Eco-creative nest and creekside sauna in the mountains of Gerês, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Welcome!
  This homestead explores the reconnection to self, land, and the creative pulse that moves through both. Our space for this is a peaceful hectare of terraced oak forest, nestled in a valley fed by numerous springs. A fresh creek runs along its base, offering magical bathing spots on warm days, and from the top of the land, you can see the distant Peneda-Gerês mountain range.
  
  I (Eska) came to this land a few years ago as an experiment in off-grid living and natural building. Though I'm a mechanical engineer by education, the patterns of humans and natural systems will always be infinitely more beautiful to me than machines - and this forest is where this passion has taken root. The land is on a slow journey of recovery from a fire that passed through two decades ago, and our work here is a gentle, creative rehabilitation from that. This expresses itself in two intertwining streams: regenerating the land through agroforestry, and creative, ecological architecture. This Autumn our primary land project has been transforming the upper part of the property—a dense stand of eucalyptus regrowth—into a biodiverse, living firebreak and native food forest. In parallel, we are gradually crafting new, soulful structures using clay, timber from the land, and primarily salvaged materials. We have been hosting experimental, not-for-profit gatherings among the local community, asking ourselves the question "How can we engage more deeply with ecological restoration as a creative, communal process?".
  
  A core piece of this project is the creekside sauna I built last winter. Held in the tradition of a Slavic banya, it often hosts not-for-profit steam ceremonies using infusions of wild and medicinal plants from the garden. The practice encourages embodiment and quiet contemplation; an opportunity to connect with the heat of the fire and the cool of the creek.
  
  This is a place of active creation, devoted learning, and deep meditation. I hope you can find yourself here, as I have :)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Van life

  

  Self development

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Carpentry

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Nature

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The surrounding area is rich ecologically as well as culturally. The land is nestled in a small valley along the foothills of Gerês National Park, with a view of the mountains across the river. Historically, the Minho valley is sometimes referred to as the cradle of Portugal, holding the oldest medieval villages in the country.
  
  The community in these hills is always growing and changing. I'm involved in a few local cooperatives including the building of a small-scale sociocratic school along with some families in a nearby town, and there are often meetups and exchanges between cultures.

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  Help

  The nature of the tasks on the land varies depending on the season and which projects are on the go! However, there is almost always energy to be poured into landcare (building new beds, pulling brambles, propagating plants, clearing thickets, designing and planting new sections of food forest), and consistently natural building or diy tasks around the property. We're also open more creative and artistic ways of engaging with the land, so very open to suggestions and seeing if we can turn your dream into a reality here.
  
  This is a very 'hands in the dirt' site; so if you want to expand your experience of hands in the soil or on tools, this is the place for you!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I am actively learning Portuguese, and very eager to practice :)
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  Accommodation

  At the moment we offer mattresses and bedding in a shared 6m bell tent with a sunrise view over the Gerês mountains, pitched within a beautiful grove of forest. It is rustic but spacious.

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  What else ...

  The coastline of the Atlantic is a 40 minute drive to the West, and the mountains of Peneda-Gerês National Park 20 minutes to the East.
  There are natural hot springs, hikes through ancient oak forest, a coastline with surf spots, medieval towns, all within 45 minutes driving. The two nearest [tiny] villages are within 10 minutes walk away.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  The property is accessible by van, and there is a spot to park within a few dozen metres of running water, [solar] electricity, and a comfortable compost toilet. The access is a steep concrete track - the traction is excellent, however the turnaround space atop the hill limits vehicle length to ~6m max.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We love animals! However, we don't love when they dig up the garden- we trust you to ensure your lovely beast doesn't do this while on the land. Also please note that Nimbu, our little black cat, is very sweet with people but does not get on so well with dogs, so inside of the yurt is a no-dog zone. If your dog is known to have problems with cats (chasing them up trees etc.), we ask that they don't stay on the land for extended periods.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Nimbu (1 year)

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