Portugal
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Since October 2018 we live our dream in the beautiful VALE AZUL, a 16ha valley in Portugal's Alentejo. Us, this is Patrícia, her daughter Gabriela, Sylvia and some four-legged friends. We pursue the goal of community building in freedom.
Patrícia has 42years and is a permaculture designer, natural builder and also works in a kindergarten. Gabriela is 14 years and goes to school in Colos. Sylvia is a 36 year old sociologist and dancer.
We are located between São Martinho das Amoreiras and Luzianes, about a two hours drive South from Lisbon. The region is interspersed with locals, emigrants, seekers and adventurers. But above all the proximity to the close by community Tamera gives us a lot of practical as well as emotional support.
For two years, we can live rent-free in this paradise and focus on building community. We would like to form a core group of ten people. So far we have the support of neighbors, friends and helpers that find their way to the Vale Azul (Blue Valley). We have the possibility to create a common dream without the pressure of owning land and take the time to focus on the community building process.
We are curious to see who will stay and join us on the path of community also in the long run!
We aim to live in full harmony with nature. We wish to create a shared economy, which may locally expand. We integrate healing and bodywork in our daily life. We spiritually connect and celebrate nature in common rituals. We're researchers of freedom to be taken in all aspects of life.
As we wish to grow, our community's vision also remains open to what new members will bring. We look forward to create a life together.
What is expected from a volunteer?
A person committed with the principles of the project that uses her/is time to help it thrive. Someone eager to learn how a life in harmony with nature looks like. Glad to share her/is skills with us. Open to go along with any work needed to be accomplished so together we can grow in the same direction.
What a volunteer can expect from us?
We commit ourselves to welcome you as an active member of our small community. We provide camping site, food and two moments on a week that we reserve for sharing knowledge and/or create experiences that allow us to dive deeper into our research subjects .We shall all support each other and participate in an active way to find the best solutions for all.
Conditions on site
We only receive volunteers in from the 1st to the 3rd week of the month, the 4th week we rest! :D
Accommodation
You should bring your own tent and sleeping equipment. If for any case you don't have or can’t bring it please contact us so we together can find a solution.
Food
We provide 3 vegetarian meals, 100% organic.
At the moment we can only provide this up to two persons at a time. If we host more than two people at a time we accept donations for supporting these costs. This way everyone can participate equally and to make sure that we can still provide wonderful meals without compromising either the quality or quantity.
PLEASE let us know if you have any special diet requires. Thank you.
Sanitary
We have a dry toilet and we have a shower, which works with a shower bucket. The water you heat up on the stove before usage. Also there is the possibility to wash and bath in the little creek outside.
PLEASE only use biodegradable products! All used water goes back directly into nature.
Transport
The closest train stations, where we can pick you up, are Amoreiras Gare (10 min drive) and Funcheira (20 min drive). By bus you go to Odemira (40 min drive). The closest towns are Luzianes (5 min drive.) and Sao Martinho das Amoreiras (10 min drive.).
Work
Volunteers have to commit to at least 1 week stay, 24 hours of work a week plus communitarian tasks like cleaning , organizing, cooking,.., in exchange for a place to camp and shared meals.
Currently we are working on building platforms for tents, an outside kitchen and workshop space. Also we are working on our vision, do networking, initiate a crowd-funding, think about a shared income, prepare the garden season, dance, share, talk, grow and celebrate nature in rituals. So there is a load to do and yet we try to take it easy and enjoy our time while creating this space.
Daily structure
Thinking on your beautiful gift that is your help we try our best to organize things for your stay. We have a common start at 7.15am with some bodywork, yoga and meditation. At 8am we have breakfast and then work until noon. We will have closing and sharing circles and common meals. In the afternoon we work for 1,5 h two-three times a week and we will offer two moments of sharing knowledge on the other days.
For us to improve even more this structure it would be important to know the details about your arrival and departure.
If it's not FUN it's not sustainable!
Let's have loads of fun, turn this into a great opportunity for learning, growth and create a beautiful bond that will serve as support energy even when you're somewhere else.
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Language practice
Help with Computers/ Internet
More than the exchange of knowledge and time for work is a unique human experience for both. No mather if the outcome is positive or negative either host and volunteers will be given the oportunitie to learn and share new ideias what is a fertil ground for learning and growth. Beside the unique human experience of participating on the creation of a sustainable and ecological intencional comunity. You will have to face many challengs : comunication, adapting to diferent costumes, living a life connect with nature and more spiritual conforts than fisical. The food is fantástic but probably not what you're use to. Take a change and step out of your confort zone.
I'm hosting people who belive in Permaculture and are interested to have a more sustainable style of life. To make a change on this area, being in front colision with the capitalist system is not easy. All the help is welcome. So I would like to host people comitted to change their life styles and to help me to change mine ;)
Catalan: Fluent
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
At the moment the only accommodation possible for volunteers is camping and parking a caravan. I also have a small car that can acommodate up to two people.
Meals are made and enjoyed together. All meals are organic.
Hot shower can be improvised.
I have a compost toilet.
We live near by many Permaculture, Free love, Peace, intentional communities like Tamera, 108, Vale Bacias,...Also near the Ashram Monte Sahaja from Mooji. Not Far from the beautiful cost of Alentejo and the famous walking route Rota Vicentina. We have a nice small dam 10min from us. The beautiful river place Pego das Pias and so many other's. At less than 70km we can also visit the beautiful Monchique mountain.
This host can provide space for campervans.
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
More than two
5 hours a day 5 days a week
