ORGANIC FARM & MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN PROJECT

1) COUNTRY:	Ecuador
2) PROVINCE:	Sucumbíos
3) LOCATION:	Ecuadorian Amazon jungle
4) COMMUNITY:	Pilchi
5) COORDINATES:	0°29'13.60"S 76°24'35.60"O

The Pilchi community is located in the Yasuni National Park in pristine, primary rainforest on the banks of the Rio Napo.

ETV is actively developing many projects in support of this community. One of these projects is the implementation of an organic farm and a medicinal plant garden. The main objective is to improve the level of technical knowledge to the Pilchi Community, but also to promote the organic production of food for the community as well as potential commercialization.

Pilchi is located in a sensitively active “Eco-tourism” area, where there are several comfortable lodges. The organic farm will provide these lodges with healthy, organic food. The income generated from the sale of plants and crops grown by the Pilchi community will be used for essentials, such as a paying teachers, buying fuel for motorized canoes and canoe maintenance which are used to transport people from the community to towns for medical attention and essential supplies.

All the techniques and knowledge learned during the implementation of the garden will be replicated in their own chakras. (A chakra is a local finca or farm) ETV will design and provide organic agriculture workshops in order to promote alternatives for the agricultural production in the community.

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT

ETV is looking for active workers and volunteers, who want to be involved in this project, working hand in hand with the community.

Volunteers must have at least a confident level of Basic Spanish to join the project. The project offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen your languages skills and also to acquire the basics in Kichwa, the Pilchi language. Volunteers should have a desire to work within a community and to improve their agricultural skills.

ACTIVITIES:

• A selection of the varieties of organic produce include Cocoa, Banana and other produce used by the members of the community.
  • Transplanting of a selected variety of trees
  • Selection of vegetables (Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber, Vainita, Cilantro, Sweet Potato, Cassava)
  • Planting and transplanting of vegetables
  • Development and production of organic fertilizers and cultural work
  • Identifying and preventing plant pests and diseases
  • Harvest and post-harvest of products planted in the orchard
  • Handling of fruit trees
  • Planting and maintenance of the medicinal plants garden

Volunteer support
Volunteers will receive a formal project induction on arrival, and work under the supervision of a Project Director. The project provides support at local level in case of minor illness or accident. All volunteers must hold travel and health insurance to cover serious illnesses or accidents. Of course you must at least have a Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate or you will not be able to continue any journey out of Ecuador.

Volunteer accommodation

Accommodation is provided at the The House of the Jaguar Moon (Casa de voluntarios), where there are shared rooms with private bathrooms, a kitchen, restaurant and a Hammock area. The house is situated in a quiet part of jungle and it is 3 hours far away from Coca and Lago Agrio.

How to reach Pilchi?
There are several ways to reach Pilchi.

Taking a flight from Quito to Francisco de Orellana (Coca) or Lago Agrio. The cost of the flight varies between $ 150 and $ 200, depending on the season.

From Coca volunteers are able to take a motorized canoe directly to the lodge (2.5 – 3 hours). Also volunteers can take a Taxi until Puerto Providencia (2.5 hours) and then 20 minutes by motorized canoe to Pilchi.

From Lago Agrio the only way is by taking a private taxi to Puerto Providencia (2.5 hours) and then a 20 minute by motorized canoe to Pilchi.

• ---

Application process
Before coming to volunteer in Ecuador you must send:

• A letter of application indicating: experiences, future interests, reasons for choosing ETV, date of participation (needed to guarantee space availability).
• A scan of your passport
• Dietary restrictions, allergies and medication taken regulary
• Spanish Level (confident basic level)
• Copy of your health /accident insurance

---

Dates & Fees

• The project is available year round.
• Volunteers can join any Saturday, all projects start with an induction on Sunday afternoon.
• Minimum stay is 1 month.
• We request a donation of $35 per day.

• ---

The program includes

• Local project coordinator
• Project Orientation
• Project transport
• Accommodation
• Shared room with private bathroom
• 3 meals per day, restaurant, dining area and hammock area

---

Not included in the program

• Air fare Quito – Coca or Lago Agrio - Quito
• Visa is required for more than 3 months
• Insurance
• Tourist activities
• Laundry

• ---

We suggest you bring

• Cell phone with Ecuador network chip (signal only available in a specific place at the lodge)
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Insect repellent, not DEET please, preferably Citronella or other natural based product
• Rain jacket
• Swimsuit
• Walking shoes
• Waterproof sandals
• Rubber boots
• Socks that do not slip easily inside the rubber boots + medicated foot powder to put in your socks keeps your feed drier and healthier)
• Hiking pants (No jeans)
• Shorts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Light-weight shirts
• Binoculars
• Flashlight
• Personal first aid
• Passport and color copy
• Personal medication
• Camera with extra batteries

Note: Luggage weight limit: 20 Kg per person

 

 

If you want to support our Project please contact us or if you want to send a donation click here