updated  

Be part of regenerative agriculture at an off-grid homestead in Sabugal, Portugal

  • Favourited 780 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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

Details

  • Description

    Description

    About me:
    Hello! My name is Carlos, I'm 45 and I'm portuguese. I grew up in a city close to Lisbon, went to college in Lisbon to study computer sciences and I started to work as a programmer. 6 years later I started to feel meaningless and took a leave of absence. I did volunteer work in organic farms in Sweden and France and went to Thailand to teach English in a public school in a small village. I came back to give a second chance to my job but after 3 years I decided to quit for good. Already with some land in the countryside of Portugal I started a journey in Portugal for one year to know about eco-farming and permaculture. It was hard to settle down in my primitive place so I went back to Thailand to the same school wishing to help those children in their English and football skills for one year.
    After that, I came to establish and develop the land. I planted some trees, made some vegetable patches, produced cider, wine, olive oil, jams, I dried figs, tomatos and apples, etc.. The year after I did it all better with the help of nice volunteers and then with covid everything slowed down a bit. With the remote work possibility, in 2022 and 2023 I managed to work in IT again for a small software company and the feeling of loneliness was something I couldn't ignore anymore. I've lived in the farm for more than 4 years, on my own. My family and friends are all in Lisbon region. The connections I made here are light and with volunteers are ephemeral. I might have reached the same conclusion as in Into the Wild: “Happiness [is] only real when shared.” So my plan for now is to spend more time near my hometown sharing agroforestry and woodwork tasks with my brother and coming here for specific projects which I hope to keep sharing with volunteers or non volunteers. I'm a quiet person but I really enjoy to use my human qualities in a group.


    About the project:
    Having land to manage or just to protect was an early desire of mine. Self-sufficiency, healthier lifestyle, nearness of more natural and real environment are a few things that can be accomplished this way. I love trees and the main goal of this project is to increase life, diversity, soil fertility, weather resilience and to learn and teach how to exchange with nature in a beneficial way for both.

    2015: First tree planted.
    2016: First attempt to settle down.
    2018: Became a home. Permaculture ideas implemented.
    2019: First volunteers received. A fire burnt half of the land. Porch.
    2020: Ferrocement tank.
    2021: Chickens. Loft.
    2022: Bees. Sheep.
    2023: Rocky pathway. No watering field. Syntropic patches.

    For me, permaculture is the best answer for the problems humanity will face in this planet. . There's still a lot to improve. And it's a great learning to go through all the processes. Money here is definitely not the priority. Increasing diversity and keeping people happy are the most important things. I'm open for your ideas and creative skills. This is a great place to find peace and slow down.

    *I'm answering only to the people that takes time to read all the profile and shows interest in any of the
    seasonal projects.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    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
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    This is a remote region in Portugal. The food is more authentic than in the urban centers and people keep some traditions expressed in events and fairs. I also buy products to the locals that can still make a good fresh goat cheese or grow their own fruit and vegetables. I can tell you about Portuguese culture, my travels, permaculture and other philosophical ideas. I'm curious to know about yours too.

  • Help

    Help

    There are six times per year to form a great team for annual tasks or improvements. The projects are previously prepared and the time of stay will be determined by the task itself.

    # February (1-2 weeks): Bottle wine. Prune trees. Graft trees. Sow potatoes and summer vegetables.

    # May (2 weeks): Fires prevention clean. Tree mulching. Syntropic annual pruning. Check/improve watering systems. Weeding. Elderflower syrup. Sow corn and beans.

    # July/August (2 months): Trees watering. Fruit harvest and processing: blackberries (jam, liquor, syrup); figs (jam or dehydrate); apples (dehydrate or juice); pears (dehydrate, jam or juice).
    Improvement projects: Rocky pathways. Paint the house. Improve porch floor.

    # September (1 week): Grapes harvest for wine and juice. Collect tree seeds to sow in October. Corn harvest.

    # October (1-2 weeks): Plant trees. Sow trees. Extend Syntropic forests. Fall mulching. Olives harvest to eat.

    # December (2 weeks): Olives harvest for oil.

    During the year other common tasks can happen in more than one period: Collect wood, check the bees, harvest honey, make deodorant or tooth paste, controlling brambles, turning compost and update the nursery pots.

    The dates will be updated closer to each project. If you already have some experience in the projects you want to join, great, but what I only expect from volunteers is interest in the tasks, willing to learn and being ok with the simple conditions. There's the chance of working alone but I'll try my best to always have a great team.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent
    Portuguese: Fluent
    French: Beginner
    Thai: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    My small shed has two matressess in the loft. I also have a tent outside where usually couples prefer to stay during the warm season.

    The electricity comes from solar panels (it might be limited in winter time) and the water from springs. We usually use wood for cooking but there's a gas backup. I have a compost toilet and a solar handmade heater. In the winter we heat the water with a wood stove and have bucket showers indoors. We prepare the meals together. It would also be nice if volunteers could bring more natural hygiene products since we don't have a normal sewage system.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The transports here are not good but I have a car. During the summer we go almost every day to some river beach or a beautiful lake in the afternoons where we swim or fish. Historical villlages with stone houses and organic markets are also places I would like to take you. There are plenty of hiking routes that I would like to share.

  • 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

    The land isn't very flat but possible for small caravans. For bigger ones is better to park in the village (5 min away).

  • 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?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 543453243425

Feedback (12)



Photos

Feedback

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

Accuracy of profile: (4.9)

Cultural exchange: (4.9)

Communication: (4.9)

















Enjoy rewarding work, valley views and river beaches in Avô, Portugal
Join us in the forest of Alentejo, Portugal