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100 %
Last replied
23 Oct 2024
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Description
Saludos! I'm Lisa, a 55 year old Swiss-Puerto Rican with a long past career in communications, and ongoing ones in other areas (civil service, arts), that has decided to spend more time in nature than in front of screens. In 2020 I started this permaculture project in the mountains of Yabucoa. My goal is to eat mostly from what grows on the land and grow an edible forest for future generations. This is a non-commercial, idealistic and neighbourhood friendly project, and I'm most greatful for enthusiastic, nature loving volunteers who love to share over meals and see when and where help is needed, even when not told what to do. This is a 100% drug and smoke free environment for people who love peace and quietness.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will learn a lot about Puerto Rico's flora and fauna, will cherrish to eat what grows, and can interact with other volunteers over meals. You can practice your languages, learn how to use garden and other tools, get creative (paint, write, sew), read, relax, play board games (on request I'll teach you how Puerto Ricans play Domino and can show you the basic Salsa steps, too). Sustainability and mindfulness applies to all resources.
Help
I offer a comfortable bed and three plant-based whole-food meals a day in exchange for 25 hours of help per week. Clear the land, plant, deweed, trim, harvest,... mostly alongside me, a neighbour, and other visitors and volunteers. There is always enough to do on my approx. 1 1/2 acre hillside land under the tropical sun, as well as in and around the house. In case you're a handy person or a builder we can (re)build stuff using the bamboo that grows on the land and do some maintenance work on the house, too. When it comes to household chores (dishes, laundry, cleaning) we help each others, nevermind the gender. Keep in mind that there is no public transportation and you'll be stuck to the farm. Also: We are in growing zone 12+, so not comparable to mainland USA farming, as extremely hot and humid.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I speak German, Spanish, English, French and Italian. Volunteers are welcome to brush up and practice their languages with me and introduce me to theirs. As most volunteers are (only) English speakers, you'll most likely not get the Spanish immersion you might hope for.
Accommodation
Comfortable house with four beds in two rooms and a shared bathroom. Screens on all windows, mostly lower temperatures than in the cities. Solar power and water cystern add to the eco lifestyle. We practize reduce/reuse/recycle.
What else ...
The house is about 60 min from San Juan. There is NO public transportation. Uber drivers come up from Palmas del Mar, Humacao (no guaranteed availability, though), and charge approx. $40 to $80 for a ride to San Juan or to a swimming beach (Seven Seas, Fajardo, Monserrate, Luquillo, Isla Verde, Carolina, Ocean Park or Escambrón, San Juan). I normally pick up the volunteers in a radius of an hour, preferrably when I have to be in San Juan anyway, and take them shopping every 10 to 14 days. There is no fridge space for volunteers, but you can bring non-perishable snacks.
All meals are taken together at approx. 6:30AM, between 12MD and 1PM and between 6 and 7PM. I cook vegetarian (vegan on request).
Strictly no smoking, no drugs, no noise. No phones during meals.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Fast/reliable fiber optic internet is provided, but I strongly suggest to spend as little time as possible online, as the idea is to be outdoors and offline as much as you can, and also help me with household chores such as washing, cooking, cleaning. Use the opportunity to engage in conversations, practice an instrument, play games, or get crafty.
Space for parking camper vans
A regular campervan can be parked next to the house.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
25 hours per week
Feedback (17)
Lisa is an amazing person and host. I had so many great conversations with her, from politics to art. She's had many experiences, and hearing about them added to my perspective. She is understanding and taught me about… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Lisa is an amazing person and host. I had so many great conversations with her, from politics to art. She's had many experiences, and hearing about them added to my perspective. She is understanding and taught me about… read more
she is very patient, always finding a suitable task for each volunteer.
i have learned a lot during my stay (gardening, plant and tree care, puerto rican lifestyle and much more) and fell in love with the surrounding nature and lisas idea… read more
We liked most the interesting conversations that we had during meals or on the… read more
The work can be hard at times, but always provides a… read more
She is very attentive, forthcoming, fun and knowledgeable about flora/fauna in Puerto Rico. We worked with many different things/tools and really had the chance to experience farm life in the tropics and enjoy tummy meals with interesting people.
Lisa is awesome!
For all future… read more
