Be part of my project: Living in nature and restoring our home and garden near Tomar, Portugal

Infos

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  Description

  Hi Workawayers!
  
  Welcome to my profile. 😊
  
  Help me restore an old farm house with a big orchard and upcoming vegetable garden in Central Portugal while enjoying the quiet, smell and peace of the surrounding nature!
  
  My name is Laura, I am 56 years old and from Germany. I have bought a beautiful old farmland of 12.000 m² (own forest) with a stone house plus 2 annexes, two little ruins and two wells in the center of Portugal (near Ferreira do Zêzere) that needs to be renovated. Even though I had professional building companies there still are a lot of things to do to make it a house with normal living standards. 💚
  
  Having been a Workawayer for one year of travel around the world a few years ago myself I now would appreciate some help with my own project (for details see below). 🙏
  
  Enjoy the quiet and the nature! Enjoy a good flow of energy in the house, garden and own forest. 🌟 But be aware that you will probably get your hands (and clothes) dirty...
  
  Please also be aware that there might only be a (rather cold) garden shower and an dry outdoor toilet (for the solid stuff only) available at times.
  
  Volunteers with experience in the tasks needed, taking responsibility for a little project or with positive feedback are preferred.
  
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  For longer stays there should be a two-weeks-trial-period to see if it matches for both sides.
  
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  *** UPDATE ***
  
  Mostly needed at the moment (after a couple of 'no shows' last and this year):
  
  > house sitting (June 24th - July 7th) - watering the trees mandatory
  
  > fix the wheel of the wheelbarrow
  > fix the caravan and protect it from water ingression
  > create the yard entrances with stones and concrete
  > paint some walls inside
  > install interior doors
  > put up a new kitchen with me (like ikea)
  > cut olive trees
  > quite a few "handyman things" around house and garden
  > build stone stairs where one wall has been opened with natural stones
  > if you are into graphics and design (and have your own device): help me create the internet blog of my world tour as a book (personal memory)
  
  Thank you. Hoping to hear from you soon! 🙏
  
  **************************************
  
  ♡=> You don't have to be vaccinated! <=♡

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  You will get to know this nice and quite area and landscape with healthy maritime climate and the smell of eucalyptus, singing birds, much space...
  Also I have a lot of friends living in the area, and there is a growing community of foreigners and locals that are connecting quickly (we have swap markets, circles, workshops, movie nights and parties). So no need to stay all by yourselves...
  
  => Please note that my place is in a rural area with farms and agriculture! The next bus stop is a 15-minute-walk away, the bus to Ferreira do Zêzere runs once a day... Two bikes are available. For the weekends I often can drop you of at the river or lake or in Tomar.
  
  You should bring enough to read (I have a German and English library though - prose, self-development and garden helpers) or whatever you need to feel comfortable away from the institutions and consumption of modern society.
  I have a guitar that waits to be played as well, bongos and cajon. Also I like to sing - but basically hardly have the chance to...

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  Aide

  I have bought an old farm in Central Portugal that has to be rebuilt - the interior needs finishing now that the rough tasks by the local construction company have beem done. The beautiful but large garden needs weeding, providing a water supply for new planted trees and lots more..
  
  >> BUILDUNG <<
  
  * PAINT walls inside
  * FLOORING (tiling and parquet)
  * roof INSULATION with hemp wool
  * building SHELVES in the tiny house
  * installing DOORS (indoors)
  * build steps to the backyards
  * sand and paint the old interior blinds
  * restore some old furniture
  
  >> GARDEN <<
  
  * The fruit trees and the first vegetables need WATERING in the warmer periods...
  * Build two UPRIGHTS to support the awning in the yard.
  * Help me Install an IRRIGATION SYSTEM and also a DRAINAGE SYSTEM in the big garden (for a lot of new fruit trees plus vegetables) - a professional will teach and help us.
  * WEEDING always needs to be done practically all year (prune the olive trees, cut the wild wine etc.).
  * WOOD CHOP newly cut branches.
  * Olive HARVEST (October/November)!!!
  * BURN garden waste (from November on).
  * The FIRE PITCH needs an enforcement wall with big natural stones.
  * Would you have fun to build a SWEAT LODGE with my young eucalyptus trees (if possible)?
  * Create a new BIOTOPE.
  * Create a new FLOWER BEDDING in front of the house - do your own creations!
  * Help create a PERMACULTURE garden.
  * Create an HERB SNAIL.
  * Kiwi Hill (4 plants) needs a PERGOLA at some point.
  * Create a YOGA PLATFORM in the huge garden, maybe even a sauna?
  
  => Good boots or even rubber boots are highly recommended (I can provide size 37 and 42). Also house shoes are very useful unless you want to walk barefoot on concrete...
  
  I kindly ask for committed and independant help of 5 hours per day, 5 days a week (or equivalent as the tasks might vary due to necessity and available helpers). 🙏
  Cooking and doing the dishes are shared.
  
  Please note that I have to work remotely to keep the project going and am also quite busy with all the sideworks of the project. This means, that we share the meals but will not work or spend loads of spare time together very often...

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Espagnol: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  I definitely want to learn Portugese some day... and an introduction into Sanskrit would be wonderful. I can share my German (mother tongue) and good English language skills with you!
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  Hébergement

  I have a nice and protected shady sitting area in the beautiful yard that I use during the warmer seasons, it has a kitchen stove and a BBQ.
  There are four bedrooms (mostly double) for us to use in the main house.
  
  OWN EQUIPMENT
  Of course you can bring your own tent (there are two platforms in the garden to use) or your own camper.
  
  CARAVAN
  Sometimes I share my private caravan (bunk beds plus convertible dining area) that is in the garden at a very beautiful and "gemuetlich" spot.
  
  * Yoga and meditation *
  There are two yoga platforms with a great and calming view waiting to be used. (Let's do this together.)
  
  * Bikes *
  Two bikes are waiting to be taken for a ride, including helmets and bike bags if wanted.
  
  >> Sorry, no pets accepted! Dogs must stay outside.

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  Autres infos...

  My property is nearby FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE (Santarém) in the center of Portugal.
  
  The next bus stop (to Ferreira do Zêzere on request) is within walking distance (service once a day only though).
  
  Ferreira do Zêzere (nice little town with a lot of cafés and a weekly markets, public bus to Lisbon, public and free indoor pool) is a 10-minute-drive away, around 5 km to walk or bike, I can usually take you and pick you up to/from there.
  
  The beautiful LAKE CASTELO DE BODE/ZÊZERE (where you can do all kinds of watersports) is about 20 minutes away, also quite a few reservoirs and beautiful river beaches.
  
  TOMAR (old Knights Templar city) is a 20-minutes-drive (I go there once a week or so).
  
  LISBON (vivid city with a lot of historic buildungs and culture, next airport) 1.5 hours by car, very good access via train and bus.
  
  PORTO (also airport) can be reached within 2.5 hours by car.
  
  Famous cities in the area are also COIMBRA (students) and FÁTIMA (history and religion).
  
  The Portuguese ROAD TO SANTIAGO (hiking) is about 15 minutes from my farm.
  
  Also there are quite a few ROCK CLIMBING spots within a 1-hour-drive (let me join you if there is a time gap on my side).
  
  And of course the ATLANTIC OCEAN for the BEACH and SURFING (at about 1+ hour by car ) and SWIMMING for the harder ones!
  
  My big garden invites you also to just be, breathe, dream a day dream, read a book, listen to the birds and cicadas, have a yoga session... :-)
  
  > I should be able to pick you up at the train/bus station in Tomar or at the bus station in Ferreira do Zêzere - let us communicate about that.
  
  > There is enough space for parking one car / camper.
  
  MEALS: As I prefer local vegetables I usually don't eat meat - but could cook it for you every once in a while. I can offer strict vegetarian food or other dietary needs as well.
  
  WIFI.
  WASHING MACHINE.
  SUMMER OPEN AIR MOVIE series in the yard with a nice community, also DANCING.
  
  Sorry, no WhatsApp...

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  I have WiFi in the house.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  You can also bring your tent or camper. Water and electricity will be provided. A (cold) garden shower (plus camping solar shower) is always available and nice outdoor dry toilet ('dunny') is waiing for you.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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