Volunteer and live at Hakea
Hosted by Hakea Retreat
About this space
Hakea is a place to experience permaculture in practice. We welcome volunteers who are keen to experience and contribute to off-grid living based on the principles of permaculture, to join us in living, learning and co-creating together. There is always something to do on 40 acres: the vegetable gardens and the food forest, the banana circles and water systems, the bee yard, the goats, chickens and bunnies, composting and mulching, building and maintenance with recycled materials, cooking and hosting, and creative projects in Sanat, our art studio. We use regenerative practices, so the aim is not only to sustain the land but to improve it year after year. You will learn by doing, alongside Dan (a qualified electrician who designs our off-grid systems) and Merve (a scientist and permaculture designer who planned the food forest). Volunteers live within our household and the wider land-based community, share meals and celebrations, and are treated like family. You sleep in a cosy room or cabin and share the community house, kitchen, hot shower and composting toilets. Meals depend on the exchange we agree. We take one or two helpers at a time, year round, and we also welcome permaculture interns. There are no contracts and no payment. Your input is voluntary and you are free to leave at any time. We also host through HelpX. If you are interested in volunteering, get in touch and tell us a bit about who you are, any experience you have, and what you are curious to learn.
Details
Amenities
What the arrangement involves
- How long
- 2 weeks or more
- Time involved
- Flexible on timing and tasks
- Meals
- Shared meals sometimes
What you would help with
What you would learn
Where you would stay
When you can arrive
Tell us who you are, any experience you have, what you are curious to learn, roughly when you could come and for how long. Hours, meals and where you sleep are agreed with us before you arrive.
Things to know
Hours, meals and where you sleep are agreed with us before you come. Bring boots and wet weather gear. Off grid, so: no fridge or TV, limited power for charging (bring a power bank), composting toilets. Dogs welcome on a leash. Please keep them away from the goats, chickens and bunnies. Residential gardens are the residents' own, not for personal harvest. Ask if you are curious. Phillips Road is gravel. Good phone reception on site.
Long stays
This host welcomes longer stays. Here are the details:
Suitable for:
Arrangement options:
Notes:
Longer stays are welcome and agreed as we go. Some volunteers have gone on to live here.