Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Feedback
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Details
Description
We are welcoming volunteers this Spring and Summer.
We are a English-German couple, who met each other in London but two years ago decided to come to Portugal to live closer to nature and create community. We bought a farmhouse and some land in October 2021, and we are on a journey to make this a place abundant with nature, creativity and community at it’s heart! Come and join us to help make that a reality!
We both have full time jobs (working remotely) but outside of this we like to spend a lot of time in the garden and land helping to develop and cultivate it. Next year we are hoping to start on a renovation of the main house.
It is the perfect place for those who wish to reconnect with nature and with themselves. We are still new to this ourselves, so we can learn together about growing and permaculture principles, strategies and techniques.Everything is still in the start-up phase and that makes this place a total playground to add your personal touch to - you can contribute your ideas and energy into how to develop the land and the facilities.
Our focus areas are:
Maintaining and developing 5 ha of land - including developing the existing gardens and orchards. Beginning a reforestation project.
Developing and extending the infrastructure on site, barn, workshop, outdoor kitchen etc.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Staying with us would be unique, as we are keen to promote cultural exchange in a variety of ways. We love meeting new people and nationalities, including making food, sharing music etc.
You can learn about permaculture, get hands on with various construction projects and gardening. And also practise your German or English with us (if that is of interest!) as those are our first languages.
Help
The type of help needed is seasonal and also on your personal skills and preferences, but it could be any of the following:
GARDENING (weeding, planting, mulching, harvesting, watering)
PLANTS PROPAGATION (sowing the seeds, repotting plants)
COMPOSTING (collecting material for the compost, turning compost, applying on the garden beds)
FRUIT PICKING (we have a number of fruit and olives trees!)
LAND CLEARING (removing weed and undesirable plants - taking out bramble, mimosa!)
FOREST WORK (we will not ask you to use heavy machines unless you have experience with them and you feel comfortable with that, but you might help with moving logs and collecting wood around the property, pruning the trees etc.)
HELP WITH MAKING FIREWOOD FOR THE WINTER (assisting us while we are cutting the wood, storing it, bringing to the kitchen)
COOKING (If you enjoy cooking, you are more than welcome to make dinner)
HELPING WITH SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (E.g. we might build a new compost loo this year)
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Portuguese: Beginner
Accommodation
We provide accommodation and food in exchange for about 5 hours a day for 5 days a week through the days of your stay. Typically, you prepare breakfast and lunch for yourself, but we often have a shared dinner together. Most of the time we cook, but if you are happy with cooking, we would also welcome your help with this too!
For our guests and helpers we have several bell tents. These are surrounded by trees and all have a lovely view of the land. Each tent has a double bed and mattress, plus storage for clothes, belongings and power to charge a phone etc.. Also there is a lot of space to park a campervan, pitch your own tent or set up a hammock.
What else ...
We will be a good match if you:
Have a passion for working outdoors and nature
Enjoy physical work
Have a community mindset
Like to work in a group and be social, but can also be independent.
Are tidy and responsible person, that cares for the facilities and tools as if they were yours.
We might not be such a good match if:
If you are a strict vegan. We are not, so dairy products and meat are kept in the refrigerator and used in cooking etc.
If you are looking to chill all day and party every night, our place is maybe not the best choice for you.
If you don't like to be alone and need to have company all the time. We are busy in the day and we like to have the option for privacy in the evening. So we won’t be able to hang out 24/7.
There are loads of great outdoorsy activities in the area, hiking, swimming, cycling etc. We are happy to share our knowledge of the best spots in the local area!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We both work remotely, so have strong wifi connection (1000MB) and indoor areas where you can take calls etc.
Space for parking camper vans
We had dedicated areas close to the the outdoor camping facilities (kitchen, showers, toilets) where you can park your campervan.
Can possibly accept pets
Yes, we welcome cats and dogs!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
