All you need to know
Our amazing location set in a natural reserve comes with the unique experience of living close to nature. We are entirely off-grid and rely on solar energy for our hot water and electricity. We try to use all our resources consciously as during cloudy days we might not have as much available. We offer a basic and natural set-up that is sustainable and low-impact.
Accommodation
Sunseed has 4 houses, each one with a mixed gender dorm ranging from 4 to 9 beds, so privacy is limited. Residents and visitors stay in the dorm. Interns, ESC's and assistants receive a shared double room and coordinators sleep in a single room.
Accommodation at Sunseed is basic, you will stay in our typical rural Andalusian houses. We provide bed sheets, pillows and blankets, but bring your sleeping bag if you stay here during the winter months, because nights can be very cold. Please bring your own towel. The nature of the local habitat (semi-arid) means that there is a lot of dust around and it can be difficult to stay clean. No pets are allowed indoors.
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We have urinals and shower blocks by the main house, and
compost toilets in the gardens. We use fresh river water for
showering and cleaning, which is solar heated, so you should
be aware that in winter hot water is often limited!
The village
We live in an off-grid village shared by Sunseed and other neighbours. As we live in a protected area, camping, camper vans and outdoor fires are not allowed.
We don’t have shops or bars in our village, but the nearest town is Sorbas, 7km away. It can be accessed by walking (1,5 h) or by bicycle (30 min). There are shops, bars, a church, supermarkets, a post office, a theatre, a sports complex, a petrol station, a hairdresser, a hardware shop, and a medical centre.
Food and diet
We offer a vegan diet, but the project is not strictly vegan. We do not provide dairy products, and we don‘t have a fridge. We cook eggs once a week, of course with a vegan alternative. We can adapt to gluten free diets. Drinking water is brought from a local water spring 12km away.
Meat or fish are not allowed on site. The food is based on vegetables from our garden or purchased from another local organic gardener from a nearby village. The cereals are ordered from an organic provider. We eat porridge (oats) for breakfast. Our diet consists a lot of cabbage and kale, salad, beans, lentils, chickpeas, bulgur, potatoes, root vegetables and anything else that is seasonal in this hot climate. Please be aware that if you are not used to this kind of diet, you might want to try eating this diet a week or two before you arrive so your body can adjust. We try to avoid buying food from supermarkets and creating waste.
We bake our bread two times a week in our oven. This means bread is limited and each person only gets one slice per day for breakfast. We also make plenty of porridge and sometimes pancakes for breakfast. We only have one litre of olive oil per week for the whole community, as it's a rare and precious prodcut.
We practice sustainable cooking with solar cookers and
hayboxes when possible. We all take turns in the kitchen to cook and clean for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday to Friday. During the week-ends you are allowed to cook for yourself using ingredients from our food store, but we encourage you to organize together with others to optimize energy consumption.
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We provide coffee, but everyone pays a contribution for it, as it is not a regional, but very precious good.
If you have any special requirements/allergies please let us know before your arrival, we will find a solution.
What we can provide
Internet & data
Wifi is only accessible in the main house. You may bring your own electronic device, but we can only charge devices on sunny days. We can not charge at night, so you might want to bring a power-bank. Sunseed has good mobile coverage.
Electricity
& water heating
We work with solar power, which means electricity can be limited during cloudy days. Our hot water system is at times not realiable, so be prepared for hot showers during summer and cold showers during winters.
Compost toilet & dry urinals
We have outdoor compost toilets in our gardens. We have urinals by the main house.
Masonry wood stove heating
For heating our spaces we use our wood fired fire place, one in each house. During the winter months we can make controlled camp fires in the back patio and use our pizza oven.
Laundry
We own a second hand washing machine that we only use for washing bed sheets, rags and towels. For your clothes, you can hand wash or use our bike powered washing machine.
Chemical free policy
No toxic or chemical ingredients must enter Sunseed’s wastewater system, as our water is filtered through plants and returned to the river. It is important that we protect the local environment. Please make sure that any product you bring is listed as being organic, eco-friendly, as well as ethical and not tested on animals. This also applies to any toothpaste, body lotion etc. as that will likely wash off when you’re taking a shower or swimming in the river.
We supply free eco-friendly products:
toothpaste, deodorant, body balms, lip balms, shampoo and body wash, hair oil, eco-insect repellent, sunscreen, tampons & serviettes
What to bring and not to bring
Head torch
For finding your way in the evening and nights or exploring our nearby caves
Water bottle
Make sure you hydrate in the summer and always carry a water bottle
Appropriate clothes
Warm sweater, hat and scarf for the winter, light fabrics and a hat for the summer
Electric
appliances
Don't bring anything with high energy use (hair dryer etc.)
Non-biodegradable cosmetics
Our water system is very fragile and no chemicals can enter it
Meat, drugs, or
hard alcohol
We allow the consumption of light alcohol in moderation after work hours, please be respectful
Daily life
Morning circle
Monday to Friday we meet between 9 and 10 (depending on the season) to have a personal check-in and to organise tasks for the day.
Working hours
Short-term members participate in project activities at least 4 hours a day, while medium and long term members contribute at least 6 hours a day.
Household rota
We all share responsibility for the cleaning and cooking. All community members clean Monday morning and put their name on a cooking rota twice a week
Communal activities
Once a week we host a practical communal activity where everyone helps out. Cleaning the acequia, fixing a fence, harvesting figs or mulching the gardens, anything can be suggested.
Educational activties
Once a week we offer an educational activity. This can be a workshop, a talk, a guided tour, a game, any format really. Anyone can suggest this, as long as it aligns with the project.
Sharing circle
Bi-weekly we host a sharing circle to open a space for emotional sharing and vulnerability. This is a safer space for listening and sharing without judgement.
Social night
Every second week someone can offer a social activity for the community: Crafting night, board games, movei night, karaoke, storytelling, jam session, theatre, juggling or drag show, you decide!
Spanish activities
On a bi-weekly base we organise a Spanish activity or full Spanish speaking day. You're welcome to help set something up, from learning Spanish songs or phrases to Spanish cooking sessions.
10 - 30 people
Sunseed is a transient community, which means that the number of people changes constantly. There are 7 coordinators on one year contracts, 3 ESC volunteers, interns, assistants, visitors and our monthly co-learning residents.
Language
We encourage everyone to speak Spanish as much as possible, but you can use English to communicate. We do not organise language courses, but from fall to spring there are free Spanish courses in Sorbas.