Get Your Hands Dirty and Grow Some Food (2024)

Basic information

We are guardians and stewards of the Earth and the soul. We are a small reforestation, land regeneration, and natural farming project in the cloud forest. Active both in our community and on our farm, we are passionate about trees, plants, animals, good people, gratitude, and enriching experiences.

Our home in the cloud forest features a spacious open kitchen, dining room, and living room, all under a tin roof. We offer several dorms and shared rooms. Occasionally, we are fortunate enough to see toucans in our yard, and we always enjoy the sounds of birds, including the giant flocks of green parrots that frequently fly by.

We value ethical, kind, and responsible individuals. We are looking for positive, independent, and motivated people who can take the initiative and appreciate a laid-back, fun, rustic, and simple homey lifestyle.

We Accept Helper(s)

We are located in a region of Peru renowned for being the country’s main tea producer. Our location is less than a four-hour drive from Cusco and just three hours from the Sacred Valley. We are within trekking distance to Machu Picchu or a short two-hour walk along the hydroelectric path, which is only 75 minutes away by car.

Planting seeds, maintaining land, and learning about organic pest management and soil health are part of our day-to-day life. The farm is home to cats, dogs, chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, cuy, and rabbits. We are passionate about reforestation, biodiversity, and soil health. Please note that there are bugs, especially in August.

Spanish is the primary language on the farm. Volunteers should speak some Spanish, be open to learning, or be comfortable using Google Translate. I speak both English and Spanish, but our local staff primarily speaks Spanish and Quechua. Sometimes, I am unavailable due to business commitments abroad. I appreciate proactive individuals who can share our vision and take initiative as I manage multiple projects. We teach through experience and often share YouTube videos or books as learning resources.

We are followers of the Way (Yeshua) and believe in caring for the Earth, its creatures, and each other. We welcome those who seek the Creator and wish to fast in nature. We prepare great vegetarian meals and make many basics like ketchup, vinegar, natural sodas, and sauerkraut. Often, we invite friends and neighbours to join us for meals. Our food includes authentic traditional Peruvian dishes as well as international cuisines from Italy, Mexico, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, and America.

Join us and be part of our vision to care for the Earth and our community while enjoying a simple, rustic lifestyle in the beautiful cloud forest of Peru.

Getting There

Travel InsuranceGet Free Quote

Please note that the activities on our farm vary with the seasons. For instance, tasks like harvesting coffee beans can only be done when the plants are in bloom, not just flowering. We maintain a strict policy against drugs and alcohol on the premises.

We are creating a unique environment where only music known to promote plant growth is played. Research, including studies by Masaru Emoto on water, informs our belief in the potential impact of positive music (instrumental or sacred) on our farm and ourselves. If you cannot commit to this philosophy during your stay, we kindly request that you choose another place to volunteer.

Please understand that we do not provide farm tours to every volunteer due to time constraints; a comprehensive tour can take half a day or more. Our volunteers typically fall into two categories: specialists who work on specific projects aligned with their expertise (e.g., botanists conducting plant studies) and general volunteers who may be new to farm work and assist with tasks like juicing oranges, weeding, painting, collecting wood, and cleaning.

If you are new to volunteering on farms and plan to stay for two weeks, please be mindful of our resources and be prepared to engage in basic tasks without extensive prior explanation. Your willingness to jump into our ongoing projects is appreciated, and we hope your experience here will inspire further exploration into topics like fermented foods, permaculture, hugelkultur, and reforestation. While we do offer occasional classes and workshops, these are currently unscheduled, and their availability during your stay may vary.

Thank you for considering these guidelines and expectations. We look forward to welcoming volunteers who share our commitment to sustainability, learning, and positive impact.