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Ecoforest Education for Sustainability, Apdo 29, Coin 29100, Malaga, Spain
Main contact: Nesta (+34) 669227447 omshantines@yahoo.com.ar
or (+34) 661 079 950 ef@ecoforest.org
Holiday visits

Ecoforest is open for Holiday Visitors all year round. Autumn is a great time to visit Ecoforest, enjoy a quiet time in peaceful surroundings, swimming in the river, lying in the sun, doing yoga in the shade...maybe exploring the nearby "Biosfere de la Sierra Nieves" a world recognised natural reserve.

Before visiting Ecoforest it is essential that You read the following:

Principles
Below is a list of principles that we ask volunteers at Ecoforest to agree upon before coming. This helps to help make their stay a harmonious, healthy and life affirming experience.

Please contact us (details on top) if you have any questions or reservations regarding our principles

Basic Rules: The Five Fundamental Shared Values

The following are seen as required to ensure the continuity and integrity of the vegan-organic raw-food philosophy of the project and to uphold the objectives of the Charitable Trust:

  • We will all live a 100% vegan raw food lifestyle whilst resident or visiting The Garden Village.

  • We will all use only natural organic fertilisers, pesticides cleaning products etc. on the land and within The Garden Village.

  • We will all not farm animals, keep animals in captivity or keep companion animals (pets) at The Garden Village.

  • By choice this community follows a 'no drug', no smoking, 'no alcohol' lifestyle: Both Resident Voluntary Project Workers and Visitors will be expected to follow this lifestyle fully; those that choose to use drugs and alcohol or smoke should do so elsewhere.

  • We pursue, support and encourage a life of non-violence towards people and planet

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    The Principles below expand upon and elaborate the above rules.

  • To have a 100% vegan raw food diet. This does not exclude people who are not 100% raw being involved; the idea is that we make it an easy, enjoyable and beautiful place to be 100% raw while you are here.

  • 100% vegan organic, largely based on forest gardening, agro-forestry and permaculture.

  • To promote a life-affirming, life-centred, positive, loving and compassionate way of life, that establishes and allows to evolve a culture based on the above principles.
  • To promote positive health and creativity in people and land, and seek growth and evolution in mind, body, spirit and emotions.

  • To establish a community and a culture that can grow, both in its immediate environment and around the world.

  • To promote a way of life in harmony with the above principles, and to provide information, education and the opportunity to experience this way of life.

  • To be a self-reliant community, but not an isolated or unduly inward looking community.

  • To be a responsible community, of responsible individuals, with freedom of and for the individual with respect for the rights and freedoms of others.

  • To seek positive, creative and life affirming responses (solutions) to all issues (problems)

  • To be a community that draws upon wisdom, of the past and present, of many cultures and philosophies.

  • To work individually and as a community to prioritise growth in love, wisdom, compassion and fulfillment

     

    Ecoforest Visitor Information

    WELCOME TO ECOFOREST
    Below is a list of essential information to help make your stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible. We welcome you to stay here enjoying the pleasures and experiences of a natural environment as an Ordinary Visitor, or as a Volunteer giving your time and energy towards a more ecologically sustainable world.

    WHEN YOU ARRIVE: Find a resident member. Complete a Visitor form and enter your name and contact details in our Eco Forest Visitor Book. After this we will show you around and show you where to put your tent etc.

    FOOD: One of the unique aspects of Ecoforest is that all food on site is living food and is/must be 100% Vegan, (raw 'living' plant foods, not cooked).

    Fruit and Veg: We have an on-site food Store that enables us to buy in bulk minimising transport. We offer fruit, nuts etc. to visitors volunteers and residents at reasonable prices.

    Oranges: Ecoforest home grown organic, available January to end of May (priced per Kilo). All orange peels go in the compost bins - please do not leave them lying about.

    DRINKING WATER: We collect our drinking water from various a springs, the nerest being 100m (but at the other side of the river), and another which is 2k and others in coin


    TRANSPORT:
    Buses: There are regular bus from Coin to Malaga and other places, and there is a timetable at the Store.
    Taxis: You can get a taxi to the bridge (called Puente Valenciana) which is approx. 1k from the site. Price to and from Coin approx. 10Eu each way.
    Lifts: To town (Coin) or other places. If we are going out we may be able to take you - please ask. You will need to chip-in towards vehicle costs.

    VEHICLES: Please don't bring a large vehicle as the roads are narrow, bumpy and there are no large parking spaces. We encourage more sustainable forms of transport and communal vehicles, so we have a vehicle discouragement parking fee of 1.5Eu per day, for vehicles not used by the project. Cycles are very welcome - it is a pleasant ride to and from Coin, although hilly in places - mainly tarmac/ asphalt, with 1 km of track which is bumpy in places.

    CONTRIBUTIONS: We ask everyone to make these in advance at the community Store when you arrive, so we can buy in appropriate supplies and make suitable arrangements for your stay. Vacation Visitors: Per week - 70eu, or Per day - 10eu.

    A TOUR OF THE FINCA / FARM: We try to shown around soon after your arrival so you know what and where everything is. Please ask if you need to know anything specific. It will be helpful for you to know about each of the following:

    The Community Store and Shopping: Open every day. If you need anything ask us we may be able to purchase things for you when we go shopping.

    Compost Toilets and Compost Heaps: We use this system to ensure our own waste along with the compost from food, weeds etc. turns into top quality compost for trees and other plants. Therefore we ask you to separate non -organic products such as plastics, glass etc. and put these in the bins or bags in our recycling area at the bottom of the steps for recycling or disposal. (Tampons in plastic bags please) The River and Asecia (water channel) are NOT Drinkable without purification. (As far as we know from our own experience) the river water is good for watering the garden, washing clothes/dishes, bathing, etc. Please do not add pollution to the river by using detergents, etc. Natural soaps are available at the Store.

    Domestic Duties: We have a self-catering program, therefore cleaning up is a task we all share. Please wash your own plate, clean up after yourself, dispose of your own rubbish etc. and generally help keep the kitchen, the house and the Finca / Farm tidy. This makes a big difference for us all.

    ACCOMMODATION: Bedding, Tents & Clothing: Please bring seasonally appropriate clothing and camping equipment e.g. your own sleeping-bag, a small tent, sleeping mat, etc. It can get cold at night In winter and muddy when it rains. Summer, May to end September is hot, no rain. Autumn and spring are beautiful with occasional rain, and mainly very warm in the day.

    The Communal House and Visitor Camping Space: is located on the upper part of the land.

    Other Accommodation: Until the rebuilding of the main house is complete other accommodation is scarce but may be available by prior arrangement only.

    Please be aware that Ecoforest is some people's home, and is owned and run by a Trust, managed by resident members for charitable purposes. Ecoforest is not a private property owned by individuals, or a business.

    OK, so now if/when you are anxious to visit us the next thing to do is to check the how to find us page!

     

    SORRY, NO PETS – INCLUDING DOGS, NO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR SMOKING.

    YES 100% Vegan, Raw Food and Natural

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