Portugal
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About me:
Hi! My name is Carlos, I'm 40 (but I don't look 40) 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. Last year 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.. 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.
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. The project is still in the beginning. 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, Root cellar
- Other ideas that come up :)
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Help with Eco project
Animal care
Art project
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. Here are the main harvests, products and general tasks:
Dez/Jan: Olives for oil and preserve. Deodorant. Seed sowing.
Feb/Mar: Mulching
Abr/Mai:
Jun/Jul: Tomatos to dehydrate and chutney. 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.
We also produce kombucha all year round flavoured with what's abundant at the time and sow/plant the seasonal vegetables.
Upcoming Projects:
*️️️️️ Front wooden porch
*️️️️️ Plumbing between new pond and the house
*️️️️️ Portable Chicken Coop
*️️️️️ Clay Oven
*️️️️️ A-frame cabin
Portuguese, English, Spanish and a tiny bit of French and Thai
My small shed allows that one or two more people sleep in a matress in the living room. If you have a tent I'll be able to accommodate more than two volunteers.
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
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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