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Join us recreating a beaten land at a beautiful quinta in Avô, Portugal

Portugal
Last activity : 25 Sep 2025

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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Aug 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
5
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2025

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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What's this?

Details

Description
We look for support in this current phase of re-building and landscaping from October 25 until March 26.

Hello, we are Andi and Graciela from Bavaria. A few years ago we acquired a beautiful quinta in central Portugal, which we want to turn in to a paradise for animals and people. The recent wildfires have destroyed a lot of the woodlands and the gardens we started. OVer winter we need to recreate the gardens, finish our swimming and fire protection ponds and re-plant part of the forest.
The place is big and has beautiful views towards the highest mountains in the Serra da Estrela. We have comfortable accommodation in wooden huts in a wonderful natural setting.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Farming
Plant care
Gardening
Carpentry
Cooking & food
Camping
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
...
...
What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The locals are working with us and there is a lot of exchange. There are also people from all over Europe and partially Asia, who work at our place. Cultural and language exchange and practice is guaranteed.
It is still a quiet place, since we do not want to disturb the resident animals (foxes, bats, perdizes, frogs, lizards, boars, birds, snakes, ...) too much. We aim that our activities blend in with the natural environment at the quinta.
Help
The burnt terraces, meadow and forest need attention to recreate them. Therefore we need the support of open-minded, skillful people who take fun and energy from outdoor help, light building, planting, pruning and cutting. Experience and know-how in these fields are important. In return you will enjoy the company of skillful, experienced people, who are curious to learn and exchange, while considering the needs of the environment as well as the people.
We need volunteers over winter time and provide accommodation and food.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Accommodation
Accommodation is comfortable in one tiny wooden house (24m²) with sleeping room for two and a bathroom and a large folding sofa in the living room/kitchen. The kitchen is simple with a stove for two pots, sink and a small fridge. It is located close to the Cabana (our central little house) and suited for couples and small families.
There is another pod of 15m² with two beds that is suited for a couple or a single person. It is in a secluded space on the border of the property. A bathroom is on the terrace above and easily accessible. An outdoor ktichen is there to prepare simple dishes.
You can prepare your own food where possible and enjoy your privacy, but we can also cook together in the cabana, where our "headquarter" is located. We like a diverse and healthy mixed diet, which is mainly vegetarian, and vegan is also highly welcome. We love to share you experiences with all kinds of dishes.
What else ...
The area is full of opportunities to explore the rich history of the country and the natural beauty of the Estrela mountains. River beaches and waterfalls are nearby, and visiting the markets in the towns is great fun and an opportunity to meet other people.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
We have stables and a large kennel, so any type of pet or animal can be accommodated.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets

Host ref number: 596637435633

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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback (2)

27 Mar 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Matěj)

The presence of Matej in our team and at the property made a huge difference. He is incredibly enduring and attentive, from the alignment of tasks and preparation to the very orderly and focused implementation. The tidiness and thoroughness of his work is unmatched. Always eager to get his work done with great dedication and endurance, until it is… read more

(Excellent )

24 Mar 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Francesco & Giorgia)

With Giorgia and Francesca we had a wonderful, great and productive time. Always open, polite and helpful, creative and eager to achieve aesthetically and technically pleasing results, they provided us with joy and satisfaction at all times. Be it after shopping in a car stuffed (!) with people, weekly groceries for 7 hungry people, tools, plants… read more

(Excellent )

22 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer (Francesco & Giorgia) for host

We had the pleasure of spending three months at Andi and Graciela’s amazing Quinta in Portugal and we couldn’t be happier with our experience!
It was an incredibly enriching, stimulating and educational period in every aspect.

During our stay, we learned and improved many skills: from natural building to gardening, from land maintenance to small… read more carpentry. Every day was different and full of new challenges, including using power tools, maintaining exteriors with painting and pressure washers, assembling furniture and contributing to landscaping projects. Some of the most exciting moments were building a beautiful arch following Andi’s design and designing and constructing a teepee hut. Each task gave us great satisfaction and the chance to test and enhance our abilities!

Andi and Graciela are kind, attentive and well-organized people, always ready to provide clear and detailed instructions. Thanks to their daily or weekly meetings, we always knew what to do and how to do it best. Their approach made us feel supported and allowed us to work efficiently while contributing in a well-structured and positive environment. They always made an effort to accommodate everyone’s needs and well-being, even organizing tasty pizza evenings or campfire nights for us all to enjoy some fun time together.

One of the best aspects of this adventure was also the community we formed with the other workawayers—a welcoming Brazilian family and an energetic man from the Czech Republic. From the very first day, we became a close-knit team: we shared work, meals, and countless happy moments. The friendships we built here are truly special and it’s incredible how quickly we became like a small family.

Moreover, our accommodation was fantastic! We had a beautiful room with a private bathroom, and the entire Quinta was comfortable and well-maintained, making sure our stay was even more enjoyable.
The location of the Quinta is simply breathtaking: nestled in the Portuguese mountains, surrounded by stunning forests and offering a spectacular view of the valley below. Every day, we could enjoy this natural beauty, making the experience magical and refreshing.

If you’re looking for a Workaway that allows you to learn new skills, challenge yourself and live in a welcoming and well-organized environment, the Quinta is the perfect place. We highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally, it was an amazing experience and we will always carry it in our hearts.

We are truly grateful to Andi and Graciela for giving us this wonderful opportunity. Their kindness, dedication, and passion for their project made our time at the Quinta truly unforgettable. Thank you for everything!

(Excellent )

17 Mar 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Karen & Gabriel Felipe)

Meeting Karen, Gabriel and Mili in January to March 2025 was a wonderful and enriching experience. With their positive attitude and skills they were a great match for the tasks at hand and a delightful addition to our team. Be it inside the house with cleaning, maintenance and preparing meals, or outside building, gardening and forest work, all… read more

(Excellent )

12 Mar 2025

Left by Workawayer (Karen & Gabriel Felipe) for host

Our experience at this Workaway was simply incredible! We stayed for three months, and from the very beginning, we felt truly welcomed. We are a family, and we had the privilege of staying in a super comfortable three-story house, where the third floor was exclusively for us. The house was cozy, well-equipped, and provided us with a great space to… read more relax after work.

This was a paid position, and we were responsible for our own food, which worked well for us. Besides our family, there were three other wonderful workawayers—a couple from Italy and a young man from the Czech Republic. We built a special bond, and in no time, we became like a family, sharing experiences, laughter, and great moments together. The daily interaction with people from different nationalities made this experience even more enriching, and it definitely helped us improve our English a lot!

The tasks were well-organized and divided into teams, making everything run smoothly and collaboratively. We had the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, such as building outdoor stairways using wood and stones, planting trees and flowers, pruning and clearing land and pathways, and creating beautiful new gardens and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy. We also worked with carpentry, cleaned the property's water channels, built wooden borders, and participated in the entire firewood preparation process—from cutting trees to storing logs of different sizes for future use. Additionally, we assisted with English-to-Portuguese translations for local workers and visited nearby stores to purchase tools, flowers, and trees for planting.

During our free time, we truly enjoyed each other's company, making pizzas in the wood-fired oven on weekends and sharing great conversations around the campfire.

Andreas (Andi) is a very competent host, highly skilled, and always willing to share his knowledge. From the very first video call to his guidance during the daily tasks, his communication was always very clear, which made learning and completing the work much easier. We learned so much from him! Graciela was with us for only a few days, but her contagious energy made a huge difference. She was always smiling and attentive to everyone's well-being, making sure we had coffee and snack breaks and even arranging shared lunches with local workers.

Without a doubt, this was a very positive experience that provided us with learning opportunities, time in nature, amazing friendships, and the chance to improve our English significantly. We highly recommend this opportunity to anyone looking for a collaborative and welcoming work environment.

Thank you for everything, Andreas and Graciela! 😊

(Excellent )

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