Does anyone know any organic farms in Ecuador that offer room and board in exchange for volunteer work (for extended periods of time)?
Hi!
So this is going to be a rather complicated question, but please put up with me 😊
I am going to a be a Junior in High school next year, and I am taking a year off of school to travel abroad in Ecuador.
For four months I will be backpacking to various remote villages, and also working on the farm "Paluga" which is located in Pifo. This is with an ORGANIZED group from the United States. I will be receiving credits from this semester.
This, however, is not what I need help with.
After my semester ends, I want to stay in Ecuador and continue working or farms for food and board. The dilemma is that I have very few connections with other people in Ecuador, and the internet hasn't proven to be useful so far.
I can imagine that there are a couple of issues, specifically that I am a little young (16 years of age) for independent travel so many employers will be skeptical of having me stay on their land.
I speak Spanish fluently, and have experience travelling in foreign countries.
Anyways, I guess my ultimate question is:
Has anyone been to, or does any one know of an organic farm/community in Ecuador that offers room and board in exchange for labour/volunteer work?
Reply to this I have a young friend who lived in quito for several months, volunteering at schools ,for food and board. I have e.mailed him and will forward whatever info he sends me.
Reply to this He just replied to me. He went through an organisation called ifre.com .He paid a small amount per month but this include all his food ,board ect. He stayed with a lovely Ecuadoriano family amd he speaks very highly of them. Good luck with your dreams. I hope they come true for you.
Reply to this Sign up with the organisation WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
http://www.wwoof.org/ - explains who and what is WWOOF and why it exists and what is expected.
http://www.wwooflatinamerica.com/page/wwoof-ecuador - is the specific site for Ecuador.
It's a great way to travel, meet people, learn new things.
Good luck!
Reply to this Yeah I looked into WWOOF but there is a minimal age of 18 ): Too bad, because I think that would have been the easiest way to go about this.
And ElAustraliano, I looked into ifre.com as well– thanks for the resource!
Reply to this Probably shouldn't be posting this, but with the way Latin America WWOOF works where you contact the farms directly yourself, I don't see why you couldn't get the list and just explain it to them that you are under age and it's up to them if they want to take you on or not.
Not doing WWOOF but working with a WWOOF approved farm... if you understand me. Loop-hole? 😊
All you'd lose is the fee and some time. Could be worth a try
Reply to this Yeah! Well that's basically what I've been doing. 16 years old apparently entails much more independence than it does in the states– because all of the farms I've contact have been OK with me coming. I can barely get a legal job in the USA hahaha.
I've gathered quite a list from various people, so i'm planning on posting the farms i've chosen to ask for feedback.
Knowing which ones NOT to go is just as important. 😊
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