Recently Mark & I got in touch with our inner Ranch hands by doing a work-away (volunteering in return for bed and board) for two weeks on a Ranch in rural Chiapas, Mexico.
It was a massive change in tempo for us as we had been on the move every few days exploring the southern states of Mexico. It was really lovely having the opportunity to slow things down, be stationary for a while and get in touch with nature. There really wasn’t any other option as the ranch was so isolated; there was no wifi, no phone signal and the nearest ‘town’ was a 10km hike away.
We originally had been expecting to work primarily with the hosts’ two daughters as the girls were home-schooled and in need of tutors. The girls were an absolute joy to be around and smart as whips, however in reality we spent the majority of our time doing manual labour around the Ranch. In two weeks we chopped wood, cleared corn crops, made feed, hoed, cleaned out stables and created/moved compost. It was hot, hard work and this combined with a healthy vegetarian diet meant we lost weight and gained muscle.
It wasn’t as we expected but it was a really interesting experience as we lived in a way we had never done before. There were none of the luxuries we were so used to and reliant on – we even went without what we consider basics, showers and a warm place to sleep! We slept in a bodega (badly constructed tool shed) which got freezing cold at night and showers were infrequent (every 4-7 days) due to a drought and the water being pumped from their own water tower.
Still it was too beautiful a place for us really to complain… plus I got to use a chain saw and a machete, like a badass.
Backpacks & Daysacks 