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Learn together on our eco-friendly homestead and permaculture project in Arens de Lledo, Spain

Disponibilidade

  2025 

 Hospedagem min. solicitada: mínimo 1 semana

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Detalhes

  • Descrição

    Descrição

    We are Robert and Tanja, originally from the Netherlands, but after 20 years living and working in Africa and Southeast Asia, we feel rather cosmopolitan. Tanja works in International Development; Robert is a guide to Birdwatchers. In 2004 we bought a Finca (farm) in Arens de Lledo, in the beautiful Matarraña region of Spain. Ever since, we have been slowly developing the property as an eco-friendly homestead and permaculture project. There are many tasks to do as the property is by now 37 hectares of pine forest, old terraces, riverbank and fields where we want to practice straw bale gardening and Huegel culture. We need help in building raised beds, fences, gardening, cleaning stables and a lot of other small projects such as equipping a climbing wall and a bit of landscaping! On a daily basis a lot of the work consists of animal care. We now have 23 goats, 7 chickens and 12 Indian Runner ducks, Campero our beautiful black horse and Bram and George our little Shetland ponies and of course Bayley our rescue dog, all need love and attention.
    All volunteers get the yearly newsletter, for some it is their 7th. With many we still have contact on the socials.

    What happened on the finca in 2024.
    When was the last time you did something for the first time? This adagium is a good motivation to stay ahead of Methusalems curse: the ´Geranium in the Windowsill´.
    Every Workaway-Volunteer is a first, for them as well as for us. This year we had the 104th for the first time and ended with the 116th ever. We never had a 116th before. These thirteen people from 10 nationalities, plus some friends that helped out, have done quite a lot of different things on the finca. The running projects of animal care and plant watering, harvesting etc. were happening daily. All volunteers, or WAW´s as we call them, participated. A few helped to plant almost 1400 trees in the new forest and along the new path up to the top house. Some of them rode on Campero or used the Ferrari, drawn by Bram. And yes, the horses need to be doing something to earn their keep, so it is a necessity and thus: work. We are working around the house on top of the hill, that is part of the finca that we acquired three years ago. Putting in a sewer is hard work and requires skills and stamina. We removed a lot of wood and branches from the finca, to minimise the impact of a forest fire. It also looks better when there is no deadwood. Then there were impromptu tasks, caused by unexpected events. In October there was sudden heavy rainfall, and we had to repair the track going up to the top of the hill. Another time a stopper on the water pipeline leaked. As we have now more than a kilometer of piping, partly underground, branching to the different taps and meadows it was some time before we found it. The recurring task of repairing fences is not a nice one, but the goats continuously keep on testing our perseverance.
    But then, those WAW´s that were here in the latter half of the year could see that having goats is a blessing as well.
    We had 18 kids delivered by 11 mothers, without any mishaps. The young rascals are a joy to behold, running, jumping, mock-fighting, begging for milk. We will keep most females, but the herd now is bigger than what we are allowed to have. The first ones out were the gate- and fence crashing individuals. A matter of efficiency.
    The volunteers also used their free time to explore the surrounding area, using their own feet or with our electric bikes. A number of times we went to the Delta, for bird watching or a swim. Both Santa Barbara and Roques de Benet were climbed.
    Over the 7 years that we worked together with WAW´s, 30 different nationalities stayed with us for some time.
    Two people, from Cuba and Japan, will bring that number to 32 next January. These were the people this year:

    Maira GER 104 04-03-24 25-03-24
    Katerina RSA 105 04-03-24 25-03-24
    Lena GER 106 27-03-24 18-04-24
    Alexis FRA 107 01-04-24 18-04-24
    Joe UK 108 29-05-24 12-06-24
    Flavie CAN 109 02-06-24 23-06-24
    Chiara ITA and Gaia ITA 110 and 111
    02-08-24 11-08-24
    Carlotta GER 112 20-09-24 02-10-24
    Arnau SPA 113 24-09-24 14-10-24
    Jolanda NED 114 30-09-24 06-10-24
    Mona FIN 115 03-10-24 28-10-24
    Peter USA 116 20-11-24 14-12-24

    We are very grateful to all of them for their contributions. We hope to be able to continue hosting volunteers, as we really appreciate their input, stories, gameplaying, cooking and experiences.
    A big THANKYOU to all, including those from previous years.
    Tanja and Robert, Bayley, Campero, Bram, the goats, ducks and chickens

    What happened in 2023.
    After the family holiday, Tanja was remaining in Tunis, Robert was back in Arens on January 2nd, and finca management had to restart again. This year with the help of 29 new Workaway volunteers, some family, friends and even volunteers who returned to the finca. Jessica and Wil had taken charge of the holiday period and will be sorely missed by the goats. Quite a big area near the river is now cleared of Brambles, caña (giant reed) and shrubs as Jessica made them graze a lot over there. Just two days later, Fer and Tineke arrived for a week. More hands mean easier work. Not having to muck the horse meadow every day is a relief. And good discussions later each day.
    When they left Siloë and Eloïse arrived from Belgium on the start of a gap year of travel and adventure. Then Rodrigo from Brazil and a French couple Margot and William took over chores. A few days of solitude before Nell arrived, her stay overlapped with Laura. And Tanja finished working in Libya/Tunesia.
    And then the Vikings arrived, excuse me, the Danish. Lasse, Nikolai and Harald met as firemen during a year of civil service. They could be set to do hard physical work, transporting stone and soil, digging trenches and holes to make a fence around a new meadow. Some of the stones they moved are still on the spot where they left them, too heavy for me to move. Therefor, waiting for more Norsemen.
    This year we also had some people that did not come after initially being very positive. Luckily, they all communicated early enough. Once I have been waiting in vain at a busstop, not very nice, but not this year. One Swiss girl could not come, but a compatriot, Jennifer did arrive for just over 4 weeks. On that same day Dorottya and Ivett from Hungary also took the same bus from Barcelona in a well coordinated action to minimise our travel. Great. The last volunteer to arrive before the summer break was Meaghan, who travelled all the way from the United States.
    During the summer, without volunteers for a while, it was not exactly quiet. Our boys came over, with six friends. They were on a holiday so had a look at the finca, but mainly enjoyed the swimming, wine sampling, eating and sun in the area. For one day we had Loraine over at the finca. She was collecting impressions and information for a thesis on Food Forests.
    In August we had another friend over, Ruth from the UK. To be more accurate; Tanja met her in Laos. A short week of memory recollections. After that, Ayame flew in from Japan.
    In early September we had a meeting with old Kenya hands in Porto. Jasper and one of the friends from July came over to manage the finca. Thanks for that, Lisa, you´re a volunteer now. Also in September we had two more couples of friends coming over for a stay: Yvette and Paddy from Geneva and our ´the Hague walking group´ friends Arjan and Maurits. We did a few good walks close by in Els Ports.
    Then it was time again for the regular Workaway crowd. Lena arrived from Belgium, also at the start of a gap year. While she was here Chiara and Lena from Italy stayed with us also, and to completely fill the house we also had Mia and Johanna here. All the ladies teamed up against Robert when playing Monopoly Deal, the quicker card game version of the capitalist real estate board game.
    By then it became a close race to decide who would be the one-hundredth volunteer ever at the Finca. Eline from the Netherlands was the 99th and then Louise from Luxemburg had to postpone her arrival for some time, she became 101st while Marit from the Netherlands took 100th.
    Fer and Tineke were here again for a few days, Pauline and Hugo from France were the last volunteers this busy 2023 year. Sander and Jasper again contributed over the Christmas period working on the roof, the Terp (a combination of flood refuge and stable), the newly planted trees and animal care.
    All these volunteers together did many things. The routine of tasks having to keep the animals happy are twofold: tedious and fun. Keeping the herd of goats together while grazing is fun, except when they suddenly decide to go all into different directions. Horses are fine to ride, to groom and to just look at but they produce manure. Tomatoes are tasty, however they need water, just a chickens do. But then, the eggs are delicious.
    Then there were a few bigger projects happening. In autumn we cleared the route for a new track up the hill. Some 40 trees needed to be felled, cut into pieces, and wood and branches needed to be shredded. A lot of pulling, lifting and transport to be done. The two areas where we want to have water basins were relatively free of vegetation, so needed little work. Over three sessions the guy with the Big Yellow Machine created the new track, dug out the two balsas (water storages, a.k.a. swimming pools? ) and sorted out some bottlenecks on the old track up to the house on the top. Over there some earth moving was done in preparation of future plans. Along the track we planted 250+ trees and shrubs. For the moment very spindly stalks, but they will line the track, cast shadows, produce hazelnuts, fruits and stabilize the soil.
    With an ever-increasing herd of goats, we really needed an extra meadow. But goats actually require fortresses or prisons more. The disciples of Houdini find any opportunity to escape. Alcatraz, in their expert escape artist´s view is “Al c z”. Some serious fence building had to happen. That took a while and we still are not sure if we have been successful. Added to that, once they are in, they need water otherwise they will decide to go looking elsewhere. We knew there was a well on the new finca, but not exactly where. A casual meeting with a previous owner pointed us in the right direction. We found a 35-meter-deep borehole, with an artesian character. Problem solved.
    By the way, the goat herd has become even more of a unit since the arrival of Valentino (yes, born on Valentine´s Day) on the birthday of the Dutch King. Initially, all other goats kicked and pushed him, and the poor sod has no horns to mete out his reciprocal judgment. So, he needed time to grow into the position. By now he is the biggest of the herd and as a buck the fully intact female goats appreciate what he can do for them.
    Thanks to all the volunteers (from 30 different countries and even more backgrounds) that contributed this year and previous years.




    Robert and Tanja

  • Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

    Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

    Ajuda em projetos ambientais
    Jardinagem
    Construção/faça você mesmo
    Cuidar de animais
    Ajuda em fazenda
  • Objetivos de sustentabilidade da ONU que este anfitrião quer atingir

    Objetivos de sustentabilidade da ONU que este anfitrião quer atingir

    Objetivos da ONU
    Erradicar a pobreza
    Erradicar a fome
    Saúde de qualidade
    Educação de qualidade
    Igualdade de género
    Água potável e saneamento
    Energias renováveis e acessíveis
    Trabalho digno e crescimento económico
    Indústria, inovação e infraestruturas
    Reduzir as desigualdades
    Cidades e comunidades sustentáveis
    Produção e consumo sustentáveis
    Ação climática
    Proteger a vida marinha
    Proteger a vida terrestre
    Paz, justiça et instituições eficazes
    Parcerias para a implementação dos objetivos
  • Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

    Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

    We have had workawayers from many different countries which provides for cultural exchange, you can learn about birdwatching, enjoy the historical villages of Horta de Sant Joan (Picasso), Gandesa, Valderrobles, Cretas visit the archeological sites nearby, but also have practical experience of building, ecological gardening and animal care.

  • Ajuda

    Ajuda

    We would like to get help in the mornings. We want help reconstructing a ruin of a house, and develop several acres of terraces for e.g. horse meadows, strawbale gardening and fruiting trees.

  • Idiomas

    Inglês: Fluente
    Francês: Fluente
    Holandês: Fluente
    Alemão: Intermediário
    Espanhol: Intermediário

  • Acomodação

    Acomodação

    The accommodation will be in a comfortable double room in our village house or a bit more basic and off grid in the Maset on the Finca, you can also camp out in your own tent, or in your camper. If you only require one hectare each, we can still have 20 + campers ;.)

  • Algo mais...

    Algo mais...

    As to staying with us, we work on a first come, first served basis and assume that, once you have said that you will come, you will actually show up as well. Depending on your mode of transport (car, public, bus or plane (best via Barcelona)) we have to set up an appointment on where to meet. The village doesn´t have public transport, but we can collect you from Tortosa, Horta de San Juan, Gandesa, Alcañiz or Calaceite. Tortosa also has a train station, the other towns can only be reached by bus. And you will have to be brought back there as well. From this you might also conclude that we ask people to stay for at least a week, preferably two, otherwise it simply does not work for all involved.
    You will be lodged in your own room in the house in the village. Every morning we need to go to the finca, which takes just 10 minutes. We expect that you join us at least 5 times per week. After a couple of hours work, we normally have lunch back at the house. If you like to cook lunch or dinner, be our guest. The afternoons are at your disposal.
    Free time and weekends can be spent exploring the Els Ports mountains, the Ebro Delta, the coast and many of the nearby villages like Horta de San Joan or Valderrobres.

  • Mais alguns detalhes

    Mais alguns detalhes

    • Acesso à internet

    • Acesso à internet limitado

      Acesso à internet limitado

    • Temos mascotes

    • Somos fumantes

    • Pode hospedar famílias

  • Pode hospedar nômades digitais

    Pode hospedar nômades digitais

    We have wifi in the house and several places where people can work. Not a real office space, but some quiet can be arranged.

  • Espaço para estacionar campervans

    Espaço para estacionar campervans

    The finca (farm-part) is available, but that doesn't have internet. Nearest place to empty septic liquids is some 30 km away. Toilet and hot shower, however, on the finca.

  • Pode aceitar animais

    Pode aceitar animais

    Dogs only, but with some restrictions.

  • Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

    Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

    Mais de 2

Nº de ref. de anfitrião: 861637923586

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Comentário (65)



Comentário

Essas classificações são opcionais e foram dadas junto com os comentários dos membros.A classificação média deixada por cada opção é exibida.

Precisão do perfil:
(5.0)

Intercâmbio cultural:
(4.9)

Comunicação:
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