Join our family at our finca and learn about natural gardening in beautiful Filandia, Colombia

Infos

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  Description

  Hello and welcome!
  We’re Claudia (31) Stefan (42) and Madeline ( 2,5 yo) — a Slovak–Austrian family, living in Colombia. We are former long-term travelers, and ex-WorkAway volunteers who fell in love with the idea of cultural exchange many years ago.
  
  We met while traveling, and over the years we did WorkAway in Cyprus, Greece, Mexico and Tanzania together. Those were some of the best memories of our lives — the kind of experiences that stay with you forever. We always said that one day, when we had our own place, we would love to give the same opportunity to other travelers.
  Today is the day, we can finally do that.
  
  Little bit about us.
  Over the last decade, both of us have gone through a deep personal transformation. Our way of seeing life, health, relationships, nature, and even the purpose of work has shifted in a very meaningful direction. The Covid years were a major wake-up call for both of us.
  We turned inward, became more self-aware, and began questioning the fast, consumption-driven lifestyle we once took for granted. During those years we started meditating regularly, explored mindfulness, completed a yoga teacher training and began simplifying our lives in every possible way.
  This opened a whole new chapter for us, one that is calmer, more intentional, and more connected to the natural world.
  
  Recently (April 2025) we bought a finca close to Filandia — 2 hectares full of potential, nature, bananas, plantains, guanábana, papaya, yucca, beans, medicinal herbs and much more. This land is our dream of self-sufficiency, peace, and creating a home with purpose.
  But… daily life with an almost 2½-year-old daughter plus work plus caring for the land is a lot. Therefore we are searching for some help with daily tasks (cleaning, cooking, gardening) and some smaller projects (for example building a fence around the finca, building stairs along the path, building a playyard for our little one...)
  
  We always carried a strong wish in our hearts: to live in a community. Not a commune, but a small circle of families supporting each other — sharing some daily tasks, learning from one another, growing food together, and at the same time respecting each family’s private space.
  For many reasons, this dream hasn’t happened yet — maybe unfortunately, maybe fortunately — because life brought us here, to this beautiful piece of land. And still, the dream didn’t die. We hope that in the future, our finca can become a space where a few aligned families might join, create, and grow something meaningful together. A co-living (community) in the heart of Colombia, rooted in respect, nature, cooperation, and conscious living.
  
  OUR IDEAL CANDIDATES:
  A couple or a family with a kid (around the age of 2-5) which prefer a calm and healthy lifestyle, work independetly and are fun to talk to.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Baby-sitting et jeux créatifs

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Films et télé

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Musique

  

  Jardinage

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Livres

  

  Animaux

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Randonnée

  

  Fitness

  

  Plage
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Volunteers can also learn how to make:
  - Natural beauty products - your own shampoo, soaps, deodorant, creams etc.
  - Herbal infusions
  - Sourdough bread and fermentation
  - how to cook vegan and vegetarian food
  - how to grow mushrooms (oyster / orellana)
  - about natural gardening

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  Our needs vary depending on the season, but will include:
  
  House & Land
  • Maintaining the vegetable garden
  • Weeding, watering, mulching
  • Harvesting bananas, plantains, papayas, guanábana, beans, yucca
  • Keeping inside and outdoor areas clean and organized
  • Small maintenance projects (for example building a fence around the finca, building stairs along the path, building a playyard for our little one...)
  • Caring for existing fruit trees and new seedlings
  * Planting trees
  +++ With Our Daughter (This is optional, but very appreciated):
  • Playing with her
  • Creating simple activities
  • Keeping her entertained while we can work
  She loves nature, exploring, books, and gentle people.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Slovak: Courant
  Espagnol: Intermédiaire

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  We are a multilingual household and speak four languages every day — Slovak, English, German, and Spanish. Our Spanish is still at a basic level, but good enough for daily life, running errands, and communicating with our neighbors. We’re constantly learning and improving. Stefan speaks German, English, and Spanish (and not Slovak), while Claudia speaks Slovak, English, German, and Spanish. Our daughter grows up hearing all four languages and understands them beautifully.
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  Hébergement

  We recently renovated a small house on the land, and it has become our cozy home with space for guests and volunteers.
  The room we offer is part of the main house, but it is fully private, with its own bathroom. In the room is a double bed (with a high-end matress), with mosquiteria and cupboard for your belongings and two chairs.
  The shared spaces — kitchen, living room, and the heart of our home, the terrace — are open to everyone.
  The terrace has comfortable outdoor furniture, a big dining table and a beautiful open view. When we have guests (or in future volunteers), we often sit there together, eat, talk, and watch the landscape change throughout the day.
  
  If you want to camp, you are free to do so, but you need to bring your own equipment.
  
  We are ovo-vegetarian (no milk, cheese, ONLY eggs).
  We have our own chickens for eggs and are slowly building our vegetable garden with the dream of becoming as self-sustainable as possible.
  We provide:
  • Three simple, healthy vegetarian meals a day
  • Access to the kitchen
  • Fresh food from the land when available
  Snacks like nuts, sweets, and special treats are not included, but you are welcome to buy whatever you like and keep it in the kitchen.

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  Autres infos...

  🌄 Why We Love Filandia
  For us, Filandia is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Colombia.
  Of course, we haven’t seen everything yet, but this region feels like a blessing.
  The climate is perfect — not too hot, not too cold. People often say Filandia is cold, but for us, it’s simply fresh. We have a wonderful balance of sunshine and regular rain, which is amazing for plants and trees. Because of that mix, everything here is incredibly green, alive, and vibrant.
  From our finca, we have a wide view of the mountains, valleys, and little towns in the distance. At night, the lights in the valley create a magical scene.
  
  🚐 Location & Transportation
  We live about 15 minutes from Filandia center.
  Transport is easy — a small jeep passes by our house roughly every 2–3 hours, bringing people to Filandia and back for small cost (1 USD/EUR). We alsohave a car, so once a week we drive to Armenia for shopping and errands, and volunteers are welcome to join us. Last transport at 7pm but private taxis available (35.000 COP).
  From Filandia there is direct transport to Armenia (40-50 min from Filandia) and Pereira (50), and it’s perfectly located between the major cities Cali, Medellín and Bogotá.
  Filandia itself is VERY touristic but still has kept its original charm in our opinion. Weekends usually are crazy but during the week the town is very quiet and calm.
  
  Things to do:
  Mirador, Chiva (Party Bus), Coffee Tours, Houseback riding, swimming in rivers, searching for howler monkeys, trips to Armenia, Pereira, La India...
  
  OUR FINCA:
  It is very rural. Neighbours are mainly hard-working people, getting up with the sun. At night it is very quiet and for a single and outgoing person it could get easily boring. Everyone else will have a great time.
  We have chickens but only one rooster and he usually isn´t too active in the mornings. No loud music from our direct neighbours.
  Even though we live along the road there arent much cars crossing especially not at night or in the early morning.

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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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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

  Akira

  Sanbu

  Calm and cute

  Charlotte

  7 month old (Nov 25). We adopted her form an animal shelter. She probably was treated bad there because she is super afraid of men (Stefan), but meanwhile she does really good with Claudia and Madeline. She doesn't bark and is well behaved.

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