Do you want to Volunteer?

At ‘El Paraiso del Burro’ we need our volunteers. The Donkeys need daily care including feeding, grooming, health checks, stabling and contact. They are great animals to be around, each with their own personality, likes and dislikes, routines and friends. Maybe you have some spare time this coming year? Perhaps a week or two in Spain might appeal? Perhaps spending a few days with us here in Asturias? In addition to caring for the Donkeys we also require a great deal of help with other aspects of life here at the Sanctuary such as fencing, clearing scrub land and brambles, apple picking, building and general maintenance, cooking, help around the vegetable plot….the list is endless. Marleen has the philosophy that volunteers can come and make their own choices about the work they do.

Caravans for our Volunteers

The accommodation is usually in on-site caravans however, we are still developing the infrastructure so amenities are basic. The food we serve is usually cooked and provided by Marleen but occasionally we have a volunteer who likes to cook and give Marleen some respite. The diet is vegetarian and wholesome. The peace and tranquility that is on offer cannot be bought. It really is a paradise nestled in a beautiful part of green Spain. As one of our volunteers recently wrote in the visitors book:  ”Well, it seems to me as if somebody has thrown a small seed into the country, and the beautiful flower grows very fast in the Asturian soil, carrying the message of love between human and animal. (Timo)”.

If you want to visit us or spend some time this year volunteering, please contact Marleen directly at: marleen.verhoef at hotmail.com or find us through the WWOOF programme.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Paradise.......from tiny seeds

Volunteers also take the opportunity to enjoy Asturias. It is a beautiful and impressive area that has miles and miles of unspoilt beaches, spectacular mountain ranges (including the Picos de Europa Mountains), glorious woodlands and forests and an abundance of fauna and flora. It’s not all work here in Paradise!

Happy New Year

It has been another busy year at El Paraiso del Burro with several new donkeys to care for and a lot of ongoing maintenance around the land. We have had a steady stream of Volunteers over the year whose contribution has been greatly valued and appreciated.

"That feels good"

A great big thank you to all our supporters and volunteers not only to those here in Spain and the Netherlands but also to those who continue to support us from other parts of the world. There is no doubt that 2010 will bring yet more challenges for us here but with good health and hard work we will continue to be happy and content in our work caring for older and retired Donkeys. We wish you a prosperous and healthy New Year, best wishes, Marlene and the team…….and not forgetting the Donkeys!

Juliet

With 18 donkeys – in two stables -  the donkeyparadise was fully inhabited already. But who could resist a donkey like Juliet? Not us.

Estefania and Juliet on the way to the trailer of the donkey paradise.

Nobody knows her age. Her body shows clear signs, though, of a long and extremely hard ‘working carreer’. With her frontlegs and breast torn apart, back caved in deeply, she has serious walking problems.

Juliet doesn’t like us to touch her as yet. But in the stable with 12 other donkeys she is assertive enough and has settled in quickly and well. Our donkeyparadise now counts 19 donkeys at the moment …

Pumpkin Time

Marco destroying our autumn exhibition

We were so proud of our enormous home-grown pumpkins, that we made a nice autumn exhibition on the terrace. But look what happened!! Donkey Marco must have thought: “This is a DONKEY paradise, isn’t it? How nice to have put these pumpkins here just for me!” As you can see, he took a bite from all of them and comes to the terrace every day to see if we have put out fresh ones for him …

Paradise – part two by Sarah

Sarah and Todd from Australia recently spent several weeks here at El Paraiso del Burro – here is part two of Sarah’s story.

Todd also worked in “Todd Valley” collecting rubbish from the river and raking brambles ready for burning and I started what will now be known as “Sarah’s Wall” *excitement* built from used tyres which a group of other volunteers had pulled from a hole on Marleens property – about 250 in all!!! So we suggested possible uses of the tyres to Marleen, and she pondered over the ideas and we agreed on a wall – Which just quietly I’m glad because I didn’t realise how much work was involved and even though I would loved to have finished the project, my back is glad I’m handing it on!! Marleen has many ideas for different projects around the farm and always invites input from others.

Todd (with cap) and a couple of friends!

We were also lucky enough to be involved in introducing a new member to the Paradise – I ALMOST got naming rights to her….ALMOST! But her name is Flora and she is very pretty….I think Kees and Marco may have some work cut out for them! Here the Donkeys are part of your everyday being – from stopping them getting into the storage room to eat that nights dinner, or searching for escapee’s Lola and Anes aka Thelma and Louise or every now and then slipping Nico an apple before the other Donkeys notice. It is a great place to relax, feel welcomed, inadvertently learn about Donkeys and most of all help out where you can! I’m sure that we will be back to see Todd’s Valley and Sarah’s Wall completed, see the Donkeys and most anticipated – See Marleen super comfortable in her new home!!!

Sarah's wall......

PS – Lemonade Scones courtesy of Pat Fitzgerald (Todd’s Mum)

3 Cups of SR Flour

1 Cup of Cream

1 Cup of Sprite

½ Cup of Sultanas (Optional)

Mix well and need gently

Lay out dough approx 2inches high and cut with small glass – bake for 8-10 minutes at 190c.

We wish you the very best Marleen – Thanks for a great experience!!!!

Paradise……:-) by Sarah

Sarah and Todd from Australia recently spent several weeks here at El Paraiso del Burro – here is Sarah’s story of their stay:  Part 1.

What a beautiful part of the world….And I don’t mean just for the donkeys!!! Are you a animal activist? An environmentalist? Because in reality you only need to be someone who knows someone who knows Marleen and you could help out a little around the Paradise.

Time to relax in Paradise.

She really isn’t fussed, Marleen is just doing what she can to help the world be a better place, and she‘s doing a bloody good job. Marleen makes you feel part of the family and a worthy volunteer of the inner workings of her home!

When we arrived we were shown our caravan and just told to relax – A wine while watching the sunset helped us do just that!  By the way – that isn’t just a one off either! And of course we can’t forget the Donkeys – so cutting up their dinner while having a wine isn’t too taxing and I guess that’s why we’re here J But Marleen wanting us to feel right at home said – “if you don’t feel like helping right now that’s ok” As far as we’re concerned it’s the perfect attitude that encourages you to help where you can!

So for our first couple of days here we were collecting chestnuts because apparently Donkeys, like myself, don’t know when to stop eating something that is bad for them! We obviously weren’t quick enough and Marco was on the ground with his stomach sounding like an approaching thunderstorm – Marleen administered some drugs and Marco was up on his feet again searching for Chestnuts…..I’m sure of it!

Introducing Flora

Flora, the 18th donkey in the donkey-paradise.   Last week we went into Posada de Llanes to collect a new donkey. Her owners, four elderly women of whom one was bedridden, had looked after her very well for more than 20 years, but now could no longer. Flora lived in a dark corner of a stable and had no movement whatsoever. Ever since she arrived in the paradise in Arobes, she has been looking around with large eyes and an amazed expression: “What is this?? Where am I?? Walking around in a meadow!! Eleven other donkeys with me in the stable!!” Flora loves to lie down every now and then, and also to roll over in the grass – a thing she hasn’t been able to do for a long time… She loves her new diet of carrots, apples and mixed cereals, but will have to lose some weight …

Flora - They will miss her

A very special volunteer – by Marleen Verhoef

All volunteers in our donkey-paradise – without exception – have contributed and still contribute a lot, but one person in particular has meant a great deal to me and all animals. Leo was here when it all started in september 2007 to help to get things from the ground. But before that he also contributed much time and effort to finding a suitable place in Asturias where everybody, including the donkeys of course, could be happy.

Leo and....Leo!

Not long ago Leo decided to go back to his family, his friends and his everyday life in the Netherlands. Just before he left Arobes, a new donkey arrived. Guess how this new donkey was named??? Leo of course! Donkey Leo immediately got himself ‘adopted’ by his nameshare. The picture below shows both Leo’s, the day before Leo’s departure. Luckily Leo will not stay away forever – he promised to spend some weeks again here in spring 2010.

Three of our donkeys are now adopted: Norbert (by Helena from Pola de Siero), Grietje (by Leo’s grandson Bram) and Leo (by Leo). The adopters contribute a free, but fixed monthly amount for the ‘adoptee’ of their choice for a fixed period of time.

Facebook

Did you know that El Paraiso del Burro has its own page and group on Facebook? Tanja Hedman and Carla Pertejo Nystrom from Sweeden who have just recently spent several months here working as volunteers initially started the group. Hurry back Tanya and Carla – everyone misses you. Why not contribute to the message board on Facebook and join the group? Details are also available of how to make a donation – all contributions are greatly received and used to care for the Donkeys. To find the Page and Group search for Paraiso del Burro.

Volunteering

Michael and Marleen

We rely heavily on volunteers to help us here at El Paraiso del Burro. With 17 Donkeys, 2 horses, 4 dogs, 2 cats, 8 hectares of land and extensive apple orchards there is always plenty of work waiting to be done. Some of our volunteers live locally in Asturias and help us out on a regular basis and many come from further a field, in fact from all over the world. We get some of our volunteers through a programme called WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Last week we were really pleased to see the return of our first ‘wwoofer’  Michael Anton from France who came along to help us again for a few days this time accompanied by his girlfriend Lisa Faller. It was really good to see him again and their help was much appreciated. More about our other volunteers another time. You can find information about ‘WWOOFing’  by accessing the link on the sidebar or if interested in working with us contact us through the information detailed on the ‘About’ tab.

Michael and Lisa hard at work