Living and working at Taurus Mountains Farm
We are an organic farm in the Taurus Mountains near Antalya, Turkey — avocado, olives, citrus, pomegranate, herbs. The farm started during the pandemic as a place to live close to the land, and over time it has grown into a working farm with a small, warm community. We care about doing things properly: organic farming, healthy soil, real food, animals that are well looked after.
Volunteers are an important part of our life here, and we'd love to hear from you if you can imagine being part of us for a while. To make sure it works well for both sides, we want to give you an honest picture of what life with us looks like.
This is not a holiday — but it is much more than just work.
The days on the farm are physical. We work six days a week, in two blocks of three hours — six hours a day in total. The exact times depend on the season. In the cooler months, we work during the day, from 9:00 to 12:00 and again from 13:00 to 16:00. As soon as it gets warmer, we shift the hours earlier and later — the hotter it is, the earlier we start in the morning. In high summer, we sometimes begin at 5:00 and work until 8:00, then again in the evening from 17:00 to 20:00. Working in the midday Antalya sun simply isn't possible — and you don't need to. But six hours of physical work a day, also in the heat, is real, and your body will feel it. Please consider this carefully before you apply.
In return, you get a lot back. We offer a beautiful environment, clean and well equipped rooms, and everything else you need to have a pleasant stay.
What there is to do.
Most of the work is physical — out in the fields, during harvest, in the orchards. Planting, pruning, picking, carrying, mulching, watering. This is where we need the most support, and this is where you'll spend most of your time.
Alongside that, we're always looking for someone to take special care of our dogs. Twelve dogs live with us — all mixed-breed livestock guardian dogs, big, loyal, and not the kind of dogs you treat like a city pet. Whoever takes on this role should have real experience with dogs and a genuine love for animals. We also have cats, chickens, and geese that need daily care.
And sometimes very different tasks come up — depending on what's happening on the farm and what you yourself bring. Some volunteers have helped us with carpentry, some with branding, some with painting, some with cooking. If you have a skill you'd like to contribute, tell us — we'll most likely find a place for it.
If you have a physical limitation but would still like to come, please get in touch. We'll see together whether and when we can make a stay possible. It's not always feasible — sometimes we need every pair of hands in the fields — but often we can find a way. Just ask.
Where you'll stay.
We have only a few rooms, so we ask volunteers to stay at least three weeks. Anything shorter doesn't really work for either side — by the time you've settled in and learned the rhythm, the time is already over.
We'll do our best to make it comfortable for everyone.
The shared kitchen and the terrace are the heart of the place. Volunteers cook for themselves here — we keep the fridge stocked with vegetarian ingredients, and you put together your own meals, often together with the others. People sit, cook, eat, and spend their evenings here. This is where the farm becomes a home. We offer a warm, family-like atmosphere, and we'd love it if you want to be part of it — with respect, care, and openness towards the people and animals around you.
A small note on alcohol: we keep it relaxed — wine and beer on Saturdays. The rest of the week we keep clear, so that early starts and farm work stay well aligned.
Practical things to know:
We're located in Karaöz/Aksu, about an hour from Antalya airport. Let us know your arrival details and we'll work out the best way to get you here.
Bring sturdy shoes, work clothes, a sun hat, sunscreen, and your own water bottle. In summer, mosquito protection. In winter, something warm — we're up in the mountains and the nights can get cool.
We have WiFi that's good enough for messages and browsing, less reliable for video calls.
What we ask of you:
A minimum stay of three weeks
Honest interest in farm work, not just in spending time in Turkey
Willingness to work with your hands, also in the heat
Respect for the animals, the land, and the people around you
Flexibility — on a farm, things rarely go exactly to plan
What you'll find with us:
A real place in a small, lively farm community
A well-stocked vegetarian kitchen and a shared table
A bed in a comfortable room, shared kitchen, terrace, WiFi
The Taurus Mountains right at your doorstep — hiking, rivers, the sea not far away
Free time, when the work is done, that is genuinely yours
People who'll remember you long after you've left
If this sounds like a place where you'd like to spend a part of your life — write to us. Tell us who you are, when you'd like to come, how long you can stay, and whether you're coming alone or as a couple. If you have experience with dogs or a particular skill to bring, mention it. And if you have a physical limitation but would still like to join us — that too.
We're looking forward to hearing from you.
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Beekeeping
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Cheesemaking
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Natural cosmetics fabrication
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
Certified organic
10
Hectares
|
24.7
Acres
