Guardian Farm

We are Guardians and stewards of the earth and the soul.

We are a small reforestation, land regeneration, and natural farming project in the cloud forest. We are active in our community and on our farm. Trees, plants, animals, good people, gratitude, and good experiences are our passions here.

We live in the cloud forest with a big open kitchen, dining room, and living room. The roof is tin. There are several dorms and shared rooms. Sometimes we are lucky and see the toucans in our yard, always we hear the birds - including the giant flocks of green parrots who love to fly by.

We love ethical, kind, and responsible people. We are looking for positive, independent, motivated people who can take initiative. People who can appreciate a laid-back, fun, rustic, simple homey lifestyle.

We truly appreciate our volunteers and strive to create an unforgettable experience for everyone who joins us. Our dedicated full-time local crew handles daily operations, and volunteers play a valuable role in supporting them with various tasks. Nestled in a charming farming community, our local pueblo offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Many volunteers connect with locals, take part in community activities, and enjoy events such as sports and festivals, making their time here even more enriching.

We are located in an area of Peru famous for being the main producer of tea in the country. It is less than a 4 hour drive from Cusco and just 3 from the Sacred Valley. We are trekking distance to Machu Picchu OR just a short 2-hour walk along the hydroelectric path which is just 85 minutes away by car.

We are a vegetarian project and focus on education about making conscious choices to positively effect global health through the consumption of less meat products (Meat and feed companies contribute directly to the destruction of Amazonian forests). If needed, there are many nearby restaurants in Huyro where you can find inexpensive, non-vegetarian meals.

Being Close to Nature: Planting seeds, maintaining land, and learning about organic pest management and soil health is part of day-to-day life. The farm currently has cats, dogs, chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, cuy, and rabbits. We are passionate about reforestation, biodiversity, and soil health.

We are followers of the Way (Yeshua) and believe in the caretaking of the earth, its creatures, and one another. We also are happy to hold space for people who want to seek the Creator and fast in nature if that is an interest.

A FEW OF OUR ACTIVITIES:
Reforestation: seed collecting, building beds to plant seedlings + planting trees.
Organic Gardens + Trees: We cultivate, care for + harvest citrus fruits, several exotic fruits + organic vegetables.
We grow and prepare our own coffee.
We hand-roll our very own oolong tea.
Soil Care - hugelkulture.
Plant Identification - we are writing a book.
Community Care: Visiting elderly neighbors + helping them.
Cooking - food preservation: fermentation, dehydration.
Art projects: murals, pottery + others.
Animal care: we love animals.

The farm is located in a rural, rustic, natural, setting in a cloud forest. We have large common areas, and several dorms and rooms. We are a 13 hectare, permaculture basecamp. We have a mixture of soil types, natural spring water and many fruit trees.

The bedrooms and dorms provide simple yet functional accommodations, including a bed and bedding. While furnishings are minimal, hot water and electricity are available. The area has excellent Wi-Fi coverage from providers like Bitel, so bringing a Wi-Fi-enabled phone is recommended. A modest library offers books and a projector for movie screenings, while outdoor amenities include two rustic swimming pools, a volleyball court, and a soccer field. The spacious and well-equipped kitchen is the heart of daily meals, where we prepare three delicious vegetarian dishes along with fresh juices and natural sodas.

The area has many waterfalls and great hikes. A hours drive away are the hot springs of Cocalmayo used since the Incan times for both relaxation and rejuvenation. It is a simple, uncomplicated farming community with a lot of wild life, great water, weather and the climate is not too hot and not too cold.

The region is teeming with diverse bird species, attracting numerous bird enthusiasts.
One exceptional avian species found here is the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus). As the national bird of Peru, this area provides an ideal habitat where it thrives. Additionally, visitors can spot the Watchmaker (Momotus aequatorialis), along with a dazzling array of colorful hummingbirds and toucans.

THERE ARE BUGS! August has the most. Again, we have lots of bugs, lots. We live rustically in the cloud forest in a rural with an open kitchen, meaning there are no windows and doors on the kitchen and dining area, - it is open to the wild with a tin roof and cement floors. We do our best by cleaning daily, each week and once a month deeply but it is seriously buggy - dangerous spiders, possums, moths, jungle cockroaches - which are MUCH LARGER than city ones, ants, caterpillars and to a few, bothersome cats. This is the reality here. Please do not come if you have issues with this, you and I will both feel better. We live in a community where many homes have dirt floors and cook over open fires. The nature is the fanciest thing here.

No Drugs or Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol are strictly not permitted on the farm.

The Music Experiment
We are conducting an experiment to see how music that supports plant growth affects the farm and those living here. Research suggests that music impacts plant development, and Masaru Emoto’s studies on water highlight how sound frequencies influence water structure. Since our bodies are made from soil, fed by plants, and primarily water, we believe this experiment could have a profound impact. We ask that all volunteers honor this experiment while here. If you feel you cannot respect this, please find another place to volunteer.

Farm Life & Expectations
Some days, I may not be available as I also run a business abroad. I run the farm primarily by myself with the great support of our local crew. I appreciate proactive, self-motivated like volunteers who can share the vision and take initiative.

We generally have 2 types of volunteers: specialists and general volunteers. Specialists generally work on unique projects that are in alignment with their education or careers. For example, botanists may help us with plant studies. General volunteers may be experiencing their first work on the farm and the tasks are often limited to easier things like making orange juice, weeding, painting, collecting dead wood, moving rocks, and perhaps cleaning. Many things can only be taught over time and our primary education style is lifestyle based. We teach by experience and often we will share a YouTube video or a book.

If you are a first-timer with just 2 weeks on the farm please be prepared to do basic tasks, sometimes without deep explanation beforehand. Like thank you, can you help us weed this flower bed or move this wood. We are hoping people enjoy their experience because we enjoy our volunteers so we want to be clear about expectations.

Thank you for your interest!

www.GuardianFarm.org
https://wwoofindependents.org/en/host/45840

We truly appreciate our volunteers and strive to create an unforgettable experience for everyone who joins us. Our dedicated full-time local crew handles daily operations, and volunteers play a valuable role in supporting them with various tasks. Nestled in a charming farming community, our local pueblo offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Many volunteers connect with locals, take part in community activities, and enjoy events such as sports and festivals, making their time here even more enriching.