We came across this volunteer call through our Facebook group and thought it could be interesting to share it here, giving Kipos Filias a little more visibility among people who enjoy slow travel, practical outdoor work, animals, creativity and community life.
Volunteering with horses, gardens and creative community life in Greece
Volunteering at Kipos Filias is an opportunity to join the foundation phase of an agro-ecological and artistic place on the island of Lesvos, Greece. The project is based in Skala Loutron, close to the sea and surrounded by olive trees, and is growing as a social cooperative called Kipos Filias, meaning “Garden of Friendship”. The project is a place where nature, creativity, learning and community care come together.
Volunteers can help with practical tasks around the land and house, support daily horse care, take part in gardening and maintenance, and contribute to creative projects such as painting, upcycling, storytelling and community art.
Volunteer at Kipos Filias in Lesvos
The work is varied and hands-on. Depending on the season and the needs of the project, volunteers may help with gardening, outdoor maintenance, small repairs, painting, preparing rooms, furniture upcycling, simple woodworking, building pallet furniture, stable work, olive-related tasks, trimming trees, cutting firewood or creating handmade products for the cooperative shop.
Some tasks can be physically demanding, especially work such as carrying materials, building fences, moving horse manure or helping with outdoor structures. The hosts say that volunteers do not need to be professionals, but they should enjoy practical work, be reliable, take initiative and feel comfortable living and working in a small group.
The project also welcomes artists and creative people who would like to contribute to the atmosphere of the place. Current collective art ideas mentioned by the hosts include a collaborative patchwork project and the painting of clay pots for the gardens and shared spaces.
Rhythm, stay and shared responsibilities
The official project page describes the rhythm as structured but flexible, with around 25–30 hours per week of project and housework, spread over 5–7 days. In addition, volunteers share daily responsibilities such as cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning shared spaces and general house care.
These shared living tasks are estimated at about one hour per day.
This means the exchange may feel busier than a very light volunteering stay, especially during active building, gardening or preparation periods. It is best suited to people who are happy with practical contribution, community rhythm and simple nature-based living.
The official page currently lists the minimum stay as 3 weeks, with 1 month recommended. Available volunteering periods include mid-May to the end of June, mid-September to mid-October, and mid-October to mid December. Volunteers should confirm the exact dates directly with the hosts before making plans.
Accommodation, food and location
Kipos Filias provides accommodation on site in double rooms, with access to a spacious kitchen, garage, toilets, washing machines and a garden patio with a stone barbecue. The hosts also provide local vegetables and groceries for preparing vegetarian meals together.
The project is located in Skala Loutron, on Lesvos, about 15 minutes from Mytilene. The official page mentions a bus connection from Monday to Saturday, walking distance to the sea, nearby beaches and nature around the property.
An e-bike may also be available for volunteers to get around locally.
Who this opportunity may suit
This opportunity may be a good fit for people who enjoy animals, outdoor work, small community life and creative practical projects. It may suit gardeners, builders, painters, storytellers, artists, horse lovers and volunteers who like learning by doing. The hosts are looking for people with basic practical skills, openness to feedback, constructive communication, willingness to learn and comfort with simple shared living.
Horse experience is welcome, but the host text suggests that motivation, care and reliability are just as important.
Contact and application 📧
Apply through the Kipos Filias volunteer form
- Project: Kipos Filias, Garden of Friendship
- Location: Skala Loutron, Lesvos, Greece
- Website: https://kiposfilias.com/get-involved/
- Email: volunteers AT kiposfilias DOT com
Please contact the hosts directly with your availability, skills, interests and the kind of work or creative projects you enjoy.
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Original host message:
Hello humans,
We are Fili, Sonja, and Stratos 🐴🌿
Fili is the lead mare of the herd. Sonja and Stratos are two of the humans helping to grow Kipos Filias, a new social cooperative on the island of Lesbos, Greece.
Together with local and international friends, artists, environmentalists, storytellers, horse people, and curious humans, we are creating a place where nature, creativity, learning, and community care come together.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with:
🐴 Stable cleaning & horse care
🪵 Repairing fences and outdoor structures
🌱 Gardening, planting grass, vegetables, and orange trees
🚜 Transporting and storing hay
🎨 Painting rooms
🛠 Building and repairing furniture
📣 Communication, storytelling, social media & creative projects
We also warmly welcome artists and creative people who would like to contribute to our growing community.
Current collective art projects include:
🧵 A collaborative patchwork project to create a large community beanbag, with each participant adding their own piece.
🎨 Painting and transforming clay pots that will become part of the gardens and shared spaces.
We love projects that invite many hands, stories, and imaginations to contribute.
The humans here try to work together like a healthy herd: with trust, care, cooperation, and respect. And finding the best food-spots.
As Fili says, she doesn’t understand all the human planning and discussions (“blah blah blah”), but she understands that we care for the animals, the land, and each other, and that we are trying to learn how to live more thoughtfully with nature.
🏡 Stay on a beautiful horse property surrounded by olive trees, close to the sea.
🌊 Fili still finds the sea slightly suspicious. Humans seem strangely enthusiastic about it.
🐴 Minimum stay: 2 weeks
🌱 Longer stays preferred
If you would like to join us, please send us a message and tell us:
• your availability
• your skills and interests
• what kind of work or creative projects you enjoy
We look forward to meeting fellow builders, gardeners, artists, dreamers, and horse lovers.
Fili, Sonja & Stratos 🐴🌿
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