📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
For years EstYES has been cooperating with farms all over Estonia for solidarity, respect and practical support to local people who work in agricultural sector keeping traditional life style and developing new eco-farming despite of all difficulties. Kaasiku Organic Farm is one of such projects. This is an organic farm promoting sustainable lifestyle, and this camp is proposed for volunteers who appreciate and share its values, want to learn more about it and to help hard working people. Kaasiku Organic Farm is situated in the South of Estonia. It is one of the few functional farms in this area. The major crops grown are apples, strawberries and raspberries, in smaller amounts different salads and radish. In the farm, near to strawberry field also local beekeeper holds its honey bees to collect nectar and pollen from organically grown cultures and from organic hayfield. More on FB-site: https://www.facebook.com/KaasikuMahetalu/
💼 What the programme involves
The main task for volunteers will be to weed and picking berries by hand, also to harvest vegetables and salads. In addition to weeding and harvesting task, volunteers will clean the vegetables and make them together with other farm’s products (frozen berries and juices) ready for consumers in different organic shops around the country. Volunteers will be guided to learn the summer-time apple tree cutting methods. Other apple plantation maintenance practices are also available. Volunteers have to be motivated to work outdoors doing sometimes quite physical work under changing weather conditions. Note that volunteers will work all working days and on Saturday mornings as the camp takes place on the peak of the harvesting season.
🏠 Accommodation on site
In the old sauna or in the attic under the roof sleeping on beds or mattresses. Dry organic toilet, shower, sauna is available. Please bring your sleeping bag. Volunteers will share the duties of cooking meals and cleaning. During this work camp volunteers will be eating mainly local food from the farms. Do not forget some traditional/ typical food from your home country for the international evening.
📍 About the location
Location
The farm is located in Tartu parish near to Vooremaa hilly landscape and it borders with Amme River which feeds The Great Emajõgi - the most water abundant river in South Estonia (Mother River in Estonian). One fifth of the area is covered by wetlands. In the east 20 km from the farm is the western coast of Europe’s 4th largest lake, Peipsi. Natural and ethnic landscape of Peipsimaa area is as diverse and nuanced as Estonian history. Here you’ll find aristocratic mansions, lighthouses, traditional market culture and colorful cottages marking the onion route (the area is known for its onion cultivators). The farm is located 16 km north of Tartu, capital of the County, which is known also as the student capital of Estonia and therefor also the city of good thoughts. Tartu locates about 180 km to south-east from Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. More info about Estonia on www.visitestonia.com, South-Estonia www.southestonia.info and Tartu http://www.visittartu.com/en/
Leisure time
Camp takes place in the area of traditional Estonian landscape. There are many possibilities for leisure, especially for those who love nature: acquaintance with nature of the area, hiking, swimming, etc. There will be a possibility to participate in farmers’ fairs. Excursions to the historical places of the County of Tartu and Peipsi Lake area are planned. Some free time activities will be organized for participants such as a day trip with excursions in the area.