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2 May 2025
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Description
I was born in the UK to a British mother and Spanish father and in 2017 started exploring the possibility of spending more time in Spain or Portugal. In 2020, for health reasons, my career as an airline pilot ended. Ultimately the stress of 20 years of commercial aviation took its toll and my body said “enough”. Once I realized that I wouldn’t be able to fly anymore, I took the leap and moved to Portugal.
Before I left the UK, I spent some time volunteering at ‘Fork and Dig It’, an amazing community permaculture project, in Brighton. I then visited several projects in Spain and Portugal, and eventually settled in this area. For the last 3 years I have also worked at a local organic market garden. It has been a fun apprenticeship and has given me the confidence to start growing food for myself. I'm using a combination of regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles, aiming to produce a diverse range of produce, with a focus on soil building and creating a natural ecosystem.
The total land area is 15 acres (6 hectares), on top of a gentle hill, with amazing views in all directions and birds of prey who are regularly to be seen soaring above. The living areas comprise the main house, where I live with the dogs, a self-contained annex for volunteers and a large barn that is great for events, and a lovely space for yoga, painting, playing music and just hanging out. This is all surrounded by a fenced garden of just under an acre (3,500 m2), and is where I am focusing my attention at the moment. So far, I have planted over 100 fruit trees and soft fruit bushes, set up a compost system and built permanent beds for veg growing. I also built a geodesic dome greenhouse and have installed a small circular pool for refreshing dips during the day. It also has a wood fired heater for sunset, hot tub relaxation. I also installed a solar electricity system last spring.
The farm is located just 50 mins drive from Lisbon airport and 25 mins from the amazing beaches of Peniche and Baleal. It is 5 mins from the lovely, Buddha Eden gardens and less than 10 mins from Bombarral, a sweet but quiet little town, which is also served by regular buses from Lisbon. The medieval walled town of Obidos (15 mins) is worth a visit, Caldas da Rainha (20 mins) is the nearest small city with one of Portugal’s nicest, daily, open air fruit and veg markets and there is some great walking in the nearby Serra de Montejunto.
The surrounding towns and cities (Bombarral, Obidos, Caldas da Rainha and Peniche) are all served by bus from Lisbon. However, apart from that, public transport is almost nonexistent and local taxis are expensive, so you really do need your own transport.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
An opportunity to spend some time living in a peaceful location, away from the hustle of city life, but close enough to it when needed. Also a chance to get your hands dirty in the soil and learn how to grow your own produce. Using techniques such as the permanent bed system used in permaculture and regenerative agriculture, the benefits of diversity and companion planting, crop rotation, succession planting, composting and soil building.
Help
My main motivation for having volunteers is to have company here at the farm, some help looking after my dog Ollie, and some help on the land.
This is a bit of a hybrid workaway and is best suited to people or couples who remote work at least half of the week, or creatives who would like to spend some time somewhere quiet to work on a writing or artistic project. I would ask for between 5 and 10 hours of your time each week plus help with Ollie, but I am flexible and open to discussing other arrangements. I have found that people aged 30 and over are the best fit for me and the dog, so give priority to slightly older applicants.
For Ollie, apart from playing with him from time to time, keeping him company and trying to minimise the amount of time he is left alone, between us, I try to give him at least an hour's walk every day - although he will never say no to more or longer!
I also travel from time to time. I have used Trusted Housesitters in the past, but prefer that he is looked after by people who are already here while I am away. When I go away, I don't expect any extra work to be done on the land, apart from a bit of watering.
On the land, the main tasks that I would welcome your help with are:
Watering and weeding trees and vegetable beds.
Planting produce.
Mowing grass and cutting overgrown areas - a never ending process!
Occasional small infrastructure projects such as creating new raised beds and improving the irrigation system.
Creative projects to bring some life and colour to the farm.
Food wise, as the workload is quite light, I don't provide all food. However, I will provide all the staples you need (oats, rice, lentils, beans etc) and there is always plenty of fresh produce in the garden. As we move into summer, there will be an abundance of home grown food for us all to eat.
The best fit are people who are enthusiastic about living on a farm and in nature, but who are independent and equally comfortable doing their own thing. I am open to dogs, as long as they are chilled and easy going, and obviously they need to get on with Oliie.
I have had friends and volunteers stay over the last 2 winters and it has worked really well. I had some extra help on the land, they really enjoyed living on the farm and between us, Ollie was very well cared for. It gave me the flexibility to go out for longer periods and take short trips away without needing to worry about arranging for extra dog care.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in a private double bedroom in the annex, with a kingsize / 160cm wide bed and private ensuite bathroom, or in a bedroom in the main house. If you are travelling / living in a van, it can be parked behind the annex, within the fenced garden.
The annex has an open plan living room / kitchen and a communal bathroom. This may be shared with other visitors who may be sleeping elsewhere.
What else ...
And finally…
For health and personal reasons, I only accept non-smokers.
If you’re still reading this and it resonates with you, please get in touch. Tell me a bit more about yourself and any farming or practical experience you have. It’s not essential, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in. Tell me what you hope to get from the experience and ask any questions.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
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