Volunteering in Dominican Republic - Construction & Garden

Hi everyone!

I've just started as the project manager at a wonderful organic farm around 30 miles from Santa Domingo (I actually found the job through this forum!). Carolina, the owner and Dominican native, has been working on the farm for 16 years building it from barren nothingness to an established food forest and supporting edible garden. There are turkeys, chickens, and geese currently and a myriad of plants and trees (list at the bottom). We are currently working to build more diverse animal and plant ecosystems on the land.

The current aim is to employ techniques of permaculture to promote sustainability and to improve ecology to create a sanctuary of self-sufficiency which can serve as an educational model. We intend to open the space as an area for learning permaculture techniques, including all aspects of eco-sustainability from horticulture to natural building to economic sustainability and fair share. The aim is to turn the farm into a learning centre in the form of a working model that can host PDCs and other permaculture themed courses (herbalism, natural building, social permaculture etc) while also providing free education in sustainability to local children.

We are welcoming volunteers to help us improve the farm both physically and socially, inviting innovative creators and passionate hard workers. We believe in creating a place of peace in harmony with the natural ecosystems, extending this out to work with the local community. We strive to provide a place where all volunteers will learn more about biodiversity and permaculture as well as the social balance of community living, while having fun doing it. We would love to be a place of inspiration to encourage volunteers to work with their own creativity in finding a personal passion to pursue on the farm to increase its social and economic value, while fostering an environment of earth care, people care, and fair share.

Currently we are looking for help in the following areas but if possible we would like to prioritise the construction projects as we would like to be able to offer more comfortable sleeping arrangements to volunteers:

Building and Construction Projects
-Building accommodations for volunteers - We will be using recycled pallet wood and recycled tires for the roofing
-Building a community space and kitchen for volunteers
-Building compost toilets and showers
-Building cabañas for guests and future students
-Building a classroom for students
-Installing grey water systems and rainwater harvesting systems
-Ideally we are looking for woodworkers to start as we will first be making pallet housing.

In The Garden
-Compost building and maintenance
-Planting and maintaining the herb garden, a more diverse kitchen garden, and a garden for volunteers
-Maintaining the commercial garden
-Maintaining the garden for animal feed
-Planting and maintaining guilds in the food forest
-Harvesting


Processing
We would like to offer a range of processed products from our farm such as herbal medicines, jams, chutneys, sauces, syrups, dried fruits and herbs, and so on. We invite volunteers to get creative and find a project that interests them which they can take charge of and in return we would like to offer profit share on these products.

We ask volunteers to help 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. The first few volunteers will have to sleep in a our main house on mattresses on the floor until the volunteer quarters are built which we hope to do quite quickly. You will receive 3 meals a day plus coffee and tea, plus we would love to help you on your own projects on the 7.3 acre property. We are looking to invite people from May.

Currently in the garden and food forest:

Oregano, Lavender, Mustard, Basil, Tulsi, Mint, Spearmint, Coriander, Turmeric, Ginger, Anise, Dill, Fennel, Lemongrass, Bananas, Peppers, Chillies, Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Arugula, Beets, Radishes, Squashes, Tobacco, Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, Spring Onions, Aloe Vera, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Neem, Sesame, Sunflowers, Mung Beans, Cherries, Mangos, Cacao, Pomegranates, Cashews, Coconuts, Tamarind, Mulberries, Pineapple, Starfruit, Squash, Dragonfruit, Water Apple, Prickly Pear, Sugarbeat, Oranges, Limes, Papayas, Cacao, Bananas, Plantains, Yuka, Yams...and many flowers and orchids.

SIDENOTE: If anybody is allergic to cashews, it would be best not to come until later in the year as the cashews are in flower and can cause allergic reactions.

I apologise that the photos aren't the best quality, they're taken on my phone!

Please contact me at [email protected] with your experience, your areas of interest, and when you would like to get started.

 

Thanks! We really hope to get some good hands on deck and really see the place thrive