Portugal
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We are 2 life long best friends of 43 years old (Robin and Ole), who´ve started this project to create a partly self-sustainable oasis along side the river stream both for private as well as business purposes.
We are running an eco-friendly retreat & inspiration land, that is used for many purposes.
It's all about (re-)connecting with nature, ecology and being for a big part, self-sustainable.
We're situated 7 km from the beach and 3,5 km from Odeceixe. So if you have transport that will be a plus.
We are not a "community". We are a nice group of hard working people, who do like to go their own way after work is done. We do all live on the terrain and mingle and meet up, but we don´t all live in the same house.
There´s moments of being together and there´s moments when it´s quiet and perfect to read a book or go for a walk or go for a dip in our natural pond.
Once a week we have a communal lunch, to eat and drink a beer together and often we´ll go to the beach or in town for a drink.
Therefore the type of volunteers that we are looking for are self sustainable and looking for " a more quiet kind of workaway holiday".
We have very specific things to do and we will request the help for longer periods and for specific tasks.
Having skills in gardening/landscaping, or carpentry/building are very appreciated. Motivation and enthousiasm are ,of course, essential.
Our minimum stay is 3 weeks !! Maximum is 3 months. We find it hard to commit for a longer (f.e maximum) time, since we you and us, we don't know each other. So we suggest a trial period of 2 or 3 weeks and then we'll have to see if we like each other that much that we can extend. This means it is advisable to have a or a few extra options of volunteering/traveling as a back up plan.
Since we are often away in the weekend, we request you to arrive during week days and if possible during day time, so we can show you around when you arrive. Please take this into account when booking your flight. In case this would not be possible, you might have to book a night stay in Lisbon/Faro, in case we´re not at he premisses to welcome you.
Unfortunately, we can not accept families and pet-animals, such as dogs.
Sorry to say, but we can't take in VEGAN volunteers. With all due respect for your noble life-style.
We have to provide ingredients to feed our volunteers. And vegan ingredients , so far, are very hard to find around here. And since we feel responsible for "feeding our crew" proper, we can only go as far as vegetarian, but not vegan.
Our project is a combination of charming rural tourism with its beautiful, uniquely designed apartments and organic farm. Therefor work can be varied. Such as:
*️️️Assisting the gardeners ( Ole and Prakash) in gardening/landscaping and animal care,
including (depending on the season):
-seeding/transplanting
-preparing soil/planting beds
-harvesting and processing
-weeding/pruning/maintainance of veggie and ornamental gardens
-building/repairing fences/animal shelters and other small structures
-building up new gardens (physical work)
-paving (idem dito)
-feeding the animals and keeping their houses clean (chickens/ducks/cats/dogs/donkeys)
-helping with collecting firewood.
-maintaining/cleaning the volunteer's accomedations
*️️️Handy-men and women are very welcome to assist the building/maintainance team (Robin, Wouter, Fabio) in several tasks, from carpentry, plumbing, rendering, painting etc, etc
*️️️Sometimes help is needed in the back office/marketing sector. Assisting Anabela in several tasks where computer knowledge is essential.
-Unfortunately clients often have an opinion on how people who work here look. Therefore we find it important that you'll be representable (nothing too fancy, nothing too alternative, not too shabby). Please wear shoes and deodorant.
Although we love our monday to friday rhytm, working with tourists, animals and plants means that work hours can also be in weekends. It all depends on when and where we'll need you. So flexibility is required.
Hours done during the weekend will be compensated during the next week.
Where will you stay and with who? And more things to know:
-everyone will have his own private accommodation (a caravan or a room in the "base-camp" farm house).
-you'll be sharing the facilities (shower/kitchen/living room) with your colleagues, which is a group of around 6 people
-we have a "compost toilet"
-we have a laundry machine (not for free) and wi-fi (free), books, DVD's and games in the communal living room
-it is advisable to bring a torch/flashlight, mosquito spray and work clothes/shoes which can get dirty and something warm for the sometimes cold nights. Very important: a hat/cap! (the sun can be very strong!) !!!!!!!
-allergies/diets (except VEGAN) will be respected. We have knowledge about both. Obviously being in nature, surrounded by cats and other animals will give people with dust, mites etc, pollen and animal allergies a very hard time.
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!:
1) In the past we've had too many unpleasant experiences with volunteers not showing up, without notifying us. Somehow, being a volunteer seems to give some people the right to do whatever they want. Whilst the host has reserved a spot and has said no to other interested volunteers. The host counts on the volunteer just as much as vice versa. Unfortunately this behaviour has forced us to apply the following rule:
In all cases we will need you to confirm your stay with us, two weeks prior to your arrival date. If not confirmed to us, you will automatically loose "your spot" and we will have enough time to look for another volunteer.
2) It's absolutely necessary to have a "travel insurance", which will cover any medical costs,
in case anything happens to you.
If you're not insured, we can't take you in. This counts for all workaway hosts.
3) Your travel insurance will not cover incidents with f.e power tools. We will not let you work with a chainsaw, tractor or any other dangerous machines. If you feel the urge to do so, because you are well experienced, then we'll ask you to sign a disclaimer.
Last but not least:
We are allergic to people who think that they can just have a cheap holiday and be lazy all day, whilst using our facilities and goodwill. (#1)
We are very serious about our work and have one motto : "when we work, we work hard....when we chill, we chill hard" !!
Honest and motivated people who really want to contribute to our project and learn something useful, are very welcome in our little paradise and will be treated with respect and thankfulness (#2).
It´s an exchange which requires a healthy and honest attitude!!
If you belong to this second group, please write us. If you belong to the first group...don´t bother to write us, you´re wasting your and our time.
We'd love to hear from you!
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Art project
Help with Computers / internet
As described above
dutch, english, spanish, portugese, german
A bedroom in the house or a caravan. Kitchen & sanitary facilities are shared. Note that we are using a compost toilet which is a non flushing toilet and the living circumstances are basic.
Please bring a flashlight/torch, clothes wich can get dirty and comfortable work shoes/boots. Also sun-lotion with high factor and mosquito repellant are advisable. No need to bring bedding/sleeping-bag.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
25 hours
