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Off-grid, self-sustainable, vegan farm in the making in the hills

The experience

There's a LOT of work that needs to be done, such as - making gardens, clearing weed, cooking, planting trees, general cleanup and working on the aesthetics of the place. And this is where I need the most help from participants. Tree planting, garden making, digging, making water conservation designs, weeding, mulching, watering trees and basically anything you can imagine to do in a vegan farm without animals :)

What you offer

20 hours of help per week

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 6 Per day

Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers

Description: Volunteers work in exchange for stay. However, we are a community that cooks and eats together. Volunteers participate in daily meals [healthy, non-spicy and vegan with lots of fruits, nuts, vegetable salads, porridge, pancakes, our world famous hummus (in the area) :) etc. - thrice a day] that are prepared by all members and contribute Rs. 500 toward the daily meals.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Requirements

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Kerala is known as gods own country. However, in the village of Kadambara, the local villagers (who are mainly comprised of tribals) have for long faced a severe enemy: malnutrition. So much that malnutrition-related deaths in Kadambara is one of the highest in India. We thought this would be an appropriate place to start a project that would work not on aid but on empowerment. But first, we need to empower ourselves. Hence, the idea of an off-grid self-sustainable farm. If this project succeeds, then we can use it as a simple model that can be replicated anywhere. As a participant, you'd mainly be helping out in this goal. This collaborative goal can only be achieved with a sustained and dedicated effort of all those who have the time, energy and maybe even the skill to share.

Activities & Shift

Our daily work includes planting and watering trees, taking care of the vegetable garden, digging water catchment pits and ponds, creating water conservation structures such as bunds, trenches and retaining walls, mulching, composting, cooking and building structures that facilitate storage and shelter.

Rules

Gaia Grid is a vegan, smoke/alcohol-free, substance-free space.