Ecology & Sustainable Agriculture Internship

THE REGION

El Terreno is on a hillside in the little-known province of Bolívar, just outside of the quaint colonial town of Guaranda in central Ecuador. It's nestled in a valley surrounded by traditional farmland and indigenous communities, with a spectacular view of the majestic Chimborazo Volcano (the point on earth closest to the sun!)

Ecuador is the 8th most biodiverse country in the world, yet only the 74th biggest. The province of Bolívar, with ecosystems ranging from highland deserts (4,000m+) to the coastal tropical forests (300m) has some of the country's widest variety of flora and fauna. Although stunningly beautiful, the province is one of Ecuador’s poorest. There is a high rate of malnutrition, illiteracy and poverty. With few employment opportunities, most high-school graduates quickly leave to the larger cities and the indigenous language and culture is under threat. Most of the rural population work the land for a meagre income, with the recent rise in living costs and the reduction of fuel subsidies their real wealth has declined further.

Since the 1970's, the temperate valleys have relied heavily on agrochemicals to fertilise the soil and kill insects. This has degraded the soils and contaminated the rivers and drinking water. Native forests have been replaced with fields and eucaliptos trees; biodiversity has plummeted, water security is under threat and landslides are common. Since the war with Ukraine, the cost of agrochemicals has gone up significantly, but the sale price of the limited range of produce they grow (corn, beans, potatoes, grains) has remained similar. 

It is clear that something needs to change, but there is not the governmental support to make that happen. We are on a mission to bring diverse perspectives from around the world to design innovative solutions to these problems, so that we can stimulate socioeconomic development while also regenerating these delicate ecosystems. So come and bring your passion and expertise to help these local farmers work towards a more meaningful, prosperous and sustainable future through an internship.

Through your internship, you will learn about the regional challenges. Once you have selected one that excites you, you will receive support to dive deep into the problem to understand the underlying causes, impacts and possible solutions. Possible solutions may include ideas such as sustainable agriculture practices, water harvesting and filtration, eco tourism or natural building. If your research proves promising, will look for the resources to implement your project, and bring your ideas to life!

EL TERRENO: CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTRE

As a centre of cultural exchange and social innovation, we bring together local Ecuadorians and others from around the world through sustainable tourism, culture, education and ecology – to create a more meaningful, sustainable and prosperous world.

We’re in the early stages - starting in July 2021 - but we have big ambitions! We aspire to regenerate local ecosystems, build pride in indigenous culture, provide dignified employment opportunities, offer a wide variety of unique eco & community tourism experiences, and ensure volunteers like you learn new skills, meet extraordinary people and leave with unforgettable memories.

My name is Joshua; I’m 34 and from the UK. I first came as a backpacker to Ecuador in 2013 and fell in love with the place - the people, the culture, the biodiversity and of course, with my Ecuadorian partner, Karina. In 2017, I returned on a one-way ticket and after time spending 3 years searching the country looking for land, we found the perfect spot to begin building a vision we had been nurturing for many years. We are also expecting our first child un June 2022! More recently, we've been building a team of locals and international volunteers to help our programme grow and thrive.

FREE TIME ACTIVITIES

With your time off, you can take a walk around any of the beautiful local trails around the communities, down to the river or jump in a taxi to savor the spectacular could-covered sunset. There are regular buses into town if you would like to go shopping, try the local food or learn about Guaranda’s Carnaval - the most infamous in the country.

For a day’s outing, don’t miss hiking up to Chimborazo’s refuge and enjoying a hot chocolate at over 5,000m above sea level. Alternatively, take a tour around the salt mines and micro-businesses of the nationally renowned village of Salinas de Guaranda. If you prefer warmer climates, within an hour you can drop down to sea level and go hiking in protected virgin forests in the search of pristine rivers, tropical birds and immense waterfalls. Bolívar really has it all (minus the tourist traps!).

CLIMATE

We are at almost 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level and the average temperature is 13°C (55°F). Below is a list of typical weather patterns throughout the year, though climate change is definitely throwing these off, so be ready for anything!

• Summer (Jun - Sep, around Christmas): hot sunny days (leading to water shortages), colder cloudless nights and often a strong wind
• Winter (Feb - Apr): Often dry mornings and heavy rain in the afternoon. Less day/night temperature change and no wind.
• Spring/Autumn (May, Oct - Jan): Somewhere between summer and winter!

Due to the high altitude, the sun feels cooler but will burn you more easily - so be prepared with a hat and sun screen. The temperature is cool at night and Ecuadorian houses have no insulation/central heating, we have blankets and hot water bottles to help keep you cosey. Fortunately there are no mosquitos at this elevation!