Organic Farming and Building on Eco Lodge

location
1 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • HANDS ON Volunteer experience on an organic farm
  • Learn BUILDING and CRAFTS with all different materiales: recycling, bamboo, wood, cement, metal and more
  • Learn SPANISH: 3x per week Spanish course included in this program!

Highlights

  • HANDS ON Volunteer experience on an organic farm
  • Learn BUILDING and CRAFTS with all different materiales: recycling, bamboo, wood, cement, metal and more
  • Learn SPANISH: 3x per week Spanish course included in this program!
  • Meet new people, live a COMMUNITY style life and share your experience with our guests, volunteers and staff.
  • Visit waterfalls, local TOURS and wild water rafting on your time off and weekend!


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Volunteer on an ecological farm and lodge: learn about building, planting, weeding, permaculture, fruit tree care and animal care. INCLUDES A SPANISH COURSE.

    Our volunteers will be fully intigrated into the daily life on our organic farm. Costa Rica is the land that uses the most agro chemicals per square meter worlwide. Most local farmers dont belive they can produce organic food or mantain their land without chimicals. We incoporate local people into ...

    About the program

    Our volunteers will be fully intigrated into the daily life on our organic farm. Costa Rica is the land that uses the most agro chemicals per square meter worlwide. Most local farmers dont belive they can produce organic food or mantain their land without chimicals. We incoporate local people into our project to see options on organic farming and understand the importance of it. 

    On our farm we are running different projects right now, and we are eager to recieve help to be able to fullfill all our offers to the planet, animals and people. Just to give you an overview beside the organic farming and building we recieve volunteers to help us with our horse education program around Natural Horsemanship and animal friendly training AND we teach the local kids as due to the actual situation the kids are missing of 1,5 years of school! Also we are cooperating with a local organisation and the town mare to teach English to the local people. We also recieve volunteers for our other project please feel free to ask us about about the positions. 

    Here are some examples of activities you can do during your time with us:

    • Learn about building with all different kind of materials and techniques
    • Learn how to fix instead of through away
    • grow consciousness about an nature close and organic lifestyle
    • Learn about organic farming in our different gardens (seedlings, watering, weeding, building terraces, harvesting ...)
    • Learn about permaculture and our organic fruit tree forest: We have over 20 varieties of fruit trees on the farm like Avocados, Mangos, Litchies, Pejibaye, etc.etc.
    • Medicinal herb and tee garden
    • Interact with farm animals (chickens, cats, dogs and horses)
    • self made: bread baking, kombucha brewing, cooking etc. 
    • help us to protect our 5ha forest and join us on trash clean ups in the jungle next to our farm 

    We like to do shared dinners and dance nights on the weekends. Also we have a campfire place where we come together, play guitar or make stick bread. On the farm there are horse tours offered and the region is great for hiking and bird watching. Around our farm is a lot of jungle with paths in where you can find sloths and beautiful flowers, birds and butterflies. 

    We do not have wifi on the farm but with a local SIM card you can find good signal. 



    Typical day

    In our weekly reunion you will learn about the current projects and fields of work where you can get involved in. 

    At 7 am you meet your group leader and start to work in the project. At 9 am we take a coffee break and continue working till midday. After a siesta you will receive 3 x per week a 2 ...

    Typical day

    In our weekly reunion you will learn about the current projects and fields of work where you can get involved in. 

    At 7 am you meet your group leader and start to work in the project. At 9 am we take a coffee break and continue working till midday. After a siesta you will receive 3 x per week a 2 hours Spanish course. The other afternoons are off to relax, explore, do yoga or meditate. 

    During the weekends you can take local tours to explore our area or just hang out on the farm and enjoy the lodge. 


    Free-time activities

    On your time off you can book a guided tour in the area we help you to arrange this. Our area is famous for wild water rafting, waterfalls, choclade tour, coffee tour, cheese tour, national parks to visit. You can visit the irazu vulcano, Cartago or the weekly market in Turrialba. You can also book ...

    Free-time activities

    On your time off you can book a guided tour in the area we help you to arrange this. Our area is famous for wild water rafting, waterfalls, choclade tour, coffee tour, cheese tour, national parks to visit. You can visit the irazu vulcano, Cartago or the weekly market in Turrialba. You can also book a two days tour to the beach. There are many options to be busy on the weekend. 


    Or relax on the farm, hike to a waterfall, hang around our small village of Tucurrique. On the farm there are many animals that would love a scretch.


    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 07:00 - 12:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Finca Soley

    The fee covers accommodation, food, organisation, Spanish course during your full stay, support to the Project, supervised work.

    Accommodation

    Nice Volunteer house with 3 bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Rooms are shared with a max of 4 people. Big kitchen and living area space. Gardens and hammocks spaces.

    Food & Beverages

    3 vegeterian meals per day. During the week a costarican chef will prepare breakfast and lunch, and there are ingreedients for the volunteers to prepare dinners and food during the weekends. 

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site

    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

    Arrival is every sunday 

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

    Program fees

    1 week (min. stay) 469€
    2 weeks 798€
    3 weeks 1,157€
    4 weeks 1,516€
    6 weeks 2,075€
    8 weeks 2,633€
    24 weeks (max. stay) 7,102€
    Average fees 382€/week

    Program fees

    382€ per week 1 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    1 - 24 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Finca Soley during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    Finca Soley

    Fantastic 4.5 rating (35 reviews)

    Agency - founded in 2014

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Good response rate

    Coordinated by

    isa

    Spoken languages: German, English, Spanish

    About the project

    Here at Finca Soley we share our passion and love for horses and natural horsemanship. Come to enjoy, learn and develop.

    Meet your organization

    Finca Soley is a horse project and volunteers are completly involved in everything. Our volunteers recieve natural horsemanship lessons and a spanisch course in order to activly help in the training of the horses and the teaching (weather in the school or riding lessons for kids).


    Finca Soley is a very small project that really tries to change something here in the area but also for the horses that get in touch with people that have been with us. We will touch your idea about horses and horse training. Spread the word to create a better world for our beloved horses and the people around them.

    Finca Soley is a beautiful Guestfarm in the mountain area of Cartago, Costa Rica's best kept secret. Enjoy seeing and hearing horses neighing outside my balcony doors, watching the volcano smoke early in the morning, cooking over a beautiful fire pit.

    LEARN NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP & ART OF RIDING 

    We use Natural Horsemanship to understand and comunicate with our horses and learn about their body and how to teach them to use it properly using the academic art of riding without the need of a bit. 

    At Finca Soley you will:

    • learn the essential communication with horses on the ground
    • Start to understand what horses are telling you!
    • Learn to play with them in a understable Language
    • Become safe & smart around horses in the field and barn
    • Learn about your Horse’s unique character 
    • Learn to use psychology depending on horse-character 
    • Improve your drive & respect level

    All you need to know about the Courses Finca Soley offers

    • We refine our Communication skills on the rope and in liberty.
    • We built a loving friendship & become creative with our games.
    • We improve our riding communication skills & test our relationship by starting to ride brideless
    • We built up our skills on the rope and start to work on our draw system 
    • We will apply what we have learnt on the ground into the saddle
    • Learn to ride using Breathing & Engery techniques
    • Learn about principles of Natural Horsemanship
    • Discussions about various horsemanships from different Nations

    35 reviews · rating4.5

    Virginia Grulke rating1.8

    2024 at Organic Farming and Building on Eco Lodge

    I was booked for a one week stay at Finca Soley. The final payment was not mailed to me until the day before I left for Costa Rica, busy with training the housesitter, final packing, etc. I tucked it into my carry on bag. Apparently in the small print which I didn't see, they said they would only ...
    Eliane Freiburghaus rating4

    2022 at Organic Farming and Building on Eco Lodge

    Wir verbrachten drei intensive und lehrreiche Wochen auf der Finca Soley. Isa ist eine kompetente natural horsemanship Trainerin. Das Wohl der Pferde steht im Vordergrund. Isa kann sehr anschaulich und verständlich erklären, wie Pferde denken und was das für unseren Umgang mit ihnen bedeutet. ..
    Faye Iris de Wind rating5

    2024 at Classical Horsemanship & Liberty

    Ik heb hier een van de leukste tijden van mijn leven gehad! Ik deed de 'Horsevolunteer Program', en het was zo leuk om met de paarden te werken. Ze zijn allemaal super lief en hebben echt een eigen karakter. Daarnaast zijn Isa, haar familie en de werkers ook allemaal enorm aardig. Isa geeft ook ...
    Dana Trautmann rating5

    2024 at Classical Horsemanship & Liberty

    I had a wonderful stay at Finca Soley! I only stayed there for 3 weeks and I still feel like I have learned so much about horses and also myself! I shared a room with three other people and I felt comfortable immediately!! The rooms are really pretty and everybody has their own space where they ...
    Hallie Zava rating5

    2024 at Classical Horsemanship & Liberty

    Although I spent only two weeks in this program, there was never a dull moment! The hard work and chores paid off with the wonderful horsemanship lessons by Isa each day, who was an amazing instructor. The staff and other guests/volunteers were kind and easy to make friends with; I never felt lonely ...
    Olivia Meier rating4.8

    2024 at Classical Horsemanship & Liberty

    I had a great time at Finca Soley. I quickly felt at home and loved every second of my stay. Isa, her family and the staff are wonderful people. Isas horses (and the other animals on the farm) are lovely too. Each of them with a different character, each of them a chance to learn something new ...

    Location


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    Contact isa
      Good response rate
    German, English, Spanish

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