Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
13 Mar 2024
Reply rate
66.7 %
Usually responds within 9 days
Feedback
32
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a 1.5Ha permaculture farm in the Paredes de Coura area of the Minho in Northern Portugal. Our three bedroom farm house is occupied by our small family (Peter - father e Iver - son).
Since we finally took up permanent residence here at Quinta in July 2021, we have been working to grow the farm by growing mushrooms using a circular production method, installing perennial systems of asparagus and baby kiwi within agroforestry systems, commence market gardening whilst monitoring our impact through a one-of-its-kind biodiversity monitoring initiative.
We have a lot of work to come in the next year, including garden installation (for a house that we are renovating that will be a holiday let), ongoing mushroom inoculation using invasive non-native species of hardwood that we are removing from our land, build a compost toilet/solar shower unit, maintaining our polytunnel and market garden and harvesting asparagus - I do not sell to the public.
Our aim is to become self-sufficient and to develop an agro-tourism (farmstay and courses) aspect to the permaculture teaching that we will offer at our Quinta.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Peter is a permaculture designer, working towards the Diploma in Permaculture with the Northern School - this would be a good opportunity for volunteers considering completing a PDC or who just want to know a bit more about permaculture, agroforestry and mushroom cultivation.
We're an open and easy-going family and Iver is enough to put a smile on anyone's face. I receive a lot of 'blanket' requests from people who have not fully read the profile and are sending blanket messages to a lot of different hosts at once. I understand why this happens, but I'm not one of the hosts that doesn't reply, so I would ask that if you are interested in the project here, please make it clear that you have read the profile by including '1878' in the title of your message - if you can correctly identify the 1878 reference, the first beer is on me.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We will need help with:
* Forestry work - chainsaw experience is preferred but not essential. We need to remove eucalyptus and pine from our woodland.
* Maintaining the market garden and transitioning to no-dig.
* Building compost and improving soil conditions.
* Garden install for our house next door that is being renovated and will be a holiday let/farmstay.
* Solar shower and compost toilet installs.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: IntermediateThis 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
One room inside the house with a double bed (ideally for a couple). During the warmer months, we recommend that you camp - you will have use of the house but we ask that you respect our personal space, this is our home afterall.
What else ...
There is a lot to see and do in the local area, including a new eco-community project only a few hundred metres away. There is a thriving vegan/vegetarian scene in the region - each September there is a vegetarian conference in Paredes de Coura organised by our neighbours.
We are close to the historic towns of Valença and Ponte de Lima and only 2km from the caminho to Santiago.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
I was really pleased to be able to offer to host two workshops led by Silvia on Natural Fermentation… read more
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:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
I was really pleased to be able to offer to host two workshops led by Silvia on Natural Fermentation… read more
He taught me how to inoculate logs for mushroom production, and I also got to do a variety of gardening tasks. He was making sure I felt comfortable with the work schedule and always happy to answer any of my questions.
And he prepared absolutely delicious plant-based meals for us… read more
Merle is a diligent and hard worker who is willing to learn at every stage, works well alone when needed and an excellent house guest.
Best of luck on your upcoming trip and I look forward to seeing you again in the future!
I’ve got to experience many things from taking down trees, mushroom cultivation, market garden work and even birds monitoring. The time with Peter was great as we had very interesting talks… read more
Peter is an hard worker, really calm and organized, a kind patient person always ready to explain again and teach… read more
Thanks so much for coming to stay and lending your blood, sweat and handpan to the Quinta!
Tommi came to us quite last minute as a friend of a long-term volunteer and it turns out his last host had been a long lost friend of mine!
Tommi is a hard worker, deep thinker and a very talented musician who brought creativity and tunes to the… read more
Leah was a warm, friendly and a hard worker. Leah came with experience having worked outdoors a… read more
Originally I only wanted to stay for two weeks, but then it turned out to be a month. A month that unfortunately went by far too quickly. The Quinta is a little paradise for all those who are looking for happiness in nature and want to learn more about biodiversity, gardening and… read more
Carver of spoons. Driver of vintage cars. Owner of a massive smile!
Thank you so much for the time that you dedicated to our Quinta - I loved having you here and I'm super-grateful for your hard work and continuous energy!
Good luck with what comes next - you're welcome back anytime!
Francesco spent about a month here in June/July and despite coming with relatively little experience, I think he learned a lot along the way. A hard worker (and a talented Dr - just as well because everyone seemed intent on doing themselves an injury) we shared some deep talks, musical vibes and we had a great spirit in the team! It was… read more
Zeno stayed for almost six weeks and we had a great time, cool reggae vibes but with hard work! Zeno proved himself to be a hard worker, funny, part-goblin and no-one dances like Zeno (he must have six knee joints!!!). Zeno was the perfect house guest, had good knowledge and came with plenty of… read more
Peter is a kind, informative and highly skilled host. I learnt so much in my time here and ate some of the best plant-based food I've ever eaten… read more
The work was physical but I really enjoyed it and had a fun time and learned quite a lot about… read more
I really hope you stop by when you're van next rolls into the… read more
As their first-ever workaway experience, I can honestly say that they have worked really hard, asked good questions and learnt fast. As a young couple learning about permaculture, Molly and Brendan are wise beyond their years, hard working and a good laugh.
Brendan's… read more
Peter is a funny, open-minded guy who cooked absolutely delicious plant-based meals for us every day, he shared so much knowledge and guidance with us and was always around to help with whatever tasks we were doing that day. The projects were… read more
So.. I definitely enjoyed my experience with Peter, he was a great host. He always worked together with his volunteers, he doesn't want to be that kind of host who just leaves the volunteers with work and doesn't do anything by himself, which I really appreciated! Also… read more
Working with Débora truly felt like an equal exchange of… read more
