Visits

Visits

Visitor Information

Visit, live, work and learn in an amazing place!
Learn to build, plant and about the Health of the Earth
  • Health  – Each person who comes to Rancho Úha is responsible for their health and taking care of others. We provide protocols to mitigate risks, but at the time of attending Rancho Úha, you are coming by personal will assuming the health risks that may arise.
  • Lodging – It can vary depending on the season and the number of people we meet, but this can be: camping, in a shared room or in a dome-shaped building.
  • Climate – We are in a semi-desert climate at 2000m above sea level, so the variation in temperature can be extreme at any time of the year. It can be hot during the day (30ºC) with high radiation and very cold at night (-1ºC). You have to come prepared for both extremes
  • Wind – All year. El Rancho is located on the edge of the Sierra Madre Oriental entering the Central Mexican Highlands so the wind can be very strong during any season, normally there is wind at night.
  • Dust – Due to the wind and the type of vegetation, there is a lot of dust in the environment, it is important to consider it and cover yourself if you have respiratory problems, in addition to notifying the ranch staff.
  • Thorns – The Rancho is located in a thorny thicket, there are many thorns from different plants, several of these can easily go through the soles of shoes.
  • Trash – DO NOT BRING TRASH OR JUNK FOOD. We are working not to produce garbage, so everything that can be considered garbage will have to be processed personally according to the way it is being done at the time of attending.
  • Kitchen – We have a common kitchen and many of the meals are made with other inhabitants/workers.
  • Food – We provide a basic diet of base foods (rice, pasta, tortillas, oil, salt, etc.) and seasonal food (fruits and vegetables). This food may have come from the garden or it may have been purchased elsewhere. Not all food will always be organic. All trainees/volunteers must participate in food preparation.
  • Cleaning – All inhabitants must participate in the cleaning of common areas and dishes and cutlery
  • Children -We are a family place, so we accept children. Before coming, you must understand and accept the possible risks of living in a rural property. Parents/guardians are fully responsible for the health and safety of children.
  • Camping Equipment – We DO NOT provide it, you have to bring your own equipment.
  • Bedding – We can offer sheets, blankets, mats, mats. You have to leave a deposit to pay for the washing of these. For hygiene reasons, we ask visitors to bring their own pillows.
  • Products from the garden – In the beginning, it is not allowed to collect things from the garden, we have put so much work, attention and planning towards our crops that we have a specific way of collecting. Once our processes are known and with the permission of a staff member, it will be possible to collect
  • Schedules – These may vary with respect to the weather and the needs of the project.
  • Internet – We have WIFI internet in many areas of the ranch, especially in the common areas. The signal is spotty and slow at times, but generally acceptable.
  • Laundry – Normally we take the clothes to the laundry that has good service (Not included). On some occasions you can wash clothes at the Ranch (Rainy season)
  • Visits to the town – We only do 1 visit a week, if you need to go or need something, please notify the staff.
  • Minimum stay – If you come as an Apprentice the minimum is 2 weeks at a cost of $750 per week, If you come as a Volunteer the minimum is 4 weeks at no cost
  • Restrooms – Latrine- style dry toilets
  • Showers – We are in the semi-desert so we ask that the baths be very fast – We have showers with gas-heated water.
  • Other expenses not considered in the program, such as transportation, food outside the project, personal items, outings, recreational trips outside the program, medicines and medical consultations.
  • We are in the initial stage and there are not yet all the comforts like those in the cities.

Things you need to know…

  • On the ranch you interact with many domestic animals (dogs, cats, goats, cows, chickens, etc.) and native animals (coyotes, hares, roadrunners, snakes, insects), some of which can be dangerous. It is important to carry out the induction and if you are not very sure, you should ask and not approach them.
  • The diets here are for all kinds of people, omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, please inform your type of diet and if you have any allergies.
  • There are trucks from Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, León and Dolores Hidalgo (although some stop at different locations).
  • We have cell phone signal (several companies work but Telcel is the one that works best). The internet signal comes from an antenna so it can fail or become slow at any time, especially in bad weather.
  • Upon arrival there will be a security induction to which you must agree and comply with the content, since it represents our way of working.
  • Transportation to the city center is not offered, please organize with the staff departures when you need to leave.
  • It is very important to understand that if you are accepted, you will be visiting or living in the house of several people, that we have worked very hard to establish what we have here, which is how we like it. We have not built what we have to please others, so if people, property, or our standards are not respected, you will no longer be welcome and will be asked to leave immediately and without notice.
  • For visitors, we ask that you send an email to ranchouha@gmail.com with a copy of your identification and upon arrival at Rancho Úha you will have to sign a document in which your understanding of the information contained on this page will be recognized, in addition to the Policies of Rancho Úha.

Apprentice / Volunteer Program

At Rancho Úha we are committed to sharing our lifestyle with people who are interested in learning to live in contact with the land. The knowledge that we share is based on different areas that have to do with ecology, the regeneration of the earth and human development. Among the systems with which we have designed our project and the techniques that we use in our day to day, we find: Permaculture, Biodynamic Agriculture, Permanence Scale, Holistic Management, among others… The program is changing throughout the year and the activities to be carried out will depend on the needs of the project at the time of attending it. The program will cover some of the following areas:

  • Sustainable/regenerative design for semi-arid areas
  • Water management
  • Biointensive Crops
  • Native Forest Systems
  • Forestry
  • Greenhouses/Nurseries
  • Natural Building
  • Animal Systems

There are two variations of the program:

  • Apprentice – People who come for less than a month (Cost of $750 per week, the first two weeks and $500 per week the following two weeks)
  • Volunteers – People who come for more than a month (No cost per week)

Our Requirements – Important!

  • Please arrive on the day and at the time indicated during acceptance.
  • All necessary forms must be read, completed, reviewed and approved. Before arrival.
  • You need to have a good attitude with others and work according to the instructions you receive.
  • Being able to work in different activities even in extreme climates.
  • A telephone or Skype interview will be held before acceptance to the program
  • This project is best suited for people who have an interest in (and/or knowledge of) chemical-free farming, gardening, natural building, sustainable design, country living.
  • People over 18 years of age. Minors can come with the permission of their parents/guardians.
  • Have the ability to perform physical work and perseverance.
  • Committed people, willing to learn and share their knowledge.
  • Being able to live with personal job responsibilities.
  • To be able to have a continuous coexistence with people of different ages and cultures, and to be able to fulfill the objectives of the work.
  • Must have willingness to learn.
  • Capacity for teamwork.
  • Put the intention and work to overcome personal differences with whom you can have and reach agreements.

What to Bring?

  • Gloves of good quality, they can be made of meat or plastic (they can vary depending on the activities). For health reasons, we cannot provide gloves.
  • Flashlight, preferably rechargeable (or rechargeable batteries)
  • Driver’s license.
  • Personal hygiene items – It is forbidden to bring harmful synthetic chemicals . In doubt, please consult the staff of Rancho Úha. We have some of these products that are made here.
  • Please bring Sleeping bag for 0ºC at least
  • Necessary food for specialized diets (Only if required).
  • Fully enclosed, thick-soled work boots.
  • Strong, durable, protective clothing that can stain and/or tear. Long-sleeved shirts are recommended due to the high amount of sun.
  • Clothes for cold and for heat. Ask before arriving to better understand the temperatures that are at that time
  • If you come in the rainy season, bring a raincoat and waterproof boots.
  • Big hat.
  • What is necessary to take notes (Notebook, notebook, pencil, pen, etc.)
  • Seeds to exchange.
  • Instrument you know how to play.
  • The want to learn and have fun.
  • Official identification and a copy.

Work schedules

The practical work will be in the mentioned areas covered by the program and will be developed where the different daily activities are being carried out. There are mandatory rotating activities such as participation in food preparation, cleaning, shopping, etc. Schedules : (The schedule may change depending on how the training is developed and the weather conditions allow it) Monday to Friday : 5-6 hours a day with their respective breaks. Saturdays : 3 hours of work until 1pm.
Sundays : 1 to 2 hours to maintain the farm, then day off.

Training Topics

Training schedule is provided as required by Trainees/Volunteers and is at the discretion of the instructor, but will coincide with the seasonal requirements of the property as well as meet the needs and knowledge level of the Trainee/Volunteer.

  • Regenerative Design and Permaculture
  • Water in semi-arid systems
  • Earthworks
  • Natural building
  • Food production
  • Soils
  • Plants
  • Animals
  • Greenhouses and Nurseries
  • Fencing
  • Community Issues.

Registration

  • Read and understand in detail the information described above, any questions you may have, please notify the staff.
  • Read and understand the regulation carefully and sign it, entering here (Policies)
  • Register online by filling out the corresponding form by  entering here (Registration).
  • Conduct telephone or electronic interviews.
  • Wait for the approval of your application and instructions on how and where to deposit your registration.
  • We have a limit of people we accept at any given time