Farm in Santiago, Nuevo Leon

Farm’s location: ILICA-Shalom is located in the heart of the Mexican Cordillera, in the  municipality of Santiago, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The area is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and pineoak forests. The nearest town is Laguna de Sanchez located about 5 kilometers to the west.
Information about the site: ILICA (Instituto Longoria de Investigaciones Cientificas Aplicadas) is an applied scientific research institution whereby we strongly emphasis rural sustainable development and promote organic farming. ILICA is located in the highlands of the Mexican Cordillera (Sierra Madre Oriental) within the Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey, in a rural area in contact with the Laguna de Sanchez community in Santiago, Nuevo Leon, northeast Mexico.
We have the potential to host and provide a learning experience on applied agricultural, geological and environmental research. We have living facilities including housing and board to about 10 volunteers at the time.
We are interested in having volunteers mainly during the summer months (may through august). We welcome national (Mexican) and international WWOFers willing to share learning experiences and develop interpersonal relations to work with people of different origins, religions and nationalities. We speak English and French.
Description of the farm: the farm is about 5 hectares, is in its development face, we grow apple trees, peach trees, and grow free-roaming chicken; also, we are working on the development of organic crops such as beans, chayotes and tomatoes. Another project in progress is the organic farming of Tilapia.
Work required from WWOOFers: help and get involved in the harvest of apples and peaches, and to feed chicken and collect eggs from nests. We also expect WWOOFers to be interested in learning sustainable development practices.
Description of accommodation: ILICA’s facilities include a ten-people dormitory for volunteers, with individual bunk-beds, showers, hot water, and toilets. We provide three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are shared with all the members of ILICA in the same dining room. Electricity is limited to a few hours a day after dark using power plants.
Special requirements: volunteers should be willing to work outdoors under extreme climatic conditions (rain,cold weather). Living conditions are good but without electricity, Internet or phone. The nearest phone services are about 5 kilometers from the farm.
Restrictions: no smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages in the farm. Volunteers are expected to bring biodegradable soap both for laundry and shower.