Family farm
Valparaíso
I represent a mixture between Chilean, American and Irish with an adult son. My french-speaking husband, Diego, recently went to heaven. I do ask for 10.000 pesos weekly to help with food costs (exception authorized by WWOOF Chile). Also please bring your own gloves for work. We have lived in Colliguay for 35 years, a small valley located to the west of the Coast Mountains. We are dedicated to 80 walnut trees, 40 different fruit trees, a small tuna crop, two small wild vineyards and medicinal herbs such as lavender, thyme, cedrón, sage, rosemary; nursery of native trees and plants, an incipient family garden, crafts, irrigation system, clearing and cleaning of trails, care of closures. Personally we are interested in the work of human development, community work and the conservation of natural resources. We are active participants of a community of peasant mountain families who are engaged in an incipient agriculture and a workshop of women spinners and loom weavers. Volunteers will be welcomed in our home, a modest adobe house, sharing all spaces. This makes them also participants in the tasks of our daily life. We get up early and finish up early, in daylight. The diet is mainly vegetarian, we drink water from our own spring
and make our own bread. For the guests we have the basic amenities, an interesting library, a diverse natural environment and access to the different families and activities of the local community. We expect respect, reciprocity in trust, open mind and heart. No drugs are allowed and smoking is discouraged. The valley is isolated. There is a local bus that goes down to Villa Alemana-Quilpué (an hour and a half journey) in the morning every day from Monday to Saturday, making the way back in the afternoons. Week by the bus arrives until Valparaiso. On Sundays there is no public transport.
Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Forestry
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Traditional crafts
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Host type
Production farm
50
Hectares
|
123.6
Acres
Mary
Member since 2019
Languages spoken:
English, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 2 days
Valparaíso
Reviews
Alexander
United States
•
September 2025
Our stay with Mary was blissful. Her home is beautiful and the bedroom was extremely cozy; staying there felt like staying at a bed and breakfast. She cooked warm, delicious meals for us and we enjoyed eating almost every meal together talking about the world. We cracked and shelled walnuts, cut and cleared dead trees, weeded, and did some light landscaping. All of the work was enjoyable and made even better by the incredible setting which was bursting with wild flowers and poppies. She was so attentive to us and helped us explore her library and Diego's workshop and we loved learning about her life. Thank you so much for everything Mary, we hope to return to you one day!
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Gianyser
Chile
•
July 2025
Quedarme en casa de Liz fue una muy bonita e inspiradora experiencia. El terreno consta de varias hectáreas, árboles nativos, flora y fauna. Liz es una mujer muy cordial y comprometida con el medioambiente. Los horarios eran muy funcionales, las tareas comienzan a las 9:00 am y terminan a las 15:30, con un break de media mañana y almuerzo a las 13:00. Me quedé en una habitación propia, muy privada del resto de la casa, con suficiente ropa de abrigo para las noches frías. Las comidas eran abundantes y muy saludables para comenzar el día con energía. El baño es amplio y cuenta con agua caliente. La casa es muy bonita y antigua, de adobe y con un diseño muy típico de las casas de la zona central de Chile de comienzos del siglo XX. Recomiendo admirar con detenimiento los detalles, ya que en cada uno de ellos se alberga arte e historia. Respecto a las tareas fueron muy agradables de realizar. Esta era mi primera experiencia en WWOOF, y me tocó sacar malezas, pelar nueces, transplantar, ordenar los jardines, limpiar la tierra, reducir las ramas que quedan luego de las podas, entre otras tareas similares. El sector de Colliguay es hermoso, una zona poco conocida de la región de Valparaíso, rodeado por la cordillera de la costa. Recomiendo salir a caminar para conocer los emprendimientos del lugar y su gente, además de apreciar la variedad de aves, aromas y flora del valle. Colliguay destaca por su tradición en apicultura, hilado con huso y elaboración de licor artesanal.
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Ryley
United States
•
May 2025
The experience with Mary is very tranquil and provides a glance into the life of the people of Colliguay. I stayed at Mary’s farm for six weeks and joined different experiences including a rodeo for Semana Santa, meals with other locals, and helping the community with projects of charity. Mary and her son also helped me practice my Spanish and encouraged me to listen and converse more in the language.
The accommodations are rather good, an individual bedroom, a shared bathroom and kitchen, and WiFi from Starlink. My daily work consisted of pruning and sawing dead trees, digging dirt and sand to form a water reservoir, collecting and cracking walnuts, and other tasks around the land. The work only lasted until the early afternoon and Sundays were given off to relax and leisure. I would recommend Mary’s Farm to anyone who is looking for a calm time away from society, enjoys laborious work outside, and wants to experience some of the local culture of the area.
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Jeanne
Switzerland
•
April 2025
Nous avons passé une super semaine chez Liz! Les tâches demandées étaient diversifiées, intéressantes et accessibles. Liz est une hôtesse ouverte d’esprit, qui a beaucoup de choses à partager : ses repas sont délicieux et copieux et elle nous a montré beaucoup de son savoir-faire et de la région. Aussi, il y a un bon équilibre entre le temps libre, les moments individuels et partagés :-) Je recommande ce wwoofing sans hésiter !
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Dohane
Brazil
•
January 2025
I had a wonderful experience with Mary (a really nice person to talk to and with a very nice personality), which was exactly I was looking for. The work was varied and consisted of cutting weeds to help herbal plants to develop, fertilizing trees and harvesting herbs to produce smudge sticks. The last mentioned activity was really interesting and very satisfying.
Apart from working, I enjoyed watching the sunset on the mountains. Mary also took me to visit the knitting community.
The view of the valley is breathtaking and I really recommend for those who are looking for a place to rest a stressed mind.
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Lara
Germany
•
November 2024
Our stay with Mary was really lovely. We could help her with freeing many plants from weeds and cut dead parts of trees. We also built a cover for new plants to protect them from being burnt or eaten by animals.
Mary showed us around the area, had a really nice accommodation and prepared really healthy and delicious food. We are happy that we could stay with her at that lovely place.
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