Jacky, Canada

El Bosque is a place for personal transformation. I came to this conclusion having spent 10 weeks here and having seen the changes in myself and others. Your experience here will largely depend on how much you get involved but El Bosque already has many supporting elements in place to facilitate a memorable experience.

Nature – The trees, the flowers, the birds, the starry night sky will constantly remind you that you are living off the grid, among 83 acres of forest. The air is fresh and the views are stunning. All this is afforded without sacrificing much of the infrastructures that we are accustomed to in the cities, such as electricity, internet, hot showers and a comfortable place to sleep.

Animal – There are 8 dogs and 3 cats buzzing around. They are gentle and playful.  They have added a different dimension of intimacy to my time here and brought me closer to nature.

Work – I had no knowledge of permaculture prior to my arrival. While here, I gained hands-on experiences with natural building, woodworking, planting, cooking, trail-making, renewable energy systems and many practical skills to live sustainably. The work is varied everyday and is rewarding in many ways.

Food – Food is delicious and plenty, meal after meal. I have never lived on just vegetarian food before but the food is so good here, I have not had any craving for meat.

Activity – Almost everything you can imagine is possible here. I have participated in yoga, archery, trapeze, volleyball, hiking, jump roping, juggling and many activities to get your blood pumping. In your quiet times, there are at least 4,000 books span over all major topics at your disposal. At night, live music and fire is a magical way to wind down the day.

Class – Many classes are available if you are interested in learning a craft. I learned how to make bread and made a knife using recycled materials. El Bosque empowers the teacher in all of us.  Silk-screening, didgeridoo, paper, Diablo sticks, weaving are among the many things volunteers have made and/or taught to others.

People – At the heart of any community is its people. Brian and Marie are a constant force behind the vision for a better way of living. Volunteers cycle through and they add their unique flavor and skills to the mix.

As amazing as it is already, El Bosque is still in its infant stage. Everyone passes through will be able to have an impact on shaping its future. My time here has been simple, pure and full of joy. I cannot wait to return one day to see what it has become. Its success can be a model for all seeking an alternative way of living and I wish many will have the courage to search for what has been lost in our current civilization.

Minerva, from México

I'll never forget it, it marked my life. The bonfires at night, the mornings cutting wood, the fresh air provided by the trees. Waiting for the time to come to eat together at dinner: the start of the true co-existence. Singing around the fire, jumping around to all places to play all the instruments that no one knows how to play but they still make music... the music of the forest.

I spent a great month at the Bosque Village with Marie and Brian. Although there were difficulties I can not deny that it was one of the most incredible months of my life.

It felt so satisfying to help with something that I both like and find interesting. I felt useful and enjoyed learning how to chop wood. I learned about the food, the people, I shared ideas among the volunteers. We were free to be ourselves, our defects and scars uncovered and open.

We dug a swale, we chopped wood, we planted trees, we got to know many types of plants and mushrooms, we made tamales, I painted, I learned how to start a fire... We sang all the time, laughing, playing. The month went by too quickly. The time I had in the Bosque was so magical, I will never forget it. The whole experience... to relax, and to learn to be both alone and to be share every other second with the other volunteers.

I'll miss walking up and down the mountains to go everywhere and see such beautiful things. And the people so full of ideas and dreams like Marie and Brian who make sure the world does not lose its luster.

Harry, from Massachusetts, USA

Searching through all the farms and places to go on the WWOOF host page, it became pretty apparent Bosque Village was an amazing place to go. I just had to look at the smiling faces of past volunteers at Bosque and the friendly emails of Marie to feel like I was going somewhere special. Thanks to Marie’s master cooking skills, the food is incredibly tasty, healthy, and extremely difficult to resist eating too much! Brian worked so hard to have people learn something positive here, while also setting up programs that benefit the beautiful Mexican people and communities surrounding Bosque Village. It’s an unusually incredible thing that Brian and Marie are hoping for visitor’s ideas, input, and skills they can share to make this place better in every way.

There is so much encouragement to go off and be intensely creative and imaginative with what you are doing here, or create your own projects that have the tools and support that normally wouldn’t be found outside of this compound. Brian’s past experience with the “Burning Man” festival seems to carry on here well, and it feels like a similar dynamic and energy of cooperative creativity has the tendency to flare up here once in a while when there is the right mix and people are in the right place to let go of themselves.

I had just came from a Buddhist monastery retreat, and the setting of this place was quite perfect for finding quiet places to get in touch with myself and learn how to become my own best friend again. It’s somewhat of its own Monastery, maybe better designed for people who have some uncomfortableness with religious traditions and have the motivation and discipline to run there own meditations, study, and time to heal.

Some things I appreciate about Bosque Village:

1. The “Death Ray” Brian is developing a dish to focus the sun’s energy to be hot enough to melt some types of metal (it’s a much larger and cooler version of a solar cooker, which they have here and works quite well.)
2. The fact that this entire facility is run on an incredibly tiny set of solar panels and were comparatively inexpensive to set up. Also this place runs on about 2 or 3% of average energy consumption of a normal U.S. household, I think Brian was saying, probably even less than a facility of this size. The solar-heated water system that creates super hot water, which also lasts far into the night, is pretty amazing I didn’t know this could be done.
3. The fact there is interest for large scale laser-tag games, hide-and-go-seek, archery, and other things we normally think we are too serious and grown up to do.

Brian and Marie, I wish you luck in you’re search for longer term residents to evolve Bosque into a bigger community. It’s so exciting to see how this could play out in finding some people who are inspired, full of energy, and skilled to help continue in the co-creation of this space into something maybe even wilder than it is.

Nancy, from Sydney, Australia

I stayed at Bosque Village for the duration of 2 weeks. It is an awesome place with wonderful people, Marie and Brian.
I had a lot of fun meeting people from different parts of the world and all so talented and creative.
The projects here are fun, educational and very creative.
The food is delicious and healthy.
There is plenty of free time to explore nearby towns.
Brian and Maria are very helpful in all the aspects.
Its a definitely 100% safe with lots of fun time for me.
I won't say goodbye but see you all later is how I feel.

Byron, from California, USA

I came to the Bosque looking for a place to rest and restore myself, both physically and mentally, after an exhausting two weeks of traveling non-stop. I found not only that, but so much more. I had a good feeling when I was applying to the Bosque Village, and I knew it was meant to be. It was not what I had expected, but during my time here, I grew in many ways that I could not have imagined.

The Bosque is a place where you can quiet your mind from all the constant noise and distractions of the outside world. And with it's serene location amidst the Michoacán forest overlooking Lake Pátzcuaro, you can't help but feel at one with the world and come away with a greater appreciation for nature's beauty.

Brian has a vision for a better planet, and every visitor here takes a little piece of that vision with them and then disperses it out into the world. If we want to improve the way things are, it needs to start with us. And the Bosque is just the place to do that, offering many different opportunities to grow as a person and try new things that may interest you. I highly value the time I have spent here, and I have no doubt that you will too.

-Byron, a.k.a. Zig-Zag

Ben, from England

I came to the Bosque Village for three weeks over Christmas and New Year with my girlfriend Sara. We arrived at the lively plaza in Eronga with a mixture of excitement and trepidation about the unknown experience which lay ahead. Any worries however evaporated within minutes as Brian's face beamed out from a table at the local friendly Italian restaurant, cervezas and tortas were ordered while we chatted and got to know the other volunteers currently at the Bosque.

Soon we were bumping along the rutted road leading up the hill from Eronga and rolling through the iron gates past the big, colorful 'Bienvenidos' sign and into the Bosque village. Next morning we awoke in the midst of 83 acres of mixed pine and oak forest, if you visit the Bosque perhaps the first thing to strike you will be the natural beauty and fecundancy of this Mexican hillside. At knee level there's a thick layer of herbaceous annuals which providing a riot of flowers and color despite the long dry season, above the Pines sore up in straight lines while the Oaks meander and twist, mottled green with lichens and moss and Madrones add flashes of red to the mix.

During our first few days here we explored a lot, getting to know the land from it's high points with wide vistas overlooking Patzcuaro lake to the cool gullies, their micro-climates hosting a whole different array of flora and fauna. Whilst we wandered we mapped using handheld GPS and learned about Brian and Marie's plans to understand the land, increase it's biodiversity whilst making it accessible to others through the volunteer program and personal retreats.

I've found that the routine of the days here for volunteers strikes a good balance between work, rest, learning and play. People start rolling up at the Casita (the little house volunteers use for cooking and hanging out) from about 7am, people light a fire, yawn, talk about that strange dream they had while they cook up some porridge or eggs. At 8am we meet up with Brian and Marie and jobs are allocated for the day, there's plenty of variety and opportunity to practice old skills or learn new ones. In the few weeks I've been here I've worked on constructing cob huts, done GPS mapping, reorganized the tool shed, built monolithic shelving out of big timber rounds and cut trails, whilst on the play side there's been saunaing, board games, movies, paper making, mask making, painting and reading at least three novels! I can say with confidence that there have been few times when I've had so many good opportunities to do new and interesting things condensed into just a few weeks, my only regret is that I don't have a few more weeks here to do more.

In the day to day work and fun of the Bosque Brian and Marie provide direction and leadership helping to glue things together, however the volunteers have plenty of space to come together as a happy, productive and self organising group and to initiate and pursue their own projects. Having the opportunity to use your initiative and creativity with the materials, tools and space at hand is a wonderful thing and something which can be unfortunately uncommon.

It's been great to see the Bosque Village as it moves into a new year, the growth here seems to be exponential, each week brings a new high point in the number of people staying, all bringing with them skills and energy and new projects happening. I can't wait to see how this place will grow and change through 2009 on it's path to becoming a thriving and sustainable community of like minded souls. Exciting times!

Thanks Brian, Marie, all the other volunteers and people at the Bosque, been lovely to work and mess about with you.

Allison, from Kansas, USA

Hello everyone!  This is Allison and I’ve been a wwoofer here for almost four weeks starting mid-July.  My time here has been a very valuable experience and I feel very lucky to have found the Bosque.   

I think what I have enjoyed most about living here on the Bosque is the ready exchange of information (the wonderful library and extensive knowledge of Brian and Marie) and the constant social atmosphere.  Living here without all of the normal conveniences and distractions means we turn our energies to more original and social-centered (and therefore better, in my opinion) forms of entertainment.  I love the evenings we spend around a fire talking about things we read or observed at the Bosque or sharing our personal histories.  We also play question games, card games, and tease-the-dogs games among others.  I’m also fond of the evening walks we take in pitch dark to explore the night life and track down mysterious sounds (like the black cat we found one night). 

With regard to working, what is wonderful about this place is the encouragement to work on self-created projects or other projects that may fit your particular interests. The work has been fulfilling and well-balanced between projects.  I have been able to really get to know the land here and appreciate what grows here and the other life it supports.  I also appreciate working in this cool climate and absolutely love the rainy season.  The storms are light or heavy but last less than a few hours and the rest of the day is sunshine.  Being located partway up a mountain and around a valley with the lake in the middle, the views are just spectacular.  I feel I see a different sky every day – multiple times a day with sunrise, morning, afternoon, sunset and starry nights - each absolutely beautiful against the blue mountains.  For this reason I believe those who live here around the lake are very lucky to enjoy such constant beauty. 

In addition, I have learned a lot about organic food consumption ranging from knowing the native plants and mushrooms that are yummy up to the food preparation itself.  For example, here on the farm they practice plant grafting where the advantage of a native plant provides the survival traits necessary with the benefit of bearing fruits of a non-native plant.  I will definitely continue investigating these kinds of practices when I leave here. 

I feel very lucky to have met and worked with four Mexicans from the neighboring towns.  They are really nice and fun to hang with and it has been great being able to share opinions, music, idioms and other things that differ or are the same from our respective cultures.  I was happy to have their company and at the same time learn and enjoy speaking Spanish.  

The Bosque is still young, and I am so excited to visit again in years to come to see what comes of the place.  I am proud to have made a small contribution to this wonderful place and hope that others will get to experience it, too.  I will be back to visit this gem again.

Adrian, from Wisconsin, USA

As a volunteer on 6 or so farms for the past 6 months, volunteering at the Bosque Village has been the most memorable and turned out to be my favourite place to volunteer. I started there not as a volunteer, but for the first 4 days I came for a social event. It introduced me to the vastness of the forest, the large amount of creative and recreational options (which would only expand as time went on, and inspiring the idea that I may want to live in a community like the Bosque one day).

After the event came the real work, expanding on projects that were ongoing, such as weeding or trail making, or completely new and somewhat experimental projects, such as the cob house or a firing pit for pottery. However big or small the project was, you usually didn't have a problem doing it, and if you did you could usually say so and move on to one of the many others. You could always see the progress being made towards the larger goal of sustainability and community and that was enough inspiration to keep working hard. After working hard all day in the cool silence of the forest, we were always rewarded with a large vegetarian or vegan meal. Marie's cooking was so good that I would sometimes go back four times.

After lunch was when all the volunteers had the chance to do what we wanted. One of my favourite things was to take off in a random direction and explore the forest, eager to see a new garden or flower or oddly shaped madrone tree. There was also a lot of time made for archery, juggling, painting ladders, or reading out of the extensive library (check out collected poems by Wendell Berry!). There are also the beautiful nights with clear star filled skys. I´ll never forget howling at the moon with the 10 dogs and coyotes.

I had a wonderful time volunteering at the Bosque. The opportunities to learn are only limited by you. The Bosque provides a perfect place to play, learn, work, and meet some great people. I don't see this as my last time volunteering or visiting.

Dani, from England

In the silence of this retreat space, in Michoacan, Mexico, I felt as if I was breathing a sigh of relief, able to hear myself think without the noises of traffic and urban life to disturb me. Despite being a volunteer at The Bosque, and consequently spending half my day working on various natural building and sustainability projects, I felt as if I had enough time and space- 90 acres of pine, oak and madrone tree forest- to appreciate the beauty of my environment. The Bosque Village is self-sustaining, powered entirely by solar electricity, and so you are entirely lost after darkness without a headlamp or a torch. However, walking up to bed through the darkness is not an inconvenience, but a way to enjoy the silence of the forest. 

This silence, it seems, is one of the things that draws in retreat visitors, and manages to prolong their stay. Such was the case with the last visitor, a 55 year old accountant from Mexico City, whom I became friendly with since volunteers and visitors are encouraged to share and care for the same space. After a yearly social gathering at The Bosque, he decided to stay an extra night to appreciate the silence of the forest without distraction. And then another. And then another. He ended up staying with us for almost two weeks! We even managed to get him, a staunch meat eater, to extol the virtues of the vegetarian food cooked here. This is not difficult, as both lunch and dinner (the latter usually soup and bread) are prepared with incredible care, using locally bought fruit and vegetables, some of which come from the gardens here. The food is cooked with no added sugar, and vegan food is available upon request (although it is rare that dairy ingredients are used, since, in an effort to reduce electricity consumption, there is no refrigerator).

      It is a space that, despite the lack of apparently important ‘creature comforts’, people become comfortable in a different way. Both visitors and volunteers are encouraged to respect each other’s privacy and are also encouraged to pursue their own projects, be it a specific meditation programme or time spent in the art studio. It is, however, not a space for people that are not interested in making certain sacrifices, such as having a hot shower every day, or watching a lot of television. The cabanas, as well, become cold at night, but this, for me, was not problematic due to the large amount of blankets and rugs that are provided free of charge. As well as this, only dog lovers need apply- the pack of ten, lively canines could prove overwhelming to those who aren’t overly enamoured with the animals. This, however, should not be a deterrent, especially considering what one can gain from a visit to the Bosque. 

Suzanne, from Minnesota, USA

I've been here at the Bosque for over four weeks now and technically this is my second time here. Marie, Brian and I work so well together that we decided it would be best to spend a bit more time together creating what I think is an amazing project.

My first couple weeks were spent learning how to garden, then we moved on to adobe where Jose and I had a good laugh as a I struggled to perfect my adobe bricks, which I did...eventually.

Once I communicated to Brian that my true passion lies in the arts he graciously allowed me access to the studio where I was able exercise some creativity on the camp site signs. Shortly after Brian unveiled my new love, THE TOTEM POLE. The totem is an amazing piece of sculpture created by Beto (an employee here at the farm that developed his wood carving skills with the encouragement of Brian). It's a huge piece that measures at over 15 ft in height and has been in the works for over a year now. I've just about completed painting the first side and I am hoping to have is covered with paint and standing before I leave. 

The farm is bursting with creative projects. Between gardening, yoga, hiking, cooking, writing, painting, hula hooping, learning the guitar, and the never ending conversations, I'm a bit overwhelmed. This is by far the most enchanted way to spend one's life, eating fresh meals from the gardens and listening to the ravens swoop over head.

I have learned more things than I can mention but the most important knowledge is that with every tree I plant and every weed I pull I'm helping to create something truly needed in this world which is a space where we can breath and remember what makes us human. For this I'm sure it wont be the last time I'm seen hiking through these trees....

Alyssa, from Massachusetts, USA

Thank you for the incredible experience here at the Bosque. The past month and a half have been filled with great excitement, great conversations, great challenges and even greater rewards. The work you are doing is amazing and I admire all your efforts to share your passions with visitors, WWOOFers, everybody! Thanks for everything. Can't wait to visit again!