TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
 

Acceptance of These Conditions
By confirming and participating in a volunteer stay at Hacienda La Joya, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to follow these house rules, environmental practices, animal-care instructions and safety guidelines.
These guidelines exist to protect our volunteers, our animals, our property and the environment, and to make communal living enjoyable for everyone.
We reserve the right to update daily routines, assigned tasks, food arrangements and operational guidelines according to the needs of the farm.
Serious or repeated disregard for safety instructions, animal welfare, the property, other guests or these house guidelines may result in a volunteer being asked to leave the program.
Thank you for helping us care for Hacienda La Joya. We hope your time here gives you the opportunity to learn, contribute, create, connect with nature and enjoy farm life.

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HACIENDA LA JOYA
Volunteer Stay — Terms, Conditions & House Guidelines
Welcome to Hacienda La Joya!
We want your stay to be comfortable, enjoyable and meaningful. Living and volunteering on a farm is different from staying in a hotel or conventional accommodation. We live closely with nature, animals and the land, and many of our household systems — including water, septic, waste management and cleaning — are designed around this environment.
By staying and volunteering at Hacienda La Joya, you agree to respect the following guidelines.
 

Volunteer Participation & Daily Routine
Volunteers participate in approximately 6 hours of work per day, depending on the projects and needs of the farm. Tasks vary according to the season, weather, animals, current construction or improvement projects, and each volunteer’s abilities.
Daily tasks may include gardening, weeding, animal care, cleaning animal areas, feeding, collecting eggs, painting, organizing, maintenance, arts and crafts, eco-bricks, and other farm or improvement projects.
Some projects can be completed independently once instructions have been given. Please communicate with Daniel or our staff regarding your assignments and what needs to be done.
If you are interested in participating in early morning animal care, including feeding or milking goats or sheep, please be ready at approximately 5:45 a.m. Morning animal chores are not required for everyone unless they are part of your assigned responsibilities.
Animal schedules can change, so feeding, milking and other animal-related tasks should always follow the instructions given by our staff.
 

Animal Care & Safety
Our goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, quail and other animals are an important part of the farm.
Please treat all animals gently and respectfully. Some of our animals are not completely tame, so approach them calmly and follow staff instructions.
Male goats and other animals can occasionally become territorial or aggressive. Volunteers should not enter enclosures, handle animals, trim hooves or wool, milk animals, administer treatments, or attempt to move an animal unless they have been shown how to do so or have permission from our staff.
Water should be checked and changed as instructed, and eggs should be collected according to the daily routine.
Please let us know immediately if you notice an animal that appears injured, sick, missing or distressed. Do not attempt to treat an injured or sick animal yourself unless instructed by our staff.
Please be especially careful when entering and leaving bird enclosures. Quail and other birds can escape very quickly.
Young animals may be separated from adults for their safety. Please do not move animals between enclosures without permission.
Spending quiet time with the animals, talking to them and helping them become comfortable around people is always welcome when it can be done safely.
 

Volunteer House
Everyone staying in the volunteer house shares responsibility for keeping it clean, sanitary and pleasant.
Please wash dishes and clean food preparation areas immediately after use. Leaving food or dirty dishes out attracts insects, mice and other animals.
The house should be swept regularly, particularly kitchen and common areas. The sink, shower and toilet should also be cleaned regularly.
Please clean the oven and cooking equipment after use when necessary.
The refrigerator should be checked approximately once a week. Old or spoiled food should be removed and composted when appropriate.
Please regularly check fresh fruits and vegetables and eat ripe or perishable foods first to reduce food waste. Refrigerate produce when necessary.
If food, household essentials or cleaning supplies are running low, please tell us before they run out. We do not travel into town every day, so advance notice is important.
Kitchen towels and cleaning sponges can be replaced regularly. Please ask our staff when replacements or additional cleaning supplies are needed.
Bathroom, Septic System & Personal-Care Products
NO TOILET PAPER OR OTHER PRODUCTS MAY BE FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET.
Our septic system is basic and can clog easily. All used toilet paper must be placed in the designated bathroom bin. Please never flush wipes, sanitary products, paper towels or other materials.
We compost appropriate toilet paper waste as part of our waste-management system.
Because wastewater from the property ultimately interacts with the surrounding environment, we ask volunteers to use the biodegradable soaps, shampoo, conditioner and cleaning products provided by Hacienda La Joya whenever possible.
Please do not introduce strong chemicals, oils or inappropriate cleaning products into sinks, showers or drains.
If you prefer bar soap or need additional toiletries, please ask us.
You are welcome to use your own toothpaste.
 

Water
The water at the farm is potable.
For drinking, the filtered water from the refrigerator is usually the most pleasant option.
Please use water consciously. Farm water is a shared and valuable resource.
 

Laundry
We DO NOT have a washing machine and dryer available for volunteer use.
Because the machines can be sensitive and repairs at the farm are difficult and expensive, please ask a member of our staff for assistance.
We may designate specific laundry days depending on the number of people staying at the farm.
Hand-washing clothing is also welcome.
Cleaning products and basic supplies are provided.
Powdered soap for preparing dishwashing liquid is kept underneath the kitchen sink in the designated container. The usual mixture is approximately:
¼ powdered soap + ¾ water
Please ask our staff when cleaning supplies or the basic toiletries we provide need to be refilled.
 

Waste Management
We try to minimize the amount of waste produced at Hacienda La Joya and ask everyone staying here to participate.
Compost: Food scraps and compostable organic material should be taken to the designated compost area daily or every other day to avoid flies and odors. Please ask our staff to show you the correct compost location.
Plastic: Clean and dry suitable plastic may be collected for eco-bricks. Plastic should be cut into small pieces and packed tightly into the designated bottles.
Glass: Glass containers should be washed and dried. We frequently reuse them around the farm.
Cardboard: Clean cardboard should be kept separately for recycling when appropriate.
General waste: Anything that cannot be composted, reused, recycled or placed in an eco-brick should go into the appropriate general waste container.
When unsure where something belongs, please ask rather than mixing waste streams.
 

Eco-Bricks
We make eco-bricks with suitable plastic waste.
The plastic must be clean and completely dry before being placed inside a bottle. Cut it into small strips or pieces and use a stick to compact it firmly inside.
Please follow the bottle size and preparation method currently being used at the farm, as this may change depending on the project.
 

Food Provided
Food provided as part of the volunteer stay is primarily vegetarian and based on simple staples, produce and foods available locally or seasonally.
Depending on availability, this may include vegetables, fruits, rice, beans, lentils, chickpeas, pasta, oats, corn or wheat flour, potatoes, sweet potatoes, plantains, peanut butter, cooking oils and other basic ingredients.
Farm and locally produced foods may sometimes include eggs, seasonal fruit, lemons, herbs or teas and, depending on current production, milk, cheese, yogurt or other farm products.
Availability changes constantly. The presence of a food item on the farm or in previous volunteer information does not mean that it will always be available.
We encourage volunteers to use what is ripe, seasonal and already available before opening or requesting additional food.
For groups meeting our current volunteer program requirements, meals may be prepared as part of the stay. The exact food arrangement will be communicated when your stay is confirmed.
If you have allergies, dietary restrictions or important food requirements, you must tell us before arrival. We cannot guarantee that every dietary preference or specialty product can be accommodated.
If you would like additional snacks, specialty foods, meat, beverages or personal items beyond what we provide, these are generally your responsibility.
There are small local stores in the area, and we can also sometimes help purchase requested items when someone from the farm goes into town.
 

Arts, Crafts & Creative Projects
We love creative projects and volunteers are welcome to use available arts and crafts supplies with care.
Materials may include acrylic paint, beads and bracelet-making supplies, rope, crochet hooks, drawing or painting paper, markers and other materials.
Please use supplies consciously and avoid unnecessary waste. Some materials may be reserved for specific farm projects, so if you are unsure whether something is available for general use, please ask.
Getting Around & Farm Access
Hacienda La Joya is a rural property. Gates should always be opened and closed according to the instructions provided when you arrive.
Please make sure gates are properly closed behind you. This is especially important because of our animals.
The volunteer house should be secured appropriately at night.
There are small local pulperías (small grocery stores) in the surrounding area. Ask us for directions before going for the first time.
Please remember that we are in a rural area, so transportation, shopping and access to services are different from what you may be accustomed to in a city or tourist center.
 

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is available at the volunteer accommodation.
The current network names and passwords will be provided to you upon arrival or displayed in the volunteer house. Because passwords and networks may occasionally change, we do not publish them in these online Terms & Conditions.
Living on a Farm
Hacienda La Joya is an active farm and rural property. By choosing to stay here, you understand that you may encounter insects, mud, dust, rain, heat, humidity, uneven terrain, farm equipment, animal sounds, animal waste, wildlife and other normal aspects of rural life.
Keeping food stored correctly and maintaining clean living spaces is especially important to prevent insects and rodents.
Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the activity you are performing and follow staff instructions when working around animals, tools, machinery or farm structures.
 

Respect for the Property & Community
Please treat the volunteer house, farm, equipment, supplies and animals as you would your own home.
Do not use tools, machinery, chemicals or equipment that you have not been authorized or shown how to use.
Please immediately report broken equipment, damage, leaks, electrical problems, animal issues or anything else that could become a safety or maintenance concern.
We understand that accidents happen. What matters is that we know about them quickly so we can address them.
We also ask everyone to respect the privacy, personal space and belongings of other volunteers, staff and the family living on the property.
 

Communication
Farm life changes from day to day. Weather, animals, deliveries, construction and other circumstances can affect plans.
Good communication is therefore an important part of volunteering at Hacienda La Joya.
If you are confused about a task, cannot complete something safely, feel uncomfortable doing something, or notice a problem, please ask us.
We would much rather answer a question than have someone guess

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Alcohol, Drugs & Substance Use
Hacienda La Joya is a shared home, working farm and animal environment, and the safety and comfort of everyone on the property is important to us.
Drug and alcohol abuse is strictly prohibited. Volunteers may not work, handle animals, use tools or machinery, or participate in farm activities while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The possession or use of illegal drugs is not permitted anywhere on the property.
Responsible, moderate alcohol consumption by adults is permitted during personal/free time, provided it does not interfere with volunteer responsibilities or affect the safety, comfort or well-being of others.
Disruptive, unsafe, aggressive or inappropriate behavior related to alcohol or drug use will not be tolerated and may result in immediate termination of the volunteer stay and a request to leave the property.
I’d also add “substance abuse” to the final termination clause, so the Terms & Conditions reinforce it twice without sounding excessive.