We offer a volunteer program for young people aged 18 to 30 who want to learn or develop their skills in syntropic agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and permaculture. The volunteer program lasts 10 months (from early February to early December) and consists of planting and maintaining food forests, growing vegetables, tending fruit trees, harvesting and preserving food, caring for animals (chickens and bees), working to prevent soil erosion and improve soil fertility, designing with permaculture principles, and carrying out specific projects on farms (green building, water systems, eco-technologies, etc.).
The volunteer program is carried out in two parts. The first part lasts 4 months in teams of 2, spread across 3 farms (in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma). The second part is spent together at Finca Luna (the fourth farm). The teams are multicultural, with volunteers from Spain, Europe, and beyond.
Farm Activities
We typically organize the week around the following activities:
- Farm maintenance tasks and farm projects. Gardening, weeding, animal care, infrastructure repair, plant nursery, bioconstruction, etc.
- Individual and group design projects, where we apply the permaculture design methodology;
- Theoretical and practical workshops. There is also time for study and research;
- Documenting, organizing, and communicating: documenting what we do and what we learn, team meetings, and communication circles.
We work 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. In addition, all participants collaborate with cleaning, cooking, and farm maintenance tasks.
Volunteer Profile
The requirements are:
- Have a passion for regenerative agriculture, complex systems, and permaculture;
- Be willing to learn rural and manual skills and enjoy physical labor;
- Be willing to spend 10 months living and working in a rural area with basic amenities;
- Be motivated to study the theory behind what we do;
- Have an open attitude and a willingness to learn;
- Be willing to participate in maintenance activities such as cooking and cleaning;
- Be willing to learn Spanish. A basic level of Spanish is preferred.
- Preference will be given to people with fewer opportunities in life (those in situations of cultural, economic, or social marginalization).
Program Framework and Costs
Our volunteer program is part of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and is fully funded by the European Union. ESC grants cover travel, food, accommodation, and pocket money. We are currently accepting groups of six volunteers, including two places for Spanish nationals or residents. To apply, please complete this application form.
Accomodation
Volunteers are housed on the farms in shared rooms with a shared bathroom and kitchen. Depending on the farm, some of the facilities may be located outdoors (dry toilet, shower). There is limited Wi-Fi in common areas. We live in rural areas so comfort is basic.
In winter, we frequently work in the rain, and the temperature can drop to -2 degrees Celsius at night (it can also get cold inside). In summer, it’s common to work in temperatures between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius.
Food
None of the farms are self-sufficient, but most have vegetables and some fruit, and some eggs. The food is partially covered by the farms’ produce, and the rest is purchased in the neighboring village with the food money received by CES volunteers. The food is prepared and shared among the group of volunteers.
We welcome people who follow all types of diets. We believe there are no ethical, ecological, or biological right or wrong answers regarding diets. What matters is mutual respect and an open mind to listen to each other.
Projects examples
- Tree nursery
- Edible forests
- Soil improvement
- Water management infrastructure project
- Green construction
- Renewable technology development (solar cooker)
- Animal integration and management
- Tool repair and construction
- Infrastructure repair and maintenance (carpentry, masonry, painting, stone walls, cisterns, etc.)