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Excellent 4.88rating (22)

Eco-Farming Collaborator

location
2 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Taste the different medicinal plants we have on the farm
  • Learn about construction techniques and materials
  • Understand the full cycle of organic farming

Highlights

  • Taste the different medicinal plants we have on the farm
  • Learn about construction techniques and materials
  • Understand the full cycle of organic farming
  • Live on a farm that celebrates local traditions, food and lifestyle
  • Immerse yourself in a healing journey with a safe space, the plants, and the cosmovision of the indigenous communities.

  • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    We are committed to making this ancient knowledge available to all of us. Be a part of preserving the heritage of medicinal plants.

    The farm is looking for people hopefully to able to stay 1–2 months, focusing on a specific project and completing it before leaving. Activities include:

    Our goals for this program

    • Cleaning and painting wood or bamboo

    • Organizing and maintaining tools
    • Improving food gardens (weeding, mulching, ...

    About the program

    The farm is looking for people hopefully to able to stay 1–2 months, focusing on a specific project and completing it before leaving. Activities include:

    Our goals for this program

    • Cleaning and painting wood or bamboo

    • Organizing and maintaining tools
    • Improving food gardens (weeding, mulching, planting, harvesting)
    • Caring for chickens, the horse, and fish
    • Building a new chicken coop
    • Completing the new greenhouse
    • Designing spaces
    • Improving the pool area
    • Continue to build the farm's agroforestry.

    Thanks to the experience of the first stage of Dalö in the last 4 years, we had enough basis to organize this program adding aspects that people recommended to us. So in addition to the basics of medicinal plants and organic agriculture, we want you to learn about the lifestyle of the families in these communities. Understand the past and present situation of the Cabecar community and finally enjoy the time with various leisure activities and personal growth.

    Some of the topics we are interested in learning/teaching are
    • Organic agriculture
    • Indigenous cosmovision and sacred plants.
    • Detoxification and healing the body with medicinal plants
    • Microorganism production
    • Plant reproduction
    Outdoor activities(not included in the pricing)
    • Visit to an organic production farm and bread factory
    • Visit to an organic coffee plantation 
    • Visit to a waterfall

    Challenges we face

    • We are in the process of building new areas on the farm that will make people's stay and time on the farm more comfortable.
    • We need to cover the costs of our activities in these communities, schools, and on the farm. There's gas, transportation rentals, insurance, salaries, guides, permits, certifications, training that we need to cover in order for this project to continue.
    • Access, we are supporting the local commission to continue improving the road where the farm is located. There has been great progress and we are committed to continue. More than money for construction, it takes time, brainstorming, consultation, and all of this has a cost.
    • Inviting teachers and professionals, it's necessary to contribute to these people ways, some of them gently give their resources and input for free. We believe in a circular economy and want to have resources to support all the leaders who come to the farm.
    • Materials, we lack equipment for the lab, tools and mechanics are expensive in our country. We'd be happy to collaborate with you if you or your organization can provide us with the machinery we need.
    Your role
    You will be supporting our full cycle on the farm, but also any urgent projects that might need priority.
    This means we will learn and produce different types of soil, learn about the area, traditional practices to deal with nature, and flow with what the season offers us.
    We will provide you with the training, materials, and tools you need to learn and practice at the same time.

    What do you need?
    First, attitude. We expect and are open-minded as a farm and farm mechanics are quite different than living in the city. Our conditions are enough to live comfortably on food from the farm plus what we get in town. Enough space to relax, meditate and play. And our collective activities will keep you in a mix of being busy with time to chill on your own.
    • Rubber boots are the best, if not, strong hiking shoes will do the trick. Rubber boots are cheap in town if you prefer to buy them, especially in the rainy season (July, August, September, and October) even in the rainy season there's sun but still moving around is better.
    • Mosquito repellent, sunscreen, hat, long-sleeved shirts for work, strong pants or old jeans you can use for work. Long thick socks are more efficient.
    • There's space for tents and hammocks if you want to bring your own, but if you prefer to create your own space, we can help you set it up.
    • Paper, bring your journal as you will be writing a lot.

    Team
    This project is growing as a community of people from different regions of Costa Rica, as well as people from other countries. Where they come to the farm and engage in different ways. Making a rich experience by providing new skills, discoveries, themes and knowledge that we use for the farm.
    In the site you will see frequently:
    • Michael, founder of Dalö, he is interested in neuroscience, plants, organic agriculture production, self-improvement. Is a writer, photographer and software developer as his major. 
    • Heiner, Ervin, and Ageo family; indigenous collaborators, they know every path, technique and old practice of how to live in nature.
    • Doña Rosa's family, they live close to the farm and are a nice family willing to serve where you can go and order delicious local food or explore their orchid garden, and animals. 
    • Dalö community, you can find many different skills and abilities of people who doesn't live on the farm but are actively coming, you might see some of them.

    See you soon!

    Typical day

    We keep a base schedule but we are always open to adjust depending on the group energy.

    • 6:00 : The journey begins, focused in one project with support from a guide.
    • 9:00 : Breakfast
    • 10:00 : The group finishes the day by themselves putting into practice what was learned.
    • 1:00 : Finish of the day
    • 2:00 : ...

    Typical day

    We keep a base schedule but we are always open to adjust depending on the group energy.

    • 6:00 : The journey begins, focused in one project with support from a guide.
    • 9:00 : Breakfast
    • 10:00 : The group finishes the day by themselves putting into practice what was learned.
    • 1:00 : Finish of the day
    • 2:00 : Lunch

    Example of activities

    • We will prepare specific types of soil depending on the plants we will be working with. 
    • Work with compost and make our own fertilizer.
    • Filling bags with soil to plant new baby plants.
    • Weeding the mother plants and our food garden.
    • Planting crops such as corn, beans, rice, yuca, tiquisque, plantains, bananas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and onions.
    • Preparing beds for vegetables.
    • Gathering food.
    • Watering plants.
    • Organizing the classroom, greenhouse, hydroponics, and fish ponds.
    • Supporting construction activities as painting, wood and bamboo treatment, paths, trails.
    • Organizing materials and tools
    • Cleaning areas
    • Collecting, drying and preparing medicines.

    While doing all these and some other related activities, you will learn the full cycle of organic farming with tips and tricks to adapt to your environment.

    On weekends we recommend visiting the neighbors or the village to support the local economy. You can also take tours and enjoy our beautiful nature.


    Free-time activities

    In our 16 hectares, there's enough space to move around, you have the choice to enjoy the top of the mountains and relax or go into the deep forest and walk. If you want to explore out of the farm, of course, we have options as well.

    Areas at the farm
    • 2 waterfalls
    • Viewpoint 
    • Pool - Gym(The pool is ...

    Free-time activities

    In our 16 hectares, there's enough space to move around, you have the choice to enjoy the top of the mountains and relax or go into the deep forest and walk. If you want to explore out of the farm, of course, we have options as well.

    Areas at the farm
    • 2 waterfalls
    • Viewpoint 
    • Pool - Gym(The pool is being repaired)
    • Wifi
    • Main deck
    • Greenhouse
    • Food garden
    • Agroforestry garden

    Tours
    • The Pacuare River is one of the most popular rivers in the world for rafting. 
    • Beré waterfall, is a walk of 2 hours.
    • Pejivalle River, a good place for swimming, 1.5 hours from the farm.
    • Caribbean trip, we offer a full week tour after this program, where you can be immersed in bamboo, cacao, fruit trees, and then we finish at the beach in Puerto Viejo.
    • We can arrange visits to other sustainable projects.

    Places to visit
    • Turrialba Volcano
    • Irazú Volcano
    • Guayabo National Park
    • Cacao tour
    • Swimming pools in the center of Turrialba
    • Restaurants, and bars with a view in the center of Turrialba
    To get out of the farm, we have different drivers that can take you out or even bring you directly to the place you want to visit to save time. These expenses are not covered by our fees.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 06:00 - 12:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Why do we charge?

    • Activities are varied on the farm, some days it is less effort or we do activities that require art at home. We do not involve volunteers in construction tasks.
    • We offer wifi, high quality mattresses to sleep on.
    • Food is expensive in Costa Rica, and we are trying to integrate healthier foods into our diet for guests.
    • Art materials, activities, guides on the farm.
    • We provide high quality produce at the farm, which increases the cost of the full experience, and the teachers who come to enhance their knowledge of the program some require payment.
    • We raise the regular fee for rural and indigenous workers, we want to value their work and promote a circular economy in the city.

    Thank you for making this possible!

    Accommodation

    Details
    • The guesthouse has 2 rooms, each with 2 bunk beds and a nice orthopedic mattress. One bathroom and shower, and a room in the middle for chilling out.
    • If someone wants to sleep in a hammock, there's plenty of room for you to bring your equipment.
    • We also have camping tents available for rent with a mattress if anyone would like that option.
    The money from this program would be used to improve our homes. You will see that we are a work in progress, but our attention is fully focused on making this experience rich, safe, and fun for you. - No money can be returned after arrival.

    Food & Beverages

    Meals

    Weekdays: 

    The farm provides complete breakfast and lunch together, Costa Rican style food. For dinner, you can either use your own ingredients or coordinate with the group if you want to cook together. When available, the farm provides yuca, tiquisque, arracache, plantains, bananas, rice, beans, and spices that can be used for dinner. 

    Weekends: 

    The farm can offer the same basic ingredients listed above; collaborators are encouraged to contribute their own products to supplement meals. As an alternative, you can visit the nearby town and support local family businesses—especially Doña Rosa’s Kitchen, known for producing cheese and milk. Her food is delicious and cooked in a traditional outdoor oven, and she can also prepare desserts upon request. 


    Typical Meal Options 

    Breakfast: 

    • Rice and beans, egg, plantains, bread, and coffee 
    • Fruit, oatmeal, bread, and coffee 
    • Cheese and vegetable sandwich 


    Lunch: 

    • Salad bowls, vegetables, wraps 
    • Soups, tortillas, tacos 


    Dietary Needs 

    We are unable to support special dietary requests, but you’re welcome to bring any additional supplies you may need. 


    Refunds 

    No money can be returned after arrival. 


    Respect & Behavior 

    • We reserve the right to allow someone to stay or ask them to leave if there is any situation involving disrespect, offense, or abuse toward another person, an animal, or the farm’s infrastructure. 
    • Cleaning is done on Saturdays, though it can be moved to Fridays if the group prefers. 
    • Training Basic orientation and training will be provided to help you move safely around the farm and contribute effectively. 
    • It’s not possible to confirm in advance how many people will be at the farm, as bookings often change at short notice. 
    • Clarity helps us share better and enjoy our time at the farm—¡Pura vida!

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

    An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Journey

    (We can arrange transportation from the airport, Turrialba or platanillo, let us know)

    From San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, take a bus or taxi to the Transtusa terminal and buy a ticket to Turrialba. Then from Turrialba, you need to take a bus to Platanillo, this is the last bus stop.

    Transportation to the farm is not covered, from Turrialba which is the main town a direct drive to the farm is 1hr and will cost $50. 

    Another option is from the last bus stop of Platanillo, to the farm is a road just for 4x4 cars, and the cost of the drive is $30.

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

    Program Fees

    $127 per week 2 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 8 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.


    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet

    4.88
    22 reviews

    Location


    Meet your project coordinator

    Michael
    22
    reviews
    4.88
    Excellent
    2019
    Founded

    Verified

      Good response rate
    Spoken languages: English, Spanish
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    Contact Michael
      Good response rate
    English, Spanish

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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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