Help us setting up our eco-resort in the mountains near Sao Bento Do Sapucai, Brazil

Details

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  Description

  English first, Portuguese below
  
  Hi there!
  
  We are a family of three — a couple with a 5-year-old son — building our dream in the Brazilian mountains. We left the Netherlands (where we’re from) seven years ago and moved here, thinking it would be something temporary. We started a sustainable guesthouse (with a lot of help from several Workawayers), and after four years we thought it was time to return to Europe to be closer to friends and family.
  
  So we went back, got a van, and spent some time traveling and volunteering on farms. But after a year, we realized we truly missed our beloved mountains in Brazil and decided to return. Now we have a new project, and we’d love to welcome volunteers again — not only because we really enjoy the exchange, but also because the dream is big, and we could use some extra hands!
  
  Our new project is a place for ecological retreats, courses, and workshops dedicated to providing meaningful and transformative experiences in nature. The place used to be an old farm. The 7-hectare property is located in an enchanted valley behind the famous Baú rock. The area was once used for cattle and was entirely pasture.
  
  We’ve been here for a little over a year and are slowly transforming it into a home for our family and for others. We’ve been planting trees, growing food, and developing workshops and events. All our activities are meant to invite people to reconnect with nature and experience a more sustainable and balanced lifestyle.
  
  A bit more about us:
  **Jeroen** is an architect who prefers to get his hands dirty. He had actually fallen out of love with architecture before we came here, but through natural building techniques he rediscovered his passion for it. Jeroen also loves to climb — one of the reasons we chose this area, as it’s great for climbing.
  
  **Silvia** is half Brazilian (though it was Jeroen’s idea to move to Brazil). She’s all about food — growing it, cooking it, and sharing it.
  
  **Félix** is a very sweet, observant, and calm child. He grew up with volunteers coming and going, and he loves the company of new people, quickly considering them part of the family.
  
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  Pt:
  
  Salve, salve,
  
  Somos uma família de três — um casal com um filho de 5 anos — construindo nosso sonho nas montanhas do Brasil. Saímos da Holanda (de onde somos) há sete anos e viemos para cá achando que seria algo temporário. Criamos uma hospedaria sustentável (com muita ajuda de vários workawayers) e, depois de quatro anos, achamos que era hora de voltar para a Europa para ficar mais perto dos amigos e da família.
  
  Então voltamos, compramos uma motorhome e passamos um tempo viajando e fazendo voluntariado em fazendas. Mas, depois de um ano, percebemos que sentíamos muita falta da nossa querida serra da mantiqueira— e decidimos voltar. Agora temos um novo projeto e adoraríamos receber voluntários novamente — não só porque gostamos muito dessa troca, mas também porque o sonho é grande e toda ajuda é bem-vinda!
  
  Nosso novo projeto é um espaço para retiros ecológicos, cursos e oficinas, dedicado a proporcionar experiências significativas e transformadoras em meio à natureza. O lugar costumava ser uma fazenda antiga. O terreno de 7 hectares fica em um vale encantado, atrás da famosa Pedra do Baú. A área era usada para criação de gado e era toda de pasto.
  
  Estamos aqui há pouco mais de um ano e aos poucos estamos transformando o espaço em um lar — para nossa família e para outras pessoas. Temos plantado árvores, cultivado alimentos e desenvolvido oficinas e eventos. Todas as atividades são pensadas para convidar as pessoas a se reconectarem com a natureza e vivenciarem um estilo de vida mais sustentável e equilibrado.
  
  Um pouco sobre nós:
  **Jeroen** é arquiteto, mas prefere colocar a mão na massa. Ele tinha se desapaixonado pela arquitetura antes de vir para cá, mas através das técnicas de bioconstrução reencontrou seu amor pelo ofício. Jeroen também adora escalar — um dos motivos que nos trouxeram para esta região, que é ótima para escalada.
  
  **Silvia** é meio brasileira (mas foi o Jeroen quem teve a ideia de se mudar para o Brasil!). Ela é apaixonada por comida — por cultivá-la, prepará-la e compartilhá-la.
  
  **Félix** é uma criança muito doce, observadora e tranquila. Cresceu cercado de voluntários que vinham e iam, e adora a companhia de novas pessoas — considera todos parte da família.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Sustainability

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Music

  

  Plant care

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Books

  

  Architecture

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Camping

  

  Adventure sports
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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

  We really like to share our knowledge and skills and to learn from others. It is actually something that is very central in our project.
  
  We have been organizing workshops for quite a while already (although we do not have the rooms ready for guests to sleep in). This way we can start sharing our processes during the renovation. So there are workshops on the things we are doing/researching. For example, a composting workshop when making and a tadelakt workshop when making the bathrooms. These are very rich moments of exchanging knowledge and experiences.
  
  For those who are interested in diving deeper in Brazilian culture this is an interesting place. Although we live in a region that is quit turistic, it is almost exclusively national And although we are not brazilians, we are surround by Brazilian friends and we are fluent in Portuguese.

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  Help

  We could use help finishing the renovation of the house. We are very far along already, it is mainly the tadelakt for the bathrooms, and painting now. The renovation is mainly done using natural materials. Anyone who has experience in construction and carpentry and wants to help is extra welcome!
  
  We are also trying to grow more food in our organic veggie garden and will be implementing a food forest soon. So all green fingers are extra welcome too.
  
  We have been suffering a bit with the marketing side of our business. If this is something you are good at, and would like to help with, that would be of great help too!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Dutch: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent

  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.
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  Accommodation

  We have two rooms that will be rooms we will be renting out to guests later on. They are quite basic now. The bathrooms are not ready yet, and bother the walls and all the woodwork still need painting. But the rooms are already very pleasant spaces and the view is spectacular. The bathroom is outside. There is a kitchen in the former barn. It is a pleasant space with large tables and hammocks.

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  What else ...

  First off all: we have a river and a small waterfall on our land, a luxury I can still hardly wrap my head around. There is also a very nice public waterfall at walking distance.
  
  Our region is famous for its outdoor activities, especially climbing. There are also nice trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
  
  The town is small and quite rural, but quite lively. It is at that gentrification sweet spot where you wish it could stay there forever. With people riding their horses through the center passing by the nature themed bookshop and the vegan pastry shop. It is quite a festive town, with many religious parties and cultural activities.
  
  Public transport in the region is uhm.. nonexistent. But there is a bus to São Paulo and a few big cities. It is also very common (and safe) to hitchhike around here. We are close to town and if you don't have your own transportation you can borrow a bicycle.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  Although we are in a rural area there is optical fiber. We do have quite some power blackouts here.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have a good parking space for moterhomes next to the house.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Mel

  Mel is a very sweet dog, and generous too! She brings the other neighbourhood dogs things like pizza and bread and for us avocado's or things she finds in the neighbours garden (which we return, ofcourse ).
  She lived here before we did. The neighbours told us that she was abandond here when she was still a pup. So she is very free and independent, but also very grateful for our care.

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