1 / 5

Help on our vegan, organic farm and exercise your body and mind near Canoa, Ecuador

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a middle aged Canadian/Israeli couple, who bought a farm in coastal Ecuador. It's a large farm that used to have cows on it, and our idea is to make it into an organic produce farm for vegans (which we are). The land is beautiful, rolling hills and plenty of flat areas, with about half of the property forested and the other half rapidly recovering from the cows--which means the grass, weeds and bushes are happily taking over. We've planted a few hectares of cacao, plantain, banana, coconut, maracuya, and a variety of fruit trees in the 'food forest'. There are also about 70 older, overgrown and neglected cacao trees that we are in the process of rehabilitating and are now producing a nice amount of cacao, and we are experimenting with all of the processes of making chocolate (it's so good). The plantains and bananas are also beginning to produce, and we are starting to dehydrate them. Accommodation is very simple and rustic, we live in a 70 year old 'farmhouse'...by Canadian standards it's comfortable camping. Volunteer accommodation is either a small private room in a little structure near 'our house', or a large gazebo-like structure on a hill a few hundred meters away. Both have simple bathrooms (not outhouses). Luckily the climate is perfectly suited for humans, 20-32 degrees Celsius day/night/year-round. It is humid and you sweat while working, but as soon as you stop, or move to the shade, it's comfortable.
    The location is Manabi province, Ecuador. We are north of Canoa, a few kms on a dirt road to a small village (maybe 300 inhabitants, no commercial infrastructure like stores, though there is a bar for a weekend party).
    About us: we are lifelong travelers, interested in just about everything, which means we ask a lot of questions and like to discuss any topic you can think of. We are absolutely not politically correct, but are straightforward, honest, curious, and open to all kinds of ideas and opinions. We like to be challenged about our own ideas, and will likely challenge yours. We are very active physically as well--farm life is great for keeping you in shape. Some examples to get a sense of our vibe: vegan, organic, hiking, climbing, yoga, meditation (Vipassana), personal responsibility, unvaccinated, not religious, detail oriented, love scientific experiments, question everything, open-minded. No drugs, pharmaceutical or otherwise.
    The farm is an open book at this stage, we have developed only about 5 of the many hectares, and the possibilities are endless. If you're looking for a quiet place to eat wholesome food, work and live 'outdoors', exercise your body and your mind, come join us.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are a cultural soup, having grown up in Israel/Canada and traveled extensively most of our lives, we speak English/Hebrew/Spanish. The local area is very rural Ecuadorian, friendly people that are easy to mix with as much as you'd like to. Canoa, the nearest 'town', is a surfing/beach town, with a nice variety of local and foreign tourists.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    There is a good variety of work options, from weeding, picking, pruning, planting, cooking, building, fixing, developing, beautifying...something to suit every talent or interest. We have quite a few tools and are always up to get more (to suit a new venture, for example...we just bought our first 'melanger' for making chocolate).

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Hebrew: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    I have experience teaching ESL, and am happy to help you if you're learning.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Very simple accommodation, rustic. You are welcome to build/alter to your heart's content! There is a small private room in a little building near our 'house', or a gazebo structure on a hill about 200m away. Both have simple bathrooms. We are vegans and I love to cook, we try to use as much food from the farm as we can. We like a variety of ethnic dishes, Indian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Latino, etc...we try to make it healthy and tasty, lots of spices and strong flavors. You are welcome to eat with us, or prepare your own food (we can provide ingredients, but only vegan ;))

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Ecuador is a really neat country, lots of variety, beach to dramatic mountains to jungle. The bus system is great, extensive and relatively cheap, so it's easy to go on trips--we have traveled the country quite extensively and are happy to give advice (though we haven't been to the Galapagos). Canoa is a surf beachtown, also has a para/hang-gliding launch.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    There are occasional short (max a few hours) power outages here. We have Starlink internet and do use a generator if we have something important to do, so it's available if necessary (we don't like to run it unnecessarily).

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have loads of flat space, so campers/motorhomes are no problem.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 711924697845

Photos

Feedback

Restore the Amazon Rainforest on a 130-hectare organic polyculture Fruit Forest in SE Ecuador
Birds and coffee in the Carchi Province-A journey and a different experience, Ecuador