Old house with garden, cats and crafts in Alfeizerão, Portugal

Details

• 

  Description

  I offer accommodation in an old house in a small village, with some rescued street cats. Basic amenities and hygiene, 2 bathrooms, individual or shared room, kitchen access. Washing machine, dishwasher, and 24-hour Wi-Fi. Help needed 5h/day, 5 days/week, in the morning, in between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Near bus stop and 30 or 40 minutes walk to the beach and train station.
  …………………..
  The idea is to take care of the general maintenance of the house, look after the animals and the garden, and eventualy assist with crafts. It's important to try to contribute to environmental preservation by saving and reusing water, using minimal paper (especially toilet and kitchen paper), being mindful of energy consumption, and avoiding food waste. Due to being an old house, it may not be suitable for people with respiratory problems, and the water in the bathroom might not always be very hot, but I hope the rest of the stay makes up for these minor inconveniences.
  ……………..
  In the morning, at 8 o'clock, (after preparing and eating breakfast), changing the cats' litter and looking after them, unloading and putting away the dishes from the dishwasher, hanging out the laundry to dry when necessary, picking up snails, tending to the garden, cleaning the house and, possibly, helping with the handicrafts. Prepare/help prepare lunch (until 1pm).
  After lunch, in the afternoon, you're free.
  …………………..
  VERY IMPORTANT!!!
  This is an old house, with old plumbing, with a septic tank.
  Avoid putting paper or solid objects in the plumbing.
  PLEASE! NO TOILET PAPER, NO PENS, NO HAIR, NO FOOD REMAINS in the pipes (toilets, sinks and washing machines);
  e... Do not disturb the cats too much (VERY Loud noises, shouting, sudden movements...);
  PLEASE don't smoke indoors and don't come home too late at night.
  ………………………
  Why choose my place?
  You can learn about: macrobiotic diet, tending to a garden, caring for cats, household chores, and a bit of crafting. Most of the food comes from our own garden.
  You have free and unlimited Wi-Fi 24 hours a day, a single room, easy access to public transportation to Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos, S. Martinho do Porto, Nazaré, Alcobaça, Porto, Lisbon, etc., and access to a bicycle.
  .........................
  About me and staff
  I enjoy waking up early and need time for breakfast.
  I love spending time with cats and cooking macrobiotic meals, but I require assistance in the kitchen.
  I spend more time in the workshop than in the garden, and I also need some time for myself.
  I frequently leave home to fetch water, pick fruit, attend training sessions, go to the beach, and do shopping (which I dislike but need to do)... and I enjoy biking.
  Volunteers are free to use the kitchen and pursue their own activities.
  They need to have patience with the cats as they were street cats.
  And right now we have also some baby cats. : )

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I can teach macrobiotic cooking, Portuguese, gardening and simple craft techniques.

• 

  Help

  DAILY
  - Cleaning the cat litter, and replenishing water and food.
  - Watering the plants when needed.
  - Help prepare food, wash dishes, and clean the kitchen.
  
  FREQUENTLY
  - In the garden - planting, weeding, picking vegetables and fruit to eat and/or dry, packing...
  - Cleaning and tidying - bathrooms, hallway, stairs, living room...
  - Laying out and picking up the laundry.
  - Take the rubbish to the bins and to the compost bin, wash the recipients and replace bags when necessary.
  
  OCCASIONALLY
  - Fetching water from the spring.
  - Small repairs.
  - Help with the crafts.
  - Other things that come up.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  German: Beginner
  Ukrainian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I want to learn more German and Ukrainian. I'm very much interested in gestual language.
• 

  Accommodation

  Private or shared room with basic amenities.

• 

  What else ...

  We are close to Caldas da Rainha (thermal city with a beautiful park inside the city and a superior school of art and design), Óbidos (walled town, usually belonging to the queens of Portugal, where frequent events take place), Alcobaça (city with the monastery of the Cistercian monks, where the first public school of Portugal existed - XIII century, and where the tombs of D. Pedro and D. Inês, the tragic and true Portuguese love story - XIV century), Nazaré (very touristic beach now with the nearby beach, Praia do Norte, with its giant waves), and the beautiful and calm bay of S. Martinho do Porto, right next door...
  During the week there are buses. At weekends there are very few...

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  The internet is 5G. Unlimited.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Feedback (6)