Looking for a permaculture/organic farming expert (or preferably couple) to manage a small organic farm project on the Azuero Peninsula in the Los Santos Province of Panama. The farm currently sits on 2 hectares (approximately 5 acres) and includes several varieties of fruit trees and raised vegetable beds. The farm itself is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from Playa Venao, one of Panama’s premier surfing beaches, and is surrounded by several amazing beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls in the Azuero, described as the "Heartland" of Panama. The farm includes:
Small one bedroom managers house: Off-grid solar home with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean from the front porch. Home is fully furnished and includes a kitchen, full bath, ceiling fans, refrigerator, and bedroom furniture.
Shipping container home: The property also includes a just completed custom designed shipping container home with a full bath, kitchen, and pull down Murphy Bed.
Storage Shed (“Deposito): The storage shed includes several farm implements, passive solar hot water system, seed starting area, and solar inverter system with panels on the roof.
Water/Irrigation system: Plentiful, year-round and potable well water. The well runs on a solar pump and is used both for the water to the homes and for several storage tanks that service the irrigation system for the vegetable beds and orchard. The irrigation system is installed and furnishes all vegetable beds, and also includes a grey water system that runs from the house to the fruit orchard.
Fruit Orchard: 25-30 trees including mango, guanabana, cacao, Suriname Cherry, star fruit, maracuya, lime, tangerine, guava, avocado, pineapple and several others.
Vegetable Beds: Property includes several above ground vegetable beds. My business partner and previous manager estimates that he was getting approximately 30-40% of his diet from food grown on the farm.
Access to the property: Access to the property is a dirt road that is well maintained, although can become muddy during the rainy season.
The bottom line is that this is a really unique property and farming opportunity for a hearty individual or couple interested in off-grid, sustainable living. The views from the property are spectacular and the location includes some of the best surfing, hiking, and outdoor activities in Panama. The area is also extremely popular with an international crowd of hikers, vacationers and surfers from all over the world.
The ideal candidate/s will have experience managing an organic farm or with a strong permaculture orientation. Knowledge of solar systems (inverters, panels, pumps) also a plus, although we can train on the care and maintenance of the systems.
For the right candidate/s, we will offer free room and board in exchange for managing the farm. Candidates who can develop commercial opportunities for the produce grown are free to keep any profits. There are several restaurants in the Playa Venao area that are in need of good, locally grown produce.
We will also consider a stipend of $500 per month for the right farm manager/couple. An additional income opportunity may be managing rentals through AirBnB at the container home or main farmhouse, which I am also willing to consider.
Farm manager responsibilities will include:
- Upkeep, maintenance and care of the solar system, irrigation, pumps
- Upkeep and maintenance of the farmhouse and container home
- A commitment to farm the property using organic/permaculture best practices and maintain the orchards and beds in good condition.
- Potentially managing rentals of the container home and/or main farm house.
To see photographs of the property, click the following link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/84535712@N05/albums/72157686256267753
If you are interested in this profoundly unique farming experience in one of the most beautiful areas of Panama’s Pacific Coast, please email me at testerads (at) gmail (dot) com.
