Be part on making an open house out of our big home in the nature in Regules, Spain

Details

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  Description

  Hello, my name is Shanti. I am a traveler who has been volunteering and working for the last few years. Two years ago I decided to stay in my hometown, when I realized about the potential and nature of my valley.
  
  I no longer had to seek for something. Together with my family, we planned on transforming what would be needed to bring into life the idea for which this big and beautiful house was bought, twenty years ago, and in which I’ve grown up.
  
  Last year, we started with a lot of energy but cautiously, not knowing to what extent we could carry on doing this. But it was a total blast.
  
  This was already the second workaway project I’ve conducted, but it has been very encouraging to live this project with so many people. We soon have become rightly more ambitious.
  
  The first and most obvious thing to change here is that both the house and the town need more people. Everything is different with somebody by the side, on the same boat. As soon as somebody comes along, this place is so much more. It only makes sense if it is shared. And that is why we have decided to make of this house an open space, that hosts a community. And we are really willing to put our effort on it.
  
  The land is a farm that goes down a hill into the river, the last meadow before the forest takes over. A part of it is covered by fruit trees, some very large and old, and many others that we have been planting. In autumn and part of the summer, the fruit is all over. We have two large edible gardens that provide us with many good things to eat throughout the year. During the warm season, most of the food comes from there.
  
  This huge house is 120 years old, built by one of the long gone local landlords, and left almost abandoned for over thirty years. Has plenty of empty and unused space, that we are committed to bring into life trough sharing the house and transforming them
  
  So now there are four of us all year long on the project: my parents Maite and Iñigo, who live here, my sister Alaia who as well spends here most of her time (she is as well a veteran workawayer) and me.
  
  Seasonally, there’s friends, family and travelers who drop by, and during the summer we do a proper working campaign.
  
  We have realized that we are not enough to take advantage of this place, and that the more we are, the better that we all live here. The possibilities here are so that everybody’s needs could be covered. And we are working to be able to share the place with others wanting to stay and live. We aim now to bring new common spaces to the house to share with friends, travelers and family.
  
  The idea is to get the place giving more than what it takes from us.
  Not through making huge moves, but the right ones towards well-being, sustainability and a meaningful experience.
  
  Think of it as of a chess board; think it as a game :)
  
  
  
  This is Maite, Iñigo, Alaia and Shanti
  
  
  Hola, me llamo Shanti. Soy un viajero que ha estado voluntariando y trabajando durante los últimos años entre Europa y América Latina. El año pasado volví y decidí quedarme en mi pueblo natal, cuando me di cuenta del potencial y la naturaleza de mi valle. Me di cuenta de que no necesitaba buscar en ningún otro lugar y que esto es el reto que buscaba. Hemos decidido countinuar con la visión por la que se compró esta casa, hace veinte años.
  
  Lo primero y más evidente es que tanto la casa, como el pueblo y la convivencia necesitan de más gente. Todo es diferente con alguien a tu lado, o al lado de alguien. Y por eso hemos decidido hacer de este lugar un espacio abierto que acoja una comunidad.
  
  El terreno es una finca que baja hasta el río. Una parte de ella está ocupada por árboles frutales, algunos muy grandes y viejos, y muchos que hemos ido plantando. En otoño y parte del verano, sobra la fruta. Tenemos una gran huerta que nos provee de la mayoría de lo que comemos, sobre todo durante los meses cálidos.
  
  Así que ahora somos cuatro en el proyecto de forma constante: mis padres Maite e Iñigo, que viven aquí, mi hermana Alaia que pasa aquí casi todo su tiempo (también es workawayer veterana) y yo.
  
  De acuerdo con la época, se suman amigos, familia y voluntarios, y durante el verano, hacemos una temporada de trabajo.
  
  Nos hemos dado cuenta de que no somos suficientes para aprovechar este lugar, y que más gente significa más de todo. Ahora, aspiramos a impulsar una vida más comunitaria con otras, y crear nuevos espacios comunes para hacer la convivencia La idea es conseguir una casa abierta a más gente. Queda mucho por hacer :)
  
  
  Saludos de Maite, Iñigo, Alaia y Shanti

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I think that you can experience a quality time here, thanks to the people and the place.
  
  The surroundings have a lot of things to offer. If you enjoy nature, here you have plenty. As I said earlier, this place is either good for chilling or for doing stuff. Sports, going to the beach or the river, hiking... enjoying your time out from here.
  
  Your fellow companions will, very likely be up for hanging out and share some laughter as is now the regular.
  
  As well I thing you might benefit from your time with us. We are active on range of skills and crafts that you might find appealing. For example I do spend time on woodworks, blacksmithing, picking up mushrooms, seeding, pruning and grafting trees... And we are all pretty envolved in the garden. I'm also a climber and a former educator related to pedagogy. You might find on me an apprentice or a partner as well, as I love learning new skills. Tell me about your thing.
  
  My parents and sisiter are more of the same. If you are interested on baking bread or getting familiar with the garden, you might have something to learn and bring back home. Will be happy to share what we know/have.
  
  If you want to practice your spanish count on us as well (also fine with english).
  
  Honestly, I think that the best part might be the experience and feeling that you added, you changed something and that you owned a place.
  
  
  
  
  
  El lugar tiene mucho de ofrecer. Es un valle muy verde y frondoso, y está a media hora del mar. Es un buen sitio si quieres pasar una temporada haciendo deporte o en la naturaleza.
  
  Creo que también puedes llevarte conocimiento y experiencias si sientes curiosidad o ganas de practicar algunas habilidades. Somos un grupo muy activo, y yo mismo paso tiempo mucho tiempo fuera entre los árboles podando, esquejando, injertando... o haciendo trabajos de carpintería, metal, piedra, etc. En mi tiempo libre quizás estoy en el bosque cogiendo setas, leyendo en una hamaca o haciendo un fuego. Todos disfrutamos mucho del huerto.
  
  Mis padres, aunque no practiquen, son ambos profesores de yoga, y mi padre osteópata y quiropráctico. A mi madre le entusiasma hacer pan y las plantas. Estoy seguro de que puedes compartir buen tiempo con ellos y el resto de voluntarios y amigos, y si te gusta compartir lo que haces, seguro que te lo pedimos.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  So right now we have three main fronts.
  
  We must work with tools making some of the new spaces, so this will keep busy the ones that, like me, feel at ease already.
  
  As well, it’s more than important to have the lunch done, and that is another great task to cover if you feel handy and prefer not to scorch in the sun
  
  And if you are of the ones that like to roast under the spanish sky, work your body and earn an afternoon in the river, you are as well very very welcomed :)
  
  Of course that every task is shared , you will only dowhat you accept to do and
  
  course that we must do things like cooking, being on the garden, rebuilding stuff... That is a part. But the main thing is to make this place better for being shared: making changes on the common life as building a kitchen for everybody, tidying up a new guest room, ensuring upcoming year’s food independence through work on the garden and orchard, etc.
  
  Is not that much about making huge moves but thinking of making the clever ones.
  
  Having good common habits and relationships is of course something I put a big effort on.
  So, being skilled on gardening, working with tools, having a sense for efficiency and/or functionality, is awesome. But is not the only.
  
  I want you to do your good part, feel this as yours as you can, take care of your needs and have a great time.
  
  There will always be more stuff to be done, so if you have a special talent, knowledge or strenght, please let me know! Or if you like hard work... just join me :)
  
  
  En una casa de campo como esta, nunca faltan tareas que hacer, como cuidar la huerta, instalar un riego, cocinar o trabajar con herramientas... Si nos puedes ayudar con eso, genial. Pero todo lo que hacemos sirve a un propósito final.
  
  Queremos hacer de esta, nuestra casa de siempre, un lugar más abierto. Una casa que pueda recibir gente, tanto de visita (como tu) como para quedarse a vivir con nosotros. Hay más espacio del que necesitamos.
  Hay que hacer zonas comunes agradables donde más podamos convivir.
  
  Necesitamos hacer una cocina común y suficientemente grande, un nuevo cuarto de invitados, hacer lo necesario para asegurar la independencia alimentaria, etc. Los cambios son formas de mejorar la convivencia y lo que tenemos en común.
  
  Tenemos que encargarnos de cocinar y cuidar la huerta, o de trabajar con herramientas quien sepa hacerlo :). Cualquiera de las dos cosas, es una gran ayuda.
  
  Pongo esfuerzo en que todo el mundo se sienta parte, que esté a gusto y pueda hacer su tarea con placer. Ayúdame, esto es también una tarea y me viene bien que seas una persona abierta y fresca.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We have two guest rooms with bunk beds and private bathrooms that you can use, and the food you might need is also on the deal. Usually we take breakfast together, somebody cooks a strong meal at noon and the rest we can self organize. If you need anything else there’s a supermarket very close by. And in case you don't or can't eat something, please let me know :)
  
  
  Tenemos dos habitaciones con literas y baño. Y nos hacemos cargo de la comida. Generalmente desayunamos juntos y alguien hace una comida al mediodía para todo el mundo. Si eres intolerante a algún alimento o tienes alguna dieta concreta, cuéntame.

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  What else ...

  Here you can chill with the rest of us, and from here you can have a walk to the river, the bar or just nature around, that for me is already pretty compelling.
  
  Even though we try to minimize our time riding a car, we regularly use it to go down to a bigger town 15 minutes away with all services and a train station connecting to Bilbao and Santander. So if you need anything you can come with us, or take one of the three busses that pass by every day, up and down.
  
  A bit further down you can go to the coast, in case you feel like surfing or having a beach day, we also go there pretty often.
  Within a range of an hour you can go climbing, to some beautiful beaches, surfing, multi-day hiking, go watch cave paintings (like 15 mins away) or checking a couple of natural parks.
  
  You can as well go to Bilbao, where you have a broad cultural offer. You can go dancing, visiting the Guggenheim Museum or to events and festivals.
  
  
  Puedes pasar aquí el tiempo que quieras, o caminar al río, al bosque, al bar, al pueblo...
  
  A 15 minutos está ramales, que es un pueblo mediano donde puedes encontrar lo que necesites. Aunque procuremos usar el coche lo menos posible, solemos ir muy a menudo. Puedes aprovechar los viajes si no dispones de coche, o aprovechar los autobuses que suben y bajan desde el pueblo tres veces al día. Desde allí se puede tomar un tren a Bilbao o Santander.
  
  En un rango de una hora, tienes muchísimas playas, paseos, rutas, sectores de escalada, cuevas y pinturas rupestres. Si no conoces Bilbao, en hora y media puedes acercarte por tren, o algo menos por carretera.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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