Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
23 Jan 2024
Feedback
31
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Update: CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR HELP TO CLEAN AND REBUILD AFTER THE WILDFIRES.
The idea is to create a low key, off grid haven with seasonal tourism.
We are Rick, Sanne, Xavi and Rora (33, 34, 8 and 4). We also have 2 dogs. We were making a self reliant project/life and were been blessed with a beautiful piece of land to do it on. We want a fun atmosphere and more like-minded people to come and enjoy the ride. We have lived and worked in many places and been inspired by lots of different people and lifestyles. We want to make everything functional with minimal impact and try to inspire people how to live comfortably, minimally. Let us know your skills and interests and sometimes we can try and cater the work to that. Unfortunately I can't change the title of the listing, there is no rammed earth building going on for the foreseeable future but happy to explain and answer questions.
What else: We are down to earth people. We love to eat local veggies and meat. Aiming to have most of our vegetables atm, unfortunately we sold our dairy and meat cows but aim to get back into it after aome travellint. We don't mind catering for vegetarians, veganism is a bit of a hassle sorry!
After work we like to spend time at the beach, surfing or having some drinks with friends.
Also looking for long term volunteers!Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsAnimal CareFarmstay helpBabysitting and creative playCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
At the farm, volunteers can learn about natural and modern building techniques. Off-grid living; providing your own energy and water. Growing vegetables during drought seasons. Keeping the living areas safe of forest fires.
After work and in the weekends you can go for beautiful walks through nature and along the traditional neighbouring farms. You can visit Odeceixe historical centre (8km) or one of the many beautiful beaches. There is a bike! But just the one.. We like the sort of people that will fix a flat tire if it pops on them :D !Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We have just finished a rammed earth construction with limecrete/clay tile floors, lime plastering with the traditional portuguese cathedral roof. Those two houses are done now and we need to update a lot of the infrastructure around it. Including making a nice campkitchen, plumbing and fire safety, make a deck, making a storage shed for the stuff we've gathered along the way etc!
A bit of heavy duty strimming is often on the cards! Clearing some land and burning for fire safety, strimming... sawing, heaving fallen trees. etc to provide us with firewood and to give space for good groundcover to return along the riverside. & some daily routine house tasks.
There will be a little of continual gardening (less so over winter) & keeping the animals.
We have a small no dig organic garden and many compost piles!
We are interested in creating more swales and using goats for soil building, fire prevention and meat production on our steeper slopes, i.e fencing and digging! But not just yet.Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
At the moment we offer accommodation in our Mercedes box van cabin, or the gypsy wagon. Camping is also a possibility, but might be a bit cold between november & april. People with their own vans are ideal too.
We provide 3 meals a day. We have small children and a small house so we like to have it to ourselves in the evenings but there is a kitchen uptop. We have lunch together on workdays.
There is a compost toilet, heated shower and outdoor kitchen near the vans. But we are looking for help to upgrade most of this!What else ...
In exchange for your much appreciated hard work we will return..
3 Meals a day
Hot shower
Town or Beach transport now and again.
Beautiful location, we are 10mins from the beach, just over 5mins from town (By car). The valley is a lovely place for hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and mushroom hunting (after the rains) but it is a bit secluded without transport (6km walk to town). Odeceixe town can be very quiet in winter and very busy in summer, in winter we mostly spend our time visiting neighbours along the valley and getting stuff done.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We don't have great phone signal but we do have fast internet.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
For now yes
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day 5 days a week
Feedback (21)
We worked hard for rebuild all the staff after the wildfire.
We rebuilt the solar system, the water system, the connections to the house. We have almost finished the filtering system for the water.
We built a roof with wooden poles.
We built wood shelves for the shed and a lot of… read more
The project was also interesting, I learnt a lot!
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
We worked hard for rebuild all the staff after the wildfire.
We rebuilt the solar system, the water system, the connections to the house. We have almost finished the filtering system for the water.
We built a roof with wooden poles.
We built wood shelves for the shed and a lot of… read more
The project was also interesting, I learnt a lot!
We stayed… read more
We spent two weeks with Sanne, Rick, little Xavi and baby Rora and had an amazing experience with this lovely family! We felt welcomed from the very beginning, they are friendly,… read more
Worked on a beautiful and solid "taipa"… read more
We would recommend hosting her.
Have a good journey!
We stayed in some really sweet campers, the outdoor communal kitchen is always well stocked, and Sanne’s cooking was delicious.
The rammed earth apartments we were working on was a really rewarding… read more
Thanks a lot Lee, and enjoy Italy
It was very interesting to learn about building earth walls, mixing plaster, laying down rock floors, and with good team work, quite quickly seeing the foundations of a house come together. And as they already said, it's physical work, but after two days or so you get really used to it and fall into a… read more
I stayed there just less than one week. I regret I couldn't stay more.
I learnt something... met many interesting persons.
I am impressed by the resourcefullness of this young couple (the hosts).
The work was quite physical and somewhat demanding;
but the work is fully repaid by the friendly environment.
I say it clearly:
The place is… read more
Besides that he was very tidy, respected our privacy and above all a great company to have… read more
Rick’s style of work is great to gear into and to contribute. Enough structure to continuously move the building… read more
We stayed there only for two weeks, but in the end we wished we could have stayed longer.
We wish you only the best for all your projects in mind. We hope we see… read more