Río Muchacho Organic Farm

Volunteering

By Katie Tibbetts

Situated in the Río Muchacho river valley, just a short distance from the chilled beaches of Canoa and eco-friendly town of Bahía, Río Muchacho Organic Farm focuses on environmental and cultural awareness with a bent towards community development and sustainable tourism. Owners Nicola and Dario have not only created a self-sufficient organic farm based on the practices of permaculture, they have also cultivated a strong relationship with the local community, garnering support for the Bahía Eco-City projects, designing programs for organic recycling (including eco-paper recycling in the city), developing community training eco-camps, and even establishing an environmental primary school such that even the youngest generation is educated on new techniques for sustainable farming, recycling, waste management and reforestation. Due in part to their hard work and constant toil, the area now has 13 Eco-schools, which cater to nearly 900 children. Foreigners, as well as locals, can benefit in uncountable ways from a visit to the farm—whether to volunteer for a couple weeks, or to attend agricultural courses for a few months. A dynamic symbiotic process occurs on Río Muchacho Organic Farm, not just between the land, plants and animals, but between volunteers and the community: it is a unique opportunity to offer up one’s time and labor in return for invaluable knowledge and insight into rural Ecuador, its land and its people. From dawn to dusk, this place offers ample opportunity to learn and grow. The farm runs a number of programs and tours, but perhaps the best way to experience the farm is to volunteer for a few weeks. Rise early and help around the farm, then spend the night taking in a hearty organic meal around the large communal dining table (complete with carved bowls and cutlery)—if you’re lucky you might find yourself learning how to make organic chocolate from cacao beans! The farm is always on the lookout for Spanish-proficient volunteers to head up programs in the environmental schools (as you can imagine, 900 children require a lot of resources!), so if you’re interested by all means carpe diem and give Nicola or Darío a buzz. In addition to volunteer programs, the farm also runs monthly agricultural courses for volunteers, and more advanced agricultural classes in May, August and November for the serious agro-maniacs. The farm is also a member of ASEC (Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association) who in tandem with the Ministry of Tourism implemented an official process to obtain ecotourism certification in 2003. The farm has a number of resources regarding ecotourism and sustainable development, including a list of other Eco-Certified places in Ecuador and a handy Environmental Tips for Travelers sheet (which we have published in this book). Aesthetically beautiful, culturally aware, and environmentally fully operational, Río Muchacho is more than an organic farm, it is a philosophy and a way of life, and one that anyone who is welcomed through its doors is sure to add to and benefit from.