Oasis gardening experience in Mhamid, Morocco

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  Hi, I’m Sofia. I’m from Brazil, but I spent the past decade sailing around the Mediterranean before deciding to head in the complete opposite direction. In 2024 I landed in the Sahara and found my home in the desert.
  
  I look after a 6000 sqm property in the Bounou oasis, just outside M’Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before the open desert. The land has been in the owner’s family for generations. It’s home to 200-year-old date palms, olive and pomegranate trees, a herb garden, and a small potager.
  
  I live here with my friend Sara, an incredibly talented Italian musician, and my young pet donkey, Tenere.
  
  The owner is a close friend who cares deeply about this land. He no longer lives here, but it’s his ancestral home and also a place severely threatened by desertification. When I arrived, the garden was nearly abandoned. Over the past year, out of sheer love for this place, I’ve made it my mission to bring it back to life.
  
  Learning how to maintain a desert garden isn’t easy. There is no manual or shortcuts; only knowledge passed down from master to apprentice. Salah, our master gardener, is a wise elder and one of the few remaining keepers of this tradition. Partially blind, mostly deaf, and speaking neither English nor French, he’s the kind of teacher who won’t let you sit quietly in the back of the class. If you come here, you’ll be working alongside him and learning a lot in the process.
  
  My passion for the local culture and history brought me here, but now, after a year of living and learning, I want to share this experience with others.
  
  From making mud bricks to picking dates, choosing the best firewood, caring for palm trees, and managing scarce resources sustainably, life in the desert offers a unique kind of education.
  
  The rhythm here is slow and peaceful, but we also bring out the fun and adventurous side: hikes, tea in the dunes, and big fires under the stars.
  
  The property is as comfortable as a desert house can be, with running water, electricity, and cozy rooms. This is not a bivouac but a private home, so we don’t offer desert tours or camel rides. We’re 6km from the village, easily reached on foot, by bike, or simply by hitchhiking along the road.
  
  I look forward to hosting people who want to learn the local ways of life and share their own ideas with us. Any knowledge in agriculture, animal care, or house repairs is welcome—but genuine interest and curiosity matter most.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Projetos artísticos

  Ajuda em projetos ambientais

  Jardinagem

  Construção/faça você mesmo

  Cuidar de animais

  Manutenção geral

  House sitting
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  Interesses

  

  Fazenda

  

  Mascotes

  

  Política/justiça social

  

  Cultura

  

  Cuidar de plantas

  

  Escrever

  

  Fotografia

  

  Música

  

  História

  

  Jardinagem

  

  Desenho e pintura

  

  Faça você mesmo

  

  Culinária e comida

  

  Livros

  

  Carpintaria

  

  Astronomia

  

  Arte e design

  

  Arquitetura

  

  Animais

  

  Velejar/navegar

  

  Naturaleza

  

  Montanhas

  

  Caminhada

  

  Camping
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  At our place, the cultural exchange is all about sharing experiences, skills, and a love for local life. Workawayers can connect with us and the community through music—exploring the local scene, joining jam sessions, or playing in our garden. We also enjoy simple moments together, like sipping tea while watching sunsets in the dunes or by the river, making bonfires in some of the many beautiful spots nearby, or wandering through the souq and the town.
  
  You’re welcome to join us on hikes whenever we go out, learn some of the local language, or simply relax, make tea, and soak in the peaceful desert atmosphere. We hope to share our knowledge and daily life with you, and in turn, learn about your culture, stories, and perspectives. Every guest brings something unique, making the experience enriching for everyone.

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  Projetos que envolvem crianças

  Este projeto pode envolver crianças. Para mais informações, veja aqui nossas diretrizes e dicas.

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  Ajuda

  I’m excited to welcome guests who are eager to experience local life and share their own skills and perspectives with us. While expertise in farming, animal care, or home maintenance is appreciated, what we value most is interest and a can-do attitude.
  
  Depending on the season and the needs of the place, tasks may include:
  * Trimming and taking care of trees
  * Raking and general garden cleaning
  * Date picking (seasonal)
  * Making mud bricks
  * Animal care — including looking after baby donkey Tenere
  * Maintaining the irrigation system
  * General house and garden repairs or small fixing jobs
  
  There’s always something to do, and you can learn a lot along the way!

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  Idiomas

  Inglês: Fluente
  Francês: Fluente
  Português: Fluente

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  Acomodação

  * You’ll stay in a cozy 4-bed dormitory in the garden. Most of the time you’ll have it all to yourself, unless we have other guests.
  * The kitchen and living room are shared spaces with Sara and any guests staying with us.
  * In the garden, you’ll find two toilets: one with a standard WC and one with a squat toilet. Those are also shared.
  * We have electricity and running water.
  * Hot showers are available, but the water is heated by lighting a small fire to warm up the boiler — a simple desert ritual.
  * No air conditioning or heating is available. No washing machine (everything’s washed by hand).
  * The garden is 6,000 m² and offers many relaxing, peaceful spots: hammocks under towering palm trees, shaded nomad tents perfect for yoga, playing music, reading, or simply unwinding.
  
  * We provide ingredients for you to prepare your own breakfast and one additional shared meal per day.
  * We take turns cooking, and everything is shared within the house.
  * If you prefer to eat in town, that will be at your own expense.

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  Algo mais...

  Transportation
  * A rather “shitty bike” is available if you want to use it — functional, but don’t expect luxury!
  * The town is 6 km away, and hitchhiking is very easy and common here.
  * We also drive there often, and you’re welcome to join when we go with Sara’s van.
  
  How to Get Here
  * From Marrakech, take a CTM bus directly to M’Hamid.
We can help you with local directions from there.
  
  Weather Notes
  * December to February: nights (and even days) can be very cold — bring proper warm clothes.
  * Summer months: extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 50°C. Be prepared for real desert heat.

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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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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  Este anfitrião pode fornecer espaço para vans.

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  Pode aceitar animais

  Este anfitrião está aberto a aceitar viajantes com animais de estimação.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  2

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  Meus animais / animais de estimação

  

  Tenere (1 ano)

  In his mind, he's a stallion. In reality, he's a giant donkey. I call him my little pony. He's a naughty boy, but he's full of love. He is our organic waste disposal system/fertiliser machine, as he spends his days munching and pooping around the garden.

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