next dates: see work exchange retreats Typically Work Exchange Retreats are five days and focused on a specific seasonal project such as apple harvest, woodland clearance and chipping, weeding, mulching and managing new woodland. As a 100% vegan retreat place there are no livestock or carnivore pets here. To know more, and for updates, follow Fiona on facebook and/or subscribe to the newsletter Viveka Gardens is a retreat place in Mid Devon and we’ll be doing work on the land and in the kitchen garden here, possibly some inside tasks in case of rain. It’s a six-hour work day in return for: Accommodation is shared in a converted cob barn Requirements: (it’s fine if you are a yoga teacher, of course, but teaching is not required) It is possible to join the group for individual days if you are local but you must arrive in time for the group briefing at 9am To comply with employment rules (volunteering is classed as employment) you must either be a UK citizen or Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, EU Settled Status, BNO passport holder (Hong Kong) or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visas. Without proof of this you cannot be accepted for work exchange. Send it with your form. The purposes of a retreat place are to leave behind mundane matters, go within and find inspiration. You can contribute to the higher and more peaceful vibration here with your effort. This benefits all who come here, including yourself. If you are new to ashram-style life there may be some challenges. Please read the following notes to help you decide if this is the right place for you. Volunteer agreement You offer We offer: -an opportunity to develop yoga practices and explore spirituality The daily routine includes yoga and meditation/contemplation, self-directed during quiet times, and led during retreats or when guests are here. You are encouraged to do your practice, whatever that may be, and/or join Fiona. After a communal meal, evenings are generally a quiet time for reading/reflection/journaling/practice/playing music. There is a good range of books on food, natural history, yoga and general spirituality. If you love your phone and download a lot of stuff to watch this is probably not the best place for you. We follow a vegan yogi diet, always tasty, nutritious and filling, we hope. There are gluten-free options where at all possible (let us know in advance). We eat communally. Hot drinks available. It is 100% vegan and (mainly) caffeine-free here. Please be sure you would be ok with that before coming. Information on the vegan yogi diet (link) Wifi is slow in this rural area so you are encouraged to make a virtue of it and enjoy a digital detox. Similarly, phone signal is poor. You can of course give the landline number to partner/family for use in case of emergency. Accommodation You’ll have a comfortable bed in one of the guest spaces, sharing with other people of the same sex. There is good hot water. Drainage is via a septic tank which relies on natural organisms to break down effluent so you are invited to bring organic, biodegradable toiletries. Ideally these are not tested on animals and do not contain animal products. Bins are provided for tampons, towels, wipes etc. You are encouraged to do yoga asanas and meditation or be mindful when others are practising that your activities are peaceful, even if you are somewhere else on the property. Transport On public transport, from Exeter you can take a small train to Morchard Road, or buses to either North Tawton or Morchard Road (a stop called the Devonshire Dumpling). We will do our best to pick you up and drop you off on arrival/departure. This retreat place is a little remote in a traditional farming area – perfect for a retreat place! A 30 minute walk will take you to a bus stop and from there you can go to Exeter, the cathedral town for Devon, the nearest market towns of Okehampton or Crediton, or towards the seaside town of Barnstaple on the north coast, but buses are few and far between. There are nice walks and nearest villages with (very limited) shops are about 4 miles away, so an 8 mile round trip on foot would take a long time. What to bring What not to bring: pets, loud music, aggressive/violent/sexual books/music/downloads, fur or other animal products. We accept wool, silk and leather shoes are hard to avoid; see also house rules below. House Rules At Viveka Gardens the aspiration is to lift the vibration of the place and visitors. Therefore, you are asked to: I spent a wonderful seven days at this beautiful place with Fiona, supporting a yoga teachers retreat and cooking delicious nourishing vegan food. The first two days were spent cleaning and preparing the rooms for the arrival of the teachers. Fiona was very welcoming and I was made to feel very at home right from the start. All of the tasks and jobs expected were easily explained to me, and I never felt overwhelmed or out of my depth and Fiona was helpful and answered any questions I might have along the way. Fiona invited me to join her in early morning meditation and we chanted together which was a lovely way to start the day. Fiona is extremely knowledgeable and she taught me a lot about vegan food and I loved making her recipes throughout the weekend, they were simple yet very tasty and I will be continuing to make these at home. I was able to take part in the yoga classes which I really appreciated and I found being around Fiona and the other yoga teachers very inspiring. I found Fiona to be incredibly generous and we had some really thought provoking and enlightening conversations around many subjects and I really enjoyed getting to know her. This is a really special place and Fiona’s vision of it really resonated with me and I felt really privileged to stay there and to contribute. Ultimately I had a wonderful experience and have taken a lot from it. I am excited to go back and see Fiona again and to see how this place evolves over time. I recommend this beautiful place highly to anyone who wants to learn more about yoga, mediation, veganism, sustainable living and community. Thank you so much for having me! Jo, Bristol Fiona’s yoga farm is a very beautiful, silent, meditative and paceful place. I had a wonderful one week stay at Fiona’s yoga farm; the setting was idyllic, benefiting hugely from the eco-therapy and utterly peaceful vibe of the property and surrounding area. I was delighted to experience an insight in to the yogic lifestyle and the serenity and source connection that is cultivated from it. Fiona was a fantastic host, she was very understanding and friendly, an empathetic teacher and an energising individual with an inspiring vision. I enjoyed helping with cooking, spring cleaning, weeding and strimming and would love to comeback in the future to see how the Fiona’s project grows and flourishes. I also participated in some yoga lessons and a meditation course whilst I was there, of which I found very interesting and hugely beneficial. I stayed for 3 weeks at Fiona’s place and had an amazing time there. I truly couldn’t ask for more! Like Franzi, the other workawayer, said : with Fiona and her Garden we got the Jackpot! The daily life was very well organized. We always knew what to do and how to do it thanks to Fiona who was carefully explaining to us and showing us every single task – I was very grateful about that! My stay here gardens was wonderful! Fiona is such a kind, inspiring and helpful person and I am grateful that I could join the meditations and the joga classes! Also all the visitors who came there were also very pleasant! I learned a lot about food, yoga and meditation! The tree planting was an interesting work, because I learned about the natureand the trees and it is also a nice work for the soul! I definitely recommend this place!! Thank you fiona! Franzi, Berne I stayed with Fiona for 10 days. At the beginning it was fairly new, but you get used to it quickly. I had the opportunity to collect my first yoga and meditation experiences, what I enjoyed. Besides that I have gotten an insight in a life without dairy products and meat, but I did not missed it. The food is healthy, delicious and various, so I appreciate the experience. The work was mainly physically, but Fiona took care that it does not get boring. The work varied from digging out stumps to gardening and plenty of other things. If you are interested in yoga and mediation, I highly recommend Fiona’s retreat. Max, Vienna The work was varied and for the most part outdoors which I really enjoyed, it included, weeding, barrowing mulch, strimming, clearing borders and tree planting. Fiona is an experienced and empathic teacher and I really enjoyed learning about and practising yoga with her. I felt that I learnt a lot during my stay about yogi life, living in community and also about myself and am grateful to Fiona and the other volunteers I shared the time with. I will definitely return again to see how this inspiring project develops. Thank you Fiona. Jude, Bath I stayed at Fiona’s wonderful Yoga Farm for 1 week as a “workawayer” and really enjoyed the tranquility and beauty of the countryside. Her Yoga lessons where my highlight so was the meditation in the morning. I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know Fiona’s strong vision of an ashram like farm in GB. I really recommend this place to everyone who is interested in a yogic lifestyle that is connected with the beauty of nature Franka, Dusseldorff I had a lovely 3 day stay with the host over the New Year. The tasks were varied and interesting, especially when coupled with Fiona’s clearly vast and extensive knowledge of plants and the land. The food was all freshly prepared, so delicious and I really enjoyed learning more about the yogi diet and lifestyle.
– vegan meals
– morning meditation,
– yoga class(es) or workshop(s) during your stay
– physical strength and fitness for outdoor work
– willingness to listen to safety and task guidance
– sufficient self-awareness for own personal safety and that of the groupIn more detail…
-ad hoc training in horticulture according to the tasks in hand of the season
-a safe, warm and inclusive environment for relaxation, learning and sharing
-an ashram/monastery-style rule of life
-accommodation and vegan soulfood
-yoga class(es) and/or workshop depending on the programme
Some feedback
The vegan food is delicious. I lived for 10 days in a very clean and beautiful room.
Fiona is a very kind host, I worked for 5 hours a day, 2 days-off.
Me and an other volunteer worked in the garden, watering the trees and with the
lawnmower. Lorenzo, Rome
Namaste Fiona and Om Ben, London
Above all I would say that Fiona is a mindful person. She was often making sure that we were feeling well, that we had have enough food (so fresh and delicious by the way!), that we were warm enough, that we had enough clean clothes left, … If you are not a native English speaker and want to improve your English, Fiona is also a great teacher.
I am really over the moon when I am thinking about the time I had at the Garden, the things I have learned from Fiona and all the things I experienced! Outdoors work, trees and nature, meditation, yogi food, yoga classes, languages, cultures, reconnecting with yourself, amongst other things.
In short, if you are looking for a very special place to volunteer: do not hesitate to text Fiona! I am sure you will get some benefits from this exchange anyway. Laetitia, Berlin
I loved the lack of signal and no tv, it was the perfect quiet retreat from modern day life. Fiona was a great host, forthcoming with information and patient when explaining new things. I definitely look forward to returning in the future…100% success on my first workaway stay! Lucy, Winchester
