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Description
This is an 11 hectare, off grid (solar and wind), boutique, organic, permaculture food forest/gardens, and eco-tourism facility 7.5 km from the lovely pueblo of Aigua, population 3000. We are 90 km. from the Atlantic Coast beaches.
Aiguá is becoming a weekend tourist destination. The buildings along the main streets have been renovated to their historical beauty. Many, large murals have been painted around the town by women from the Mujer Semilla (Seed Women) , from all over Uruguay. The river is a favorite place to swim in season. There are several restaurants , an afternoon tea house, and seasonal community events and festivals, such as the Wheelbarrow Races, which bring several thousand visitors to the Fairgrounds. The Grutas (caves) de Salamanca are also nearby, as is Salto de Penitente (water fall).
This is a "safe harbor" kind of place, designed so that an extended / natural family or Intentional Community can live a simple, healthy life by hosting visitors, selling produce and value added products, and having classes/music/theater/food events. There is a cabin, a casita, and a camping site for tourists. DdA is a vegetarian/vegan facility.
I am a 74 y.o. retired architect. I also worked in civil and structural engineering, surveying, and landscape design. I worked in the Alaskan Arctic for seven years, in the villages of the North Slope. In Ashland, Oregon I built an off-grid (solar / wind) straw bale house with clay floors.
I am a vegan by choice and a Druid by nature. I built a stone circle - where I go for ceremony and meditation.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Farmstay help
Interests
Mountain
Self development
Culture
Pets
Sustainability
Vegetarian or vegan
Farming
Plant care
History
Gardening
Cooking & food
Architecture
Animals
Nature
Fitness
Yoga / Wellness
Hiking
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The village of Aiguá, seven kilometers from the farm, is a delightful international community of about 3500 souls. Very quiet. Dogs actually sleep in the streets, and horses are a common mode of transport. There is a great natural foods store, and stores with locally made products.
The Gruta’s de la Salamanca (caves) are 30 km from the campo, with hiking trails and an Inn with food and lodging. Cerro Catedral, the highest point in Uruguay at 513 meters, is 20 km from the campo. A little further away (50 km) is the Cascada del Salto del Penitente, a beautiful natural area with waterfalls, hiking, zip lines, food and lodging. DdA is located 2 km from the highway on a very quiet single lane ‘camino vecinal’ (neighborhood road) which continues for 2 km into the hills, for hiking and bicycle rides. Two bicycles are available. In season there is swimming in the big tajamar (pond). A Carpincho family occupies the island in the pond, and we’ve been visited by River Otters this winter. Javali, wild boars, travel through the campo.
Your host (13 years US expat, former architect / civil & structural engineering tech - English speaker) is knowledgable in every aspect of the functioning of the campo infrastructure [irrigation and domestic water, wind and solar energy systems, traditional and bio-construction, water catchment and conservation, food forest management, etc... ] and will share this information with volunteers. There are several types of composting including a worm bin. Mulch is grown on-site, and used for soil / root protection and for soil building. There are trails and wild lands on the campo. Yoga classes are available on site by request, and weather permitting. Massages are available in Aigua, by appointment.
Some projects that the WorkAwayers can participate in include the following:
(1) Clearing a beach at the big pond to harvest cattail root and then to turn it into flour.
(2) Improving the basins and soil quality around fruit and nut trees.
(3) Build wooden, raised growing beds, filling them with soil, planting seeds.
(4) Relocate valuable "volunteer" plants to more advantageous locations
(5) Collecting manure for the greenhouse and raised growing beds.
(6) Cutting caña roja and paspalum (mulch grown on-site), and mulching the gardens and the trees in the food forests.
(7) Trail building - into the nature reserve areas of the campo.
It has been my 24/7/365 project since 2012. It is a lifestyle. I know every tree and bush up close. My 2 dogs, my Geoffroy’s Leopard cat, and 2 donkeys are my best friends. Learning about how to be around the donkey’s is another side benefit of volunteering here.
I am a vegan and a very good vegan cook. DdA is a vegetarian / vegan facility. Volunteers can participate in cooking shared meals in the main kitchen, and then enjoying the meal on the covered porch, overlooking the kitchen garden. .
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
This fall the volunteers will be helping to resurrect some neglected growing beds, creating rain catchment basins for existing fruit trees, and plant a new wind screen and fruit trees. We ask for a one or two week commitment. Volunteers help 4 hours per day weekdays, with the weekend off.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerThis 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.
Accommodation
The volunteer Casita is a 15m2 insulated cabin, with a stove and ice chest. Volunteers get a stipend for food, and cook for themselves.
Volunteers cook for themselves in their casita. Food is provided by the Host
What else ...
There are a lot of other eco-tourism facilities and organic farms in and around Aigua to visit. Aigua is an active community, with many activities throughout the week. Transportation to the pueblo is available whenever the Host goes, or by request for a transport fee.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
The internet connection is sometimes "crowded" out here, but doable.
Space for parking camper vans
I am creating a parking space for a casa rodante. Currently there are no utilities to that site, but sent contained camper vans would be fine. Utilities are coming.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Loki
Border Collie abandoned on my road. About 9 years old.
Photos
