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Nurturing a family regenerative quinta in the hills of Figueiró dos Vinhos, Central Portugal

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Seeking kind, grounded souls to grow something beautiful with us 🌱
    Usual Availability: Spring through to Autumn 🍂

    SEEKING A PERSON/PEOPLE FROM MID-OCTOBER (or sooner if you’re in your own campervan/caravan)
    Tasks may include supporting Mendel in cob building, carpentry, rocket stove building, garden care, Olive harvesting in October... and supporting Sarah with organizing spaces, cooking, childcare if it flows, and maybe some gentle interior painting 💫 ((Our absolute ideal guests would be a couple who could support us in all of this!))

    We are a small, busy, heart-led family tending and building a dream of a regenerative Quinta in the forested hills of Figueiró dos Vinhos, Central Portugal. Since moving here in 2023, our long-term vision has been gently deepening—rooted in Waldorf education, Permaculture, Biodynamics, and the Dances of Universal Peace.

    Our way of living honours the land, the sacred, and the unfolding of childhood with tenderness and intention. We’re growing a space of beauty, healing, and connection—with the earth, with each other, and with spirit.

    We welcome individuals or couples (sometimes families with their own campervan/caravan) who feel the call to live in rhythm—with the land, with family life, and with clear, present-hearted communication.

    We especially welcome those who bring care, reverence, and initiative into their work, who are grounded in themselves, and who enjoy being part of something intentional and evolving.
    Outer work reflects inner work 🧡

    What We’re Looking For
    We live a simple, structured, and full rhythm—where presence, steadiness, and communication are essential. We appreciate people who:

    • Feel aligned with conscious family life and shared responsibility
    • Are comfortable with early mornings and physical outdoor work
    • Can adapt to a structured but flexible weekly rhythm, with clear daily expectations
    • Enjoy quiet evenings and slow, rural living (no cafés or shops in walking distance)
    • Can communicate truthfully, kindly and clearly, especially in shared space
    • Are happy to use only natural products (our greywater nourishes the trees)
    • Know how to rest and recharge in quiet, screen-light, nature-rich environments
    • Are willing to offer their practical skills, creativity, presence, or soulful gifts—whether that’s cooking, land work, natural building or time with our Son
    • Take initiative and responsibility, once timing and tasks are clear
    • Are open to a minimum stay of at least 2 weeks, preferably arriving on the weekend to begin a full working week Monday.

    It often takes a few days to settle in and find your rhythm in any new place. But when that rhythm clicks, the work becomes much more efficient, easeful, and nourishing—for everyone. For this reason, we ask for a minimum of 10 full working days (Monday–Friday).

    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. Permaculture & Waldorf Principles guide our daily rhythms, and Mendel holds a monthly Dances of Universal Peace circle here.

    The Rhythm of Life Here
    • Early mornings, shared meals, structured work hours
    • Days are purposeful and full; evenings are peaceful, often quiet by 9pm
    • Mani is part of daily life—joyful, loud, and spirited! He’s at kindergarten 3 days/week
    • We do our best to balance physical tasks with beautifying, creative, and meaningful work

    A typical summer morning probably looks like:
    → Start at 7:00, work until 9:00
    → Breakfast break (30 mins)
    → Work again from 9:30 to 12:30
    → One person usually begins preparing lunch around 12:15 (with leftovers from dinner to make easy)
    Spring & Autumn we start later.

    We value reliability and a sense of flow, following the structure—knowing that when everyone is clear, things run more smoothly for all. We don’t micro-manage, but we do need people who respect the plan and take initiative within it.

    Accommodation
    • Private attic room in the house
    • Bell tent (dry season only)
    • Camper/caravan space with hook-up, water & private outdoor bathroom

    Meals
    We eat as organic as possible, seasonal, gluten- and dairy-free meals, and rotate cooking/cleaning between us all. Three meals a day are included in the exchange.

    Who We Are
    Mendel is a land steward and remote worker in fermented foods. Sarah is a Waldorf education student and co-creator of a gentle learning space. Mani brings movement, laughter, fire and the light.

    If you’re longing for rhythm, meaningful contribution, and a place to root into nature—not just pass through—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

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    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

    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

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    What We’re Working On
    • Natural building (woodcrete, cob, diy, building a rocket stove)
    • Expanding food and herb gardens using Permaculture and regenerative methods
    • Beautifying and organizing play/rest spaces


    ⭕️ Permaculture / Biodynamic / Hugelkultur gardening, natural building, land maintenance
    ⭕️ Co-cooking
    ⭕️ Childcare if it flows, but it’s not essential

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Hebrew: Intermediate
    Portuguese: Beginner

    This 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

    Accommodation

    ⭕️ Spacious attic in our house with private bathroom just outside the house
    ⭕️ Bell tent on the land
    ⭕️ Your own camper-van or tent

  • What else ...

    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

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    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. We are open to accepting families who have their own accommodation. The exchange doesn't have to involve childcare, but our life revolves around our Son and our family rhythm.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    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

    Can possibly accept pets

    Willing to discuss - we do have cats and soon we'll likely have dogs.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Chickens & Geese

    Not a necessity but if you’d like you can help us with the daily care of the chickens and geese. Feeding, cleaning out… but it’s not essential.

Host ref number: 269218969772

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Photos

The image depicts a family of three posing for a photo in a wooded area, with the mother, father, and child smiling and embracing each other.
A woman and child are swimming together in a tranquil forest pond, surrounded by lush greenery, dappled sunlight, and gentle ripples on the water’s surface.
This aerial image features a small rural property with red-roofed houses, gardens, surrounding greenery, a dirt road, and cultivated farmland, all nestled among lush vegetation.
The image depicts a young boy standing on a ladder, picking oranges from a tree in a lush orchard, with a crate of oranges nearby.
The image depicts a cozy attic bedroom with wooden paneling, featuring a bed, nightstand, and desk, with a striped rug and a doorway leading to another room.
The image depicts two pairs of feet standing on a concrete surface, with the feet covered in a reddish-brown substance, possibly mud or paint.
This bathroom features checkerboard tiles, beige floral walls, a sink, toilet, shower with curtain, mirror, washing machine, open window, and assorted hygiene products on shelves.
The image features a glass mason jar filled with orange juice, placed on a wooden picnic table, set against a serene backdrop of a lush green field and trees.
A person in a beekeeping suit holds a honeycomb frame with bees, set against a serene garden backdrop with trees and a house.
A cream-colored bell tent stands in a forest clearing, featuring a red-patterned rug at its entrance and a decorated table nearby, creating a cozy campsite atmosphere.
The image depicts a kitchen with white walls, brown tiles, and wooden cabinets, featuring a dining table, refrigerator, and spiral staircase leading to another room.
The image depicts a young boy picking olives from a tree, with two women and a baby sitting on the ground nearby, surrounded by green netting.
The image depicts a serene natural setting, featuring a small waterfall cascading into a pool, surrounded by lush greenery and large rocks, set against a clear blue sky.
A young boy with blonde hair stands in a grassy area, looking at two large mushrooms, surrounded by trees and bushes on a sunny day.

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