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Volunteer at a Off-Grid Farm Homestead in the mountains Ecuador

The experience

A 100% off-grid homestay in the mountains of southern Ecuador! We’re a small family—us, our lively 2-year-old daughter, three friendly dogs, and a flock of chickens and ducks—building a self-sustainable life. Our farm runs on solar panels and spring water, surrounded by wild beauty: a river, a big creek for a cool dip, and permaculture neighbors. We’re planting a fruit forest—Mango, Avocado, Tamarindo, Apples, Sou

What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 12 Per day

Description: Our fruit trees are growing but not fruiting yet, and while our veggie garden feeds us, we still buy extras weekly (supporting local farmers) and maintain our off-grid utilities. The $12/day covers these essentials, plus occasional village trips, while giving you fresh meals, unique skills, and mountain living.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Language lessons: Take free language classes at our place.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner Spanish or Intermediate English

Between 18 and 50 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We seek individuals who: Are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. Being able to match our pace is very important, we need high energy people. Your health, attitude, and mindset greatly affect the entire farm.

We are looking for industrious, conscientious, mature, and diligent individuals who enjoy long days and putting their nose to the grindstone.

And, ideally, we are looking for people that can teach us useful skills as well.

WHAT TO BRING?
Rubber boots AND slippers (for indoors)
3x Working gloves
Min. 7x long sleeves and baggy working pants
Personal Drinking Bottle for Water
Alarm clock and watch
Towel /organic Shampoo, Soap
Sleeping-bag AND mosquito net
Sun hat
Mosquito protection AND repellent
Toothbrush and paste
Personal First-aid kit
Special Medications (allergies or other medical conditions and organic feminine products)
Don’t bring brand shampoo (microplastics!), plastic beverages, plastic food, expensive jewelry or other flashy items, cigarettes, drugs, trash …
Info: Long sleeves are best mosquito repellent!

Activities & Shift

We do expect a lot from our volunteers but will not be micromanaging your weeks. We have a set day-to-day schedule, but the specifics of the work within this framework change weekly. The success of this system is dependent on having proactive, motivated individuals who ask good questions and have the confidence and patience to learn by doing.

Daily / Weekly / Monthly MAINTENANCE:
There are several different daily chores such as cleaning which needs to be done at different times. You are expect to ask where you can help.

FARM PROJECTS:
All the directly farm-related projects such as planting more fruit trees, bamboo, making stairs, digging holes, harvesting other fruits, cutting grass, etc. Farm Projects are in the morning before lunch.

Self Initiated Projects:
We encourage our Volunteers to come up with their own ideas which can be implemented within the farm. Example: Food recipes, Daily hacks / improvements, Planting crops and trees, Extracting and drying seeds, etc.

Rules

The most helpful, effective, and happy participants are self-motivated, interested, responsible, and accountable.

Are patient in the learning process. Many projects require a basic skill set, that you likely won’t anticipate, before you approach more advanced work.

Shower
Please use your own towel, organic soap and shampoo. After the use of the shower, check the facilities to ensure that they are clean for the next user. During the day, only use the natural shower on the left side, which is naturally heated by the sun. Shower before 18:00 o’clock.

Compost toilet
Sit, use, sawdust after business, close the tap, check if there is enough sawdust in the orange bucket and toilet paper around, otherwise, refill. Close the door after leaving the compost toilet. Check if the light is turned off upon exiting.

Basic rules of coexistence:
If you arrive - Greet
If you are leaving - Say goodbye
If you dont understand? - Ask
If someone speaks to you - Answer
If you get a favor - Thank for it
If you made a promise - Comply
If you offend - Apologize
If you have - Share
If you dont have - Do not envy
If you make a mess - Clean
If you think different - Respect
If you love - Show it
If you dont want to help - Dont hinder
If you break something - Repair it
If you borrow - Give it back
If you turn something on - Turn it off
If you open - Close