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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 9 days
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Details
Description
It turns out soap grows on trees. Nature truly does have the answer for everything. We’ve been craving to swap city life for spending our days in nature — and we finally did it 🌿 For years we’ve been learning about biomimicry (architecture and design that mimic nature), regeneration, permaculture and self-sufficiency (living with less resources). Now it’s time to turn our knowledge into action. And learn lots more while we’re doing it!
As we embark on our journey of regenerating our part of a neglected valley, we’re kicking off exciting projects that offer opportunities for experimentation, learning, and growth.
🌿 Phase 1 is all about giving some love to this land. From clearing overgrown areas to give native species space to thrive, and creating pathways that wind through the valley, allowing us to reconnect with the nature around us. This work requires a desire to ‘work out in nature’ and learn about plants, trees and setting up the space for regeneration.
🔨🚽👩🏽🍳♻️ Phase 2 is about building (carpentry and natural/mud building) + water + waste management. Our building projects include: creating a shared kitchen and dining space that blends functionality and design, building a temporary dry toilet, then a permanent bathroom area (toilet and shower) using water, including designing nature-friendly approaches to waste management (black water recycling) + several deck-building projects that will provide spaces for relaxation and appreciation of the valley's greenery and silence. The construction work will require a mix of carpentry skills and a willingness to learn and engage with natural building techniques.
🌸🌼🥬🥕Phase 3 is about planning and planting the food & flower forest. From designing and planting the veggie garden to various (wild) flower areas across some of the terraces in the valley to creating different layers of food forest. This work is for those who know about plants (or what to learn!) and love getting their hand dirty.
What to expect of the surroundings? This is a valley of former citrus plantations. There’s still lots of eucalyptus farms around… Smell nice, but - these monoculture farms are not very nice for the soil. Our piece of the valley is (thankfully) filled with oaks and fig trees (fig-lovers will enjoy a feast!). There’s brambles (to be removed!). There are many treasures to be discovered too. An old ruin house, the ruins of a water mill, lots of terraces and two seasonal streams surrounding the land. There’s lots of shade and nearly always a good breeze (being near the ocean helps!).
If you’re keen to join us, we’re asking you to help out for 4-5 hours a day. The remaining time you can enjoy the valley (lots of nice paths for walks or cycling), go surfing (we’re 10 minutes driving from the beaches of Ericeira), head out for day trips to the magical Sintra or to Lisbon. You can also spend time working remotely from nature while not working the land/building. There’s great signal in the valley.
Who are we? We are a Chilean-Dutch family. Our little girl (now 1,5 year old) was born here in Portugal. Our old lady dog (13 years) has travelled with us from Chile to Portugal a few years ago. Between us, and when we’re not working on our personal project here in nature, we spend our time working in the creative media and advertising worlds, as well as the impact, innovation and conservation sectors. We are passionate about food, growing it, cooking it, sharing it. We enjoy working with our hands and can’t wait to create and learn together with you! Our ultimate goal is to enjoy living in nature, off the grid, and invite the local community to enjoy the flower and food forest with us.
Disclaimer: You wont be helping with any commercial activities.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Anyone joining can learn about permaculture, food (syntropic) forests, regenerative flower gardening, and (natural) building. Besides that, between us, we speak 5 languages fluently and can share. We can also share about the conservation and creative work we're doing when we're not spending our time in nature. There's great surf nearby (Ericeira) and lots of paths to explore by bike or foot here in the valley. Lisbon and Sintra are 30 minutes away.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
There's different projects to contribute to:
✏️ Planning and designing the sections of property (determine where to build what, where to grow which species etc)
🌿 Help clear weeds, brambles and other species that are suffocating the (native) forest
👣 Create pathways so we can explore the beauty of this piece of valley
🔨 Various building projects; from creating decks (to enjoy nature/for tents), to building the shared kitchen and dining space, to fencing parts of the property, to rebuilding the main (ruin) house and designing a plan to revive the old water mill
🐛🚽 Building vermi-compost toilet systems and wetlands
🚗 Help maintain the access road(s)
🌸🥬🌴 Plan & plant the veggie and flower gardens + the food forest
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Currently you can pitch your tent (or stay in one of ours!) in this lush green valley. Once we've build additional structures other forms of accommodation will become available.
What else ...
Hiking, surfing, cycling, simply enjoying the silence and the nature around you... We love life in nature and we are looking forward to sharing some time with you and creating memories.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
You can work remotely from the valley when not working on the land. There's great signal down here.
Space for parking camper vans
Only small 4x4 campervans can make their way down (and back up again).
Can possibly accept pets
We've got an old lady dog and are happy to host other dogs here.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 3-4 days a week
Feedback (2)
I was leaving nearby I didn't slept there so I can't give a proper advice regarding this matter.
But for the work itself and experience, I would definitely recommend this place. :) It is the beginning of their project… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(3.5)
Cultural exchange:
(3.5)
Communication:
(4.5)
I was leaving nearby I didn't slept there so I can't give a proper advice regarding this matter.
But for the work itself and experience, I would definitely recommend this place. :) It is the beginning of their project… read more
