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Description
Dear workaways,
After years of hosting volunteers in the UK, we managed to secure a piece of paradise and we would love to share it with you!!
We are looking for people to share and love our land. We are at the very beginning of our project, so you can be part of it from the start.
A bit about the land:
Poldras de Beira (boulders by the river) is a really unique area that was highly inhabited 100 years ago. The last people living in the area moved about 15 years ago in town, therefore everything was left to mother nature!
Unfortunately, mimosa and eucalyptus had been taking over the local flora but nothing that cannot be dealt with (see in the picture how much we have done in 4 days with only hand tools). The river Ceife used to flow all year around but nowadays only for winter after rainy season. We believe the over plantation of Eucalyptus and the quick spread of the mimosas have lots to do with that, therefore we want them out of our land. Both we will be using as building materials. We believe in the permaculture principle of using what surround us.
The surrounding area is stunning and hopefully you will feel in love as we did!
The closest town is Pedrogão de São Pedro. Penamacor is only 10 minutes drive.
Short term plans
Get rid of the mimosas. Turn them into fences, material for the roof, tree house, toilet area….
Build a hot water shower with nature materials and a wood burning stove fed by our firewood.
Rediscover the stone walling
Dig irrigation channel around our trees
Reforestation of indigenous plants (already have lots of cork ready to be planted in)
Trim the Olive grove and prune the vineyards
Reinforce and fence our well(s)
Fire- proof the land by weed control
Create natural compost piles for the material to compost and avoid unnecessary burning
Plaster inside and re-roof one of our houses.
Build a round house with materials around the land
Dig the veggie beds
About us
Lief is a carpenter, builder and eco-landscaper that had been looking after land since he was a child. He loves to work in co-creating with mother nature. Had been living off-grid for most of his life, he is also a good hunter and a very hard-working person.
Noelia was a full time traveler and love to get to know deeply the culture and at most as she could of the language of the area. Now she is into herbs and permaculture and other ways of sustainable living. She enjoy spotting mushroom around the land. She loves chocolate
Lyanz, nearly 4 years old, had been growing traveling around, so we are glad that we have finally found a place where he can root and grow wild and free. This little chap has probably planted more trees that many adults already. He is a solar powered wild child and we love him just the way he is! His Spanglish is irresistible.
About you
We are hoping that you are at least 18 (unless you come accompanied of an adult), strong bodied will be an advantage but also light jobs available.
We obviously will be sharing our meals with us and you will be eating exactly the same as us. Please note, we are not vegetarian, but do cook quite a lot of pulses and vegetarian meals and there always will be a veggie option.
A part from the land, we have a house in the town of Penamacor, where we will be staying at night. The house has hot water, washing machine and internet nearby if being fully off-grid is too much for you. We accept single applicants, but you might be have to share your room with another male or female (depending who is coming at the time that you apply) Families more than welcome, especially if you have little kids under 5 that can play with ours. Please note, the accommodation will be bunk beds.
No minimum stay, explain us your situation and we can decide if it is worth hosting you for just a couple of days.
PLEASE READ THIS:
We are not looking for free labour. We genuine want to be surrounded by good people that loves what we are doing. We want to be selective about who do we let into our lives, as we are looking to make a long term friendship.
We also work all day long, non stop. It's a basic when building up your own life. We do not expect you to do the same.
If you are looking for your own land and applying for a workaway stay while you find your land
Please contact us, we feel you, we had been there too! We might be able to arrange a way to stay in our place while you look for your land, instead of work a couple of hours a day just work full days so you have more days off to look around and have meeting with sellers/agents. We are quite accommodating people, so for sure we can find a deal that works for all! We had been looking for 3 years, happy to share the secret we have learn!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Language practice
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you are Portuguese, you can practise your English with us while you reconnect with your amazing countryside.
If you are a foreigner, we will teach you everything that we know about looking after the land.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Helping with building, looking after the land, watering and pruning trees (we will teach all), collecting firewood...
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Hungarian: Beginner
Tagalog: Beginner
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in glamping tents. Friends or couples accepted. Families more than welcome.
What else ...
You can arrive to Porto or Lisboa airport, take a train to Castelo Branco and then a bus to Penamacor. We will pick you up from there :)
In your days off, you can explore Penamacor or Castelo Branco (CB), Monsanto is also stunning!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
max 25 hours a week
Feedback (22)
Her help with the website was amazing (yes, still not on) also with the heart-shaped veggie bed (the… read more
I spent 4 incredible weeks and hope I'll be able to come back one day. Thank you… read more
After spending a couple of weeks with us, we like so much that we were really honored that he decided to come back for our biggest event.
Thanks so much… read more
Photos
Feedback
Her help with the website was amazing (yes, still not on) also with the heart-shaped veggie bed (the… read more
I spent 4 incredible weeks and hope I'll be able to come back one day. Thank you… read more
After spending a couple of weeks with us, we like so much that we were really honored that he decided to come back for our biggest event.
Thanks so much… read more
Not just because finally I found a workaway with my age, also because I could she would also be a great friend for life.
Her work is spotless and she will always be happy to help when work is needed and party when is time to… read more
I can assure you that everyone find something they need there. I was the first workawayer to arrive and stayed almost until the end, and it was so nice to be part of all the process and see how a camp full of "sheep gifts" became the camp <3… read more
An hour later, we magically adapted and discover the real LiLi, so amazingly bubbly and sociable.
She has an amazing business mind (very eager to look after the Eco-shop, though we didn't have time to set it up before she left). She… read more
She speaks really good English for her age!
Thanks a lot and see you soon!
He is very polite and good to have around and very easy going. We definitely loved having him with us and will welcome him anytime in the future (hopefully, in our… read more
As soon as he arrived, we automaticaly loved him!! An absolute team player, always looking after everything and everyone, without minding working day or night, serving or washing-up and brave enough to go to the stage and performe for us impromptu.
With his beautiful smile always… read more
Thanks so much Noelia and Leaf, would love to come back next year (for longer this time haha)
She was very helpful in the café and the shop and running after the Niño :) she really got attached to the other guys around and was very touched every time that someone leave!
Very… read more
Please do not call us owners, we are all family (and volunteers!:)
Bea and Javi did an amazing job helping and cooking during the Spanish Night in the main Café. Her kids were also very well behaved and got along with other kids around the camp. They are an amazing hard-working family and we hope to see them back in the future!
Thanks for this opportunity
They also send me the most professional presentation video for their application! If there would be an award for… read more
She is really hardworking and cooperative and a real example for people.
Thanks Jaelle!!
Thank you for let me be a part of the crew and make me feel like I was… read more
Don't get confused for her age, she is one of the cheerful and youngest person that you can find and she got along very well with the rest of the workaways, ages 18 to 22.
A very interesting person to meet and to have around:)… read more
Her English is… read more
I just count the seconds to go back.
Super Berta!
Also know as Auntie Berta!!!
How to describe her? She feels so comfortable here that already adopted my child as a nephew and it's telling us that will come back this summer again.
She is really strong and I am not talking physically...a real whirlwind of emotions.
Words cannot express how amazing she is. She doesn't… read more
She originally came to help with the kids area, but her love for cooking made her choose our busy Vegetarian Café! Thanks a lot for your amazing help! She is a lovely person to have around and very efficient.
You will be always be remember as the "Porridge Queen"
Please come back any time!
Having her back on site for a second volunteering experience felt like welcoming a friend back.
She is strong and mature and no shame to say what she thinks.
We will welcome her this summer and any other summer. You will see how cute Lyanz is right now talking blablabla… read more
Working very early in the morning with the breakfast team , I did the washing up in front of corn fields Beautiful landscape !!
Good choice to come back 2 summers because it was easier to find again the same people I met in 2014, to talk with them And it was so sunny !! pleasant to… read more
She did have a hard time when being here as she was sick a couple of time but even that she was willing to help us.
A super person to have in your team if you are lucky to get a request from her!
She did a very good job during night shift and she seems to enjoy working with us.
Thanks Cynthia!
The loveliest, sweetest girl you can find! She impressed us a lot by being able to arrive on site on her one, without us picking her up (we live in the middle of nowhere, 1.6 miles away any public transport.
She was great at anything she was doing: cooking, cleaning, babysitting and of course, "minion duties"… read more
Carla: She was a real survivor! She stayed for nearly 2 months, which it made it quite hard for her the last weeks, but she ended up doing really well, especially… read more
They were really lovely and friendly people to host!
We hope to see you soon!
Ricard work non-stop during set-up. Very lovely and polite person and quite concern in learning English, I didn't listening talking any word in Spanish for 3 weeks!
We were very happy to host Ricard and we hope to see him again in the future!
She didn't have an easy task (washing up million of dishes) but she always did everything asked with a big smile.
She is strong and very fit and we are glad she came to stay with us, even if it was only for a couple of days :)
She became a very important part of our crew. Her Spanish language is amazing as well, it left me quite impressed a couple of times.
We kept a good communication with… read more
Nikita was a delight: always smiling and helpful. We all love her and we missed her.
Come back next time for more than 6 days! :) You are welcome anytime
I stayed on camp for a short 6 days, which wasn't enough time! Everyone was so lovely and friendly, and even though I was only there during set down there was still a good ambiance.
I spent most of my working time looking after Noellia's young boy, Lyans. He is a lovely child and very sociable… read more
Thanks you all that unforgettable month :) I hope I can go next year
Thank you for choosing us Carlos,we loved your farewell letter 2.0 ;) and we hope to see you next summer :)
It was a pleasure to spend time with him and we are glad that he choose us as hosts.
Thanks for everything, Sergio!
Thanks for choosing us and we hope to see you back next summer for another season!
Wir vermissen dich auch!!
So lovely people, it feels like a big family there. I miss it so much!!!
Thank you for everything Team!!!:)
We would definitely recommend him for any workaway experience!
p.S: If you want to make him happy, get him some French baguettes or croissants ;)
