Volunteers Welcome Guide
Introduction
Welcome to Dio Pigadia farm. Dio Pigadia is a permaculture eco-project established as a non-profit organization with the objective of implementing and exploring an alternative and sustainable ecological model. Permaculture is more than an agricultural technique; it is a philosophy rooted in local production/consumption, aiming to envision a new sustainable paradigm.
We are a self-organized project and we live in a community, for this reason we ask everyone who joins the project to respect others and help create an environment of trust and cooperation, where everyone feels safe and valued.
Bring along your open-mindedness, good vibe, and motivation! Help us prove this alternative is possible. We are looking forward to meeting you at our permaculture farm!
For more info on how to get here check out https://dio-pigadia.com/contact/
What to bring
- Natural biodegradable soap, as all water is used for our garden and the food that we eat. You can buy it at the farm shop as well.
- A personal water bottle.
- Trainers or hiking shoes for working at the farm.
- We offer sheets and towels, but if you want white pristine sheets you are welcome to bring yours, ours are clean but might have stains.
- A headlight is recommended.
Seasonal specifics:
- Summer: hat to cover from the sun, sun cream and mosquito product.
- Winter: woollen hats and socks, rain jacket and rain boots (available in town for 10 euros).
Work routine
4 to 5 working hours a day, usually in the mornings, but the schedule might change depending on the weather and projects. Weekends are free.
Every day there is a meeting to divide the tasks, and you will be able to choose which tasks fits you.
Moreover, you will be in charge of one or two daily routines that are separate from the farm tasks. Daily routines are small but important things that require someone’s devoted attention. Your routine will be passed on to you from leaving volunteers as you will pass it on to others when you leave. Make sure when you leave (even for the weekend) to pass it on to another volunteer. Daily routines include things like taking care of the greenhouse, feeding the chickens, making the kombucha, common laundry, posting on Patreon, watching the mice traps, or watering by hand in the garden.
Cooking and dishes work on a rotation base. The cooking and dishes pairs are set weekly with a schedule, posted in the common area and shared in the group Signal chat.
We also have a suggestion box and a weekly feedback session where we discuss the way things are going.
The older volunteers show the new ones how things are done and how they can help. Spot them and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Don’t be shy to ask more general questions about how and why we do this and that. This is a place of knowledge exchange!
Accommodation
In the winter we offer 2 rooms at Jasmine which are shared. The rest of the year tents (mostly) and a caravan – depending on availability – are the main accommodation. Tents have a proper mattress inside. We can provide blankets but having your own sleeping bag is a great plus, especially in the colder months. Also there is a place for your own caravan or tent.
If you would like a more comfortable accommodation, it is possible to rent a cottage. We give 15% discount for volunteers. In case you just want a taste of the farm life but keep more time for yourself check out our “Active Guest” option. Contact us at nectar@dio-pigadia.com for more information regarding the rentals.
This is a self-organized system so when you leave make sure that the space is clean and ready for the next one (vacuum cleaner, put the sheets in the washing machine, put the trash in the bin, prep the bed…)
Promoting the permaculture movement
We are using Instagram to promote permaculture and share our way of living and our vision. Therefore we are creating content, such as pictures or videos of our daily activities in the farm, including volunteers work. We encourage you to help us creating some content if you are into social media, that really helps us to promote and spread the word. Here is the link to our Instagram page, don’t hesitate to tag us.
It’s okay if you don’t want to take an active part or be filmed, just let us know in advance.
Internet & internal communication
- We have a great WIFI connection at the farm and Nectar. Just connect to any of the “OliveNet” wifis and enter the password: chickendonkeyhorse
- Signal is our internal communication tool, download it here and feel free to ask to join the group invitation. All the relevant information, such as teams for cooking and cleaning and outside activities are planned and communicated through this channel.
Food & drinks
We cook mostly vegetarian dishes although in special occasions we eat meat from the farm or local producers. Homemade eggs and local cheese might be on the menu. We can’t guarantee vegan meals since we are a farm that produces some animal products and it is difficult to organize two separate meals every time. Most of what we eat comes straight from the garden dressed with our delicious homemade olive oil.
- We have a rotation system where 2 people (sometimes 1 if we are not many) are cooking lunch, 2 others dinner. There is a rotation system for dishes as well. This is organized weekly and will be communicated in the signal group and posted at the communal living room blue caravan where the grocery list is.
- Harvest and cook veggies that are in season. Go look for them a bit further in the garden where others have forgotten them. Look at what has already been harvested. Check out for leftovers from the previous meal.
- Don’t worry if you are no expert chef, we are always happy with food and you will be cooking with somebody else so no pressure! If you really don’t know what to cook you can check out our recipe section.
- Weekends are free and we have no organization for meals, but feel free to organize some food with the people staying at the farm and feel free to use the available goods.
Friday night is baking time, it’s a gathering time, and we all prepare delicious homemade pizza together and bake the bread for next week.
The kitchen
- Keep the kitchen clean. Don’t hesitate if you see some dishes to clean in the sink/table or drying dishes that need to be stored.
- When cleaning the dishes, watch water and soap consumption. Many techniques possible, not using any soap (might seem hardcore but many pans or knives actually benefit from a little grease, plates sometimes deserve just a good rinsing), rinsing with your hand first, and one drop of soap mixed with water to clear the extra grease.
- Never put anything that can’t take heat on top of the oven.
- Everyone cleans their own plate in the dish washing bucket system.
- The team preparing food should make sure that the kitchen, all cooking dishes and pots, and table are clean after cooking. They should set the table with dishes, silverware, condiments to prepare for the meal to be served.
- The person on dishes duty prepares the dishes washing buckets, cleans the shared food pots/pans and stores the leftovers.
The shower
- Check the red valve for hot water in the fridge room (we will show you when you arrive!).
- Save water in the summer. For real.
- Don’t use too much soap. Organic/green soap is highly recommended. Bring your own or we can provide you with natural olive oil soap.
- Pick up your hair!
- Clean it after use.
The dry toilet
A dry toilet is a toilet which, unlike a flush toilet, does not use flush water. Dry toilets do not use water to move excreta along or block odours. They do not produce sewage and are not connected to a sewer system or septic tank.
As soon as you arrive you will be trained in how to use it properly, but remember:
- Paper and non-organic stuff goes in the bin.
- When it’s full, empty in the big poo box, clean well with brush and water, toss the water in the poo box, put some wood shavings, ready for the next one!
We have a pee separation system, pee is collected separately for fertilising by the “fertility person” on duty who will use it for trees that love it!
Energy consumption
Watch your consumption. We are an eco-project. We don’t live in city comfort and should set an example.
Use heaters WITH MODERATION.
Solar panels take over in a sunny afternoon so free electricity at this moment – use it. Take advantage of this for heavy loads (oven, washing machine).
Safety
Tools and protective equipment are provided and have to be used properly: if ever you feel uncomfortable or you don’t know how to use a tool, a workshop or demonstration will be provided.
Always make sure to bring back tools in their proper place, and take good care of them.
Animals on the farm
The cats are extremely cute but invasive. They will try to eat any kind of unprotected food and will annoy you when you cook. Watch out!
The donkey Vouno had a bad story before. He is now less afraid and friendly but try to be gentle, no hasty moves, no shouting, also he doesn’t like people passing behind him.
Things to do around
There are different things to do around here on weekends (chill/eat in town, beach days, hiking or relaxing at the farm). Our car won’t be lend for safety reasons. We go to town from time to time so you can get a lift. Hitchhiking is easy, people around here are usually nice. You can also grab a taxi from Mesochori fuel station to Pylos for 10€. Sometimes volunteers who come in car/vans can also be an opportunity to move around if they are willing to.
We have 4 mountain bikes! You are free to use them with care. We ask for 10€ for use as much as you want. This will cover the occasional maintenance. Don’t forget please, you can use the donation box! In the summer make sure to leave them in Nectar since the guests will have priority on them. Thanks!
Check the must do/tips section if you want to know more!
Have a website or social media channel?
If you value our work it would help us to grow if you write content about us and link back to our website or Instagram (@diopigadia). Every mention will help the project!
Are you ok to appear on social media? Please remind us, if not it’s totally cool.
Please also help produce and share media content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Please remember to leave feedback on WWOOF, Workaway, and Google for Dio Pigadia and for Nectar.
Also support us by likes, comments, and shares! Help us out with one click!
It’s all about the algorithm, we need the visibility to support the permaculture movement! Let’s make it trendy!
Thanks guys! You are now a member of the Dio Pigadia family!
