Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
18 Oct 2025
Reply rate
96.2 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
22
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Details
Description
Just before the New Years we moved to a beautiful 10hectacre quinta. The place is full of character and life, with a small forest, a vegetable garden, lots of fruit trees, green terraces, an abundance of water and two big houses. Our dear friends Gil & Tania, the owners of the quinta, currently can’t take care of the land anymore, and that's where we step in.
We’ are Richard, Lotte and our dog Layka. I (Lotte), 37 from Belgium, have been a backpacker and van- traveler since the day I left college. I’ve always used volunteering as a way to learn and grow, to get to know cool projects and connect with the local community. That's also how I met Gil, Tania and this Quinta. Now 6 years later I come back to live and work here with my partner Richard. He is 42, originally from the U.S, and living in Europe for more than 15 years. He loves working on social innovation projects and advising startups. He is great at solving problems, is always up for a challenge and is passionate about projects that try to make a difference in this world. And Layka, she is just a super chill 8 year old Labrador mix, likes to chase the cats, loves belly rubs and hang out with the people.
The village itself is small and friendly with the Quinta right in the centre. The local café is just across the road where you can enjoy a coffee. A bit further up the road you can find a local restaurant famous in the region for its grilled bacalao (cod fish). We’re ideally situated for exploring, with the city of Braga and Guimarães just 30 minutes by car, the beautiful national park of Gêres nearby, and plenty of river beaches to cool off at, including one just down the road.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Self development
Vegetarian or vegan
Van life
Sustainability
Movies & TV
Farming
Culture
Charity work
Plant care
Music
Hitchhiking
Drawing & painting
Gardening
Books
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Art & design
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
Dancing
Camping
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our friends and family already mentioned they want to come and visit, so you’ll likely meet them during your stay. Also Gil, Tania and there two small daughters, might come around once in a while to help or just hang out. Their connection to this place is important to us and part of it’s story. Weare here to continue building on their legacy.
We also have good relationships with our neighbours who always help us when needed or just come and hang out to share a coffee, wine or some food.
At the quinta we want to create a warm, inviting space where people from all walks of life can come together, share stories, and learn from each other.
We love to share too! Here are some things we are good at:
- Plant-Based Cooking: I love to cook and made it my profession. Specifically the plant based kitchen is where I find my inspiration. I’d love to share recipes, tips, and techniques for making healthy, tasty and sustainable meals.
- Gardening: I’m diving back into gardening on this land. I’ve had my own big organic garden for two years but that's already a while ago and need to freshen my memory :) I would love to learn together with anyone who shows an interest.
-Arts: I wouldn't call myself an artist but I have made my share of macrame projects and get lost in some mandala painting. I enjoy creative projects, would love to share some techniques I’ve learned and get inspired by your creative side.
- Entrepreneurship & Social Impact: Richard is passionate about building and supporting people and teams wanting to make a positive impact. If you’re curious about social entrepreneurship or big-picture planning, he’d be happy to share his knowledge.
Help
Since we’ve just moved onto the quinta, there’s a variety of things to do and we’d love your help to bring this place to life again. Here’s an idea of what you can expect to do:
- help with the vegetable garden (and maybe expanding it). Depending the time of the year, it involves different tasks: making and weeding the beds, prepping the soil for planting, sowing, pruning, composting, harvesting
- maintenance of the land: grass cutting, pruning the vineyards and fruit trees, cleaning the forest, clearing invasive trees, bramble fighting, collecting firewood for next winter etc. The forest is alive and kicking so always needs some attention
- cooking: always happy if someone cooks for us. We appreciate fresh, healthy and home made meals, and if it lets us: straight from the garden!
- Food production: depending the season, as well the garden as the land can give in abundance. So we will process as much as we can to preserve the food we are growing.
- always open for any type of creativity! Like for example decorations for the house or different art projects on the land are more than welcome. We like to add some extra character to the place with some personal touches (from you ;) )
- we keep brainstorming about ideas and possibilities of what to do with this land and the house. We would love to welcome you in this thought process and get inspired by you.
Just to be clear, you don’t need to be an expert, but a positive attitude and a good work ethic are essential. Many of these tasks we’ll do together, and we’re happy to share skills, learn from each other, and make the work enjoyable.
We believe that living and working together should feel balanced and fun. After a productive day, we can relax by sharing meals, lighting a fire, playing music, go for walks or just chill!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Portuguese: IntermediateThis 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
We have two private rooms available with a double bed, so couples are more then welcome. There is plenty of space to park a van or pitch a tent, although especially in winter months the tent might be a bit too optimistic. Bathrooms are shared but since this quinta was renovated to become a camping, it has the typical bathroom facilities with multiple showers and toilets. We share a big beautifull kitchen and living space.
Three meals a day are included and vegetarian or vegan. Richard cooks meat from the local butcher once a week and you are more then welcome to join his meal.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
100% - we have great internet and Richard enjoys connecting with fellow digital nomads.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a lot of space to park your camper(van) and you can use the shared bathroom facilities and kitchen of the house.
Can possibly accept pets
Layka loves to chase cats so that might be a challenge. Social friendly dogs are always welcome. The land is not entirely fenced though.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Layka (8 years)
Layka is a very gentle 9 year Labrador who spent the first 4 years of her life greeting pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago at her front door. Ever day, dozens of people would stop and pet her as a puppy; she loves people and other dogs (cats... yeah, she has a problem still 🫠) . Layka was used to help aggressive dogs learn to socialize, but is now retired. She loves food, food, and more food!
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
Lotte and Richard are both so genuine in their approach, making strangers feel like family. It was such a privilege to meet and work with them. It is so clear how much time and effort they put into building meaningful connections within their home and community, and I am beyond… read more
They were super friendly and supportive with every doubt I had (and I had many, since this was my first Workaway experience).
From the very first moment I met them, I was treated like part of the fam.
The main work they asked me to do wasn’t always easy, and for that reason they often… read more
Lotte and Richard have been for 3 weeks time, top quality hosts, with never ending pleasant surprises, nice and interesting conversations, super available and flexible, great to connect and communicate with!
Please consider joining them if you're… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
Lotte and Richard are both so genuine in their approach, making strangers feel like family. It was such a privilege to meet and work with them. It is so clear how much time and effort they put into building meaningful connections within their home and community, and I am beyond… read more
They were super friendly and supportive with every doubt I had (and I had many, since this was my first Workaway experience).
From the very first moment I met them, I was treated like part of the fam.
The main work they asked me to do wasn’t always easy, and for that reason they often… read more
Lotte and Richard have been for 3 weeks time, top quality hosts, with never ending pleasant surprises, nice and interesting conversations, super available and flexible, great to connect and communicate with!
Please consider joining them if you're… read more
We had quite a bit of physical work to be done, moving hundreds of kilos of stones from the upper part of the farm to the parking area. Camille… read more
Richard and Lotte are two very attentive, friendly, and caring people who do everything they can to make people feel comfortable. From the first message exchange to the end of my stay, communication was always easy and natural. They love sharing and being… read more
From the moment she arrived, Ali brought such a kind, open, and positive energy to our project. She adapted quickly, communicated clearly, and embraced wide variety of tasks.
When it came time to roll up the sleeves and get things done, Ali showed up with a great attitude and enthusiasm to contribute. She was… read more
Super friendly, generous and fun to be around, it was difficult to leave.
I really enjoyed the work… read more
During my stay, I… read more
I could express myself in multiple ways and was always… read more
Starting off, the village is very cute, with some of the best nature we have experienced. There is a lot of green around and just as much water from the river, which is really close to the house and it can only be described as a… read more
She was independent and reliable. We never had to manage or remind her of anything. She knew how to… read more
During my stay there was a variety of different priotities and I could choose what I wanted to do. So I often… read more
As former workawayers, Lotte and Richard completely understand that it is extremely important to provide their volunteers with an amazing experience, and not just cold, hard work. They bent over backwards to make sure we enjoyed every… read more
