Join us for an adventure...
Current opportunities...
Please contact info@dragonflyhousespain.com
Please note for both our volunteer and paid contract positions you must have the appropriate working visas. We do not offer salaried employment.
April - June 2025 Contract Chef Position
We have an open opportunity for a professional retreat chef to join our team for April to June 2025
April - June 2025 Volunteer Opportunities
We have an opportunity for volunteers to join us from April to June 2025 for at least one month. Work is in our kitchen and garden.
How our volunteering works...
What we offer...
You are provided with accommodation in exchange for 25 hours work a week (5 hours per day 5 days a week), when retreats are running food is included. Come and stay for a minimum of 2 weeks, soak up the power of the mountains, drink in the beauty of the natural world that surrounds this inspiring place and contribute to its creation so others can follow you.
Current Volunteer Projects
During retreats it is all hands on deck so you will also help out in the kitchen, serving food, cleaning, making beds, with shopping and contributing to the positve atmosphere that supports our guests.
Outside of our main retreat months our main focus is the gardens and the land. We are creating a vegetable plot and herb garden, adding outdoor showers and composting toilets, planting gardening and landscaping, repairing the fences, building platforms for our glamping pods, building a pathway and creating seating areas.
At the moment we are particularly keen to hear from people that know about permaculture, are keen gardeners or carpenters as we embark on our project to turn the 15,000 sqm olive grove into a food forest. We need hard workers that aren't afraid to dive into the earth and get a bit mucky!
What we look for in our volunteers...
We look for life-positive, self-responsible, proactive people that understand the pleasure of hard work to create something tangible and meaningful. We want people that understand what it means to "water the tree, not just pick the fruit". You will need to be self reliant and willing to give things ago, here we have to learn as we do, there is no road map, we are making the map as we take each step.
Our need is for people to help out practically with tasks like gardening, cooking and cleaning. If you are a healer, yoga teacher or therapist, you can offer your skills to other volunteers while you are here, and occasionally to guests when there is a need. We don't offer exchanges for healing or teaching skills.
Accommodation
Accommodation when possible is at Dragonfly House in a private or shared room and bathroom in either the farmhouse, guesthouse or glamping accommodation. When we have guests, if needed, you will switch and stay at Rainbows End (Helen's house), just a 5 minute walk through the olive groves to the retreat centre. It is a little more rustic but big dog cuddles are supplied all day long.
Alternatively we may be able to accommodate you in a tent on the land at Dragonfly House, a great way to really tap into the awesome nature here. Composting toilets and outdoor showers are provided.
Internet is good in both locations but there is no mobile phone signal...!
How it works...
We share cooking responsibilities and food costs every day, food is not included as part of our exchange when we don't have retreats running. When retreats are running food is included. We come together to eat and share our days' experiences and stories, however if you want to cater for yourself, you can when we don't have guests. We ask you to keep your room clean and tidy and laundry facilities are provided for your use, we ask you to wash your bedding and towels each week. More than anything we operate as a tribe, love, respect and communication keep us connected.
Exchange
Normal Volunteer hours are between 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday with an hour for lunch at noon. If retreats are running this will vary significantly as all retreats are different. Transport into Antequera can be provided twice a week on shopping days. You will need to speak a little English, although we are very very welcoming of people willing to help improve our Spanish! There are many hikes close enough to the Dragonfly house to enjoy in your time off, check out the TRIPS page on the website to get to know what the area has to offer.
Yoga and free time
We invite you to jointly create a morning practice and are encouraged to take time for self reflection and meditation while you are here. Some of our retreat leaders welcome our staff and volunteer family to join retreat classes but this is not always the case.
We hold an open learning environment so we hope you will contribute with compassion to your own and others growth by welcoming others observations of you, sharing what you observe in exchange, giving new perspectives and expanding understanding in a sensitive and supportive way.
When the retreat venue is hired, you will need to be respectful and aware of noise levels, use of the terraces and pool may be restricted based on agreements with retreat leaders, however you are welcome to EXPERIENCE all the facilities if the centre is not occupied.
Transport
We ask you to make your own way to Dragonfly House, we can help you out with a pick up and drop off from Antequera Bus Station or if you would like collection from Malaga airport we can arrange it and ask you to cover the cost of fuel and if we need to send a driver their charges to us.
We shop twice a week and you are welcome to join us for a trip into town. We have bikes you can use at your leisure to enjoy the countryside. If you have your own vehicle or want to hire one this can be a great way to see more of the area.
If retreat guests or other volunteers are taking excursions there may be the opportunity for you to join but this is at the retreat leaders discretion and you will need to pay for a place on the trip at the same rate as our guests.
Want to find out more?
We can't wait to meet you. Our staff and volunteers are like gemstones to us and we appreciate all the gifts you bring. Please contact us to find out about availability, discuss what you are looking for and to see if we are a work away match. Find out what inspires us here.