The project is focused on organic gardening, as our farm is a certified farm following the principles of organic gardening. It means that we use environment friendly practices, support biodiversity and protect the landscape. We do not use synthetic fertilisers and chemical substances. Fruits and vegetables produced in our garden are mostly used in our ashram kitchen. The goal of the project is to enable young people to learn about healthier and sustainable way of farming (and living), give them opportunity to live in the countryside and motivate them for living a rural/more natural life. It offers the possibility of inter-cultural exchange and participation in organic movement. In addition our project gives the chance to spend some time in the spiritual environment of our ashram and practise yoga.
Work:
Volunteers will help mainly in the vegetable garden, in the orchard and in the kitchen. You will experience the whole process of making food – from the beginning (growing of vegetables and other products in the field) until the end (processing in the kitchen). The volunteers will work 7 hours per day, 5 days per week. Two days will be free, depending on agreement. Be prepared for sometimes demanding work outside (weather changes, sun).
Study part:
A possibility to take part in international seminars of yoga at the place.
Leisure time:
After work and at the weekends, volunteers will have the opportunity to go for walks, visit sights or make trips to the surrounding countryside. In the Chriby hills it is possible to see ruins of the old Strilky castle and ruins of Cimburk castle (near Korycany), where some cultural events take place. The town Kromeriz with historical monuments on the UNESCO list is 25 km far away. Brno, the second biggest city in the Czech Republic, is accessible within 1h by bus.
Accommodation/ Food:
In a room (usually multiple-bed room) in the castle or in a building opposite the castle. The meals are provided in the castle. The food is lacto-vegetarian only.
Location:
The farm is located in the Mahaprabhudeep Ashram – a spiritual centre of the organization “Yoga in Daily Life”. It is situated in the small peaceful Moravian village Strilky, in the compound of an old village castle with a large park, an orchard, a vegetable and herbal garden. The ashram organizes various seminars about yoga and healthy lifestyle and camps for children. The village is located at the foot of the hills of Chriby, 25 km south-west from the town Kromeriz and is surrounded by forests. The nearest town Korycany (3 000 inhabitants) is 6 km from Strilky.
Note:
There are rules that need to be followed: no drugs, no alcohol and smoking, no meat and eggs consumption in the ashram area. You should wear proper clothes (not too short skirts or too plunging neckline). For the first half of May, second half of September, October and November you will need warm clothes.
Requirements:
1 Flexibility, responsibility, sociability, patience and maturity 2 Interest in working in the garden, desire to gain experience; experience with gardening is an advantage 3 Good physical condition 4 Letter of motivation 5 Medical statement 6 Good knowledge of English 7 Acceptance of our spiritual environment and vegetarian lifestyle (see the Note) 8 Interest in yoga is an advantage
« We did a lot of conservation work, building hiking paths, tidying up wooded areas, removing weeds, planting trees, etc. The work was extremely successful and I found it very rewarding. »
