Volunteer Work on an Organic Farm. The eco-farm offers everything to switch off from hectic everyday life, to get to know a completely new world and to find yourself.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
The 10-hectare organic farm in the mountains of Ecuador is much more than that. Here you will find a wonderful ecological place where volunteers and tourists do not exploit nature, but observe it very closely and live according to its rules. The organic farm is located in the middle of magnificent landscapes close to the Pacific coast of Ecuador with its dream beaches. The farm runs an eco-tourism project and hosts guests from Ecuador and abroad.
The owners, from New Zealand and Ecuador, are real experts in sustainable agriculture and tourism. Together they have created this oasis that fascinates guests from all over the world. They also run an environmental education project, to teach next generations about sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
You are in the right place on this organic farm if you can tackle things firmly if you are ready to embrace new things, enjoy getting to know other people and are willing to learn from them. While doing agricultural work, you will learn a lot about sustainable planting methods and environmental conservation. While attending tourists or local guests you can teach and learn - in any case, you get out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a completely new reality of life. This volunteer experience will broaden your horizon and probably shift one or the other priority.
On the farm’s property, you will find typical local forests, orchards, pastures, alternative energy models, rotation areas for the rearing of large and small animals, holiday homes for tourists, communal accommodation, a large open-air kitchen, and cozy hammocks.
The eco-farm offers everything to switch off from hectic everyday life, to get to know a completely new world, and to find yourself. As if that weren't enough, wonderful beaches at the Pacific are only a few kilometers away.
When volunteering on the organic farm you will have a wide range of tasks. The responsibilities are redistributed on a weekly basis. You can indicate preferences if you are particularly interested in a work area.
The working day on the farm is around 7 hours. The sun rises early in Ecuador and so does the workday. Before breakfast, volunteers help to water the plants and, if necessary, harvest some fruits for breakfast. The well-deserved breakfast at 7:30 a.m. tastes even better after this morning routine.
The second morning shift is all about farming and planting: sowing, transplanting, composting, weeding and so on. The volunteers work hand in hand with the farm staff and the owner's family and are guided by an experienced person in the respective task.
The afternoon work revolves around the various projects: community work, arts / crafts, teaching, gardening, maintenance and construction projects ... there is something for everyone. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, work is over and everyone can enjoy their free time. On some days there are cultural offers or film evenings for the volunteers.
Possible tasks on this farm stay in Ecuador can be:
- Participation in sowing, planting, watering and fertilizing the plants
- Helping with weed and pest control
- Helping with the compost production
- Supporting with feeding and caring for the animals
- Participation in the production of honey
- Participation in the harvest
- Supporting maintenance and construction work on buildings
- Assisting with the maintenance of the trails and gardens
- Participation in the creation of new gardens
- Participation in PR and fundraising measures
- Updating social networks
- Art projects
- Collaboration in the environmental school
- English classes for locals
- Tutoring for children in the community
- Attending tourists and day guests
- Other tasks that may arise
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as the number of volunteers, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
The organic farm is located close to the Pacific coast, about 400 km west of Quito, the country's capital. The region is characterized by hills covered with forests and agricultural land. Here you can immerse yourself in the authentic rural life of Ecuador, where the distances are longer, the clocks tick more slowly and the priorities are completely different than in hectic, modern cities.
The lovely town of Canoa beach is only a few kilometers away. So on days off you can unwind on the beach, plunge into the waves or take surfing lessons. At the weekend there is also some nightlife in the bars and salsa clubs.
The nearest bigger city, Bahía de Caraquez, is further south of Canoa on the Pacific, about 37 km from the farm. Bahía de Caraquez is a modern holiday resort popular with tourists from the capital with very good infrastructure, a beautiful beach and surrounding forests.
There are also a number of walks that can be done upstream from the farm or to Canoa through the mountains or other nearby towns and beaches. Canoa offers paragliding, horse riding on the beach, cycling, surfing lessons. Special features are the peaceful sunsets and the rich seafood food.