Volunteering at an off-grid permaculture farm & eco-stay in India 🇮🇳

Live a natural lifestyle near Mumbai

Natutarian Farm & Experience Centre is a 4-acre off-grid permaculture food-forest farm near Karjat (Raigad District), close to Mumbai, in the green foothills of the Western Ghats. The hosts invite volunteers to learn hands-on organic farming and natural living in a simple, nature-first setting. In exchange for help, volunteers receive shared accommodation and plant-based food. The host also mentions cultural exchange, plant-based cooking, and live music jams in the evenings. On days off, you can explore nearby nature trails, hiking, and trekking.

Listing summary: A small permaculture food-forest farm near Karjat, close to Mumbai. Help is mainly farming and gardening for around 25 hours per week. You receive shared accommodation and vegan meals, and the atmosphere is quiet, outdoorsy, and community-minded.

Where you will be

Karjat, near Mumbai, Maharashtra (Raigad District), India: Google Maps link

Work exchange basics

Hosting style: Community / eco-village feel.

Help needed: Farming, gardening, and general help.

Typical schedule: 4–5 hours per day, 5 days per week (2 days off), around 25 hours per week.

Minimum stay: The host’s latest update mentions 10 days.

Volunteer capacity: Usually a couple of volunteers at a time.

When: All year round.

Typical tasks shared by the host: tree/seed plantation, garden care, de-weeding, mulching, harvesting, watering, composting, general clearing up, and related farm tasks. The host also mentions that projects can sometimes include carpentry, bamboo work, or natural building.

Food and accommodation

Included: Yes, food and accommodation are included.
The host describes shared accommodation (dorm/shared rooms and/or simple huts on the premises).

Diet: This is a plant-based, chemical-free farm. Only vegan meals are available. Volunteers may be asked to help with meal preparation.

House rules and age limits

The host shares an age range of 18–35 (individuals and couples). Animal-based foods (meat, eggs, milk, honey), processed food, intoxication and alcohol, smoking, etc. are not allowed on-site.

Learning and free time

Learning themes shared by the host include permaculture, natural farming and the food forest
approach, plus cultural exchange and plant-based cooking. During free time, the host mentions simple on-site comforts (books, hammocks, indoor games, Wi-Fi in common areas) and nearby outdoor options such as nature trails, hiking, and trekking.

Fees, visa and paying guest option

• Fee transparency: No associated charges, if volunteers work 25 hrs per week. This is a volunteer exchange.
• Visa support: The host says they may help with an invitation letter for well-qualified candidates.
• Paying guests: The host says they can also accommodate eco/responsible tourists and paying guests.

How to get there

Karjat town is connected to Mumbai and Pune by local trains and road transport. The host says the farm is around a 30-minute drive from Karjat town and reachable by taxi/cab or auto-rickshaw.

Contact details 💌

See more volunteering opportunities in India 🇮🇳