggs, oats and tea and coffee for you to enjoy, though.
  Life here according meals is flexible so most of the time you will be on your own doing the cooking and being neat and caring in your cottage and ours . We have laundry facilities available.
  
  We have a family orchard filled with citrus, peaches, apples , as well as berries and produce growing in our vegetable garden. It is important to enjoy composting , learning to prepare organic ways to improve the soil .You will also be responsible for weeding and watering . Watering during the long summer period .Some evenings we´ll collect a few limes to squeeze to add to whatever cocktail we´re drinking that night.

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  What else ...

  Getting to the farm is quite easy. We can pick you up from the bus stop on 68 highway in front of Casablanca, easily accesible from Valparaiso/Viña del Mar or Santiago, and provide transportation there and back on your days off. On those days you can visit two of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda´s houses in Valparaiso or on the coast in Isla Negra, or see our beautiful secluded beaches 15 minutes away from the farm.
  
  We have had dozens of positive experiences on a similar work exchange (HelpX) and many more now on Workaway .
  We look for interesting, inquisitive people from all over the world. We look forward to hearing from you. At present due to the nature of our activity and life style we look for volunteers who are able to spend 3 months with us, so they can really get settled in, if not possible the longer you can stay will have priority when offering availability and choosing our volunteers .

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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

  Faster wifi is only available in the main house , the volunteers’ cottage has no wifi router . We can now host digital nomads , there is a room out of the way in the main house that you can use to work online . Our wifi signal is fast now ! We have recently acquired Starlink !

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have enough space close to the volunteer’s cottage.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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