Get involved in a self sustainable eco project in Figueiró dos Vinhos, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hello, Olá , my name is Peter, I moved to Portugal in 2012 in a converted van, then in 2017, I got a opportunity to buy a small piece of land in the mountains near Castanheira de Pêra. Ive built a cabin and started a vegetable garden. My electricity needs are met by the sun and solar panels and the river provides water all year long via a ram-pump I built myself. It pumps the water from the river, 6m vertically, up to the house without any fuel or electricity. There is a vast diversity of wild life ranging from Javali (wild boar) to deer, Mongooses/mongeese?, Genets, Foxes, Owls(various types), Eagles, wood pigeons, and also Hoopoes. Colourful birds with Mohicans.
  The cabin still needs some finishing touches and some re-organization, because it has become my workshop as well as my home. I also keep bees, im not professional, but I can teach a little about their way of life and how to look after them.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  My nationality is Irish, and I am a car mechanic and metal fabricator by trade, but since I left Ireland I've learned carpentry, stone masonry, electric circuits, plumbing and tree surgery, which were all skills i needed to be able to build my cabin. I work locally as a tree surgeon and with land maintenance and in my spare time I make copper jewelry, crystal jewelry and study psychology, alternative medicine and sacred geometry because I feel those subjects are the least understood in our modern society and I would like to share my knowledge and experiences, with like minded travelers. As I mentioned above, I can teach a little about beekeeping, and also how to plant and cut trees according to the lunar cycle, the do's and don'ts about how to promote growth of trees and shrubs, and times of year to plant and harvest.

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  Help

  Volunteers will help with keeping the garden maintained, mainly weeding and planting. For the summer months work will be focused on keeping the river tidy and clear. All the work is physically non strenuous. The days I am away working will be days off. After the fire here in 2017, the landscape and wild life suffered considerably, so I've been trying to nurse the trees and flora back to life as best I can, which in turn, promotes a great habitat for the local fauna. Also planting fruit trees and as many native hardwood trees as possible here in the valley and let the river carry and spread their seeds every year to help reforestation. I have started to build a covered platform as a communal space to chill or practice yoga/tai-chi, share stories and feel cosy so that needs to be finished also. All going to plan, I intend to build one more pagoda or a tipi so I can accommodate more guests. Also if you like to cook, that can be part of the work hours.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Irish: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I need some practice/help with speaking Portuguese.
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  Accommodation

  The accommodation, is a 2 berth caravan, with log burner and gas hob for cooking/making tea. The caravan sits under a large cork oak tree which keeps it cool. The land is situated deep in a valley in oak woodland. I would like to provide food for light lunch and dinner. Toilet is compost type, and there is a hot shower in the cabin which runs off the solar panels. There is also a 200l solar shower, but is only hot in summer.

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  What else ...

  The local town has a vast selection of cafe's and pastelerias, 2 supermarkets and a local open market on Saturday mornings. There is lake and river beaches within ten mins drive and many public walks through the nature. It's also possible to rent canoes at the local campsite which on the edge the lake. Pria do rochas in castanheira de pêra is about 15 mins away which has the largest wave machine in Europe.

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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

  Have WiFi if it's needed. 5€ per week if someone wants to use it.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  If you are a good driver, it's no problem, but the entrance is narrow, and the 2nd option to access my land is on dirt track which is steep. Front wheel drive vans have trouble.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  I have 2 cats and a female Rottweiler/German shepard, very friendly. She has more interest in playing fetch than anything else. Very animal compatible. She is uneasy at first with other female dogs but it's natural.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week

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