updated  

Woodwork, small construction, vegetable garden and pamper our tiny syntropic forest at Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, Portugal

  • Favourited 211 times
  • Last activity: 26 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a dutch couple living in Portugal, close to Sesimbra and the sea. It’s a small quinta where we live since April 2022. In the surrounding land we are creating from 'scratch' a syntropicallly inspired forest (syntropy as opposed to entropy, look it up ;) with many oaks and other trees, bushes and plants. We aim to plant with potential for future foraging and at the same time enforce our ‘wild’ edges, create some ponds and facilitate insects and fauna in general.

    We make our own compost, have a little nursery and a densely populated worm farm. We do not have domesticated animals but geckos, foxes, hedgehogs, rabbits, snakes and owls are spotted on a regular base. And, since this week, (at least) one frog!

    The first half of 2024 we expect to spend on woodworks, small constructions, implementing a rato-cego-resistent vegetable garden, spreading manure and compost (yes only for the tough ones), managing the tree-lines, continue the implementation of bio-mass in between those and preparing other parts of the land to become more resilient and productive.

    We welcome people that are interested in what we are doing, that are indepent, responsible and find joy in physical tasks and preferably have some carpentry / construction skills.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    First and most of all, we will share our (still short) experience and knowledge of our regenerative practice and we hope you will too.

    Staying with us allows you to discover the area of Cabo Espichel, unique for its geographical location and nature. You can take beautiful walks (also organised, in groups) in the area and visit many spectacular beaches, try speology, paragliding and sea kayaking, among others. Apparently our region is a Walhalla for climbers, it will not be difficult to get connected to other climbers.

    You will see flocks of sheep and enjoy the result of their wandering: Azoia cheeses. Sesimbra town has a lovely city beach and is also one of the best places to enjoy seafood. In the Sesimbra port you will find two local scuba schools and a kayak club.

    A little further on, you will find Lagoa de Albufeira where you can kite-, wind- and wingsurf. Fonte de Telha and Costa da Caparica, both more proper for beginner or intermediate (wave) surfing are at 45 minutes distances by car.

    The town of Sesimbra is close by as are many small villages such as Azoia, Meco and Alfarim. The tiny guesthouse comes with a comfortable bike to visit the villages or to cycle to the bus stop in Cotovia. It takes 55 minutes to get to Lisbon from there. There is a bus stop at the main road, 3 minutes walking from our place. The bus service can be looked up on the site of carrismetropolitana.

  • Help

    Help

    We are learning as we go and invite you to learn with us.

    You definitely need to like physical tasks and not have problems with carrying buckets around. Make sure you enjoy being outside and have a genuine interest in nature: a WorkAway stay at our place will be mutually satisfying if the knowledge shared meets fertile human soil :) Carpentry skills are warmly welcomed and we hope to learn from you !

    We are not 'a project' and also not 'a community', just a couple that want to share their place and beautiful surroundings with other curious, reflective and independent people.

    At the quinta we eat vegetarian plus an occasional fish.

  • Languages spoken

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

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The ‘grandmother’s tiny white house’ serves as our guesthouse. It is basic, with a nice little kitchen (stove, fridge), a small dining/rest room, a fully equiped bathroom and an outside dining area. One of the two (double) bedrooms is yours, the other for occasional visits of friends and family. We expect from our guests that they keep the little house, the bathroom and the surroundings in a pleasant and clean state so an extra guest, yours or ours, can always be welcomed.

    We live on a cape, which means ocean on both side. This offers stunning views and landscape but also provides us with a specific climate which generally means humidity (fog) during the night and sunny weather during the day and sometimes windy days. You will both need your bikinis and weather resistant clothes

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We imagine you helping 4-5 hours, 5 days per week, the timing depending on the temperature and weather and the tasks or side-project of our guest(s). All in good consultation. Sometimes we work together but other times you are assumed to take on tasks indepently.

    On these workdays we imagine having the main, midday meal together. Breakfast, evening and weekend meals you provide and prepare (for) yourself.

    You keep ‘your’ house, bathroom and surroundings clean, we provide of course bed linen, towels etc. Our washing machine is available for your laundry :)

    The village of Azoia is at 5 min cycling (bike at your disposal) or 15 min walking distance and offers a bakery, a little supermarket and 3 café / restaurants.

  • 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

    The guesthouse has it’s own wifi and has a small dining/livingroom with a big table you can work at. Gijs is a software developer himself so people with a (digital) project on the side are more than welcome.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 521923626628

Feedback (11)



Photos

Feedback

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile: (5.0)

Cultural exchange: (5.0)

Communication: (4.8)













Help us building a food forest and family garden in Vale de Maceira, Portugal
Help us creating a homestead close by to the village of Benfeita, Coimbra, Portugal