Help on an organic smallholding located in the Serra do Acor in Central Portugal

  • Favourited 271 times
  • Last activity: 16 Sep 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am living in an old farm in an abandoned hamlet located in the Serra do Acor in Central Portugal. I am Jean (31) from Belgium. There is some close neighbours and friends staying with us usually.
    In the beginning of 2015 we moved in to the farm and immediately started to work the land.

    There is several old natural stone buildings that need some restoring, and a lot of land with olives, vineyards, fruittrees, over grown areas, watersprings, brooks, vegetable field, woodland. The land is divided in terraces and quite mountainous. Getting your way around the larger valley can be adventurous!

    We've started an big vegetable field and are selling weekly organic fruit and vegetableboxes. Our aim is to have an organic smallholding embedded in nature, using permaculture principles and aiming towards selfsufficiency.

    At the moment we are finishing renovation work on a small building, using a lot of cob. We are fully offgrid, but solar powerd and using water from our springs.

    The village of Luadas is just 5 to 10 minutes away and has a nice bar/ with a view overlooking the mountains and valleys. Here you can get basic supplies and local products.
    It's a cozy village with friendly people whom are very welcoming.

    Around these villages and valleys there is a lot of stuff going on: alternative markets, movienights, transition movement, permaculture projects and social happenings from time to time.

    Not very far away there is the beautiful waterfall of Fraga da Pena, a national park, and above us is a very nice mountain area.

    October 2017 came with massive wildfires which destroyed a part of our farm. We and our neighbours are carrying on. The woods are still black and a part of the work is still dealing with the aftermath of the fires.

    To be sure we all get along and have a pleasant time, we have 1 week trial period. Then we can see whether all of us like it :-)
    We prefer a minimumstay of three weeks cause it takes some time to get into the farmlife.
    If you deceide to write us, please use the codeword avocado, then we know you ve read the full description, we are not too fond of random requests :D. Thanks!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    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
  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    - Planting, watering, mulching of fruit trees.
    - Sowing and planting annual vegetables
    - Weeding the vegetable field.
    - Establishing the forestgardens
    - Harvest ( olives, grapes, fruit, chestnuts)
    - Firewood
    - Restore watersystems
    - Land clearance
    - Woodland management (cutting, restoring tracks, promoting the native forest)
    - Some cobprojects: Cobbing walls, building oven,
    - Woodworks: new composttoilet, tables, prepping wood, all kind of.
    - Baking bread, preserving harvest: juices, jams, wine, oil etc.
    - We do not provide any insurance.

  • Languages spoken

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

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Some facilities are rather primitive but now we do have warm water.
    From springtime to the autumn camping is a great option (if necessairy provided).
    For the wintertime: there is a comfortable caravan, and we have a 2 pers bedsofa in the livingspace where the stove is lighted, it's a warm and dry space. During the day other people might use the rest of the room aswell.
    We do have solar power, and limited Internetacces.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We have a mountainbike that you can borrow, there is some nice touristic sites and the riverbeach in the summer is a couple kilometers walk.

    Please bring :
    - Torch, since it can be really dark and tracks and stairs outside can be dangerous
    - ! proper shoes with grip (its steep here ) !
    - raincoats, except from july to september
    - biodegredable soap and toothpaste
    - in summer sunprotection if you need it.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

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

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours per day

Host ref number: 531379335753

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