Get a taste of a "homestead in the making" and great food in the mountains of Andalucia, in Southern Spain

Infos

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  Description

  I'm Sarah, and I'm excited to welcome you to stay on my land in the middle of the Alpujarras mountain range in the south of Spain. My little piece of paradise consists of about 9 hectares with 2 small casitas set on a beautiful spot just above the village of Cadiar. Since buying the finca in 2021, I have managed to get quite a few improvements completed or at least well underway. I planted about 150 fruit and nut trees of every variety I could get my hands on (including apricot, peach, nectarine, lemon, orange, fig, pomegranate, cherry, apple, pear, almond, walnut, pistachio, chestnut). I've renovated the two casitas with upgraded facilities (still a few final touches to go), I've cleared some land and moved a lot of dirt around, I got some chickens and built a chicken coop (in that order - oops!), and I have transformed an old chimney grill into a focal point of outdoor cooking and communal eating.
  
  There is plenty more to do, and I am looking for motivated, strong, and committed helpers.
  
  Some of the projects on my to-do list include:
  -vegetable garden prep, planting and upkeep
  -expanding the chicken coop
  -a variety of painting projects
  -weeding in and around the trees and orchard…not as easy as it sounds!
  -many tasks that relate to watering the garden and trees
  -making a compost bin
  -creating an herb garden
  -finding crafty, artistic, creative, low-budget ways to improve the interior design and decor of the casitas
  -improving the fencing around the garden and fruit trees (I need a strong guy to help me as it's a 2 person thing)
  -DIY projects of all sorts to make the casitas work better and look better
  -pruning and harvesting olives, almonds, and other trees
  
  If you're handy or have any special skills that you think might be useful here, definitely let me know!
  
  I have learned a lot already and am ready to teach you, and I'm also happy to learn from you, as well as hear your ideas and opinions.
  
  A bit more about me: I lived in the United States before moving to Spain in 2019. I used to be a reporter and editor, first working at the New York Times and then at a much-loved magazine called Fine Cooking. However, many years ago I left my career in journalism to focus on my passion, which is paella and Spanish food and cooking. And yes, I did actually cook that giant paella in my profile photo. And no, I don't make paella every week, but if your stay is long enough and you get on my good side (ha ha), you might get to try it! I like to think I am easygoing (if you know of Dr. Joe Dispenza, I do his meditations), but like everyone I guess, I have my quirks that make me a uniquely interesting person.
  
  I don't have any dogs or cats at the moment, but I do have chickens which I let free-range around the property, and besides providing a steady supply of fresh eggs, they also offer a fair amount of entertainment.
  
  The projects we will be working on are to help me fulfill my vision of turning this diamond-in-the-rough into a mostly self-sufficient homestead. Regarding my schedule, I have a paella pan e-commerce business which occupies my attention in the afternoons and evenings, but the rest of the time I am available to guide you on whatever your task of the day is.
  
  I am looking for people who have a lot of energy and initiative, who like working outdoors, and who want to experience a taste of a real working life in a rural and remote part of Andalucia.
  
  About the work itself: What you'll be doing depends on time of year and your skills and abilities. It is 95% outdoors, and often very physical: weeding the orchard or other areas with a hoe, cutting thorny brambles away from olive trees, moving firewood -- this is the type of stuff you could be doing. It's hard, but you do get to see the results of your efforts which is satisfying. Bring your work clothes and shoes! All I ask is that you genuinely want to learn and that you put out your best effort. Those folks are pure treasure to me, regardless of skill or experience. And if you're handy or happen to have a special background or skill, all the better!
  
  In exchange for your volunteering, you get to enjoy a beautiful and peaceful place with amazing views and the time to enjoy it. You could spend your afternoons and evenings chilling on the patio with a coffee or do what I do and dine outside. You could spend the nights star-gazing. Or you could explore the area's hiking trails or other towns that dot the Alpujarras (reachable by bus from Cadiar).
  
  So if this sounds like an experience you think could go all-in on, I'd be super happy and grateful to have your helping hands as I slowly but surely -- or perhaps quickly and surprisingly -- bring my vision into reality. I hope you come along for some of the ride!
  
  No minimum or maximum visit, and last minute workawayers most welcome!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Home sitting
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Ferme

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Fitness

  

  Sports d’hiver

  

  Astronomie

  

  Écriture

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Langues

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Montagne
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  I have traveled a lot and I enjoy getting to know people of different backgrounds and have an exchange of opinions and ideas, even if my thoughts and opinions happen to be very different from yours. That's actually when it becomes the most interesting. When I was in my 20's, I traveled throughout Europe and Eastern Europe through a host-traveler program, where I stayed in people's homes and got a real taste of each country I visited through the eyes of people who lived there. It was the absolute best part of my 9 month nomadic adventure. I see the Workaway concept as very related to that kind of travel and homestay experience, offering people from different countries and cultures a chance to know each other at a personal and maybe even spiritual level.
  
  I'll also note that although I spent most of my life living in the US (New York City and New England), I am not your typical American by any means. In fact, ever since living in Spain as a college student, and in the years following when I married a Spanish artist and had my two daughters, I have felt more affinity with the Spanish culture and lifestyle than to the US. Since I'm no longer married and my daughters are at university, I'm doing this thing on my own for the most part, which is both thrilling and terrifying -- but mostly thrilling.

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  Aide

  If you have any of the following skills or experience, do let me know! And if you don't, no worries because my neighbors have a wealth of knowledge and we can figure it out together:
  -pruning tree knowledge or experience
  -gardening or landscaping experience
  -harvesting olives and almonds
  -painting, both indoor and outdoor projects
  -splitting logs for firewood
  -generally being good at solving problems
  -and if nothing else, a positive attitude and can-do spirit

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  I am a native English speaker and former writing tutor and am happy to teach or help with English. I speak Spanish well enough -- not really fluent as I use "creative" grammar at times and I have an American accent. But pretty good Spanish overall. I speak a bit of French, a bit of Chinese, and there's google translate for the rest!
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  Hébergement

  You will have a private bedroom in the guest casita, sharing the bathroom, kitchen, and common area with any other volunteers who might be present. The casita has a modern bathroom and kitchen, which is well-equipped, but the space itself is quite simple - both in furnishing and decor (I welcome creative types with an eye for interior design). Camper vans of any size are welcome, or you can set up a tent. There is also good wifi in the casita and within reach of a camper van (depending on how far away you park).
  
  The working schedule is about 5 hours/day and 5 days/week.
  
  And what about meals? I provide food for you to prepare your meals, and when time permits I like to cook up something delicious for everyone. But mostly you will be cooking yourself from the pantry and fridge. If there are several Workawayers, it often happens that they share the cooking schedule.
  
  The town of Cadiar is a 6 minute drive down the hill if you want to check out our local Carrefour supermarket and other shops.

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  Autres infos...

  The town is about 2 kilometers down the hill from my land, which is about 6 minutes by car and walkable in about 35 minutes (on the way back up, it takes about 45 minutes). The town of Cadiar has all the essential types of shops -- supermarket, fruit store, pharmacy, health food store, hardware store, and a bodega that sells local wines, including their own. For those traveling by public transportation, you would take a bus to Cadiar and I would pick you up.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  There is space to work inside. The casitas receive a good signal from most cell phone companies in Spain. You can also use the wifi network.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  There is a large open space in front of the casitas for any size camper van. If you want to pitch a tent, you're welcome to do that as well. Or you can stay in one of the casitas.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Although I have no pets (except the chickens), I am open to you bringing your dog or cat.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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