Help out with gardening and household projects while eating amazing paella in the mountains of southern Spain

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  I'm Sarah, and I am excited to welcome you to come 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 lots more to do, and I am looking for motivated, strong, and committed helpers. Some of the projects could include:
  -weeding in and around the garden, trees, and orchard
  -vegetable garden stuff -- depending on time of year, the work varies
  -a variety of outdoor painting projects
  -laying out more irrigation lines
  -creating a real compost bin
  -finish fencing around the fruit trees so neighboring sheep don't decimate them
  -pruning olive, almond, and fruit trees and harvesting
  -building and plumbing a shower for the soon-to-be outdoor sauna
  -planting flowers and natural adornments to make the place pretty
  -any other thing that comes up and needs doing
  -any other DIY project that you want to propose!
  
  I am learning a lot as I go, and 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 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. Coop improvements is another project on my list of things to do -- if you have carpentry or construction know-how, it would come in handy here.
  
  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 import/export 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. Also, I divide my time between my land in Cadiar and a town in Jaen about 3 hours away.
  
  I am looking for people who have 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. Those Workawayers who genuinely want to learn and who truly put out their absolute best effort are pure treasure to me, regardless of skill or experience. And if you're handy or have a special skill, all the better! I like to think I am easygoing (if you know of Dr. Joe Dispenza, I do his meditations) but I can also be quite determined and focused about reaching a goal. 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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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Jardinagem

  Construção/faça você mesmo

  Ajuda a cuidar da casa

  Manutenção geral

  House sitting
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  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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  Ajuda

  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 experience
  -carpentry
  -iron or metalwork
  -construction
  -knowledge of irrigation systems
  -landscaping experience
  -harvesting olives and almonds
  -painting, both indoor and outdoor projects
  -cutting firewood
  -generally being good at fixing things or problem-solving
  -and if nothing else, a positive attitude and can-do spirit

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas
  Inglês: Fluente
  Espanhol: Fluente

  Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
  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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  Acomodação

  Motor homes of any size are welcome, or you can set up a tent. For more creature comfort, I can also offer a room in the casita, with a shared bathroom with bathtub, shared kitchen, and 3 bedrooms. 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 provisions for you to cook your own meals -- a self-service breakfast and light dinner on working days. For the main midday meal, it can vary depending on how many people are present and my own schedule. On occasion I will cook up something delicious for us, but mostly you will cook your own meal from the pantry and fridge. If there are several Workawayers, we can rotate 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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  Algo mais...

  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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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  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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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  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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  Pode aceitar animais

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

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  Mais de 2

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