Eco-queer self-sufficiency project in the beautiful natural park of Sao Mamede, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi and welcome to the Quinta Project, my 5.5-hectare ecoqueer farm in the heart of the São Mamede Natural Park, where Portugal meets Spain. This is a place of wild beauty, where cork oaks and olive trees share the land with a food forest, two thriving vegetable gardens, and a small vineyard where we make natural wine.
  
  Life here is hands-on and seasonal, with volunteer activities centred around the house and our vegetable gardens. You’ll be involved in cooking, cleaning, pet sitting, and tending to the gardens. Work is typically four hours, often in the morning, leaving afternoons free to explore the park, connect with the local community, or relax on the farm.
  
  I’m Stephan, your host. Originally from Germany, I’ve lived in the UK, Spain, Belgium, and Hong Kong, and I’ve called this mountain borderland home since 2021. I’m gay, and this farm is intentionally a queer space, open and sociable, often with friends and creatives visiting. I love cooking, natural wine, and living in connection with the land.
  
  All meals are vegetarian (often vegan) and shared. You’ll also be sharing the space with three dogs, a cat, and plenty of local wildlife. In warm weather, clothing is optional in our body-positive space.
  I also host ecoqueer gatherings, exploring topics like permaculture, ecosensuality, queer theory, and activism. These are self-organised and free to attend.
  
  Alongside the farm, I run Bar Salto just across the border in Spain, the first natural wine bar in Extremadura, home to the Wine School, which offers courses and tastings. Volunteer work does not include activities at Bar Salto, but you’re welcome to join events if you wish.
  
  The local community is lively and alternative, with concerts, pizza nights, and a vegan restaurant. Shops, cafés, and restaurants are 1.5 km away, and the natural park offers endless hiking, swimming, and exploration.
  
  There are two daily buses from Lisbon and a limited service from Madrid. Independent transport (bike or car) is highly recommended, as local public transport is minimal. Camper vans can’t access the property but can park nearby.
  
  If you feel drawn to this mix of queer community, regenerative farming, and wild mountain living, I’d love to meet you. I always arrange a short FaceTime or Zoom chat before confirming a stay, to connect and see if it’s the right fit.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
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  Interests

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  - Experience queer, body-positive rural life on the Portugal–Spain border
  - Learn regenerative farming, permaculture, and seasonal gardening
  - Cook and share vegetarian meals, practise food preservation
  - Discover natural wine and the São Mamede Wine Project
  - Explore the São Mamede Natural Park and meet the local community

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  Help

  Help here is seasonal and varied, mostly centred on the vegetable gardens, house, and animals. Tasks can include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, cooking, cleaning, and looking after our three dogs and the cat. Occasionally, there’s light maintenance, preserving food, or helping prepare for small community events. Work is usually four hours in the morning, leaving afternoons free to explore the natural park, swim, hike, or relax on the farm.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  You will be sharing the house with me, and sometimes one or two other people. Accommodation is in your own room.
  
  The kitchen, living room, bathrooms and outdoor terraces are shared. Food is free. Normally everyone at the Quinta helps themselves to breakfast, and then lunch and dinner are provided and eaten with everyone there.
  
  All meals at the Quinta are shared and vegetarian/vegan.

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  What else ...

  The farm is located in the middle of the São Mamede Natural Park, close to the ancient city of Marvão, and around 10 minutes away from the beautiful town of Castelo de Vide and Valencia de Alcantara (just over the Spanish border).
  
  There is a very active community in this area, with plenty of activities: yoga, 5 rhythms, guided nature walks and foraging, pizza parties, artists- and street festivities and much, much more.
  
  There are also many walks, secluded river beaches, lakes and waterfalls and plenty of other opportunities to connect to this beautiful part of Portugal. There are many prehistoric monuments, like cave drawings, monolithic monuments and the ruins of the Roman city of Ammaia.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Lady

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