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Host is looking for help immediately
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9 Jun 2025
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Description
Seeking kind, grounded souls to grow something beautiful with us 🌱
Usual Availability: Spring through to Autumn 🍂
We are a small, busy, heart-led family tending a dream of a Waldorf-inspired, regenerative Quinta in the forested hills of Figueiró dos Vinhos, Central Portugal.
Since moving here in 2023, our long-term family vision has been gently clarifying and deepening. It is truly rooted in our passions: Waldorf Education, Permaculture, Biodynamics, and the Dances of Universal Peace—a way of life that honours the land, the sacred, and the unfolding of childhood with tenderness and intention. We are growing (internally and externally) a place of beauty, healing, and deeper connection—with the earth, each other, and spirit.
We are inviting individuals, couples or families who feel the call to live in rhythm—with the land, with family life, and with real, present-hearted communication. We especially welcome those who bring a sense of care, beauty and reverence into their work.
Outer work reflects inner work 🧡
We’re looking for people who:
• Feel aligned with conscious family living, simplicity, and shared responsibility within the busy-ness and hard labour
• Can offer steadiness, presence, and ideally a longer-term commitment (minimum 2 weeks)
• May have experience (or heartfelt curiosity) in Permaculture, Biodynamics, Waldorf/Steiner education, natural building, or soulful community living
A Little About Us
We’re Sarah, Mendel, and our 3.5-year-old son Mani—originally from the UK. Since arriving in Portugal in 2023, we’ve been tending both inner and outer landscapes: planting gardens, shaping play spaces, and dreaming a Waldorf initiative into being. The principles of Permaculture and Biodynamics guide our daily choices, and we’re gently weaving a long-term vision of community and co-learning here. Mendel holds a monthly Dances of Universal Peace Circle once a month here too.
The Rhythm of Life Here:
Simple, intentional days. hard physical labour and slower more beautifying jobs, but all aiming to be kept simple. Early mornings, mostly shared meals, meaningful conversation, and peaceful evenings.
Mani attends a Waldorf forest kindergarten two days a week, and we’re out on other days—so often the work exchange hours are peaceful. (Unless you’re using the strimmer or power tools!) But Mani’s joyful presence is part of daily life. He has a strong voice!
Support We ask for (approx. 25 hours/week, mostly Mon–Fri):
Current Projects:
• Expanding food and herb gardens using Permaculture, Hügelkultur and regenerative practices
• Building with woodcrete and other natural materials
• beautifying and expanding our spaces of play, rest, and natural beauty
• Caring for chickens, bees, and—maybe from Sept/October—ducks and sheep
Accommodation:
• Private attic room in the house
• Bell tent (dry season only)
• Camper/caravan space with hook-up and water, and private bathroom outside our house
We use only natural products—our greywater feeds the trees.
Meals:
We share as organic as we can get, gluten- and dairy-free meals, and welcome those with a love for nourishing, seasonal food.
Who We Are:
Mendel is a land steward and remote worker in fermented foods. Sarah is a Waldorf education student, focused on parenting and co-creating a learning space for children and adults. Mani brings the laughter, movement, and sunshine.
If you’re longing for a rhythm, meaningful work, and a place to land gently into nature, we would love to hear from you.
Let’s grow something whole, wise, and beautiful—together.
With warmth and gratitude,
Sarah, Mendel & Mani
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Sustainability
Van life
Self development
Events & social
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Astronomy
Art & design
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Beach
Camping
Dancing
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
⭕️ Permaculture, biodynamic & hugelkultur knowledge & practice
⭕️ Using natural building techniques
⭕️ Living in a stunning quiet location, exploring the local area and community
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
⭕️ Permaculture / Biodynamic / Hugelkultur gardening, help with the land
⭕️ Co-cooking
⭕️ Childcare if it flows, but it’s not essential
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Hebrew: Intermediate
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We both speak fluent English as our native language, and our son’s main language is also English, with some Hebrew and Portuguese. Mendel speaks conversational Hebrew and sometimes uses it with our son. We’re slowly learning Portuguese and hope to integrate it more into our daily lives. Mani loves to sing in Portuguese!
Accommodation
⭕️ Spacious attic in our house
⭕️ Bell tent on the land
⭕️ Your own camper-van or tent
What else ...
Our home is tucked away in a peaceful village, surrounded by wild woodlands and just a short drive (or a hilly walk) from breathtaking river beaches. While the village doesn’t have shops or cafes within walking distance, we’re out and about frequently during the week and happy to align our trips with anything you might need. It’s a wonderful place to disconnect, relax, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We don’t have WiFi but we both have unlimited data on our phones with good reception to use as a hotspot. We do turn our phones off at night though so the hotspot would be unavailable from around 8pm.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a full seperate bathroom attached to the main house which will be entirely yours if you’re in a campervan or our bell tent, accessible from outside our house.
Can possibly accept pets
Depending on the type of animal, personality etc, it’s possible!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (5)
Their land in Portugal is a slice of heaven—I slept and ate very well. The tasks… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Their land in Portugal is a slice of heaven—I slept and ate very well. The tasks… read more
Mani, their son, is so cute and sensible. We really enjoyed it a lot, and I miss our time together.
Learning with their lifestyle, watching Mendel building the van (what an audacious project) and… read more
Antonio was attentive and loving, joyful & caring, which really enabled a close connection between them.
Practically in our home he is super clean and tidy, took up minimal space, mindful and quiet.
I very much valued Antonio’s time… read more
I really felt like part of the family right away and enjoyed our conversations and… read more
They made me feel very welcome from the first minute. They showed intrest in me and took me to new places around Stroud. I was able to learn a lot about van conversion, childcare and plenty of other stuff.
In the end I even stayed longer than… read more
