Portugal
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About me:
Hi! My name is Carlos, I'm 42 and I'm portuguese. I grew up in Montijo, I 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. Three years ago I came to establish and develop my land. I planted some trees, made some vegetable patches, produced cider, wine, olive oil, jams, I dried figs, tomatos and apples, etc.. The next year I did it all better with the help of nice volunteers and the last year was slower for obvious reasons. I'm a quiet person but I really enjoy to use my human qualities in a group.
About the project:
I bought this land in 2014 while I was still working in Lisbon. After a short attempt in 2016, I finally settled down in 2018. In 2019 a fire burnt half of the land and the house was safe by millimeters. I took it like I should continue this project but carefully.
My idea is to become as much self-sufficient as possible while helping nature to thrive and to share a possible solution for the problems humanity will face in this planet. For me, permaculture is the best answer for a lot of the current problems. There's still a lot to improve. I believe it's a good place for who's thinking how to start their own because we're still dealing with the first challenges. And it's a great learning to go throught all the processes. Money here is definitely not the priority. Restoring diversity and keeping people happy are the most important. I'm open for your ideas and creative skills. This is a great place to find peace and slow down.
These are the main goals for this project at a long term:
- Produce own food, energy
- Create a community with volunteers
- Outdoor cafe with natural products shop
- Eco buildings to rent like Wood Cabin, Yurt, Choça (google it), Strawbale house
- Other ideas that come up :)
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
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 homemade wine. I can tell you about portuguese culture, my travels, permaculture and other philosofical ideas. I'm curious to know about yours too.
I keep a list of tasks for myself that I'll share with you. Might be work outside or some improvements in the living conditions. There will always be something to pick from. Or other with higher priority like collecting wood or harvest some fruit, cooking, watering. We'll also have ducks and chickens this year to take care. Here are the main harvests, products and general tasks:
Feb/Mar: Wine Bottling. Olive trees prunning.
Abr/Mai: Preparation of irrigation systems. Sowing of summer vegetables.
Jun/Jul: Tomatos to dehydrate/chutney/souce. Trees' watering. Camomile to dry.
Aug/Sep: Tomatos. Figs to dry. Blackberries for jam, liquor and syrup. Grapes for wine and sweet wine. Apples for cider and dehydrate. Wood storage. Trees' watering.
Oct/Nov: Chestnuts. Quinces for marmalade. Seed collection. Trees plantation. Mulching.
Dez: Olives for oil and preserve. Deodorant. Seed sowing.
Jan: Vacation :)
We also produce kombucha all year round flavoured with what's abundant at the time and sow/plant the seasonal vegetables.
Upcoming Projects:
*️️️️️ Portable Chicken Coop
*️️️️️ Works at home (new window, insulation with straw, wooden ceiling)
*️️️️️ Pond extension
*️️️️️ Clay Oven
*️️️️️ A-frame cabin
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
French: Beginner
Thai: Beginner
My small shed allows that one or two more people sleep in a matress in the living room. I also have a tent outside where usually couples prefer to stay.
The electricity comes from solar panels and the water from springs. We don't use gas. Just wood.
I have a compost toilet and a solar handmade heater. In the winter we heat the water with wood. We prepare the meals together.
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.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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