Organic farming
Volunteers will follow the daily routine of their host family, getting up when they do and passing the day together working the land or in the community. Through conversation and practical experience volunteers will live and learn about the traditions and daily life of these campesinos (farmers) and their families.
There may also be opportunities during the stay to work with other families and people of the same community on a wider variety of activities. This allows greater experience of the daily life and contributes to further integration into the community.
Except for organic farming the volunteers can also take part in other activities of the community such as teaching, women's groups, constructing, forestation, local development and environmental education.
Depending on what needs to be done the volunteers might help with:
-Work on the land: prepare seed beds, sow, weed, water, and plant.
-Harvest the local fruit and vegetable for meals.
-Manage the farm animals (normally chickens, pigs, cows, sheep and guinea pigs).
-Participate in mingas (community work).
-Work in the community tree nursery (depending on the community).
-Reforest micro-valleys with native plant species (depending on time of year and community).
-Help out or teach in the education centers and schools.
-Visit local markets and perhaps buy or sell farm animals.
-Any construction that may need doing (eg fixing roofs, making fences, animal pens).
-Visit neighboring communities.
Getting there
Participants go alone or with other participants but they will be taken to the bus station to make sure they get the right bus. On arrival somebody from the host family meets them at the bus station.
Travel time to Ibarra is about 3 hours.
Accommodation
Participants will live with a host family in the community where they have a private room and a shared bathroom. They will have 3 meals per day.
Location
TabacundoRequirements
Intermediate Spanish recommended.
Interest in working with people and nature.
Open-mindedness to work and live in a small town rural community.
Some notions of farming (not necessary).
Volunteers need rubber bots and gloves for work.
Volunteers needs to understand that a middle class family where they will live is normally very simple.