Testimonials
See what those who have experienced Finca Sagrada have to say about their life changing experience in this amazing place.
Not just a farm. A Haven
of Beauty and Warmth
At the core of this Ecuadorian farm are Walter and Susan, a welcoming couple who graciously allowed me to join their farm adventure. Riki played a key role during my almost 2 week stay. You can have super interesting conversations with him and we quickly became friends.
Working in the garden with Andres and his son was a delight – I had a very nice time working and talking with them, adding to the enjoyment of learning from both of them. In the greenhouse, I gained insights into pruning tomatoes from Nick and learned about fertilizers and compost, adding depth to my experience.
Sylvia deserves special mention for the fantastic meals she prepared daily, featuring delicious sweet potatoes that quickly became my favorite. The main house, where I stayed, offered a comfortable, spacious room. Meeting Nick, Mel, and their four delightful kids, and witnessing them being raised on the farm, was a pleasant part of the experience.
In my brief stay, I not only worked but became part of a close-knit community. Walter and Susan, with their dedication, have created not just a farm but a haven of beauty and warmth. My time there was truly enjoyable, and I totally recommend this wonderful farm to everyone.
- Natalie, 2023
Pleased to enjoy meals and sing
together around the table
Our three weeks here showed us the magic of living in a community on a biodynamic farm and we appreciate every part of it.
We started our journey with a full house when Susan and Walter welcomed a wonderful group of more than ten Americans to discover their peaceful place and give thanks to Pachamama.
Everyday we had different tasks and volunteers self-organised around what needed to be done. It was always a joy to work with Christian in the Inca garden or with Jose building the new guinea pig house. There was some digging, weeding, fixing the water system, taking care of the animals, watering the plants and so on. Furthermore, we were so pleased to enjoy meals and sing all together around the table.
During our free time we experimented in the kitchen, read, laughed with the dogs, listened to Walter's lessons on biodynamics, learned about the KINS method with Susan, refreshed ourselves in the river, played Phase 10 and had time to reflect about our lives. Everybody contributes during their stay and makes it an ideal home to affirm ourselves. Thank you for this time! All the best!
Vladimir & Stephanie -2019
You will want to stay longer than planned
This Finca is very unique place in the middle of a beautiful and peaceful valley. The best place to volunteer what you can find. Thank you Susan and Walter for this opportunity, I felt really good and safe and I still miss the whole community. The other volunteers were also really open and sincere people and I got many good friends from there.
There is something very magical in this Finca. There is a spirit house, a perfect place to meditate, sing mantras or just watch the fire. If you like remote places, spirituality, nature, animals and good-pure-organic food, this is definitely your place. You have an opportunity to learn about permaculture, milk cows, make cheese and yogurt, take care of goats and chickens.
You can work with really nice Ecuadorians Jose, Carmen and Christian and practice your Spanish with them. And have to say again, the food is fantastic. If you like cooking this is a place for you.
Prepare yourself because you want to stay longer than you have planned. Take at least 3-4 weeks here or more. ;)
- Hanna -2019
Stunned Every Day
by the Beauty of this Place
I am incredibly grateful for my experience at the finca. Initially planning on staying a couple weeks I ended up staying more than two months, which pretty much says it all!
I could not have dreamt of a better first experience working on a farm.
The finca is located in a wonderful valley, and I was stunned everyday by the beauty of the place.
Walter and Susan are incredibly genuine and nice people with lots of fascinating stories.
Carmen, Christian and José are very welcoming, patient and love to share and explain the reasoning behind the work of the day. The atmosphere is really great, friendly and positive and I got to meet very cool people amongst the other volunteers. Oh and how could I forget? The food too is really tasty and I am already missing it!
Thank you so much Walter and Susan! I hope to get the opportunity to come back to the farm one day!
- Lionel -2019
The best home cooked food and a
mix of lovely and open People
After staying at Walters and Susans Farm for 3.5 weeks I can only recommend you to stay at this wonderful place.
On their farm you will be able to learn a lot about biodynamics and spirituality. Daily differing tasks as well as general chores like animal care, milking the cows, watering gardens and cooking make work seem more like community contributions.
We enjoyed the best home-cooked foods and a mix of lovely and open people.
José and Chris are two Ecuadorians that help out the farm and bring locality and Ecuadorian culture to the table while guiding you and teaching you about traditional farming methods.
I was able to grow tremendously as an individual and want to thank Walter and Susan for their generosity and trust in all the volunteers!
Christian -2019
A Workaway that blows the rest
out of the water
Jorge and I must extend our deepest gratitude to Susan and Walter for giving us the opportunity to come to Finca. In our 3 weeks there we learned, discovered, shared, and now have valuable friendships, memories, and experiences for the rest of our lives. This is one of those workaway's that blows the rest out of the water. One is filled with joy and gratitude to have a chance to expand and grow even for a short time here. I find this to be a model for us for when we start our own farm and eventually begin to give back to the community by bringing on a workawayer.
This was a beautiful cultural exchange in a beautiful place with even more beautiful people. I admire both Susan and Walter immensely and find their life projects sorely needed, inspirational, and within the parameters of my idea of what a workaway should be: cultural exchange, reciprocity, consciousness, community, and also a kind of educational experience too for those looking to learn about farming for instance.
Thank you once again, a warm embrace to the coolest and kindest couple, guardians, and rare humans whom we care deeply for.
Jorge & Stephanie -2019
An Unforgettable Memory
That was my second and best volunteer experience and this farm was more than I expected. It is like a really real farm with all the fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, plants, cows, chickens, geese, donkeys, goats, dog (Goldie was the perfect dog) and cats, mountains, river and stream, fire and fireflies. I ate really really good everyday.
I can't describe the happiness of collecting vegetables and cooking them for lunch or starting day by drinking fresh milk. I loved there. Thanks to Walter and Susan it was an amazing month. I loved and inspired by them and learned a lot from them. I also liked spending time with Jose, Carmen and Cristian and learned a lot while working with them.
So it is an unforgettable memory for me. Thank you so much for everything.
Mahsul -2018
Every single little thing that I received here knows no comparison in terms of generosity and purity of hearts
Walter and Susan: Thank you to be who you are!
I deeply appreciate the existence of this place in the world of ever growing wisdom, faith, love and food. I deeply appreciate the opportunity that Universe gave me to stumble in it. All the knowledge about biodynamic farming mixed with local tribal ancient Ecuadorian methods that I received from this Sacred Place are priceless.
In general, every single little thing that I received here knows no comparison in terms of generosity and purity of hearts.
I have been here for few weeks now, and after several years spent abroad seeking profound intentions for the future world to come, the feeling of what I found here resembles that beautiful sentiment of expansion for being in a space worth of being called "home". (Sorry Walter I cannot avoid to turn truly emotional here, hahaha)
I am leaving to keep on walking my path fortified by all a set of new applied farming knowledge, by a stronger sense of my own Self as a being of light toward an unique and marvelous life path. I am definitely spilling Love, Acceptance, Peace and Gratitude from every pore of my skin thanks to all the beautiful souls that I met here and with which I experienced big exchanges both spiritually and materially, growing together to be better versions of ourselves individually and with respect to each other developing a broader view of co-existence as a proactive community/family and putting all together our hands in the soil for food growing miracles to happen and literally feeding ourselves with them everyday.
Thanks to Jose, Carmita, Christian and all the other volunteers for such a beautiful shared experience.
Thanks to Goldie and Ginger, the cows, the donkeys, the goats, the chickens, the ducks, the insects, all the trees, the rocks, the mountains, the river, the ground, the fire, the winds, the sun, the moon, the stars and the fireflies, the birds songs, the little rain (hoping there's going to be much more)………….
Thanks again from the bottom of my heart to Walter and Susan living for seeding into the next generations big Hopes and beautiful Values.
May the Fire of Life never ending burning for Life to be. Blessings.
Ivana -2018