Help creating a family self-sufficient agroforesty project close to the Serra da Estrela mountain in Portugal

Details

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  Description

  We have recently bought a small farm in central Portugal, very close to the Serra da Estrela mountain. My 2 children, aged 17 and 13, and I share the house with our 7 dogs and 6 cats. Our move is part of a change towards freedom and a more self-sufficient life. There is a nice house, that albeit needing some work is confortable. Thus the real challenge is in the land.
  We are close to a small village which has everything you need for daily life, cafés, restaurants, post-office, gas stations, pharmacy and even a train station with a few trains daily. This is walking distance. We are not isolated, but private. Our closest neighbour is about 400 m away.
  The farm is made up of 7 terraces on top of a hill with beautiful views towards the village. It is a beautiful setting. On the east side you have the village, on the west side the mountain. Sun rises and sunsets are beautifu!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain

  

  Camping

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Animals

  

  Nature
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Covilhã is the closest largest city. The entry point to the Serra da Estrela mountain with beautiful nature, river beaches and hikes. We are very close to Fundão, Penamacor and Castelo branco, areas with thriving expat communities and a very bubbly cultural activity. There are popular festivals through out the year a bit everywhere. Something we could do together sometimes. I also go up the mountain once a week for my daughter's ice hockey training. It´s a beautiful ride which you will be welcome to join as often as you want. Our village, albeit small has cafés, restaurants, grocery shops, pharmacy, health center... really, everything for daily life. It even has a train station with a few trains a day, so you can be quite self-sufficient transport wise.
  
  If you want to learn portuguese, I would be very happy to do so. I could also teach you how to veganize portuguese dishes (yummy).
  
  I love working as a team and I can be very quiet when concentrating or quite chatty and curious. I've travelled quite a bit and done quite a few interesting things. We´ll surely exchange a lot during your stay. I will be very interested in learning about you. Every experience is unique.

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  Help

  We are set in a traditional agricultural area. The project is to regenerate our land and create an oásis of bio-diversity. Work with nature to bring back a healthy eco-system.For this, we have an agrotourism project in development. A confortable house for long stay travels and an agriculture project. We will be planting elderberries, pommegranades and figue trees in the terraces and setting up an irrigation system. Water is very scarce at the moment. Using the principles of permaculture we want to implement a syntropic agroforestry model using the fruit trees above as a production base. I am not an expert in permaculture or syntropic agriculture. I learn as I go and do as I can which on my own is very slow. There is everything to do and whoever comes will both learn along with me and teach me what it knows: decide consortiums and plant, multiply from seed, cuttings or grafts, pruning, pick olives (seasonal) clean the land, help maintain the irrigation system, building, transform our production, take care of the animals and all sort of odd jobs related to the maintenance, care and transformation of the land.
  
  If you have skills in carpentry, eco-building or construction, plumbing, permaculture, agroforestry... it would be great. If you don't it is not a problem. Bring lots of energy and a big smil and you will be very welcome. I can progress on my own but with you it will be much faster and funnier.
  
  We have 6 cats, so you need to be confortable living with them as they live and sleep with us. We also have 7 dogs that live in the house although they only have access to the open space living room and kitchen. They are big dogs and some are not socialised as they showed up in our lives in a difficult moment. They are really nice dogs but 3 of them need to get used to people. If you love dogs, have the patience to let them come to you, make friends and are not bothered with the barking, we would love to have you. Pls note they are guard dogs and we live in a farm. There are boar and deer passing by, as well as stray dogs and other small wildlife (rabbits, foxes,..). Our dogs will let us know they are there if they get too close. Night time can be lively. If you are bothered with the barking or have a light sleep, our house is definitely not for you.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner
  Italian: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  We offer a comfortable room in our house with double bed and vegan meals.

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  What else ...

  I am vegan, you do not need to be, but I would ask you not bring animal based products into the house. Meals will be prepared together and will not be part of your work hours.
  Our dogs and cats are part of the family and live with us. They are all rescues with their own stories. Being able to build a relationship with them will be one of the biggest gifts you can give us.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have a satellite dish for Internet and Wifi. We can work, watch movies and do anything we think of on the internet.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There's lots of space for a caravan or a tent. Until we have showers and dry toillets you can use the facilities in the house.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  With the exception of dogs, pets are fine. We have 7 dogs and we have had very bad experiences in the past with dogs coming into their territory. We do not want to take the risk of animals getting injured, ours or yours. Sorry...

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Brook

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