Get onboard our Human Permaculture Project in Barco, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi everyone, our village is called Barco - “The Boat” because of the ferry that used to be here. Now they use a bridge, but we see our project symbolically as "Velas" the sails of the boat and the candles to light our way. More practically we are about permaculture based community development.
  
  Some people start a community and make permaculture gardens, but we realised that there is already a community in the village, and that permaculture principles can be used to strengthen the community of the village and the region and build not just a farm, but a whole thriving human ecosystem including farms and celebrations, spirituality and practicality.
  
  It is early days - we have a nice little house, another family with a similar vision in the village, and the beginnings of a few projects. We are working on:
  
  Family life - trying to make it beautiful and joyful and harmonious so that we have something wonderful to share with others and ourselves. Making the house beautiful, singing together, doing dinners etc.
  
  Spirituality and healing - we are into yoga, taichi, singing spiritual songs, and all good soulful things. We are also working on creating a holistic wellness service for the old people in the village. Alexander in particular is very passionate about deep oneness and spirituality in all areas of life.
  
  Gardening - we have a small vegetable and flower garden, lots of olive trees, and the opportunity in the future to do permaculture farming on the land owned by the extended family.
  
  Cooperative Business Creation - we believe in cooperative businesses instead of private companies and we are involved in a few that are starting up here, and using our management and facilitation skills to help them succeed, we also have some dreams of cooperatives we would like to start ourselves that have not officially launched yet.
  
  Musical Performances to share joy and connection - Alexander does musical performances with a spiritual bent and is taking that to various venues including old people's homes and yoga centres, and also making videos.
  
  Portuguese Classes for the foreigners - helping people to learn portuguese, and developing our own portuguese language skills in order to be able to properly connect the interested foreigners' community with the local portuguese community.
  
  Neighbours parties to engage people together and create connection
  
  A little bit of activism
  
  We are a small family living in the little village of Barco, with dreams and projects to do with personal, spiritual and community development, and music. We are just beginning to gather a few people around us to create a kind of community in the village. We love music and crafts, and deep connection. We would love people to stay with us who are interested in sharing the joy of connection as well as helping out a little bit in varioius ways. It would be great if you have an interest in spirituality or permaculture, or the creation of a better world that is less competitive and more cooperative

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  It would be great to share some of the local portuguese culture, and some of the spiritual practices and celebrations that we do from around the world including yoga, aikido, taichi, meditation, and traditional dance.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We would love people to help us with playing with our 1 yr old child, helping around the house, interior design and gardening, and helping with our permaculture, musical, community and spiritual development projects.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Improve French or play with and explore any and all languages of the world
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  Accommodation

  We currently have one spare room. We try to set it up as nicely as possible. Food is generally shared. We are primarily vegan and sattvika - (no onion and garlic). We are pretty good cooks ourselves, and sometimes people who stay with us choose to contribute with cooking, so we eat pretty well.

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  What else ...

  There are plenty of nature sights to go trekking, river and the mountains nearby.
  The two cities of Covilhã and Fundão are within 30 minutes by car. Covilhã is reachable by bus too.

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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

  We are remote workers ourselves so things are set up for this kind of work.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  About 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

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