Permaculture, bio-construction architecture, well-being and more in a ranch near Colima, Mexico

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  In the ranch, we develop an eco project based on sustainability, with a spiritual touch and more.
  
  Updated/Actualizado 2022--June-12th #eco construction eco-building eco house solar sustainable sustentable eco construccion
  
  The views from the ranch are incredible: 80 km open view towards the mountains of Michoacan to the East and, to the North, the crater of the Volcan de Fuego at 12 km. We want to protect this piece of land with its impressive pines trees, some more than 100 years old, a lot of biodiversity either vegetal or animal: weasel, squirrels, birds such as hawks, mapaches, an harmless boa imperator... and at night, sometimes, one can hear the coyotes yapping while roaming on the slopes of the volcano.
  
  The long term goal is to demonstrate another way of living, in order to motivate influencers and facilitators and help whoever dreams of starting a similar project.
  Once achieved at 80% we would welcome Masters, Teachers, Rimpoches and facilitate their delivery of workshops -e.g. bioconstruction- , trainings -e.g. on the permaculture "flower" themes, and retreats, such as yoga, meditation, personal development, digital detox... in an exceptional and beautiful location, on the slopes of the still active but quiet Volcan de Fuego, a few km from Queseria, in the state of Colima, Western Mexico.
  
  In case there is another pandemic, we would keep welcoming volunteers, but best if you were vaccinated because if you get sick here, you isolate only in a tent, not very comfortable... besides, you are supposed to have a health/travel insurance. Please confirm or if not, explain the reason(s) in your request to stay.
  
  => Please read this profile all the way to the end, since you may find answers to some of your own questions, and questions for you. Thank you !
  
  => ESP: Por favor, le este perfil hasta la fin porque encontraras respuestas a algunas de tus preguntas y nuestras preguntas para ti. Gracias !
  Si en la traducción que harías con tu app favorita hay cosas poco claras, puedes preguntarnos, te contestaremos en español.
  
  During the first year we have achieved dry toilets, hugelkultur (raised) beds, three composters, solar electricity mini plant, a sun heated water panel for the -primitive- shower, exterior kitchen, grey wastewater filtering ditch with live plants, a watering system for the trees and gardens and planted about 30 fruit trees, dug 200 meters of keyline ditch, a rain water catchment system feeding a 400,000 liters water pond. We produce and use our own bio-fertilizers... and enjoy a horseshoe shaped meditation place surrounded by 4 fig trees, courtesy of two volunteers, and fitted with a meditation bench made of recycled pallets from another wawayer, all designed and achieved during their free time. We also had the foundations, posts and roof ready for the building.
  
  In June 2022 (our second year), half of the first floor is walled and we have achieved three stainglass/vitrals made with re-used bottles in: the mud room, one bedroom and the two bathrooms. More walling to go, preparing some electricity lines and more stainglass/vitrals (artists or designers are more than welcome).
  
  In the short term, we offer workawayers to help us with two main projects in parallel:
  
  AGRO-FORESTRY--GARDENING :
  
  Most intense activities take place during the rainy season from June to October but we are active in the gardens all year long:
  
  germinating seeds, general garden maintenance, installing water management devices and watering lines, planting more fruit trees, relocating baby pines and parotas, follow-up and expand the vegetable garden... moving towards food autonomy !
  
  Late 2022 It is already a great satisfaction to eat organic produce from the garden : chayote (Sechium edule), papaya, maracuya (passion fruit), tomatoes, garlic, acelga (chard), three different basels, three different mints, rosemary, thyme, sage, various chilis, carrots, beets, etc... and I just started eggplants, hope we have luck !
  
  We'd love to expand the medicinal herbs garden if you are experienced in that field.
  
  Also a little work around the house and locating nopales (cactus), cleaning the vegetation around to get them more sun and grow better. Yes ! pine trees and nopales coexist in the ranch, with young endemic banana trees, guayabos, wild cherry tomatoes, huisaches...
  
  A must would be your help to identify and document the many species of trees and plants in the ranch, and their use by the locals (shampoo, medicines, etc...)
  
  We are experimenting stabilizing small embankments using live plants (and more precisely their roots). This would have to be expanded to other areas.
  
  We wish to finish installing gavions filled with stones to expand the log cabin terrace. This activity, practiced with pick, shovel and gloves (provided) allows good physical activity and burns a lot of calories !
  
  You are most welcome to suggest any project of yours, in particular when related to our way of living "low impact and frugal" with Mother Nature.
  
  
  BIOCONSTRUCTION :
  We started in January 2021 the foundations of a house planned with a wooden structure sitting on posts, "pajarcilla" walls (clay+ sand + straw), rainwater catchment, earth based plasters and related Art Projects such as "stain-glass" type windows with reused bottles, decorated rammed earth floors, wood stove, fire places, wood fire water heater, solar electricity system for the house, earth oven (pizza !)
  
  The foundations were achieved end of March, the carpentry and roofing end of September. The walls started on our second year, mid February 2022.
  
  I have been trained and have practiced bio-construction and will be happy to share with you if you want to learn more about this field and maybe one day build yourself your own home !
  
  If you want to know more about bio-construction, don't be shy and let me know, I will send you some links.
  
  => If you have experience in carpentry, cabinets, please give details. Thank you.
  
  
  LOGISTICS :
  If we have 3 or more workawayers at a given time, we would welcome one as "logistics leader" (shopping for food, checking the inventory, planing meals, cooking, cleaning) and if time allows and has a taste for it, help with the construction and the garden.
  The logistics leader will get help on a rotating basis from wawayers. A plus would be experience with shift gear cars (NON automatic), and even better with 4x4.
  
  
  ARTS and more :
  The arts part -in the house- started in April 2022 but... we have other artsy projects or are already on-going- such as a partition for the shower (bamboo or cane or other local material), signs (wood carving w router), logo, web site, etc... You could also give a hand on designing paths, more meditation places, etc... in the ranch.
  
  
  PHILOSOPHY and VALUES :
  we are looking for people with a real and strong motivation on our project, capable of autonomy and initiatives. Please suggest ideas, improvements, we will certainly learn from you a lot.
  While in the ranch, if you have any practical or technical doubts, please ask for input either from others workawayers or from myself. If you need materials or tools, ask ... and you will be given :-)
  
  We are open to any ethnicity, religion, country of origin, orientation as long as you share the same tolerance towards others.
  
  "Work hard, play hard", more on this at the "FUN" section below.
  
  Clean your mess if you use the kitchen (includes pots you used to cook, using sponge on the surfaces, the stove, etc...) and please care about the tools we lend you. You break, you replace.
  
  In general, if we take something or a tool somewhere, then right after we used it we honor ourselves to return it to its place, so other can find it quickly without having to search the whole ranch.
  
  
  DIET :
  We are open to vegetarian food, if you are cooking and are vegetarian yourself. We found having vegetarians cook for everybody a practical choice.
  We sometimes receive the visit of Mexican men, very rarely vegetarians, so there will be meat, but in this case, if you are vegetarian, you won't have to cook it (nor eat it of course !).
  
  We eat eggs, milk, cheese, all locally made. In fact they milk on the next field and the milk is processed in town. We get organic eggs from a neighboring ranch. We get honey directly from the bees man.
  Of course, many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, yes, we have.
  As for gluten free, you will have to look in Colima where we could get what you need, advise us on these purchases and manage the cooking.
  
  So, if you are pure vegan, we fear it will make things quite complex to manage, so the ranch isn't probably going to be a place to make you comfortable, food wise... sorry.
  
  Food is provided while you are working on the ranch. The days you are not working, a contribution for the food is expected. Same for the laundry, which is done in the village.
  
  
  HOURS:
  This is just to give an idea, we are flexible according to circumstances such as weather conditions, projects, outings, fun etc...
  
  We like to match the sun, in order to work comfortably in the morning and have free time in the early afternoon.
  
  Example in March, when first lights are around 7:00. Breakfast is from 7 to 8, work from 8 to Lunch at 1 pm, with a 10 minutes break for a snack around 10:30. If the climate or some special training/practice requires it we can decide to work from 4 to 7.
  Dinner is in general around 7:30 PM.
  
  If we are having a special training and practice session, times and duration of work will be updated, you will have the details before hand so you can confirm your commitment.
  
  Most of us go to bed around 9:30 - 10 PM. Quiet hours are from 2 to 4 PM (siesta) and from 9 PM to 7:00 AM in the cabañas/terrace, unless everybody is having fun together (playing music, singing, performing, etc...).
  
  Silence: siesta quiet hours are from around 2 to 4 pm in the cabañas/terrace, please use your headphones and if you need to make a phone call, please walk far away enough so we can't hear you, there is a lot of space in the ranch.
  
  If you cook (lunch and/or dinner) then of course, you may leave your work project an hour or 45 minutes earlier to get in the kitchen, since cooking would be considered part of your work time.
  Who cooks, cleans the pots and pans used for cooking and takes care of the food left-overs, if any.
  
  Breakfast: you can cook something for you and companions, but please, clean your utensils and leave the kitchen tidy. No one else than you will clean the pots and pans you used.
  
  Everyone who did not cook lunch or dinner cleans their table ware or we take turns, informally, to respect and support those who have done heavy work in the late afternoon and are a bit more tired than others.
  
  We are fine if you want to use tools in your free time for a personal project. Same conditions apply: return to the place you found them, and if broken, replace or pay for it.
  
  
  MINIMUM STAY:
  it takes a beginner some time to learn bio-construction techniques and practice enough to really "absorb" the techniques and be able to use them either in their project or somewhere else on the Planet. For this reason, we favor candidates who look for more than 3 weeks stay (best 5) or want to follow the project in its whole. We are fine if after three weeks of work you want to take up to seven days "vacations" before coming back.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Projetos artísticos

  Prática de idiomas

  Ajuda em projetos ambientais

  Ensino

  Jardinagem

  Projetos de construção/faça você mesmo

  Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras

  Ajuda a cuidar da casa

  Manutenção geral
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  Objetivos de sustentabilidade da ONU que este anfitrião quer atingir

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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  When partners deliver bio-construction workshops in the ranch, if you are interested and your work allows, I would get you an access for free. Note that they speak Spanish, but since most of the teaching is through practice you should be able to learn while burning calories and having fun !
  
  Robert can share about Mexican culture from an ex-foreigner view point since he has spent more than 12 years in, and visited most of, Mexico. When Miguel, a friend and an early supporter of the project visits quite often, he can share about Mexican culture from a native's view point, he loves vegetables and of course cooks Mexican cuisine.
  
  We can practice Spanish, English, French and Italian (ja vahan suomea) and Robert can share stories and experience having traveled in several dozen countries. When time allows, he can prepare Italian dishes, or French, Moroccan, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek.
  
  We'd love to taste yours, if you fancy cooking ;-)

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  Ajuda

  Please see above the main projects description.
  
  In general, we do expect to get help in the kitchen.
  
  Be ready for physical activities (shovel, pick, wheelbarrow).

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas
  Inglês: Fluente
  Espanhol: Fluente
  Francês: Fluente
  Italiano: Intermediário

  Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
  Este anfitrião indicou que tem interesse em compartilhar seu idioma ou em aprender um novo.
  Entre em contato com ele para obter mais informações.
  
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  Acomodação

  - One bedroom in the log cabin... only for your first night, to let you the time to set up your tent (provided). The log cabin is not airtight so you may see a few harmless spiders and Nefertiti the cat might come to visit at night.
  Since the room is also used for food storage, the door stays open during the day.
  It is used in case of emergency during the rainy season.
  
  - There is another room, in which we keep the books and a printer, it can be used in case of emergency during the rainy season. In the dry season you can store your backpack there if you want to free more room in your tent. The door stays open during the day.
  
  - Several tents are available, the smallest are sized for 4 people, says the label, but it will be only for you alone so you will have plenty of room and enjoy the soft and wide mattress (1.20m).
  
  Of course, first come, first served.
  
  During the rainy season, the tents are all set up on the second floor of the already roofed house we are building, so it is perfectly dry.
  
  During the dry season, with our fine climate you may prefer to move your tent on the ground or directly sleep under the stars, a fold-able camp bed is provided if you wish so.
  
  Siesta time is fine, there are hammocks in the covered terrace and you are welcome to move one to go relax in the ranch (we avoid below the pine trees for the resin drips, and the pine cones ar subject to gravity Lol)
  
  The temperatures can range from 14 C in the morning (7 C during a cold front in February) to 32 C around 2 pm (siesta time !) and around 18 C after sunset.
  
  The rainy season starts around mid-June and lasts until mid-October, with showers.
  
  in 2020 we had only once 3 days in a row with fog during the rainy season... it feels then like being in a poetic movie, with a golden light all around us at sunrise and sunset !
  
  => Because bugs called "alacranes" may sting, please don't walk bare foot, especially at night, unless you fancy a painful experience. For the same reason, please wear gloves (provided) if you move rocks or old wood.

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  Algo mais...

  You are supposed to have a health/travel insurance. We will explain safety recommendations and tips upon your arrival.
  
  => WORKING ATTIRE... please use closed shoes while working in the ranch: Best if working boots.
  Bring also a hat (we can provide some) and a flashlight, best if frontal.
  
  We will provide gloves, lumbar belt, goggles and other protective equipment when needed, this will be explained at your arrival when you confirm your details and commitment.
  
  ATTIRE: In general, have at least one long pants, one long sleeves shirt and a sweater.
  
  There are very few mosquitoes (June to September), sometimes a few tiny flies at dawn and dusk. We provide repellent.
  
  EXPECTED BEHAVIOR
  Smoking is TOLERATED ONLY on the covered terrace (remember, there are lots of flamable pine needles and trees around). Prefer tobacco with no cigarette butts. Please check the breeze direction and STAY DOWNWIND from non smoker companions.
  
  Drinking beer -reasonably- is tolerated after 7 pm, BYO. Not during daytime for obvious safety reasons, we want to avoid accidents since we use power tools and the hospitals are far away, not to mention they might already be very busy during any pandemic.
  
  The introduction and/or possession and/or use of drugs that are illegal in Mexico is strictly forbidden within the limits of the ranch. We'll ask for a copy of your ID anyway and prescription if you have one.
  
  We tend to impact our lovely environment as less as possible, so please do NOT bring waste and do NOT use shampoo (even if it pretends it is "bio-degradable"), we'll provide you with coco soap which works very well for hair, shoulders and rest of the body.
  
  We like Jazz, Classical, soft music. Please bring your earphones AND USE THEM if you need loud music (or rap, metal, ... no worries, we'll tell you :-) since your companions may want to re-connect with the sounds of Nature, breeze in the pines, birds, insects, amphibians, etc... and we do too !
  
  COM
  If you have seen the documentary “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix, you will have a great opportunity to let rest your cell phone during the work hours in the ranch.
  
  We receive good Telcel signal for cel phones. Of course you are free to use your own cel phone credit during your free time.
  
  Please turn to silent mode to avoid disturbing your companions with the notifications "bing"
  
  If you don't have a cel phone and have a sick parent and want to be called in case of a REAL emergency, we'll provide you with an emergency number to reach us and we'll let you know right away so you can call back from our phone.
  
  There is only radio internet at the ranch (no fiber), so if you need to do a research for your project, and need a wider screen than on a smartphone, we will let you use our computer and our credit.
  
  FUN
  We sometimes relax a couple days camping on the Pacific beaches, fishing, swimming, helping with the baby turtles release, watching whales or surfers riding waves, or exploring around Colima.
  
  Days off are not necessarily Saturdays and Sundays, we may choose for example Mondays and Tuesdays for less crowdy environments.
  
  About cities: Guadalajara is at 200 km, Colima and the Comala "Pueblo Magico" are at 30 km, the closest beach is at 80 km.
  
  You can walk to our typical Mexican village in 25 minutes and enjoy lots of beautiful walks and hikes around the ranch and the volcano... and jogging opportunities too.
  
  We love outdoors sports: swimming, snorkeling, river kayaking, cañyoning, bouldering... MMA (Miguel) or Tango (Robert) !... just ask us about your preferred ones.
  
  There are many wood benches located in quiet and beautiful places in the ranch for you to relax or meditate.
  
  We often receive Mexican volunteers or visit local friends, so you'll have the opportunity to meet locals and probably enjoy Mexican fiestas :-)
  
  After the first week in the ranch, we expect you to let us know AT LEAST a couple days ahead of your plans to leave the ranch to rest elsewhere or explore the region for a couple days. As an average, you will have two free days off work (Mondays and Tuesdaysfor example, unless specific event) after 5 days work.
  
  And please tell us A WEEK ahead when you plan to leave the ranch permanently, so we can organize and give positive response to other fellow potential volunteers. Thank you for them.
  
  We are happy to drive you around, or organize fun activities for you, in these cases, volunteers pay for the fuel/toll expenses. Volunteers pay obviously for their own food during their days off and if they decide to stay in the ranch (while not helping) a small contribution is expected.
  
  
  YOUR EQUIPMENT
  Again, you should bring your closed shoes (best if boots), a hat and a SLEEPING BAG (or your own sheets). If you don't have, you could buy those in Colima, I will take you to shops. Working boots are around MXN 800, hat 120, yoga type mat 300 and a sleeping bag 800.
  
  We recommend : headband flash light, sweater or pull over for the evenings, long pants (best if cotton, light color), one long sleeves shirt and of course a swimming suit (best if 2 for when we camp on the beach). We can lent you some working clothes, check the what is in the boxes upon your arrival).
  
  GOING TO THE RANCH WITH YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE
  We'll give you more details if we decide to move forward together.
  If you come with a low ground clearance car, it can be safely parked on a private ranch just before reaching the village and we'll fetch you and your gear with a 4X4 vehicle, for a 7 minutes ride to the ranch.
  
  GOING TO THE RANCH BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
  First reach Guadalajara or Colima Airport (code CLQ).
  We'll give you more details if we decide to move forward together.
  
  If you need to go to and come back from Colima, a bus runs about every 30 minutes from the village to Colima "La Central" de autobuses. It stops in several villages in between so the trip takes about one hour.
  
  Thank you for reading up to here, it shows you are really interested !
  
  REQUEST TO STAY - PEDIDO DE QUEDARSE
  On a scale from 1 (Urban prince/ss - heavy maintenance) to 10 (Indiana Jones - no maintenance at all) do you rate yourself at 6 and above ?
  Does a pioneer lifestyle suits you ?
  
  => please, start your request to stay with us with the word "Cristal" to confirm you have read, understood and will abide to the ranch's rules, in particular those above. Thank you.
  
  ESP => Por favor, inicia tu pedido de quedarse con nosotros con la palabra "Claro" para confirmar que has leído, entendido y cumplirás con las reglas del rancho y en particular con las que leíste arriba. Gracias.
  
  So, if you feel comfortable with the above and want to contact us, here are some questions for you:
  
  0- are you just looking for a cheap vacation in Mexico or have you got a strong motivation in our project ? Please explain.
  
  None of the following question is critical, we assume you'd be happy to learn new skills and expand your comfort zone if relevant.
  
  1- which project(s)/help, you feel you would contribute best to ? Have skills for or experience in / would have more fun with ?
  2- what primitive camping situations have you already experienced ?
  3- are you ok with dry toilet (compost toilet), exterior shower, both with medium privacy
  4- how much practice do you have with shovel, pick, wheelbarrow, simple garden and/or construction tools ?
  5- how much practice do you have with power tools (wood working, garden weed wacker, chain saw ...)
  6- Do you have a driving license ? If so, what is your shifting gears (NON automatic car), motorbike or 4x4 experience ?
  7- would it be your first Workaway experience ? If not, what did you do and what did you like most in your volunteer experience ? Any other non Workaway experience as a volunteer ?
  8- what do you cook best (lol) if you do cook
  9a- what experience do you have sharing a living space (kitchen, dining area, etc...) with others ?
  9b- do you clean your mess after using the kitchen ?
  10- Planning : please confirm your preferred dates and your flexibility around them... so we can check there will be room for you at the time other volunteers will leave
  11- Is this going to be your first trip to Mexico ? Which other countries have you traveled to ? Do you usually prefer to travel solo ?
  12- where will you be during the couple weeks before your preferred dates of starting with us ? Already in Mexico ? Where ? Will you be traveling to the ranch with your OWN car or motor or push bike or by PUBLIC transportation ?
  
  Thank You !

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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

  Low ground clearance vehicles are no recommended due to the access track from the village. But you may park in the village and we'll fetch you. During the rainy season, the shortest access to the ranch may requiere a 4x4 if... the road got recently damaged.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  Mais de 2

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  Horas previstas

  about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week unless special event

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