Come and help reforest a valley and bring an old farm to life, Folques, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hey! Welcome! 10.000 native trees have arrived in 2022 to expand a beautiful riverside forest and I would love some help with caring for them. It is hard work, but very rewarding.
  
  In the meantime the first planting is done (with the help of some fantastic workawayers!) and now we will go on with preparing the garden and work on the house. And slowly transforming the orchard in a permaculture food forest.
  
  In 2023 we are starting syntropic forestry. In November 1000 trees will arrive and there is a lot to propagate, prune and seed.
  
  Summer 2024 I will be busy preparing the house for the winter. And finishing ponds, swales, the dry toilet house, the reed bed filter. It is hard work, but needs to be done first. Though most of it is almost done, some last details need to be added, some maintenance and mistakes need to be adjusted :)
  
  My name is Machiel and I acquired a 5 ha land in the hills of Portugal. It is a beautiful place, a valley with an old orchard along a stream, an abandoned motor cross park, a small creek half-of-the-year-running down the mountain and some ruined houses. A 3 ha hillside stretches out behind the houses. I want to reforest it with native trees and turn the valley with the old orchard in a food forest. This fall (from october 2023) I ll probably start with syntropic forestry, transforming the old orchard into a much more productive forest.
  
  One of the houses is already functioning and the roof is almost finished. Still a lot needs to be done. General facilities are in place, though rudimental.
  
  UPDATE: The accommodation for work awayers is changed to a big bungalow tent on the land. I will post some pictures later. It is a great place, i was told by the work awayers who stayed there. It really immerges you into nature, hearing the wild boars and deer at night, hearing the rain hit the roof.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  You are in a remote area in Portugal. Reforesting and nature is what I can offer. Though there are sometimes some (free) cultural events in a city 20 min by bike from here.
  
  I love a good discussion or a good laugh. I am getting to know more and more people around that are creating such beautiful places, so can take you to other inspiring homesteads as well.
  
  As a biologist i have a lot of theoretical knowledge. I can tell you a lot about reforestry, why and where and how. At the moment I try to pick up practical knowledge about growing food in my area.

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  Help

  This year is a year of observing, planning, building some temporary facilities and learning. So if u want lots of different activities, including creating basic utilities, woodworking, designing, garden creating (permaculture, food forest and a few annuals), setting up a chicken coop, a bit of reconstruction. and planmaking, this is your spot.
  
  Normally we start at 8 with yoga and breakfast ,We work till 1, have lunch and then u r off to do what u want. In the summer we might start a lot earlier, at 7 start working. I know it is early, but trust me, you will thank me when the heat starts.
  
  Main activities this winter: Swale and pond digging / Tree planting / finishing big compost toilet / planning and building a natural obstacle course
  
  Main activities coming summer: Levada & pond creation / Weeding the syntropic forest and vegetable garden / companion planting in orchard / building the outdoor kitchen
  
  If you want, join with a short run and some stretching (wouldn't dare to call it yoga :) before the work starts.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  French: Beginner
  Portuguese: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  I have set up a big bungalow tent. You can see it as a kind of glamping. It is amazing to sleep on the land in the tent, with a bed and some furniture. I have a small solar panel for recharging your phone. But most of your devices you can recharge in the main house.
  
  If you want, I can provide two smaller tents, but till now people brought their own van or tent. An airmattrass for two persons is available.
  
  There is running water and a flush toilet, but not always a hot shower (depends on the sun). I use a dry compositing toilet, wash under a cold shower or swim in a nice small swimming pool very close-by. I love the experience, but you should be aware of that I can only offer these basic facilities at the moment.
  
  If I get the permission, I am gonna build a new place in 2025.
  
  Food I mostly cook, unless u like to help. My cooking is vegetarian, and try to be vegan, though sometimes I add cheese or egg. But not a problem if you are vegan. When the sun is out, i like to use my solar cooker. Washing dishes: No washing the dishes for the cook. Seems fair.

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  What else ...

  I have 2 bikes to explore the surroundings. There are many beautiful spots and walks closeby. I am just discovering everything myself. Feel free to join!
  
  I have some games and some books. I love to go mountainbiking, and u r welcome to join. A great café is a 10 minutes by bike.
  
  I have been a work awayer myself last year. Some experiences were great, Others not so. I strive to make it a great time for u, but I am also busy running my company. So be aware I am not always available for activities!
  
  If you come, i can pick you up at the local busstation, where busses go to Coimbra. From there busses and trains go to other major cities. I will provide a document to help you with the travelling details when we are in contact.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  My internet is limitless, but quite slow (5mb), because it is satellite internet.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There are pretty spots on the land where you can park your campervan. I can provide you with electricity if the day has been sunny. Thought in winter you need really good tyres to get up the ramp of the land. But you can park on my dirtroad.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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