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Join us in reviving a stunning quinta in Castelões, Portugal

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    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, 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 41, originally from U.S and living in Europe for more then 14 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. It's very likely we will be fostering another dog by the time you arrive ;)

    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 bacalhao (cod fish). We’re ideally situated for exploring, with the city of Braga 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

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    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

    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.

    Since we just moved, we are gradually getting to know the community. 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

    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:

    - freshening up the house with paint, renovating the wooden shutters, organizing the living spaces, and helping to make it feel cozy and functional.

    - help with the vegetable garden (and maybe expanding it), weeding, grass cutting and pruning. There’s also some help to clean and maintain the forested areas of the property.

    - 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 willingness to help us, 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: Intermediate

    This 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

    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. Meat is welcome in the house but on your own expense.

  • 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

    For now we can only offer a 4G wifi connection. Richard is tied to his cumputer almost daily but always up for some coworking sessions.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    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

    Can possibly accept pets

    Layka loves to chase cats so that might be a challenge. Social friendly dogs are always welcome. The land is almost entirely fenced.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 419212468726

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Photos

The image depicts a rustic, two-story stone house with a vintage car parked in the front yard, surrounded by lush greenery and a serene blue sky.
The image depicts a serene outdoor setting, featuring a small pool, trees, and a grassy field under a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a tree with a swing hanging from its branches, set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene scene of a white window with open shutters, offering a view of a rural landscape, with a vintage trunk situated below.
The image depicts a serene stone house with a tiled roof, nestled among lush trees and a stone wall, set against a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene forest scene, where a woman and a man are engaged in an activity, surrounded by trees and foliage, with the woman bending down and the man crouching.
The image depicts three individuals posing in front of a waterfall, with two women and a man, all smiling and making silly faces.
The image depicts a serene forest scene, featuring a black dog sitting on a moss-covered rock, surrounded by lush trees and a tranquil pond.
The image depicts a hand grasping a flower with white, spiky petals, set against a blurred background of greenery and foliage.
The image depicts a lush garden with a variety of plants, set against a backdrop of trees and a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a bedroom with a wooden bed, dresser, and nightstand, featuring a stone wall and patterned floor, with a window and mirror adding to the room's aesthetic.
The image depicts a couple sitting at a table, with the woman on the left and the man on the right, both with their hands clasped together in front of them.

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