Visit our permaculture project in a beautiful valley in Vale Azul, Portugal

  • Favourited 679 times
  • Last activity: 6 Jul 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    This project located one hour north from Lisbon, in Ribatejo, near Santarém, Almeirim and Alpiarça.

    This project started in 2008 with the wish of selling organic products to the local community. Later I realised how difficult would be for me a single mother with little investment power to thrive as a farmer. Being a Permaculture designer since 2006 , I dedicate then my time to developed the project and teach permaculture.

    My soul, was always looking for a community and It moved away from this project in the attempt to join other communities.

    I'm now back for two years in the land but I decided to be one my one for a wile. I'm now opening for the months of Summer in the hope to address all the work that being pending wile I was working on the school.

    I'm also looking for someone to manage volunteers. Someone that can commit for at least 2 months and have leading capacities. The working time is the same as volunteers, plus preparing the tasks and meeting with me. Besides accommodation, food, internet, laundry and other commodities this person will receive some pocket money, access to a bike and a electric motorcycle. I will only decide if you're the one for the job after two weeks experience as a volunteer.

    There's many tasks to do:

    -Cleaning and organising
    -Gardening
    -Agroforestry
    -Fencing
    -Building
    -Taking care of Animals: 2 cats, 1 dog and several chickens

    Gardening, Cleaning and Organising it's expected to do, the other are optional, depending on resources and your wish and ability to do them.

    Principles of the project:
    Live in harmony with nature
    Sharing knowledge and experience
    Work locally
    Living a healthy stile of live: eating organic, vegetarian, preferably from the land. Avoiding all kind of drugs even simple one like sugar and coffee.
    Live in harmony with the self and others.

    My goal is one day going for lunch means going for a walk in my garden and agroforest. No cooking no cleaning afterwords just the pure joy of picking and heating. If I could share this pleasure with a small community I would be in heaven.

    If you smoke or have any unhealthy habit you still free to join me as long your mindful and don't impose your habit to others. Be responsible for it and make sure your habit doesn't bring any extra work for others.

    What is expected from a volunteer?

    A person committed with the principles of the project that uses her/is time to help it thrive. Someone eager to learn how a life in harmony with nature looks like. Glad to share her/is skills with us. Open to go along with any work needed to be accomplished so together we can grow in the same direction.

    What a volunteer can expect from your host?

    I commit to welcome you, provide camping site, food and two moments on a week that we reserve for sharing knowledge and/or create experiences that allow us to dive deeper into our research subjects .We shall all support each other and participate in an active way to find the best solutions for all. There's Internet but limited, laundry machine and hot shower.

    Conditions on site

    Accommodation
    Its available a belt tent with 2 or 3 beds and also a double bed in a car. You should bring your sleeping bag. If for any case you don't have or can’t bring it please contact us so we together can find a solution.

    Food
    We provide 3 vegetarian meals, 100% organic.

    PLEASE let us know if you have any special diet requires. Thank you.

    Sanitary
    We have a dry toilet and we have a hot shower.

    PLEASE only use biodegradable products! All used water goes back directly into nature.

    Transport
    The closest train stations, where I can pick you up, are Santarém, 20 km from the farm (20min by car, 3 h walk). () and the closest bus( rede-expressos.pt) is in Almeirim, 14km from the farm ( 15min by car, 2 h walk).

    Work
    Volunteers have to commit to at least 1 week stay, 24 hours of work a week plus communitarian tasks like cleaning , organizing, cooking,.., in exchange for a place to camp and organic shared meals.

    Daily structure
    Thinking on your beautiful gift that is your help we try our best to organize things for your stay. We have a common start at 7.15am with some bodywork, yoga and meditation. At 8am we have breakfast and then work until noon. We will have closing and sharing circles and common meals. In the afternoon we work for 1,5 h two-three times a week and we will offer two moments of sharing knowledge on the other days.
    For us to improve even more this structure it would be important to know the details about your arrival and departure.

    If it's not FUN it's not sustainable!

    Let's have loads of fun, turn this into a great opportunity for learning, growth and create a beautiful bond that will serve as support energy even when you're somewhere else.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    More than the exchange of knowledge and time for work is a unique human experience for both. No mather if the outcome is positive or negative either host and volunteers will be given the opportunity to learn and share new ideas what is a fertile ground for learning and growth. Beside the unique human experience of participating on the creation of a sustainable and ecological living plave. You will have to face many challenges : communication, adapting to different costumes, living a life connect with nature and more spiritual comforts than physical. The food is fantastic but probably not what you're use to. Take a change and step out of your comfort zone.

  • Help

    Help

    I'm hosting people who belive in Permaculture and are interested to have a more sustainable style of life. To make a change on this area, being in front colision with the capitalist system is not easy. All the help is welcome. So I would like to host people comitted to change their life styles and to help me to change mine ;)

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Catalan: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Portuguese: Fluent
    French: Beginner
    Italian: Beginner

    This 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

    Accommodation

    At the moment the only accommodation possible for volunteers is camping and parking a caravan. I also have a small car that can acommodate up to two people and a Belt tent with 2 to 3 beds.
    Meals are made and enjoyed together. All meals are organic.
    We have hot shower, laundry machine and 1 or 2 bicycles available. A tank of spring water were you can refresh yourself.
    I have a compost toilet.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The area is full of beautiful places to visit like the river beach, Santarém the capital of Romantic architecture, the horse reserve, Golegã the city of horses. Alpiarça José Relvas museum, and many others. We can provide one or two bicycles and sometimes a ride to town.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have plenty of space for caravans and campervans .

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Yes, as long as they get along with my cats. Otherwise is not possible.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day 5 days a week

Host ref number: 366836536873

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