Volunteer: Amazonian Forest Foods and Culinary Arts in Ecuador

Location: Tena, Ecuador

Duration: minimum 4 weeks

Start Dates: Start dates are each month, enquire with us when applying.

Cost: $500 for the 1st week $350 for each additional week

Fee Includes: all food, accommodation, pre-departure in-country support, orientation and all project related activities

Does not Include: flights, airport pickup, travel insurance, personal spending, visas and vaccinations

Benefits

• Learn about Ecuadorian culinary arts, with a focus on the unique interculturality and sustainability of the field
• Sample and learn about some of the thousands of fruit, vegetable, nut, spice, and insect species
• Collaborate with farmers on projects to diversify and add value to their agroforestry farms, and research domestic and international markets for local products
• Opportunity to organize Farm to Table (Forest to Table) meals to help rural families and associations showcase the riches of the forest and educate others about traditional Amazonian foods
• In addition to culinary arts and agriculture, opportunity to learn about indigenous rights, ecotourism, Fair Trade and organic certifications, social entrepreneurship, and community tourism projects
• Research amp; dissertation support available with partner organizations and universities, if requested.
• Keywords: culinary arts, forest foods, sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, herbalism, ethnobotany, clinic, hospital placement, internship, medicine, emergency medicine, traditional healing, indigenous rights, agroforestry, biodiversity, sustainable development, research, community development, economic development, climate change.
  
  

Please note: This opportunity is designed to give you the contacts and experience to help further your career. You are not replacing any member of staff, but helping alongside them, whilst learning new skills. Simply click the APPLY Button to submit your application, and ask as many questions as you need.

Introduction

The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world with over 40,000 plant species and 2.5 million insect species! Also, there is said to be over 3,000 edible fruit species. Many indigenous communities have recipes for preparing fish, meat, beverages, fruits, and starches that were passed down through generations .

Many farming families, organizations, and community associations are working hard to re-value and preserve traditional Amazonian dishes while also adding a modern, culinary flare to the food. In this internship, interns learn about the endless amount of edible species that exist in the Amazon [including insects, fruits, herbs, and spices] and how these products can support local economies in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way.

Internships Begin With An Orientation In The City Of Tena. After, Interns Spend The First Few Weeks Getting To Know Their Host Family And Internship Placements. Depending On The Needs Of The Placement, Potential Internship Activities Include

• Learn from local farmers and cooks about the intersection between ancestral farming/hunting/fishing practices and how they connect to modern cuisine and income-generation projects
• Identify edible and medicinal plants and understand their importance in traditional cooking and medicine
• Prepare traditional dishes with locals and experiment by adding different flavors and spices
• Contribute to work in the chakra (traditional agroforestry farm) by planting, weeding, and harvesting products
• Create and/or clear trails in medicinal plant gardens or chakras with locals
• Support eco-toursim projects and guide visitors as they learn about forest foods, traditional Amazonian dishes, and agroforestry systems
• Research local Amazonian products and national and international markets where they can be sold
  
  

Interns live with host families, allowing them to forge meaningful connections with locals during their time in the Amazon. Most host families live in rural communities close to the forest, and many have their own agroforestry farms and invite interns to join them when they plant, weed, and harvest Some of the amazing products you will get to learn about and experiment with include ishpingo (Amazonian cinnamon), ajo de monte (wild garlic), sacha inchik (Amazonian wild peanut), chontacuro (grub), chonta (a palm fruit), and locally-grown tumeric and ginger.

Please note: all information above is subject to change. Please check the most up to date information on the Global Nomadic website when applying. Simply follow the link on the Apply Button above.