Programs Abroad

ECUADOR - Farm Stay in Ecuadorian Andes

	Project: Farm Stay Booking Nº: EC124 Country: Ecuador + Location: Pichincha Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: Year round Price: 2 weeks, from 320 USD
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Task

Volunteer tasks vary from day to day from preparing soil, harvesting the crops, cooking, construction, animal management and reforestation. Living in close proximity with locals, there are plenty of opportunities to become part of this small town Ecuadorian community as well as partake in the daily lives around the farm. The pace of the farm varies with the work load and climate. We bet once your nearly done with your program, you´ll be wondering where the time went! During the farm stay you can learn about organic agriculture, agro-forestry, animal management (cows, pigs, llamas, guinea pigs, etc.), and the conservation of native forests. Volunteers will learn details of each subject through daily practical experience and conversations with their staff. Naturally the more time you spend with them the more you can learn.

Examples of typical tasks performed at the farm:

Organic Vegetable garden: Soil management, seed beds, natural pest control, worm compost, BIOL liquid fertilizers, crop rotation and medicinal plants.
Tree Nursery: Prepare seeds and substrate, graft plants, transplant seedlings, learn the uses of different tree species and reforestation (according to the season).
The fields: Use the “azadon” to cultivate the land, water crops, harvest fruit and vegetables, crop diversity and live fences.
Guinea pigs: Collect feed and encourage breeding (as a traditional meal, the “cuy” forms an important part of local culture).
Cattle: Feeding and milking, collecting manure for composting and making cheese.

The working timetable is approx 7:30 am until 4 pm with an hour for lunch, thought this isn’t rigid and depending on work to be done and climate. After work volunteers frequently head to town for personal shoppings or internet cafes. Around the farm property there is loads of room to set-up a hammock to read and relax, cook, do laundry or play sports. The programs run from Monday morning to Saturday morning and facilities are open to volunteers on Sundays. On the weekends there are many options for volunteers to explore the area, hike to the laguna, or takes trips to Otavalo´s famous market.

Accommodation

Twin rooms and small dormitories
Bathrooms with hot showers
3 meals per day

You will be accommodated on the farm itself in nice and cozy dormitories that are shared with other volunteers. Per room there are maximum 4 beds and the farm can host up to sixty people, among them volunteers and visitors. The farm is located one and a half hours northeast of Quito along the Pan-American Highway, close to Tabacundo.

Equipped with a dinning room that can cater up to eighty people, volunteers will have their meals together at the dinning hall and sometimes even share it with guests. The lounge area has an open fire place and is very popular among the volunteers to enjoy the starry nights. The garden and barbeque area also invite to just relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and with stunning view to the Andes Mountains. Furthermore there is a small chapel and theater equipped with lighting and sound equipment. This is frequently used for presentations and events.

If you want to exercise a little bit you can make use of the football, volleyball and basket ball pitches together with other volunteers.

There are two boarding programs on the farm; one where volunteers cook for themselves (with all organic vegetables from the garden) or the second is delicious Ecuadorian meals prepared by local families. For personal items, volunteers can either walk twenty minutes to the nearest store or take a ten minute bus ride.

Requirements

Language:
English and Spanish

Skills:
No special skills are required. You should have the wish to work in the nature and be committed to environmental conservation.

Age:
18+ years

Vaccination:
Please ask for medical advice in your home country and check check the general entry regulation that apply for your home country.

Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance for Ecuador.

Visa:
Tourist visa (90 days, not extendable); for longer stays volunteer visa (valid for 6 months).

Details

The Farm is set in 25 acres of agro-ecologically farmed land, stunning views of the Andes, Cotopazi peak and snow capped Volcanoes of Cayambe and Fuya Fuya. Further, the extinct Fuya Fuya volcanoe holds a crater containing the Lagunas de Mojanda. The infrastructure, now approaching 100 years of age in places, is made of traditional materials with walls up to three feet thick in places. Over the years the Farm has provided modern touches to create a homey feel as well as a place where people can come to relax and forget the stresses of the city.

Established in 1953, the foundation that manages the Farm is a non-profit, non-religious Ecuadorian NGO that initiated various diverse parts of rural Ecuador. It is an institution that works on rural development projects in colloboration with local communities. The foundation promotes the participation of the farming communities and the local population in processes of building and strengthening their identities. Its projects are orientated toward production improvement with an agro-ecological focus, the protection of micro valleys and forests and environmental education. Other activities undertaken by the foundation are volunteer programs focused on the promotion of cultural exchange on both local and global scales. The foundation, with local government, manages development projects, strengthens initiatives of the “campesino,” indigenous organization and trains leaders to drive proposals for social development in their communities. They aim to defend the existence of campesino agriculture as well as land possession. Further the foundation strives to eliminate the destruction of natural resources through their extraction by large companies in front of the homogenization of consumption. Lastly, the foundation aims to include rural communities into the public investment sector. Their overarching principles are cultural understanding, exchange of knowledge, respect for nature, community participation and harmonization.

Prices

Duration	in USD
2 weeks	320.-
3 weeks	470.-
4 weeks	630.-
Additional week	160.-

One time registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number

What’s not included:

Flight
Airport Pick-up
Medical Insurance
Visa (if necesary)
Personal expenses
Local Travels

Country

Country Information Ecuador

Ecuador, appropriately named after the equator, holds a massive imaginary line running directly through its middle. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America with an area of only 100,000 square miles. Ecuador borders with Peru in the southeast, Colombia in the northeast and the Pacific Ocean splashing along the entire west side. The population of Ecuador is 14 million with the capital city of Quito holding 2 million residents.

Though Ecuador lacks bragging rights in their size, the country surely stands proud with their breathtaking landscapes, lush vegetation zones and varieties of climate. The climate, mainly determined by altitude, with tropical sun to heavy rain an average day in the Pacific coastal area, to temperate dry climate regions in the Andean highlands. Further, the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rain forest zones.

Ecuador is one of eighteen mega diverse countries in the world with thousands of different animal and bird species. The famous Galapagos Island, a very special spot on earth, located about 620 miles away from the mainland and home to unique flora and fauna such as the giant tortoises. The islands are also historic for being the birthplace of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

When exploring even deeper the 100,000 square mile piece of land, you will find diverse attractions for tourists and volunteers alike. Some highly recommended areas of exploration are the Amazon jungles, the Amazon basin, Andean Mountains, Volcanoes (active and dormant), tropical forests and variety of beautiful beaches. The Pacific coast is a perfect place for ocean diving, relaxing on the beach and enjoying hours in the sun. For those backcountry lovers and nature fans, rest assured the terrain of Ecuador offer much in both silence and adrenaline driven activities.

Due to Ecuador’s geographical diversity of ocean, mountains and island chains, any time you choose to travel rest assured one section of country will be in peak season. June through September are typically the dry months. The general high peak season of festivals, fiestas and crowds lie between mid-December through January and then again from June through August.

When traveling to Ecuador you will be absolutely amazed by the unique and natural beauty of this country. Keeping in mind that this country is one of poorest regions in South America, you will be surprised by their friendliness, efforts to help you and elements of preserved culture. UNESCO declared Quito, the capital city, a World Heritage Site in the 1970’s for having the best preserved and least altered historic center in Latin America!

No doubt, you will feel comfortable and ease while enjoying this open-minded and hospitable society.