Información de perfil
Evaluación del anfitrión
80 %
Last replied
8 ene 2024
Porcentaje de respuesta
56.3 %
Usually responds ≤ 24 dias
Comentarios
54
Correo verificado
Medallas (2)
Detalles
Descripción
Update, Jan 2024
Help needed around the house.
Unfortunately, I need to spend the next few months concentrating on saving my London business, which has been crippled by a court order demanding I pay the full rent for the entire Covid period. At the same time I am setting up a new tourism business in Portugal. I have a lot going on!
I am looking for a couple of easy going, self contained people who can take on the household chores, cooking and dog walking so allowing me more time in the office.
We won't be doing any exciting projects and I won't have much attention to spare but if you fancy quietly pottering around a pretty farm for a few months this may suit you. Thanks.
GENERAL
Please note - This is not an offer of a free holiday. We need you to be genuinely useful and add to the project. There are easier placements out there if you just want to relax. On the plus side, we've created an exceptionally lovely Workaway for you here and we promise your hard work will be worth it.
We work on a one week trial basis for both parties. If either you are not happy with us or we are not happy with you, then we part company after a week (or when convenient), with no hard feelings.
In the house we communicate in English and so being able to speak good conversational English is essential.
If you have a drug or alcohol problem or dependency, or a serious mental health issue, please let us know before you arrive :-)
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
A friendly environment in our stunning (unfinished) farm house, set in its own private valley surrounded by trees.
Peace and quite with plenty of forest and river to explore
The house is large and we have some private rooms for Workaways plus a large dorm.
In the summer the house stays nice and cool. For the winter, most rooms have heating (from the woodburner), so as long as the fire is lit it is pretty cosy.
Hot shower and flushing toilets.
Three meals a day made from fresh locally grown produce. We eat mainly veggie or vegan in the house. although I do eat meat when we go out.
Please note - we are really happy to provide you with great fresh, healthy, but basic ingredients. If you require expensive supplements, specialist products or wish to eat abnormal quantities of anything, then we kindly ask that you buy these yourself rather than deplete the communal supply.
Do-it-yourself Wood-fired Pizza Parties!!!
Natural Swimming Pool - no chlorine, the water is cleaned by plants.
The possibility of trips out on Sundays (our day off). We often go to a big lake or have dinner at a restaurant.
There are also plenty of festivals, concerts and a cinema to attend.
We are happy for you to smoke on the terrace, which has a fabulous view across the valley.
We provide (some) free beer and wine for our hard workers.
A washing machine for your clothes.
For rainy days we have musical instruments, games, books, table tennis and a projector for movies. We like to play board games when we have time. Carcasonne and Catan are both favourites.
We have several guitars, banjos, a fiddle, electric piano, clarinet, harmonicas, melodica, trombone, cajon, full drum kit and even two double basses for you to make music on. I am happy to share what I know.
We regularly get involved with the local Portuguese musicians to put on gigs and are often visited by Paul's UK/USA musician friends. Paul is in a local bands playing blues, rock and roll, bluegrass and oldtime. We regularly host music parties on the farm or in the summer at the KayaShanti river beach cafe.
We have WiFi (now working reasonably well)
The town is only 40 mins walk away. we have some old bikes, but they probably need some fixing.
We have two dogs (smart Tasca, loving Baloo) and a cat (Menina), all whom are exceptionally sweet. Many of our friends, who regularly pop over, also have dogs, so this is probably not the place for you if you don't like dogs...
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU
Four hours help a day, six days a week. The work can be physical, so expect to be tired. During the summer we tend to start around 7am since by 11am its roasting, but the rest of the year 9am or 10am works fine. We'd be grateful if you could get yourself out of bed and fix yourself breakfast ready to start for then.
Any gardening and building skills are very much appreciated but if you only have energy, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, then that is also grand.
Please however do let us know when you apply, if you have never used basic tools such as an electric drill.
Taking your turn, unprompted, to cook, wash up, lay the table, clear away and keeping the house clean.
Please mention to us when you apply if you have always lived with your parents and have not taken care of yourself before.
We have communal lunch and dinner together every working day. We see meal time as a very important part of the day, so please join us. We want to hang out with you!
Your smiles, enthusiasm, ideas, recipes, crafts, opinions, jokes, games, music and anything else that you can think of that makes community life fun and rewarding.
ABOUT THE FARM AND ITS OWNER
Hi, my name is Paul.
In June 2015 I bought this farm, a beautiful, abandoned terraced farm in Central Portugal. My intention is to create a little paradise through gardening, music and community. The farm is set in its own stunning, private valley close to the nice little town of Serta. Come and share our home.
My dream of living communally in the countryside began 30 years ago when I spent a long night analysing what living environment would suit me best. I have had this dream in my mind when making most of my life decisions.
So my hopes and dreams for the Quinta (farm)....
I would like to increase the beauty and biodiversity of the place, even as building work commences.
I would like to follow organic/permaculture principles and welcome expert advice. Currently finishing the house is the main priority but we did have half a dozen terraces laid out for veg. I would like us to grow as much of our own food as possible.
Update - the veg garden has been woefully neglected and is back to a jungle, it needs some serious work.
I would like everyone on the farm to do tasks together in a friendly manner with a sense of community. I dislike rules and rotas, instead I prefer to activate the inner community spirit we all hold within us.
The general principle for staying will follow a Workaway model. Four hours a day, six days a week for basic food and lodging. We all take turns to cook, and we expect you to take regular turns too. Please have some simple cheap recipes prepared.
There is a derelict barn on the site, (we call it the Chicken Hotel), which has 39 double rooms, and, when developed, could host yoga/massage/music/creative retreats. This is some way off so yoga teachers, hold your horses!
I would like to engage with and complement the local community. This has been going well and we have formed strong ties and friendships. The Portuguese are charming people.
I would like to hold an annual musicians festivals (100 people) plus smaller parties through the year.
I would like to reforest the entire valley with native/food forest trees. We have felled several hundred Eucalyptus and Pine trees. This area has escaped the forest fires for decades but it was sensible to make the farm safer. The area around the house is now clear, safe and planted with fruit trees.
Update - the pines have been growing back, we need to do some serious chainsawing.
I have spent the past 19 years building up a folk music pub in London. I still own the business and am hoping the farm will tie in with the great music scene we have in London. I have now put on dozens of gigs and festivals in the local town, to great success, and we have a steady stream of skilled and experienced musicians through the house.
Update - the pub is in a legal dispute with its landlord over Covid rent, its a big headache which has taken a lot of my energy, that should have gone in to the farm. You can learn more about the pub and its problems and see a little interview with me here
I'd like to one day build a small recording studio in the old pigsties. Two albums have been recorded here already.
I enjoy a challenge and don't mind working hard!
I guess I am a hippy in some ways but I am not just a dreamer, I guess I am also a capitalist in some ways, but with ethics and compassion.
If you would like to get stuck in please get in touch.
Cheers
Paul
We are not a commercial business.Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje
Práctica de idiomasAyuda en proyectos ecológicosJardineríaConstrucción y bricolajeCuidado de animalesAyuda en una granjaCocinar para toda la familiaAyuda domésticaMantenimiento generalObjetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión
Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje
We can show you the building skills needed for the jobs you do and power tool use (if we trust you!). I even teach some sensible Workawayers to use the tractor.
If you are interested in playing music then we have lots of instruments. I can teach you basic guitar and banjo. We can also introduced you to the local musicians and even get you gigs.
We are gradually learning Portuguese, Julia is teaching us.
Everyone goes to the market at least once which is fun and a bit scary. Those old Portuguese ladies drive a hard bargain!
We regularly take workaways to local festas and concerts.
On Sundays we sometimes take our little motorboat out to explore the huge local lakes.Ayuda
I will need loads of help to get the place in order.
I am looking help restoring the buildings, gardening, weeding, planting and farming (perma culture)Idiomas hablados
Alemán: Fluido
Inglés: Fluido
Español: Fluido
Portugués: FluidoAlojamiento
Its a big house with bedrooms and dorm rooms.
There is lots space to camp and/or park a camper van.Algo más...
The nearest town Sertã is 5 minutes away by car or a 40 min walk. It has 3 big supermarkets, cinema, bus station and many restaurants. They also have regular little events which can be fun.
There is a beautiful river 10 mins walk through the wilderness from the farm and a lovely secluded lake down the valley through the forest.
There is also a massive lake with a beach and cafe 25 mins drive away, where you can swim/boat/waterski etc.
The nearest bar is only 400m away at the end of the drive, it's got a pool table and table football.
The farm is very quiet so besides watching the birds you have to make your own entertainment. We have instruments, games and a selection of films and books if the peaceful nature gets too much.
Sertã is well connected to Coimbra, Tomar, Castelo Branco, Porto and Lisbon by buses (Rede Express or Transdev), I will collect you from Serta bus station.Un poco más de información
Acceso a Internet
Acceso a Internet limitado
Tenemos animales
Somos fumadores
Puede alojar familias
¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?
Más de dos
Horas esperadas
No more than 25 hours per week. Don't mind if Workaways take time/weekends off to go explore Portugal
Comentarios (32)
Needless… read more
He is keen and listens well. We would welcome him back.
Comentarios
Son opciones de calificación adicionales para cuando los miembros dejan sus comentarios. Se muestra la calificación media dejada en cada opción.
Precisión del perfil:
(5.0)
Intercambio cultural:
(4.7)
Comunicación:
(5.0)
Needless… read more
He is keen and listens well. We would welcome him back.
The summer heat was difficult for me, but we chose our own work hours,… read more
and friendly people and take a good care of workawayers. I had really great time with them and feel they are now more friends than hosts. Work was decent and satysfying, always within timelimit. And the place is really beautiful. Paul also took us on local market which was very… read more
Thank you!
Thanks you 🙂
He has my wholehearted recommendation.
Stuart is a professional welder and as such can build you pretty much anything you want out of steel. Like all professionals he benefits from reasonable equipment and a project a manager who gives him clear ,… read more
Total pleasure having him on the farm.
Intelligent, interested, capable, helpful, hard working, kind, caring.....I could go on but you get the idea. Amazing considering she is so young.
I can totally recommend her for your project, just send her back this way afterwards.
We wish her luck with all her adventures.
I was there for the olive harvest which held a real community feel to it, it was great to experience and learn about how it's all done. We even had a group… read more
Yes, that room can be chill. I checked daily if they were ok and suggested they move to the warmer dorm next door but they said they were fine.
The ceiling lights that went down during some rain but we still had table lamps around so no one was in the dark.
The WiFi was indeed broken. Courtney and her friend… read more
They got thrown in the deep end here, when they arrived in the middle of a music festival we were holding, but with practically no instruction they immediately found their feet and started to be useful. Over the next few months they continued as they started, working hard in the… read more
We worked hard but I lo E gardening and getting a result so for me it was great. I cleared all the Ivy off a long and… read more
Magic land and quirky property in the process of been restored, there are… read more
I wish 1 in 10 Workaways were half as good as Ryan.
Paul is truly inspired by his property and it's great to share in his inspiration, making everyone feel like they have an important role to play in helping him build his dream!
Work was always very varied at the… read more
My experience with this community was my first workaway and I couldn´t ask for something better.
Nice people, nice talks, Nice and healthy food, good enviroment, beautiful views, nice bed, nice shower and a beautiful small town very near from the farm.
If you are looking to be… read more