ILATÁN

What we do

Ilatán is an association and a group of people that manages a forested area on the mountains of Northern Tenerife. Here we work on regenerating the surrounding ecosystem, producing food, and living in a joyful and relaxed way. There is also space for more people to join us in sharing and enjoying this place.

Our work in this ecosystem started only 5 years ago, which we have devoted to regenerating our environment and adapting to it, slowly establishing a food forest that integrates both edible and native trees - with a few hundred already planted and thousands more growing in our nursery - to complete the reforestation of the pace under our care, which is close to a hectare.

The human side of the project is close to a traditional village, where some shared spaces for socializing are available, but most of the time we each live our own lives - knowing the rest are there if we need them. Intimacy, personal space and natural day-to-day communication are priorities for us, rather than planning constant structured meetings and community activities (in pop culture terms, Ilatán looks more like a mountain retreat than a hippie commune). Our long-term vision is for this place to hold a multi-generational extended family, so we are open to receiving people of all ages.

Where we live

We live on the mountains in the North of Tenerife, sometimes above the clouds (almost 1km above sea level), surrounded by laurel and pine forest, in a cool and moist region of this subtropical island

Temperatures in our home oscillate between 15ºC and 25ºC in the dry season (July to October) and between 10º and 20º in the wet season (November to June). Humidity is often around 99% unless hot and dry winds come, sometimes raising the temperature above 30ºC

Being in a fairly remote area, having a vehicle is very useful, although it's also possible to move around the island with public transport if time isn't an issue

The magic of Tenerife allows you to wake up in the rain, move 20km and enjoy the sunny beach, to then come back home and read a book by the fireplace

Project past, present and future

Ilatan is the fruit of years of co-creating, visiting and learning from intentional communities, permaculture and ecovillages. It is also an experiment in how people of today's world and this culture can re-create a human way of life, adapted to the ancestral needs of our species, and at the same time maintain a few technological comforts, in a context of regenerating the ecosystem in which we live to leave a positive inheritance for future generations. And, above all, more than a space to embody visions and goals, it is a home for an extended family that wants to grow

We started working on the ground in 2019, at that time a family farm, and in 2021, after a lot of learning and reflection on all types of community models (to avoid some common problems in initiatives of this type), We decided to grow towards a broader vision, with which Ilatán emerged. After several tests and refining our social structures, we found our first new long-term member at the end of 2021, and at the end of 2023 we finished preparing a new space to be able to incorporate the next person, couple or family.

Right now we have about 500 fruit trees, shrubs and climbers planted, plus many hundreds more edible, medicinal and indigenous plants, in an edible forest that is still young but from which we can harvest more and more. We also have several thousand square metres of native woodland which we look after and enrich as much as possible. We also have two dogs, a few hens that give us eggs all year round, and solid and well insulated infrastructures, with a deep ecological integration and modern conveniences that we are continuously improving, such as different water systems for drinking, washing and watering, hand and power tools to work comfortably, solar electricity, washing machine and fridges, our own weather station and automated domotic management

Our vision is to become a small village in the mountains, with both common and private spaces for about 7 families and people of all ages, common ownership of the land and decision making that integrates sociocracy and meritocracy. For this we are looking for and integrating, step by step, people who want this kind of life, getting to know each other in time to form stable connections, which requires, in addition to a fit in personality and values, sufficient emotional and economic solidity to maintain the peace of the place

Steps to be part of the project

The project lands are shared property among the investor members. We also have an association that is responsible for managing the land and the fees with which we cover common expenses and develop the project.

The people who are part of the association enjoy community life, a personal space and garden, infrastructure and common spaces, group activities, learning, mutual support and much more. There are several membership categories with different fees, depending on whether it is necessary for the association to provide them with a room in a shared house, a space to set up their own mobile accommodation, etc.

Thank you for reading them carefully

• What does Ilatán mean?

  Ilatán is a guanche word (Tenerife's native culture) that means "north winds that bring rain". They are essential for the life of the forest that is our home.

• I am visiting the island and I would like to learn about your project. How can I get there?

  We are not a project open to the public, so we do not welcome visitors.
  
  If you want to learn about Permaculture or community projects on the island, there are many others that do accept visits, although always in an organized manner, not spontaneously (understand that there are too many people interested in this today to be able to dedicate time to learn about each of them at any time, especially in the Canary Islands due to the great pressure of visitors all year round).

• I would like to stay there while volunteering. How would it work?

  At this time we do not receive volunteers.
  
  Although we understand that it is an opportunity to meet interesting people who could perhaps end up living here, our current priority is to find people who are already quite clear that they want to join a community like this, and who can contribute both work and financial resources - we want to be a community with an equitable distribution of responsibilities and rights, and not a single-family farm with temporary helpers.

• How many people live there? Are there children? Do you accept children and/or older people?

  For now we are only 3 adults (you can see us below), but our goal is to be an intergenerational community, as we recognize the unique contributions to the group that people at different stages of their lives can make.

• I am interested in joining but I have a pet. Can I bring it with me?

  If you bring your own mobile home, you can keep any pets you want inside, but not in the common accommodations that the association provides to avoid problems with allergies and so on. As far as keeping them outdoors is concerned, in the case of dogs, bear in mind that we already have two dogs and, although they are quite sociable, integrating a new member into the pack is a complex process.
  
  In the case of outdoor cats, you should be aware that both our dogs and those in the surrounding farms are a potential danger to their survival (there are feral cats that have their territory here and have learned how to move around safely, but that learning process could be potentially dangerous form him).

• Why are you all men?

  Simply because a founding couple was joined by another person, and we happen to be all 3 men, but we would love to have more diversity of genders, ages and cultures. And, if you're worried about this being a safe space for women, you can know that toxic masculinity is not welcome here.

• What languages do you speak?

  Our common, and local, language is Spanish. We also have members who speak English, French and Japanese fluently, and we can understand a little bit of several other languages.

• Are you self-sufficient in food production? Do you have a plan to be so?

  Right now we produce some vegetables, fruits and eggs, and we want to increase the amount and variety of plant, animal and fungal products we produce with the help of new members, but we take the production of food and other resources as something we do in the way and to the extent we enjoy, not as an obligation
  
  We choose, as a group, not to burden ourselves with the pressure of having to produce 100% of our needs in the field (even though we understand that at some point in the future this may change to a lesser or greater degree).
  
  However, if you, on a personal level, want to produce more food, our land is quite large so we reserve a space so that each person can have their own garden in which to plant what they need, in addition to the edible forests and orchards under common management.

• I want to live in a space that is 100% free of alcohol / tobacco / caffeine / sugar / animal products / WiFi / microwaves / perfumes and cosmetics, etc. Is this a safe space for people like me?

  No, we cannot provide that here. We want everyone to feel that this is their home, so as long as the rules of coexistence and laws are respected, unless there's an addiction problem that could endanger the common peace and prosperity, everyone can do what they want in their private space.

• I am a vegetarian / vegan / Christian / Muslim / denialist / activist, etc. Will my beliefs be respected here?

  Everyone is free to believe or eat whatever they want, or love whoever they want (this is an LGBT+ friendly space), so as long as you don't expect other people to share your beliefs, religious practices or lifestyle, we're happy to respect your uniqueness - but one thing we're not tolerant of is intolerance. Of course you don't have to participate in something you're not comfortable with, but if it's a problem for you that others do things that are contrary to your beliefs, it's best to find somewhere else that's more aligned with your beliefs

• How much am I expected to work there? How much free time will I have?

  Each person, if they do not have their own area of responsibility, is expected to contribute at least 10 hours of work a week on common projects - therefore, there is plenty of free time left for walking, cooking, chatting, developing projects personal, go to the beach or anything else.
  
  We try as much as possible to match the physical capabilities and motivations of each person with the needs of the group - with a diversity of common projects and needs, and of skills and experiences, there are many possibilities for each person at every moment of their life can contribute to the group in a positive way, without it being an unpleasant workload that no one enjoys doing.

• Is it necessary to have a car to live there? Can I get around by bicycle?

  It is not necessary, but highly recommended.
  
  It is possible to get around the island by public transport, but being in a remote rural area this requires a lot of planning, patience and somewhere to spend the night if you miss the last bus - they run every 2 hours or so to the nearest bus stop, which is about a 15 minute walk away
  
  As far as cycling is concerned, the roads in our area (and most of the island) are quite steep, and are not prepared for cyclists, so cycling here is more of an extreme risk sport than a realistic way of getting around (it is more efficient and safer to walk).
  Also it is possible to move by hitchhiking, but it also requires patience, as the island has lost its way and there are not always good places for cars to stop

• Is the access road to the land complicated? Is it very isolated?

  No, you can get there by car on a paved road, without the need for a 4 x 4 (or donkey). We are (by car) 5 minutes from a town and schools, 10 from a small town, 30 from cities large, 45 from two airports and 60 from the capital.

• Do you have water available for irrigation?

  Yes, we have both irrigation water and drinking water. For now (despite the drought problems that affect other parts of the island and the country) the availability of water in our area is good.

• Do you have enough electricity? With solar panels?

  Yes, solar panels are our main source of energy, with which we have enough electricity to run fridges, washing machines and other modern conveniences (although we do not use electric ovens, microwaves, air conditioning or other high consumption devices on days with little sunshine). If necessary, more panels and batteries can be installed, as other people who want to invest in it join in (but at the moment we don't have the possibility to connect to the power grid)

• How is the internet connection?

  We have good mobile reception with 4G and 5G, more than enough for video calls, streaming movies and more - but you need a mobile data plan, for now we do not have telephone cable or fiber optics.

• Can letters and packages be received at the farm?

  Yes, despite the remote location we have a good postal service.

• Are there many people or noise around?

  There are some people with houses in the area, especially on weekends and holidays, and car traffic on the access road, but most of the time this is a very calm and quiet place.

• Is it expensive to live on the island?

  It depends on what you compare it with, and what needs you have. For us, living simply but comfortably, monthly expenses are less than €200 per adult to cover food and travel expenses - but it can be much more if you like going to bars, restaurants, events and activities.

• What is the weather like? Is it very cold and humid?

  The climate here does not follow a pattern of seasons like on the continent, but, depending on the direction of the winds, we have 2 types of weather alternating throughout the year: sun, dry air and temperatures of around 25ºC during the day and 10ºC at night, or clouds, humid air, fine rain and temperatures of around 15ºC day and night. Sometimes it can be hotter, and sometimes it can be colder, but on average it is usually in those ranges .
  
  As for discomfort due to humidity and cold (or heat and dry air, which are equally problematic, depending on the moment), it is easy to solve with solid, well-designed and insulated infrastructures, with which we enjoy a comfortable environment all year round.

• How far is the beach?

  We are in a mountainous area of an island, so there are many options for beaches but all of them require a 900m descent - the nearest ones are about 20 minutes by car, 1-2 hours by public transport and 2-4 hours walking

• Can you help me get a job/residence permit?

  No, we are sorry, we are not a company nor an association that helps people in situations of need, and although we would like to be able to help people in difficult situations who write to us, we do not have the capacity to do so. Furthermore , European regulations are very strict in this regard.

• If I live there I would like to organize courses / events / retreats / meetings / offer alternative therapies / set up a school in nature / welcome people / etc. on the land. Is that okay with you?

  It's not possible, this is not a project open to the public. There are a number of introverted and sensitive people living here, and we need this to remain a quiet, familiar space where we can relax, not a place of work or a place for strangers to pass through
  
  Of course, if you live here it is natural and acceptable that you want to invite family or close friends to visit you, and we have no problem with that. But if your aim is to live on land where you can organise workshops or events for a living, offer public facing services or anything similar, or you want to have an open door policy at home, invite people you have just met to come, rent accommodation, offer tours of the land, etc. we understand and respect that you are looking for such a project, but this is not the place for it. And if you are interested in other aspects of the project but not this one, we are sorry but it is not negotiable
  
  Another way to understand it is that this place offers - even for the most introverted and sensitive people - the opportunity to live in a community in nature and weave a network of support and enjoy common spaces and moments to connect, while protecting the space, quiet and freedom of each person and family - similar to a small mountain village from 100 years ago, and very different from a hippie commune, where all spaces are common and public, and people are coming and going all the time. We want to ensure that there is enough space, time and quiet for those of us who share this home to have quality interactions (without the distraction of 10 new people passing through each month), and that each person can enjoy as much solitude and silence as they need, when they need it

• What other opportunities to generate income do the people who live there have?

  The most common option is to have passive income (rentals, etc.) or to be a digital nomad.
  
  In addition to that, 1 million people live on the island, and 6 million tourists visit each year, so there are many opportunities to offer training, therapies and other services, or even sell products such as soaps and creams, jams and processed foods or craft objects, and many places on the island that host these activities (see previous question).
  
  Of course, keep in mind that generating income living here requires a lot of entrepreneurial spirit, because unemployment on the island is very high (most job offers are in the tourism sector, with difficult conditions) and in any case Having a full-time job every day away from here is not compatible with living on the land (although we understand that some people may need to do this on a one-off basis, especially for one parent in families with children, we have limited space and we can't reserve accommodation for someone who is only here for the weekend)

• What opportunities are there to socialize and meet people, besides the people who live on the land?

  We live on a hyper-populated island full of visitors, with a pleasant climate to be outside all year round, and small, with generally short trips, so there are a huge number of events and meetings to attend. go, meeting places or groups of common interests with which to make new friends, and other communities, permaculture projects and people with lifestyles similar to ours that we can introduce you to.

• Are the rules of coexistence very strict? How much freedom do people have there to do what they want?

  We have some basic rules of coexistence (do not cut down trees, do not use poisons, do not organize public events, etc.), but beyond that, each person can do what they want in their personal space - we make sure that there is enough space reserved for each family, and enough space between accommodations to maintain privacy and tranquility.
  
  Our priority is the happiness, tranquility and harmony of the people and the group, not achieving a mission beyond our terrain, and we accept the diversity of beliefs, ways of eating, appearance and personal expression, habits and customs, etc. - as long as your freedom does not conflict with that of others.

• at are your spiritual/personal development practices?

  Although each person here has their own methods, interests, studies and practices for maintaining their health, at this stage of the project we have not established group practices in this area nor do we intend to do so - although we understand their value for the health and cohesion of the group, as long as they are not really necessary we prefer to maintain as much freedom, time and personal space as possible.
  
  But if you want to get an idea of the common style of those of us who are here now, in general we value non-violent communication, secure attachments, physical-psycho-emotional order and hygiene (especially in common spaces), nature-based spirituality and trying to move through life with a Zhuang Zhou-inspired perspective.

• How do you make decisions? What are the leadership structures?

  Our vision is a group small enough, and growing slowly enough, to make most decisions organically, meritocratically and sociocratically.
  
  In addition, the abundance of space and resources, private accommodation, tranquility and autonomy in personal and common tasks greatly reduce the conflicts and necessary meetings.
  
  It also helps to organize work (with long-term people) based on areas of responsibility, to be able to move forward with projects in an agile way, without having to agree and vote on everything. However, there are always difficult decisions that take and issues on which we do not totally agree, so for those cases we have the association assemblies and one vote per family.

• Are the land your property?

  Yes, we have ownership of the land, shared among the investor members, without rent, mortgages or other types of debts.

• Why, if the land already belongs to you, do you have a community project instead of living only with your family?

  Although living in community means facing many challenges and giving up sovereignty, we believe that our lives will be better, fuller and more satisfying if we share our home - with people who have compatible visions of life - that's why Ilatan was born
  
  We understand that it is a very enriching way of life on a personal level (although emotional work is not always comfortable), and it also allows us to take care of the land in a more sustainable way, have more animals and food production, mutual support, etc. - as humans, we know that together we can achieve much more than alone.
  
  We don't need money, manpower or people to convince of our ideas, but right now we are looking for new members with whom we fit enough to have a pleasant and prosperous coexistence, maintaining organic, relaxed and sustainable growth , without rush or pressure, without exceeding the carrying capacity of our ecosystem.

About our life philosophy..

Excellent explanation of why this is not a vegan project