Une possibilité de fuite ?

• Description

  I'm going to start with the big picture. For over 10 years I've been on a path towards founding an ecovillage. That's now beginning to materialize. Thing is - I've been doing this on my own. For a number of years I'd been looking for land for the ecovillage but instead found this house and decided that while I continued looking for land, I'd convert the house into a Guest House. This would generate additional income and eventually serve as the launch-pad for the ecovillage project.

  Now I've found and purchased the land and am looking to develop a few small projects here at the Guest House to make it more attractive for eco-conscious visitors and longer-term residents that I hope to attract.

  I'm from the US, living in Panama for the past 12 years and have done a bit of traveling. I hold a consulting job that is mostly from my desk, but occasionally sends me overseas. I have a background in Sustainable Community Development, Business, Economics, and in Training / Development (facilitating learning). I'm also a student of Permaculture (still working on my online PDC).

• Type of help

  Gardening
  Building
  Cooking / shopping
  General Maintenance
  Help with Eco project
  Help in the house
  Help with Computers / internet

• Help

  There are a number of small projects that need attention:

  1) kitchen garden - I have two courtyard gardens which I would like to figure out if it's possible to grow more vegetables in. I've had limited success in this.

  2) compost system - I tried once to implement a system but I think I was missing something. This needs to be small scale as I only have two small courtyard gardens and one of them is in the Guest House (needs to be ornamental as well).

  4) design & install shelves in the bathrooms in the guest house from recycled materials

  5) create bedside lamps for each of the guest rooms from recycled materials

  6) design/build bunk beds for some of the guest rooms

  7) improve wifi signal throughout the house

  8) improve guest house website

  9) improve social media marketing

  10) design, test, install solar water heating system, starting with 1 test & potentially expanding to cover the entire guest house

  11) cooking & general support - especially if there are multiple workaways here, it would be great to have someone support with the cooking. but even on a daily basis, i would enjoy having someone to share healthy-cooking with as i often don't make the time

  12) reiki / massage / meditation / nutrition support — I need help with this and if you're good at it, having someone here to help and guide me would be fabulous.

• Languages spoken

  English, Spanish, Portuguese, understand German & French but kind of slaughter them when I try speaking.

• Accommodation

  Rooms currently have double and single beds and either private baths or a bath shared with 1 other room. Depending on the number of workaways (and if there are guests staying at the guest house) you may be in a private room with a shared bath, or a shared room with a private bath. All rooms have ceiling fans and we currently don't have hot water (remember we're in the tropics, so it's hot here).

  I'd like to find someone to help with the food preparation. I can't promise to cook for folks as I often don't make the time to cook for myself due to my schedule (see #11 & 12 above). If there's not someone here helping with food prep, maybe we can take turns cooking?

• What else …

  What can you do with your time off — well, beaches, mountains, permaculture studies — public transportation here is good - you can get anywhere on a bus or chiva or taxi. There is a lot to see within a few hours of here. And the Guest House is a pretty cool place to kick back and relax.

• A little more information

  • Internet access

  • Limited internet access

  • We have pets

  • We are smokers

• How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  This is a rural small town, outside of the normal 'tourist' areas, so when you come here you experience 'the real Panama'. There are lots of places nearby to visit by public transportation - mountains, beaches, other small towns, etc. There are touristy beaches and remote beaches. Mountain trails to waterfalls that you need to find a local person to guide you to, and well-marked tourist areas in the mountains. The town itself is a friendly place - people love to sit out and chat in the evening when the sun goes down. There's a local museum, park, fresh veggie/meat/fish market. It's a pretty cool place. Oh and when the town parties — it really parties!

  Personally - I'm from the US so that's my cultural background but have lived/traveled/worked in Latin America for most of my life. I speak fluent Spanish and nearly fluent Portuguese (Brazilian), understand French & German. I'd love to share / study together about Permaculture & related topics.

• Volunteering hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos