MUSHROOM HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

DECEMBER 30, 2024 - January 15, 2025

COFFEE HARVESTING + PROCESSING

january 15 - march 15, 2025

earthbag construction

march 15 - may 15, 2025

coffee tree planting

may 15 - july 1, 2025

rice planting with farmers

july 1-15, 2025

organic compost creation

july 15 - september 15

Highlights

➥ 5-7 hours of diverse service work/day

➥  Cultural Immersion in a rural Nepali village

➥ Simple tent living on old rice terraces

➥ Learn from locals and our team of field experts

➥ Delicious Vegetarian Meals

➥  Community Living

➥ Intentional setting and spaces

➥ Occasional Yoga, Morning Meditation, and Chanting (depending on the presence of a teacher)

Living in community, serving community

Since the very beginning, our work has been dependent on our network of compassionate volunteers, learners, donors and visitors from all over the world. Our mission is to connect people to themselves, each other and the Earth, and a big part of this is inviting YOU to come visit us! Whether you are seeking to learn a skill, committed to making an impact or simply inspired to visit a new culture and landscape, WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS.

The beauty of our work lies in TWO communities — the Nepali community of Takure that we serve through our Agriculture, Youth and Natural Building programs and the community of international volunteers that live at our project site that we call “camp.” Camp, named so in large part because most of us have camped in tents there for the past 8+ years, is where we host all visitors and volunteers, where we cook our meals, where we play music around the fire and where we sleep at night. During the day, we head into Takure to support farmers to plant trees, harvest bamboo, build mushroom houses, visit the local primary schools or support a number of other grassroots development projects.

ORGANIZING YOUR TRIP TO NEPAL

Each month, we offer different types of volunteer work, so please begin by identifying during which month, and for how long, you would like to stay. Here is a general look at our annual work calendar:

1. December/January: During these colder and drier months of the year, our agriculture team is focused on supporting local farmers to cultivate Shiitake and oyster mushrooms. This includes potentially building “mushroom houses” with farmers out of locally harvested bamboo, supporting the inoculation of logs (Shiitake) or straw (oyster) and participating in local trainings with farmers and families. As a volunteer, you would be welcome to participate in all of this work. Additionally, we will be caring for our garden by watering, weeding and planting in our garden beds. Our natural building team may have ongoing construction projects, but please confirm with our team if you hope to join this work.

2. February: This month is our biggest coffee month, with the majority of the local coffee harvest taking place. This means that we will support local farmers with the harvest and can also volunteer in the community at the coffee processing facility (a small machine based at a local farmer’s home) to pulp, ferment, wash and dry the coffee. We drink some of the world’s best coffee during this time. :)

3. March-May: In 2025, we will have a large construction project with earthbags during this month to rebuild our Camp Common Space. This space is used as the gathering area, dining area and hang out spot for volunteers in addition to hosting local trainings and workshops with community members. You will learn how to lay earthbags and get introduced to basic earth construction, and in May we will be plastering the structure as well. This is also our busiest time of year, especially March/April, so please apply in advance and we will try to make space for you.

4. June/July: Come plant trees! Every year, as we prepare for the monsoon rains in July, we work across the region to distribute fruit, nut and coffee trees to local farmers. We also go with new farmers to help them properly plant the trees. Often this includes carrying compost, digging holes and watering the newly planted saplings.

5. August/September: During the height of the rainy season, we often have fewer volunteers but still welcome you during this quiet time to help our agriculture team continue their work. Often this includes

6. October/November: Festival season! This is an amazing time to visit Nepal, go hiking and experience Takure during the Dashain and Tihar festivals. Please be aware that our Camp is closed during these holidays, but we can welcome you at a homestay if you are looking for an immersion experience. The volunteer work will be less consistent as well.

7. November/December: Following the Tihar celebration in late October/November, most of the community will be busy rice harvesting, which is one of the most exciting ways to volunteer. Helping to cut, carry and thresh rice is an amazing way to get closer to the community and the natural environment. In the second half of November, and entering into December, we begin the mushroom cultivation season, and we would love for you to join!

Every one of our programs will introduce you to the Nepali culture and landscape, and will include walks through the mountains, community dinners, visits to local families and longer hikes (if you are interested). Understand more about the different ways to visit us below.

Give Back

Our project is funded almost entirely by the fundraising efforts of our volunteers. We don't have any large grants or a billionaire CEO - in fact, our team is mostly volunteers! That’s why 75% of every program contribution goes to supporting the community development programs in rural Sindhupalchok, Nepal. 25% of the program contribution covers your food and accommodations. 100% of any additional funds raised beyond the initial goal will go towards the programs. Thank you in advance for your financial contribution and support of this small non-profit.

Short Term VISITS

(7-30 days )

Can you only take two weeks off of work or school? Or do you want to go trekking but also do some volunteer work while in Nepal? If so, you are welcome to join us as a short-term volunteer. Immerse yourself in the local community, support our rebuilding projects, join youth empowerment programs at the local primary schools, and explore the beauty of rural Nepal. Everything you could hope for in a quick trip across the globe.

Long term volunteers

(1-3 months)

Are you looking to get deeper into international development? Are you hoping to develop your skills in rural community work? Do you want to become a certified “natural builder” or a mushroom cultivation expert? If so, consider joining our team of long-term volunteers for 1-3 months. This experience will give you the opportunity to explore each of our program areas more deeply, and you will work with each of our teams in Agriculture, Community Infrastructure, Natural Building, Rural Livelihoods and Youth Empowerment.  The adventure awaits!

Plan Your Own Program

(Yoga retreat - coffee experience - hiking adventure -

construction training - mushroom workshop)

Do you have a group of friends, family, coworkers or students that are interested in traveling together to Nepal? Are you passionate about joining one of our projects, but can't come during our scheduled dates? Don't worry! Just reach out to us and we would love to work with you directly to coordinate a personalized trip to Nepal to work side-by-side with our international team and the Nepali families we serve. If you are interested in planning a program, let us know in your form.

 Food

About five hours northwest of Kathmandu, our Conscious Impact camp in Takure is hosted by members of the Brahmin and Chhetri castes of Hinduism. Out of respect for their beliefs, we have chosen to join them in abstaining from meat and alcohol. Breakfast and dinner are cooked together as a community and a local woman cooks us traditional dal bhat (rice and lentils) for lunch each day. We support the local farming community through our vegetable food and grain purchases. 

 Weather

The fall is a beautiful time in Nepal, ideal for trekking, sunny days, evening showers, and hillsides overflowing with lush vegetation reminiscent of the monsoon rains. As we progress into wintertime, it cools down quite a bit. During the day we stay warm working hard for the community in sunny weather and get cozy as temperatures drop at night. The spring and summer bring warmer weather and with it intermittent evening rainfall . 

 Community Engagement

The Nepali community is rich in Hindu and Buddhist tradition. During festival season in the fall, we've been lucky enough to engage many festivities with the villagers. Most years, we assisted in the construction of a 40 foot bamboo swing, partook in festive feasts, and danced in the roads to the music of the Madal (Nepali drum). In the afternoons, we can walk five minutes to the local tea shop to share cups of hot milk tea and laughs with community members while practicing our Nepali. 

Communal Living

What brings many of us here to Takure is a passion for service work and sustainable international development. We believe in fostering an environment that supports creativity and compassion through working towards a common good greater than ourselves. Together, with our chore teams, we take turns cooking each other breakfast and dinner and helping with dishes. 

The size of our volunteer community varies throughout the year. On average we have about 10-25 incredible people from all over the globe.