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100 %
Last replied
26 Feb 2024
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Description
Simple living in the Portuguese mountains.
Do you love to stay in the nature and would you like to try living off the grid?
We need help to clean land, cut trees, create landscapes and build structures with the materials at hand.
We are a bunch of people of many different nationalities living together in a farm of appr. 42 ha in the north of rural central portugal. A valley in the mountains with forest around and a river passing through.
My name is Kir, I am a Danish Women living here part of the year, and working in the freetown Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark the rest of the year. I have a long history of working with arts, culture, circus and intentional communities around the world. I have also worked for a number of years in creating short documentaries in cooporation with human rights NGOs in Cambodia.
Now I am spending most of my energy on creating my dream of living off-grid in the most beautiful nature imaginable...
My long-time friend from Germany, Carsten also lives here in his Caravan in the forest.
Changing from being a social auntie in Germany, to a freak in balance now living in the mountains of Portugal. Doing what I mostly love, working with the nature and natural materials. Lifelong experience and passion for carving in wood, bone, shells etc.
Our part of the farm is partly in the rocky hills, and partly in a forest of oaks, hazel, chestnuts, wild wine, bushes and brumbles, with a five min walk to the riverbank.
Here I have a small wooden cabin, and am in the process of building a bigger house with natural and recycled materials.
I have a dog in my household, and there are many other animals around in my neighbours houses – horses, goats, dogs, cats & chickens.
The nature around us is amazing, diverse, beautiful and serene, and it is important for us all to keep it like this.
At the moment we need help with:
1. Cleaning the forest and rocky hills for all bushes and dead trees in order to keep fires out of the land.
2. Moving and stacking trunks to guide the rainwater and create terrasses in the landscape.
3. Building structures in the forest with materials from just around us.
4. Renovate recycled windows for the house, and painting.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you wish to try living in the nature, working with the elements around, building up dreams with hard labor,
and meeting a group of many different people, talents and passions – this could be your next adventure.
You can learn about life in an eco-village and the 12 year process we have had until now, building up from scratch.
You can learn about perma-culture and biodynamic farming, tending to the different trees and cleaning forestlands, constructing with recycled materials and materials from the surrounding nature.
Beside all the hard work, we try to have a rich cultural life in the farm, with often sessions of music, singing, arts, acrobatics, theatre and gatherings.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Constructions for us all in the forest, is mostly done with the materials from just around us.
DIY solutions are always welcome!
The kitchen construction has been build, and the kitchen is cooking already.
We need to build another compost toilet, a shower shelter, and a roof over the camping area in the forest
We clean the land with hand tools, branch-cutters, strimmers and chainsaws. It is hard but rewarding work!
.
Any experience in working in the forest, working with tools or construction is welcome, but not necessary.
We have lots of skills around, just need more hands, arms and strong backs!
Languages spoken
Danish: Fluent
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Accommodation
We have a caravan in the forest with one bed fitting two people.
We have space for campers & vans.
Camping in tents possible from april.
We have a kitchen space in the forest, with an oven inside, so it is a comfortable place to hang out in cold evenings.
We will share in making the meals and eat together.
Basic diet: fresh greens, vegetables, beans, lenthils, pasta, rice.
We eat meat on occasion, but not daily.
We will consider any dietary needs or allergies you might have.
What else ...
We are in the middle of wild, rural nature, so there are many possibilities of walking, hiking and exploring in every direction you choose.
You can follow rivers or streams, climb the rocks or go explore the quartz mine just up the hill.
There are many small villages around with restored or maintained stone houses and ruins, door by door.
Our surroundings are perfect for any creative outlet you might have!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
In the winter time from November until April, it can get very cold in the night and we also have long periods of rain. In this time it is important to have a heating source in your van. I can accommodate large vans, but nothing bigger.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
Lou & Giova was a pleasure to have, they stayed with us for around 5-6 weeks and we would love to have them both come again any time for as long as they want.
They are happy to work and help with whatever is needed, eager to learn new skills, very fast learners and great at taking direction. We never had to give them… read more
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Lou & Giova was a pleasure to have, they stayed with us for around 5-6 weeks and we would love to have them both come again any time for as long as they want.
They are happy to work and help with whatever is needed, eager to learn new skills, very fast learners and great at taking direction. We never had to give them… read more
my name is Robin, I am 28 years and have volunteered for Kir for about 4 month and going to volunteer for her again soon. I am travelling around with volunteering and couchsurfing since about 5 years and I can totally say, that this was the best volunteering experience I ever had! I guess I… read more
