📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Alpe Loasa is a full-year organic mountain farm in southern Switzerland, at the Italian border. The farm is remote from cities or villages, accessible only by walking or horse riding, with frugal accommodation. The many works are usually done by the tenant and the cooperative by hand. Many helping people are therefore very valuable. In return of the work and the remoteness of the site, we offer an intense community experience. At Alpe Loasa above Bruzella in southern Ticino, the focus is on mountains, animals and fellowship with other people.
💼 What the programme involves
Various tasks are pending: Haymaking, installing cross-cuts (rain gutters), installing new stairs, renovating the house yard. Work tasks can be rotated among volunteers and need to be planned spontaneously according to the weather conditions. Due to the heat work starts early and there is a long siesta after lunch.
Keep in mind that often the work on a farm can be monotonous and physically demanding causing even muscle ache. But it is also astonishingly satisfying.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Simple accommodation in a dormitory - bring your own sleeping bag. Narrow mattresses, woollen blankets and pillows are available. Compost toilet (outside of the house), running cold (not hot!) water in the house, outdoor shower in the nearby forest with cold water only ~10 C°. Hand washing clothes with hot water from the wood stove is possible. No internet & cell phone coverage at the accommodation (5 min. away, there is a place where you can access internet if you have your own mobile data). Landline phone is available for emergencies. Cooking is done with a wood stove in the small kitchen.
⚠️ Requirements
You should be able to appreciate a simple, frugal life in a community. A good physical condition is necessary. You'll also need to bring robust boots, working clothes & gloves, sun and rain protection.
INCOMING/ADDITIONAL FEE for volunteers applying via Partner organisations & Contacts of SCI: https://scich.org/en/incoming-fee/
ℹ️ Additional information
Food will be vegetarian. Vegan is possible. Special menus and allergies can unfortunately not all be accommodated (e.g. gluten-free is not possible). Please check high prices of public transportation within Switzerland before you apply to avoid cancellations. Max. 2 minor volunteers can be accepted. Camp is open to volunteers with children: 3 children are accepted additionally to the max. 15 volunteers , minimal age is 12. The legal guardian/parent must be aware that the Alpe Loasa is only accessible by foot. The walk to the Alpe Loasa takes about 2 hours and all the luggage must be carried by the participants themselves uphill and on a narrow hiking trail. On the Alpe Loasa itself it is also a steep terrain. Also: Anyone who is afraid of dogs should look for a different workcamp.