Comuna de Rhiannon

We live in Malchingi, 1 1/2 hours from Quito. We have 15 hectares of land and moved into what was an abandoned half built 8 roomed house. We have composting dry toilets and solar heated showers (when there is sunshine!). At present we do not have electricity but we plan to use wind and solar power in the near future. Our aim is to be as sustainable as we can regarding food, all cultivation will be purely organic. We are currently planting trees and have just harvested our first vegetables. The climate is similar to Quito as we are at the same altitude. You can see 18 volcanoes from the plot and the view of the mountains is breathtaking.

Currently we are 3 permanent members and between 10-20 short term volunteers. We are a strict vegetarian/ vegan community.

We practice yoga together every morning and often do meditations or traditional sweat lodges on full and new moon.

We teach english classes once per week to children in the local primary school which is 5 minutes walk away from our house.

We are spiritually open minded people who believe we can learn from each other. We are open to people of all faiths or no faith, but do not believe in exclusiveness or judgementalism.

We feel a particular affiliation to people from sexual minority groups. The 2 founding members are a lesbian/bisexual female couple who have been together for 10 years and now practice living in an open relationship. We would like our community to be a place where people who have been oppressed by society for their sexual preferences or lifestyle can find acceptance and perhaps some healing.

We ask for a one time financial contribution of 15-30 dollars as we are not yet self sufficient. The work exchange is food and accomodation to serious workers who are prepared to come for a minimum of 2 weeks, preferably a month working 25 hours a week. We are open to extensions and long term members, but this is renegotiated after the first month´s stay. We are very open to new volunteers joining us.