I spent two weeks at a HelpX farm called Vinto Lindo, located just outside Cochabamba. It was nice to be out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city and work with my body in the garden, pulling weeds, getting calluses digging post holes, planting fruit trees, harvesting corn by hand, and sharing hour-long lunches with the other volunteers and our host.
view from the farm
Two teams being led by local farmers in the corn field
building with the volunteer kitchen and tool shed
garden extension and greenhouse
Main garden with lettuce, pole beans, onions, potatoes, strawberries, and squash
I met some people that were very genuine souls: a Tim from France who made a killer Bechamel sauce (used in vegetable lasagna..nom nom), Caitlin from England who had been travelling South America for the past few months, and Anneliese from Canada who did advanced-level woodworking and knew a lot about permaculture from WWOOFing in New Zealand.
Tim playing his violin
famous vegetable lasagna with Bechamel sauce, my first meal at the farm
Caitlin bonded with this little creature who followed us home
Quinoa plant
Cactus and its fruit, tuna
plant outside the volunteers' quarters
The stars at night were gorgeous, a glimpse into the southern hemisphere's night sky