Help with our off-grid home and land project in a rural valley, Benfeita, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi, I am a holistic therapist, working with sound, music, dance, ceremony and theatre to promote deep shifts in consciousness.
  
  I also write and I live with my 2 sons, who are home/community educated. We have some land in a beautiful valley, with a great community, full of inspiring people!
  
  We built a shist off-grid eco home and have lived here for 13 years. We have two caravans on our land and this is where we invite volunteers to stay or sometimes there is space in our house.
  
  We are in the process of building an adobe outhouse which already has a shower room and compost loo. I would love to have part of it for a healing therapy room.
  
  I have studied permaculture and assisted with teaching courses and I like to implement this knowledge, in the creation of our project. We are working towards reviving our forest style, organic vegetable and herb garden.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  There are beautiful waterfalls at the head of our valley and other interesting natural places to visit, including the Mata de Margarca; a small nature reserve, above our valley.
  
  I am also happy to share my skills and experience in the various things that I do, such as making herbal remedies alongside the creation of sound journeys, holistic dance spaces, and ceremonies for earth healing.
  
  I am also involved in alternative education within the community and am a musician and poet. Of course, my availability will depend upon the timing of what priorities are present, according to the seasons and commitments that I have throughout the year.

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  Help

  On the land: We are creating and boosting garden beds. There is pruning work and general land clearance, beautifying. planting and enhancing what's here. Help is also required for the holistic produce that I make, such as gathering and planting and preparing herbs, so this is another option, for those with interest in these areas.
  
  We also have finishing jobs for our new home, such as; treating the woodwork and painting with Lime paint. Instruction in alternative methods of using natural materials are shared.
  
  I am also keen to receive tech support with the building of my website and help with creating other pr material to promote the healing I share. Videos, social media advise etc.
  
  I would like help with the continuation of building an outhouse; which is a bathroom, and healing room/ come potential bedroom, involving mixed materials; such as, adobe and cob, with a lime and sand render and back holding wall, with cement blocks. Other potential tasks on the outhouse are painting, mosaic and tiling. Also, we need help with tipi construction, including cutting and preparing poles. Using the natural material of 'Shyst' we are making a slate paving base for the tipi.
  
  
  My 2 lovely boys, ages 14 and 18 are an integrated part of this venture and positive input with them is essential and a pleasure, as many friends tell me. I am open for those with interest, to share learning experiences with them. General support within the day to days of life is also very much appreciated.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Currently, we have 2 caravans on our land that can be used as accommodation. There are kitchen facilities and running water. We have a usable bathroom in the outhouse, with a shower, sink, bidet and compost toilet. The bathroom is fully functioning, yet there is still beautifying work to be made inside, involving tiling, lime rendering, and mosaic. There is also a small river and a natural dipping pool, at the bottom of the land.

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  What else ...

  The area where we live flows with beautiful rivers, streams and waterfalls, offering wonderful bathing places for the heat of the summer and interesting places for hiking in the winter.
  
  So, other things of interest.. there are a lot of musicians around and artists . The village is in walking distance of our home (20 mins), with a small shop for basic provisions and a lovely open air cafe, where wifi is available. There is also a river beach and a small community venue.

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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 possibly accept pets

  We have no fences, so only accept very well trained dogs, who get along with cats and other dogs. We have 2 cats and our neighbours also have dogs, cats and chickens.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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