Divertigranja, Etla, Oaxaca

Before you read on, please take into consideration that we are new to Wwoof and are a very new grass roots organization motivated to improve ourselves and our commitment to make a difference here in the valley of Oaxaca. We are still in construction phase and also learning how to accept the help of others. Any motivated wwoofers who stay with us will also be helping in the formation of our (and your) creation of a new vision for Oaxacan society.

This farm, located on 2 acres of prime farmland with access to two wells in the Etla area of the Valley of Oaxaca, has quite a different mission from its neighbors. Our farm’s activities focus on education for Oaxacan youth aged 6 – 19 years. During the school year, the primary focus is exihibition, and in the summer we will hopefully be providing a hands-on age/capability-appropriate summer school course. International volunteers who have a sensitivity to educating disabled youth or doing sensitivity training with non-disabled children are most encouraged to participate in this aspect if planning on staying with us for a minimum of two months. Wwoofers who speak Spanish well enough can also participate in giving tours of the farm after at least one month of training.

The ultimate goal of the farm is self-sustainability and agro-sustainability, but we are a long way off from acheiving this goal. Our primary goal will be to include the disabled Oaxacan community in opportunities that are inclusive and approprite based upon the disability. We have been occupying this space for only one year, so there’s still a lot to be done! Wwoofers are invited to help keep the farm operating and not expected to help with the public aspect unless so desired. We have over 100 animals of about 22 different species so it takes some time to learn how to care for all of them. Hence, wwoffers who would like to care for the animals should plan to stay for at least one month. Folks who come for less time will focus their energies on construction and maintenance.

Farm duties: Wwoofers work 7 hours per day, 5 days per week, days off rotate. We usually work mornings from 7:30 am until lunch, take an afternoon break, and then follow up with a couple hour's work in the evening. Morning duties involve primarily animal care (loving, feeding and watering, cleaning of corrals and duck pond, grooming, and occasional administering of medications) after which we focus on garden creation and maintaince, as well as heavy construction duties (e.g. finishing the volunteer cabaña, ecological toilets, a multi-use pavillion for lectures, and new corrals as needed.) Most of the work is physical, manual labor, constructing the new installations for animals and working in the gardens to create our zoo-topia and ultimately a demonstration of organic farming techniques and to provide food for the animal’s and volunteer’s consumption. We are all eating our own fresh salad daily.

We still have a long way to go and have only just begun with the horticulture aspect which will include: creating and maintaining new vegetable garden beds, an alfalfa/ herb patch, double-digging, working in the compost area, weeding, pruning the fruit and shade trees, mulching, etc. We are in the process of constructing several small ground-level gardens, which is very labor intensive. Some of these gardens will require people strong enough for double-digging. They are to be for human (volunteer) consumption, and others will be specifically for growing appropriate foods and herbs for the animals of the farm (rabbits, dairy goats, chickens).

Composting: This will include vermiculture, hotbed composting, and other alternative composting methods for food for our plants and public education. We have the worm compost bed up and running, and still need to build the hot compost bin.

We will some day have a rabbit meat production component, which focuses on the humane treatment of animals and using the entire animal that is to be sacrificed and employing local disabled folk in working the pelts. Volunteers who do not wish to participate in this component are excluded at their request. But all are expected to help in the maintenance and loving of the animals, be it feeding, cleaning, maintaining their gardens, etc. We would also like to start a dairy goat milk production and need carpentry/construction help in creating the appropriate divisions for milk production facilities. As of now it's just one big corral with all the goats together.

We especially need volunteers who are capable of spearheading construction projects in the areas of doing/learning: adobe and mud plaster,carpentry, welding, irrigation, solar electrical installations, regular electrical, as well as overall corral construction, repair and maintenence. We are also looking for help with maintenance, painting and carpentry of smaller projects, including art sculptures with re-used materials. We would also like to create a pamphlet about the local beneficial weeds and plants as well as those that are toxic. This will require investigation and photographing, interviewing local experts, and will focus on which weeds are best for the animals.

It would be best if you like dogs, but our dogs will teach you how to love them if you have any reservations. All are super-friendly and excellent with strangers, especially children even though they are mostly rescues.

No experience is necessary, but please come with enthusiasm and few expectations. Spanish and English spoken. We currently have a vocabulary list of common farm/tool terminology in Spanish, English, French, German, and a little Italian. We welcome help including other languages as well! Bring sturdy shoes (your feet are important) and a sombrero!!! A raincoat/parka and mosquito repellant and/or netting would be advisable during the rainy season (May - Oct). It gets cold at night in the winter months (Nov-Mar) so a warm jacket and sweaters are in order.

Lodging: We are in the process of constructing a volunteer cabaña and shower house (wwoofers with construction skills are most welcome to help out in this endeavor), and so the housing is adequate but rustic for up to 8 volunteers, please bring your tent if you have one in case we have an overlap of many volunteers. It is recommended to bring a sleeping bag or sheets if you have them. We also have a rustic shower and an outhouse.

Meals: Volunteers have open access to the kitchen and are responsible for keeping it clean. Volunteers cook at least one communal meal a day together, duties rotate. The food is typical Oaxacan fare—black beans and tortillas, rice, eggs, salsa, and occasionally a meat dish (sometimes from our own livestock). Vegetarians are quite welcome and easily accommodated.

Food: We currently are able to provide all the staples, like beans, rice, cooking oil, etc., but wwoofers should come prepared to contribute to a co-op contribution of $150 Pesos weekly (approximately $15 US) towards luxury items like cheese, honey, fresh fruit, yoghurt, etc . We have lettuce, carrots, radishes and some herbs growing, and have recently planted more. Sometimes there's tomatoes, zucchini, swiss chard, etc. There's also chicken eggs.

Internet cafes are in the pueblo within 1 km, and downtown Oaxaca is 15 km, collectivos pass by throughout the day. We also have two very old bicycles for volunteer use, but they need maintenance.

Interested wwoofers are encouraged to contact the farm directly at volunteer@divertigranja.org and mention wwoof in the subject heading.

P.S. We welcome the donation of organic seeds for any type of vegetable, herb, or flower, as they are difficult to obtain here. Additionally, we would really appreciate organic gardening supplies such as Diatomaceous Earth and Pyrethrum. We also accept clothing and book donations for the volunteers and farm library. We are very interested in a book about seed saving and germination. If you can donate sheets, pillows and pillow cases, blankets, or mosquito netting for the volunteer cabaña that would also be greatly appreciated by future volunteers.