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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
17 May 2022
Feedback
8
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Details
Description
You are welcomed to stay in this flourishing land, next to the mountains of Serra de Estrella in central Portugal. We live in a valley with the clean and fresh water of the Alva river, and an apple orchard of about 500 trees.
Our dream is to create a thriving ecosystem, providing as much for us than for all the wild life.
We started the project 7 years ago. The main infrastructure is now finished, and we are focussing on developping regenerative agriculture systems. We work with Syntropic agriculture for 3 years, learning how to apply it to our climate.
The project is far from reaching his full potential yet, so the production is not for business purpose - the abundance is just shared with the local community at the moment.
We are looking as much for people with experience and skills to share, as well as newcomers that want to expand their world view and are curious about alternative life style.
~~Poles of the project~~
Food forest and veggie garden :
To make a food forest is to create a diverse, resilient, low-maintnance eco-system that incorporate directly useful plants and mushrooms(fruits, edible plants, medicinal plants, building material, firewood...) and indirectly useful plants (that provide habitat for the wildlife, support other plant, bring nutrients to the soil, etc).
Orchard restauration
The land was once a monocrop of apple trees. Only a small portion of this monocrop survive the wildfires of the last decade. We are pruning back the trees into a productive shape, and bringing diversity by replacing dead trees with other species.
Mycelium and mushroom
Making use of the wonderful potential mushroom offer us, as a source of food and medicine. By inoculating woodchips and organic matteer with useful mycelium, we adding a valuable ressource to our garden.
Reforestation
Investigating the best way to bring back native forest in a bruned meditarrean landscape. Reforestation is a difficult challenge , and is not about “planting trees” as most people genuinly believe. It is a natural process that can be helped but not forced; the shrub layer needs to develop first, to provide shade and water-retention necessary for the tree to survive the dry summers. But climate change and the unatural frequency of manmade fire make this process difficult.
Organic matter management
We are developping a close-loop ecosystem where no organic mateer needs to be imported from outside. Thanks to a little tractor, we can harvest easily the green vegetation on the paths and access ways. But our main strategy is to make good use of the invasive Mimosa Tree that has already took over part of the land. Most local people hate this tree, that can take over a land in only a few years. But hate doesn't help to solve anything, and no plant should be hated anyway. The mimosa is fixing nurtient in the ground and help to restaure the humus layer after the fires. In fact, it thrives only where there's nothing else doing the job. So I rather see the mimosa as a “difficult friend” , which can be used to make woodchips and as a transition towards a more diverse and native forest.
Energy sustainability
The house is totally off-grid. The electricity is produced by a photovolatic system. The excess electricity that is produces in the summer is used to pump water up the land and to water the landscape.
He house is heated by the woodburner, and all the wood is harvested on the land, from dead trees and pruned trees.
The water is heated by thermo panels on the roof ; or by the woodburner in the winter.
The only use of fossil fuel is for cooking and for the vehicles.
Community network
We are blessed by wonderful neighbours that formed strong link and help each other. Without this community, not much would have been possible. The sum of all our skill excess by far what each individual could achieve. We organize regularly collective workdays, seeds or seedling exchanges, and parties of course :)
Spirituality / evolution of consciousness
Reshaping our relationship with our environment and ourself. Permaculture is a doorway into a much wider process, inviting to see the role of Human in Nature differently. This implies a self-transformatio and an understanding of our inter-connectivness. During our spare time, we might share some of our tools : meditation, yoga, shamanic ceremonies, drumming, ...
Education
As the project grew, knowledge consolidate and can be shared. Once or twice a year, we host workshops on Syntropic gardening or Syntropic reforestation. In longer term, we want to be an exemple of what's possible, showing what work and what doesn't, to benefit all the community in the area.
Natural medicines
Making good use of the plants for healing colds, burns, contusions, insect bites, etc ; we are making use of many wildplants. And we added some valuable plant in the garden. Making tincture or oil base extraction to preserve them and be able to use them all year round.
Food quality
Tasty and Healthy food! Fresh from the garden as much as possible!
We buy our grocery at a local organic shop – 95% of the food we serve is organic. I'm sure you will enjoy the food experience here :)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Interests
Events & social
Sustainability
Farming
Gardening
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Plant care
Music
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Mountain
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Camping
Dancing
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can learn about :
Permaculture :
-philosophy and basics of permaculture and syntropy
-Soil's life
-reforestation
-nutrient cycle in the ecosystem
-Wild plants, wild edibles
-medicinal plants
-mushroom identification and picking (october to march)
-mushroom culture
-ground covers, nitrogen fixers, soil restauration
-Agroforestry & syntropy
Building :
-working with wood, lime mortars and stone, making solar dryer, installing irrigation systems,...
If interested : spiritual practice
-meditation, shamanic journey , plant medicines
More generally, the project is part of a global experiment for alternative life style. Portugal is a "hot spot", with a dense network of people trying to re establish a relationship with nature and a more respectful and fulfilling way of living. Being here is being part of this experiment.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Gardening : helping establishing a permaculture eden. Include :
Focus Spring 2022 :
-Mushroom experiments , including log inoculation for Oysters, shiitake and lion's mane
General tasks:
-planting trees and veggies
-mulching (covering the ground with organic matter to nourish and protect it)
-making wood chips
-harvesting fruits, veggies and wild plants
-watering
Building :
-maybe a bit of carpentry, if you have some basic skills
General help with daily life task :
-cooking and cleaning
-playing with the kids if they are around
If you have good connexion with the children , we are starting to experiment with homeschooling and you are welcome to help creature activities and game for them
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Accommodation
You will get a beautiful shaded spot to camp along the river - we provide you with the tent and gears if needed. In case of really bad weather, we can arrange indoor hosting.
You will be provided 3 (vegetarian) meals a day. 95% Organic food from a local shop, and of course all the veg from the garden!
We can cook vegan food if needed.
We expect you to help with cooking and cleaning the kitchen.
What else ...
Please enjoy :
-the beautiful river on the land, for swimming or relaxing on the beach
-the wonderful neighboring comunity that can add to your social life, share music, make parties and ceremonies (all accessible walking)
-the Nature all around, and the mountains (with the highest point of portugal 30km away)
-the beautiful old village of Sandomil, and the lovely rural portuguese culture
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
Feedback (8)
My experience there was very very cool and inspirating ! Antonin and Sarah are really interesting people, I enjoyed speaking with them about their project with the garden and with the house but also about spirituality. They also have really cool friends living aroud them and who are in the same mood.
The place is very nice with this… read more
I spent two weeks there and it was really nice to help and take part in their vision. Very recommended! thank you… read more
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My experience there was very very cool and inspirating ! Antonin and Sarah are really interesting people, I enjoyed speaking with them about their project with the garden and with the house but also about spirituality. They also have really cool friends living aroud them and who are in the same mood.
The place is very nice with this… read more
I spent two weeks there and it was really nice to help and take part in their vision. Very recommended! thank you… read more
