Eco Tourism
Volunteering

VOLUNTEER IN BRAZIL AT A PERMACULTURE FARM

Category: Volunteering

  • ECOLIBRIUM: Bioconstructing the Future

    ECOLIBRIUM: Bioconstructing the Future

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    The Ecolibrium Space

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    The Ecolibrium Association is a non-profit organization that aims to promote a resilient ecosystem, establishing conscious relationships between agriculture, community, and nature, using permaculture as a tool and values of respect, equality, and collaboration.

    With this, we bring to life this space also called Ecolibrium, which will expand the work already developed by Eco Caminhos, sharing our knowledge of agroforestry and natural building with even more people. Through a broader and more inclusive educational program, we will empower our audience with theoretical knowledge in this space and continue to put skills into practice on our farm. Additionally, we will also seek financial autonomy through ecotourism, organizing courses and events, and selling the products we cultivate.

     

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    The Architectural Project

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    The architectural project, developed by Mexican architect Pedro Pizarro Villalobos, was designed to host volunteers, students, and tourists, and to connect institutions, farmers, and local builders.

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    The building is a large circle and will include collective accommodations, among them dormitories and suites, kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms, as well as a workshop and a multifunctional area for activities, administrative office, and a restaurant with a view of the valley open to the general public, all connected by a large central courtyard.

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    Construction Phases and Strategies

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    The project is divided into three phases, and we are currently in the first. It is in this phase that most of the collective use accommodations are taking shape, such as the kitchen, laundry, two bathrooms, five rooms, and two of the eight suites.

    The main technique used here, as in all our constructions, is cob, also known as adobe, in this case, in solid walls over 40 cm thick, ensuring thermal and acoustic comfort and fulfilling its structural function to support the green roof. As the base of this wall, we use stones, one part below the ground for the foundation, along with a thick layer of gravel and piping for drainage in this area, and another part above, serving to protect the walls from ground moisture and rain since the eaves are not very extensive.

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    Taking advantage of the steep slope of the land, the second phase will be a floor below phases one and three, which we consider the ground floor. For this, a retaining wall will need to be built, along with a structure with pillars that will support the third phase. In this case, the walls will be only partitions, which can be thinner and consequently require less material, speeding up the process. Thus, we opted for the so-called wattle and daub technique, using a lattice of wood and bamboo, later covered with cob.

    In the second stage, the executive and educational sector predominates, where the administrative office, workshop, and multifunctional space will be located.

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    The third phase will be built on top of the second phase, completing the ground floor circle and creating a large internal courtyard. At the front of the building, a wooden deck extends towards the valley. This phase will include the entire structure of the restaurant, which is still under development, and the other suites.

    In this case, the chosen technique was also rammed earth, due to its lighter weight, which demands less from the underlying structure. For the coverage of the entire set, a green roof was planned, as it not only uses natural raw materials, prevents heat transfer to the surroundings, keeps the internal temperature pleasant, but also looks aesthetically amazing and maintains the characteristic of the buildings on the farm.

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    First Phase – Construction Stages

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    Executed Stages:

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    1.FOUNDATION: consisting of a high layer of gravel approximately 1 meter thick, with a drainage system and covered by large stones bonded with concrete;

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    2. WALLS – BASE: a stone wall approximately 40cm wide and 60cm high, elevating the earth wall from the ground and where wooden posts were fixed to support the walls; in this stage, we also left the hydraulic connections;

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    3. WALLS – COB: we obtained cob through a mixture of earth, sand, grass, and water, and it is essentially the core of the construction. We lay layers of 40cm width and structure the walls. For each layer of approximately 30cm height, we place bamboo slats across the posts to ensure more resistance to possible movements. At this stage, we also install conduits for electrical wiring;

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    4. LINTELS – for the door and window openings, we used planks from railway sleepers, which are repurposed and very durable. These will later be used to install the frames and also act as lintels. After installing them, we continue to raise the walls;

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    Stage in progress:

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    5. WOODEN “RING”: when we reach a wall height of 2.50 meters, we place wooden beams over them, fitting them in and creating a kind of belt around the structure. After this, we continue with cob in a diagonal to create the roof slope;

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    Next Stages:

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    6. BEAMS AND PURLINS: we will place wooden beams perpendicularly to the walls to support the roof, and over them, the purlins;

    7. CEILING COVERING: the purlins will receive wooden boards that make up the ceiling and will later receive the green roof;

    8. GREEN ROOF: consists of a waterproofing system, a drainage system, and a substrate where plant species will be planted. We decided to cover this part of the work before finishing the veranda side because we are entering the rainy season, and with the covering, we can continue working internally;

    9. VERANDA: we will execute the foundation for the columns, which will be pieces of railway sleepers measuring 16x24cm and will have the same roofing structure as the building;

    10. SUBFLOOR AND FLOOR: the ground will receive a layer of expanded clay for thermal insulation, a concrete layer, and a stone floor covering, which will be easy to maintain and resistant to the high traffic the location will receive;

    11. FINISHES: at this stage, the walls will be covered with plaster and stucco, using a mixture of clay, sand, ground straw, and lime for internal use, and a mixture of clay, sand, fresh manure, and linseed oil for external use. Electrical, hydraulic installations, and frames will also be completed.

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    The stages were defined in this sequence due to the rainy season, which usually begins at the end of September. Therefore, we are speeding up to cover what has been done so far, postponing the veranda construction and thus enabling the completion of the final finishes under the covering.

    We started the work in February 2024, thanks to donations from partners and to our collaborators, apprentices, and temporary volunteers, who literally got their hands dirty, guided and supervised by builder Jorge Dutra and director Bart Bijen. We are now focusing our efforts on completing this first phase and raising funds for the next phases.

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    Collaborators:

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    Construction Manager: Arthur Antony
    Construction Master: Jorge Dutra
    Construction Team: Rhana Parajara, Wallace Ferreira and Pedro Lindemann
    Project Detailing and Construction Team: Alieska Zancanaro[/vc_column_text][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column_text css=””]

    Investor Partners:

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  • Farm Rehab: Healing Depression Holistically

    Farm Rehab: Healing Depression Holistically

    Healing Depression in the Modern World

    Depression affects 280 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization. The causes are multifaceted, ranging from trauma and social isolation to the consumption of ultra-processed foods, societal inequality, lack of sleep, over-engagement in mentally passive activities, and global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world modernizes, more individuals adopt a sedentary lifestyle, leading to reduced outdoor activity, poor diets, and increased isolation.

    Given the complex interplay of personal and societal factors underlying depression, many struggle to find a way out. Theoretical insights and empirical research provide valuable guidance on addressing depression effectively.

    The Power of Nature

    Studies consistently show that interacting with nature can significantly alleviate depression symptoms. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology found that spending time in natural settings reduces stress, enhances mood, and improves overall mental health (Berman et al., 2012). Similarly, a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health linked exposure to green spaces with lower levels of depression and anxiety (Wang et al., 2014). Additionally, research in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine demonstrated that forest bathing, or spending time in forest environments, can lower cortisol levels and improve mood (Park et al., 2010).

     group of hikers walking in the forest with tres picos in the background

    Healthy Eatingan holding basket of oranic produce

    Recent research highlights the strong connection between gut health and mental health, particularly depression. A study in Psychiatry Research found that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating mood and mental health, with imbalances in gut bacteria linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety (Dinan & Cryan, 2017). Another study in Molecular Psychiatry revealed that dietary interventions promoting a healthy gut microbiome, such as consuming probiotics and fiber-rich foods, can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms (Sarris et al., 2015). Research in Nutritional Neuroscience also shows that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are associated with lower risks of depression (Lai et al., 2014).

     

    three people with arms around each other smiling

    Social Connection and Support

    Strong social connections are vital for mental well-being. Engaging in community activities and forming meaningful relationships can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and depression. Studies have shown that social support networks can buffer the effects of stress and promote mental health (Cohen & Wills, 1985). Living in a community where genuine social connections are fostered provides emotional support and a sense of belonging.

    Establishing Healthy Routines

    Maintaining a simple lifestyle and structured routine can significantly benefit those struggling with depression. Research indicates that routine physical activity and structured daily schedules help regulate mood and improve mental health outcomes (Blumenthal et al., 1999). Establishing healthy habits and a consistent daily routine can provide stability and predictability, which are crucial for individuals recovering from depression.

    How Eco Caminhos Rehabilitation Works 

    At Eco Caminhos, we integrate these theoretical insights and empirical findings into our rehabilitation approach. Our program emphasizes nature immersion, healthy eating, community support, and a simple, structured lifestyle to foster holistic recovery from depression.

    Immersive Nature Experience

    Our farm, nestled in the breathtaking mountains of Cardinot, Nova Friburgo in the Atlantic Forest, provides an ideal setting for participants to experience the healing benefits of nature. Participants engage in active agroforestry, planting, maintenance and natural building practices that connect them deeply with the environment. In our free time we also go on hikes, swim in stunning waterfalls and gather around bonfires.

    holistic healing for depression gut healthFarm Fresh Meals

    We prioritize a balanced diet that supports gut health. A typical lunch at Eco Caminhos includes whole grain rice, black beans, bell pepper and broccoli pasta, farm-raised meat in tomato gravy, inhame, stir-fried broccoli and kale, and garden salad with freshly squeezed lemonade. This nutritious diet promotes a thriving gut microbiome, enhancing physical and mental health.

    Community Support

    Our community fosters genuine social connections through activities like social nights, game playing, and fireside chats, replacing TV watching and doom scrolling. Our community of local and international volunteers, emphasizes respect and teamwork. Weekly meetings allow for open discussions about work, life, and differences, always stressing respectful communication. Each client receives personalized support through frequent conversations and weekly feedback sessions with our experienced founder and director, providing a framework for personal exploration and understanding.

    Simple Living and Structure

    At Eco Caminhos, our simple lifestyle allows participants to focus on what truly matters. Routine physical activity, such as bioconstruction and agroforestry, is vital to our program. Structure is crucial for restoring healthy living, as depression often disrupts daily schedules and habits. Our day starts at 7 am and ends at 4 pm, with a one-hour lunch break at noon. Participants wake up early and go to sleep early. We believe getting back to the basics is the best route towards recovery.

     healing depression holistically retreat rehabilitation

     

    To learn more about our rehabilitation program and read testimonials from participants, please visit the Eco Caminhos Rehabilitation page on our website. You can apply for our rehabilitation program by filling out the application form.

    Citations

    1. Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2012). The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 1-8. Link
    2. Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2017). Gut Microbiota: A New Frontier in Psychiatry. Psychiatry Research, 249, 1-7. Link
    3. Lai, J. S., Hiles, S., Bisquera, A., & Mickey, M. (2014). The Relationship between Diet and Depression: A Review. Nutritional Neuroscience, 17(3), 161-171. Link
    4. Park, B. J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., & Kagawa, T. (2010). The Physiological Effects of Shinrin-Yoku (Taking in the Forest Atmosphere or Forest Bathing): Evidence from Field Experiments in 24 Forests Across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 16-24. Link
    5. Sarris, J., Logan, A. C., & Bassett, H. (2015). Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Management of Depression: A Review. Molecular Psychiatry, 20(5), 523-534. Link
    6. Social Isolation and Social Media Use. (n.d.). Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from Child Mind Institute
    7. Ultra-Processed Foods. (n.d.). Harvard Health. Retrieved from Harvard Health
    8. Lack of Sleep. (2023, October 19). The Washington Post. Retrieved from Washington Post
    9. Covid-19 Pandemic Impact. (2022, March 2). World Health Organization. Retrieved from WHO
  • Canadian students build a park in Nova Friburgo school.

    Canadian students build a park in Nova Friburgo school.

    Coming from Canada direct to the neighborhood of Cordoeira – participate in an action in local school, build park and participate in bioconstruction and agroforestry project in partnership with ‘Eco Caminhos’.

     

    In partnership with the social program OFFGRID we are pleased to welcome a group of students from sainteanne school in Canada to help us build a playground in a school in Nova Friburgo – Padre Rafael Municipal School, in the Cordoeira neighborhood.

    They came to help us with a lot of love, passion, enthusiasm and happiness spreading throughout our community and also giving us a hand in the mass in our permaculture project at Eco Caminhos.
    They are from many parts of the globe we have Hungarians, Russians, Spanish, Indians, Chinese, Italians, English and French all together on a mission that began on Monday, 6, where they will remain until March 22.
    This is a great opportunity for them to learn a new language like Portuguese and also about different cultures and customs.

     

     

    Bart points out that the experience is rich for both students coming from other countries and young Brazilians:

    “Here they have the opportunity to know a foreign language and understand that young people on the other side of the world are equal, are only from another culture, with different race and language, but have many similar things and make us believe that the world is much smaller than we imagine”.

    The financial resources for the construction of the School Park were part of a donation from the students and they are acting as volunteers. It’s a wonderful gesture!

    The OFFGRID project is a bilingual project that follows the vision of development of children and young people through humanized sustainable habits and skills.

    João Guilherme Wermelinger, dentist who participates in the ‘Off Grid’ project at Padre Rafael school said he is full of expectations:

    “I’m sure it will be days of discovery, hope, diversity and inclusions, served by altruism and also empathy”.

     

    The seven young students from different corners of the world are accompanied by a teacher and will also produce a documentary on sustainable tourism, which is part of the completion of their school program.

    In addition to the interventions and benefits of the school in Cordoeira, students will have agroforestry experiences, will learn about Bioconstruction, as well as leisure activities such as trails, and walks in waterfalls of the city.

     

    Opportunities like this are extremely important both for young foreigners who come to make an exchange in Brazilian lands and for the young people here, who start to see more possibilities for a better future, the importance of taking care of our environment using sustainable practices for the greater good of the community and the planet in which we live. It is a fact that this immersion will provide a new worldview to these young people and we believe that we are following the right path in search of a better future.

  • A Web of Give and Take — Surprising Links Between Agroforestry and Social Work

    A Web of Give and Take — Surprising Links Between Agroforestry and Social Work

    By Matthew Huska, eco-experience volunteer

    Rather than approaching life improvement and growing food as a math equation of inputs and outputs, Eco Caminhos practices a philosophy of self-sustaining and self-reinforcing systems.

    An Eclectic Crew

    Colmeia is Portuguese for “beehive”. It’s a play on words, a double meaning. It functions as the hive of activity. Also, Bart Bijen’s last name means “bees” in Dutch.

    At the Eco Caminhos permaculture farm, work begins at seven. The volunteers pile into the back of the pickup to avoid the difficult slog uphill to the heart of the farm. The truck strains up the mountainside in first gear with its human cargo packed in like French fries.

    We gather at Colmeia (Portuguese for beehive), where lunch, vegetable processing, and the daily meetings occur.

    To call the group of people that report at Colmeia every morning diverse is an understatement. The crowd is downright eclectic.

    If our community was a patchwork quilt it would have squares of fine cashmere alongside threadbare long johns. It is quite amazing that we all get along, much less communicate. Yet somehow, that seems to be the point.

    An Eclectic Community

    The core group of workers on the farm are the apprentices. Bart, the project’s founder and director, has known most of them since earlier days when he ran an orphanage in Rio de Janeiro. Without exception, they come from tough backgrounds and some still struggle with old vices. They are the ones who teach us newcomers and short-termers how to do our tasks.

    The volunteers come for as little as a few days or as long as a year or more. They also come from various backgrounds. Since we’ve been here, we’ve worked alongside a retired Brazilian woman, two college-aged Dutch guys (didn’t know each other before coming), an American girl just out of high school, two Italian women architects taking a break from their busy careers in Germany (a total coincidence, they also didn’t know each other before coming), and a Bangladeshi-Canadian family with two boys. Those are just to name a few.

    Then there is us: an American family of five. Financially mediocre by U.S. standards, but quite wealthy by Brazilian standards. Traveling abroad for a year. Trying to reset our lives and reimagine our future.

    Everyone is here for different reasons and has a range of expectations for the experience. Each volunteer is under different terms and timeframes. Some of us pay handsomely, some stay for free, others are somewhere in between. Some work five days, others three, others have a more flexible schedule. We all come with very different strengths and weaknesses. We give and we receive.

     

    A harvest being processed at Colmeia.

    Basics of Agroforestry (From Someone Who’s Never Grown a Garden)

    After our opening meeting, we break off into several teams. Most will be tending to the agroforestry. Each apprentice leads a group of short-term volunteers to one of the agroforestry sites. That is where the developed-world city-slickers get schooled in the most basic function of civilization: putting food on the table.

    Forget everything you know about planting a garden. This is not your square of dirt, sectioned off with cute labels at the end of each row and ample space between each shoot.

    In the simplest terms, agroforestry is agriculture that mimics a forest. The jungle doesn’t section itself off into monocultures. Plants grow (sometimes quite literally) on top of each other. Every tree, vine, and shrub jams itself into wherever there’s a square inch of dirt and a ray of sunshine.

    That’s not to say there isn’t order in a natural forest. It’s just not where you’d think to look.

     

     

    Order in the Forest

    Forests order themselves vertically. They grow in stratums.

    At the very top, the emergent and high stratums take on the brunt of the sunlight. This is far from a selfless act. These species crave sunlight for photosynthesis. Like a bully that shoves his way to the front of the line, they selfishly shoot up and steal as much sunshine as they can.

    Lower stratum species — like this Gringo programmer who hasn’t seen a beach in nine months — will get torched in full sunlight. Species such as coffee thrive in partial shade. I can relate to coffee.

    That is just one of the more visible ways that different species support each other. Beneath the surface, root systems communicate and share resources through fungal webs. Some plants fix nutrients in the soil. Others drop their leaves and branches, building the soil and covering it to retain moisture. There are probably ways that plants help each other that humans have yet to observe.

    Plant life is indeed mysterious. Each plant in an ecosystem participates in a complex web of giving and receiving. And that web is responsive to systemic threats. It is said that pruning one tree in such a system stimulates growth in other neighboring trees.

    We might not be able to decipher it all in a computer model. But by following nature’s lead and planting forests, so the thinking goes, we can recreate nature’s abundance for ourselves.

    Banana plants, besides producing the fruits we know and love, are the go-to species for making shade because of their broad foliage and rapid growth. Their stems and trunks can also be used as biomass and retain moisture in the soil. They are considered to be in the high stratum.
    Here we see the towering eucalyptus tree. This is a rapid growing emergent species that protects the soil with its roots and produces excellent hard wood.

    Surprising Lessons from Agroforestry

    An up-close look at the efficiency, as well as the complexity, of land use, when planting different species together in tight quarters.

    The ethos and guiding principle of agroforestry is variety and complexity. Jam as many species into one plot of dirt as possible. Overplant. You can always thin out later and benefit from the added biomass (a fancy term for dead shit and, well, shit).

    It violates everything you’ve ever learned about gardening and planting.

    It’s hard to fully appreciate the genius of this approach until you are literally down in the weeds tending to it. In my case, I was taking a day away from my usual bioconstruction duties and helping to harvest green onions.

    The onions poked their sharp tubular lances up between pavilions of lettuce. Cornstalks towered over the abundant understory, taking the edge off the harshest rays of sunlight.

    As I fished around for the base of the onion stalks, I felt the loose humid soil underneath, protected from desiccation by the shade and regenerated by decaying plant matter left from prior pruning, thinning and weeding.

    It didn’t take an expert in farming to sense that the soil was healthy and brimming with life. But who can keep up with all that complexity?

     

    Letting Nature Do the Work

    On its face, agroforestry seems disastrously complicated to manage. It is the opposite of streamlining and simplification. It strains the mind to remember what is where. All sorts of things are ripening at once in different places. Other places need new seeds. One wonders how it all gets tended with just a handful of volunteers.

    But all that complexity comes with a major upside. It takes care of itself. The web of give and take between the plants, the soil, the insects, and the rest of the ecosystem solve their own problems. Nobody has to baby a forest to help it grow and survive. It just does.

    Contrast this to a crop I used to see as a child growing up in northern Wisconsin — ginseng. I witnessed fields as far as the eye can see planted with this single lucrative root species. Since its natural niche is the forest floor, farmers manufacture artificial shade using an immense quantity of wood posts to hold up shade cloth. (If you’ve never seen a ginseng field, this article has some good photos).

    Planting a single crop of ginseng sounds simple until you consider all the inputs of money, material, and effort required. In other words, you are cutting down a real live forest, transporting it with energy from fossil fuels, and painstakingly building a dead (and ugly) simulation of a forest. It’s expensive. Why not save yourself the work and plant it in a forest! And when you’re done, you still have the trees to harvest for lumber.

    Agroforestry does away with artificial inputs and delegates those problems to nature.

    Can everybody do it?

    So why doesn’t everybody do it. Now!

    Not being a farmer, or even a gardener, I’m not in a place to tell conventional farmers what to do. In the long-term, Eco Caminhos hopes to prove itself as a working model for other farmers in the region. But until it can turn a healthy profit off its agroforestry operation, that day must wait. (For now, it makes most of its money from eco-tourism.)

    I have my own doubts about agroforestry as an immediate universal solution. While I think they are on to something, I question it’s scalability. If you took the land used for production at Eco Caminhos and figured out how many people it feeds, then extrapolated it to all the farmland in the world, would it meet the world’s needs? I’m not sure and I don’t know if anyone has tried to figure it out. It seems too experimental at the moment to make that leap.

    Here is another obstacle. Could a farmer of modest means convert to agroforestry and quickly turn a profit? If the answer is no, then the technique is still only available to hobbyists with cash to invest or as alternate income to ride out the unprofitable years.

    But those hobbyists might still be performing a critical function. A person living in the 1950s would have been mistaken to criticize early mainframe computers as impractical for the average consumer. Without that early stage of development, you wouldn’t be reading this post today on the device in your hand or on your lap.

    Maybe, one day, my great grandchildren will drive the interstate through my home state of Illinois surrounded by forests instead of cornfields.

    Bart gives a tree planting demonstration.
    Learning to plant seedlings with a three-year old strapped to my back.

    For the Cynic: Who Is This Benefitting?

    So back to that eclectic work crew. It initially presented me with a puzzle. Who was this place really here to serve? Who was being used and who was benefitting?

    Maybe it’s because I come from a country where the two main ideological poles accept as dogma that one group always gets screwed (they just can’t agree on who). But I couldn’t help speculating on the hierarchy at Eco Caminhos.

    It’s a sick mind that assumes the most cynical explanation as a given and then goes from there. But I live in a sick world, saturated by a sick media environment. So I let the thought experiment play out.

    Are the Brazilian-born apprentices being exploited in the service of the foreign-born visitors coming for an “experience?”

    Or are the well-to-do foreigners being used as an income source to support the vision: an environment where hard-luck youths can develop their careers?

    I tossed around the pieces like shards of color in a kaleidoscope. Each cynical arrangement seemed plausible, yet none jumped out as the obvious answer.

    Another Possibility: Community as Ecosystem

    Getting my hands dirty in the agroforestry systems made me consider another possibility. Maybe human communities, when tended to, work like healthy ecosystems.

    Whether intentionally or not, the same type of thinking that trusts the health of crops to the forest’s natural balance seems to have bled into the approach to community at Eco Camhinos.

    Bart, the farm’s owner, described how some of the volunteers and visitors he accepts explicitly come for rehabilitation. Some have depression. Some have addictions. Others come to get their life back on track, if it was ever on track to begin with.

    Bart readily admits he is not a therapist and doesn’t actively try to treat or counsel people. He credits the natural environment and the structure of the farm as a healing factor. But I also wonder if our community operates like the plants in the agroforestry system. Each member occupies a niche. Each readily gives something the other needs.

    Seen from the outside, combining international tourism with a local rehab program sounds absurd. They don’t even belong in the same part of town. (Though, I suppose, travel can a sort of rehab.)

    Yet the community at Eco Caminhos, in some ways, mimics the self-sufficient web of nature. This isn’t your worn out cliché of the put-together developed world tourist coming and showing the rest of the world how to live. Nor is it the equally worn out counter-story, where the first-world traveler goes out and leaves her comfort zone to be transformed.

    A Web of Give and Take

    Here there is no hero. No prime beneficiary. No victim. Rather, each comes with their own self-interested motive. Some of us seek an experience. A place to recover. A place to connect with nature. Or a place to escape from old demons.

    But once we come, we all have a few things in common. We share the work and the vision. We share meals, dish duty, the beautiful views of the valley, and a cardio workout every time we stomp up the mountain to meet at Colmeia or search for a tool. Those are the things that bind us together.

    Nevertheless, we are still very different people. And that’s where the magic happens. We all contribute something special, something unique to our personhood. Sometimes it’s something observable, like a skill that can be taught or practiced. Other times it’s ineffable — an attitude, a life story, a certain kind of presence.

    For those seeking rehab, the process is organic, not prescribed. For those of us seeking a new way of life, we experience a healthy, self-sustaining model to broaden our realm of possibility. Whatever the case, we are reaching our goals without fully understanding how. It happens as surely as lettuces absorb nitrogen from beans, as emergent trees cast their shadows on the fields below.

    My usual task involves building this bio-constructed toolshed. When finished, the shed should save some trips up the mountain for those working in the lower fields.
    Volunteers working in the fields and on the bio-constructed shed.
    One of the views we can feast our eyes on whenever we look up from our work.

     

  • Nova Friburgo City Guide: Volunteer Edition

    by Isabela Valencia, short-term volunteer

    Nova Friburgo is a small city set in the Serra do Mar mountains of southeastern Brazil, located in Rio de Janeiro state. As a volunteer at Eco Caminhos, the city is easily accessible by bus. Here are some of our volunteers’ recommendations for this city.

    HOW TO GET HERE

    The city is a 40-minute bus ride away. Just a 5-minute walk away from the volunteer houses is a bus stop called “Ponto Final.” You can access the timetables here (look for the Cargo D’antas route). One-way bus fare is 4.20 reais, payable by cash. 

    WHAT TO EAT

    Buffet

    Lunch in Brazil is the most important part of the day. As the biggest meal, the common places for lunch are per-kilo restaurants that serve a wide variety of food options. 

    • Restaurante e Pizzaria Excalibur – Offering both Brazilian and Portuguese cuisine, this buffet place can get packed during the afternoons and the weekends—and for good reason.
    • Restaurante Chantilly – A buffet restaurant offering a nice atmosphere, cordial service, and a rotating menu of tasty options.
    • Delicatessen Vinho Café e Cia – Don’t be fooled by the  gourmet selection of wines and delicacies on the first floor; the upstairs area features a lunch buffet option with a view of the street.

    Bakery

    • Leiteria Paissandu – A traditional-style Brazilian bakery with an extensive bread and pastel selection, along with extensive seating.
    • Padaria Suspiro – A no-frills, hole-in-the-wall bakery with a good array of fresh bread for good prices and some seating.

    Cafes

    A girls’ trip to Grão Raro Café

    • Grão Raro Café Friburgo – A chain restaurant featuring an extensive menu of drink options, including plant-based milk. There are also savory lunch options and sweet pastries if you’re feeling peckish. Need to get work done? There’s unlimited Wi-Fi and some charging outlets.
    • Popmix Café & Boutique Indie – This café features a cool rock ‘n’ roll 60s aesthetic—with vinyl records and funky clothing for sale, at booth. They also offer Wi-Fi, vegan drink options, and some alcoholic drinks. On occasion, they host music events.

    • Mais 1 Cafe – a small but modern café offering coffee and other caffeinated beverages with outdoor seating options. They also sell pastries including pão de queijo, doughnuts, and croissants. They also write your name down on the cup with a smiley face. 🙂
    • Café d´Art Bistrô – A pretty little expresso bar tucked away into a nice shopping street, featuring a rotating selection of traditional Brazilian cakes in the display case.
    • Dona Emilia Gourmet Bakery – Open in the wee hours of the morning and on the weekends, this establishment features two locations. The main site on Monte Libano street has a terrace out back that can serve as a good place to relax, right  within the heart of the city center.
    • Superpão – A bakery, grocery store, restaurant, and café, all-in-one. They offer an extensive breakfast selection, and a good array of charging outlets. Note that they offer Wi-Fi but only up to 30 minutes per session, per device.

    WHAT TO BUY

    Clothing 

    • Amil Esportes – A store offering name-brand sportswear like Nike, Under Armor, and Puma, along with hiking gear.
    • Casa Libaneza  – The place to go to if you need hiking boots.

    Household Supplies

    • Himalaia – Conveniently located near the city center, this store offers a decentselection of household items.
    • Loja Americana – This store offers most of what you may need, and some. They stock a decent selection of supplies, from clothing and bedding to snacks and shampoo.

    STAYING HEALTHY

    Fitness:

    • Academia Ribas Gym – A good-value gym located only a 6-minute walk away from the bus station (Estação Livre). There’s a good selection of exercise equipment along with Brazilian jiujtsu and spin classes. It’s 25,00 reais for a day pass and 120,000 reais for a month.
    • Fight Co – A fitness center with an open-air concept, excellent facilities, and class options in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Crossfit throughout the week.

    Volunteer night

    One of our favorite traditions here at Eco Caminhos is Volunteer Night. Each Thursday, all the short-term and long-term volunteers prepare a dish or a drink to share with everybody in the Eco Caminhos community. 

    The volunteer night is held at a variety of different places, from the Colmeia that serves as our work hub, to the volunteer houses. Wherever it’s held, volunteer night is a nice opportunity to cook for one another, try each other’s cooking, and to engage in good conversations with people outside of work. 

    The spread at one of the volunteer houses.