Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
26 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
26
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Some people wonder why I do the things I do.
I wonder why they don't.
Hello and bom dia!
Thank you for visiting my profile.
I’m Dirk, living in this wonderful part of South Portugal since a couple of years.
In a previous life I worked as a photographer and in tourism. I traveled a lot, my favorite travel destinations so far are Morocco and India.
I am interested in music, art, films, photography, philosophy, reading, meeting new people and discovering new countries and cultures. I'm curious and open-minded and I like to share experiences with people from all over the world! I love untouched nature, the sea, a child's laughter, forests, water, animals and... silence. I do meditation, yoga and massage, and introspection, reflection and personal growth are very important to me.
I think it's high time to change our perverse economic system and to return to a simpler, more spiritual life. To slow and be close to nature and ourselves.
I am a vegetarian, non-smoker, and speak German, French and English.
A few years ago I settled on this beautiful little farm with a typical Portuguese rammed earth Taipa house and 4.5 hectares of beautiful land on the beautiful west coast of the Algarve, taking care of two dogs, a cat and some real free range chickens.
The farm consists of an endemic forest (cork oak, arbutus and pine), an old orchard of fruit trees (tangerine, orange, olive, fig, apple, plum, pear, apricot, lemon, …), a food forest under construction, a vineyard, a small permaculture garden and some uncultivated areas.
We are 10 minutes drive from Aljezur, a beautiful little village with all facilities (shops, restaurants, markets, laundries, internet, buses to Lisbon...) and 20 minutes from the most beautiful beaches in the region.
I host for a minimum of two weeks and as long as is comfortable for you and me. Board and lodging in exchange for 25 hours of work per week.
The farm is isolated and a small private project.
If you come for tourism, surfing, meeting people, "fun" and partying or looking for a community, this is definitely not the place for you.
If you want to immerse yourself in nature, learn about gardening, take care of land and animals, plant trees, if you love silence and time to yourself, then you've come to the right place.
By the way, I prefer accommodating people who are genuinely interested in my project and I take the time to read my entire profile. So I invite you to put the word "Yuachuma" at the beginning of your request.
I hope everything is clear and makes you want to live and work here for some time. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Obrigado, see you soon,
Dirk
Living intensely every moment...
When walking, walk. When eating, eat. When reading, read.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Since we somehow live together during your stay, there is plenty of time for exchange and sharing. And enough free time for everyone to have their own program or pursue their own interests.
Help
I prefer to host people who have special knowledge of permaculture, natural building techniques (rammed earth building) or carpentry/wood construction.
If you enjoy cooking, teaching yoga, giving massages, gardening, or taking care of animals, that's fine too.
In fact there is a lot to do here, we will definitely find work for you - if you are really willing to work seriously and help develop the place.
You should be open-minded, respectful and curious.
Some examples of what to do next:
- Installation of an irrigation system
- Construction of a composting toilet
- Construction of an outdoor shower
- Construction of an outdoor kitchen
- Construction of several pergolas around the main house
- Build stone walls
- Installation of tanks to collect rainwater from the roofs
- Maintenance of the permaculture garden
- Mulching, pruning, weeding
- Swales construction
- Harvesting
And also all the normal things like feeding the animals, cleaning the chicken coop, walking the dogs, watering,...
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I really would like (and have) to learn Portuguese… And it would not be bad to improve my English as well.
Accommodation
You sleep in a comfortable bed, in a beautiful wooden house or in a private room in the main house. The wooden house and the room each have two beds, so there may be single or double cast. Depending on the period, I accommodate one to four workawayers.
The surroundings are peaceful and the nights absolutely quiet.
We have WiFi, but it's not very fast and stable. If you need to work remotely, it's definitely not good enough.
You can use the washing machine and the bathroom with hot water.
Usually we cook and eat together, vegetarian/vegan food only…
And, very important, only biodegradable body care products please, as we have a plant-based sewage treatment plant.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
If you have your own mobile home or caravan, you are also welcome and can park on the property.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Around 25 hours a week…
Feedback (20)
I felt that Dirk was open to conversation, showed me a tremendous amount of respect and allowed me to work at a natural rhythm.
Tess, Lia… read more
I had an amazing time at the lovely Quinta Yuachuma with Dirk, Tess, Lia & Pipa (and of course the other workawayer Gosia). It really is a place for peace, meditation and living in harmony with the surrounding nature. Dirk is an honest person that's easy to connect and have a good time with, having the intention to live… read more
The work is not too hard and he makes sure you only do jobs that you're interested in doing.
The valley that his land is in is an absolute dream, it is however very secluded and quiet… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.8)
I felt that Dirk was open to conversation, showed me a tremendous amount of respect and allowed me to work at a natural rhythm.
Tess, Lia… read more
I had an amazing time at the lovely Quinta Yuachuma with Dirk, Tess, Lia & Pipa (and of course the other workawayer Gosia). It really is a place for peace, meditation and living in harmony with the surrounding nature. Dirk is an honest person that's easy to connect and have a good time with, having the intention to live… read more
The work is not too hard and he makes sure you only do jobs that you're interested in doing.
The valley that his land is in is an absolute dream, it is however very secluded and quiet… read more
Es war die absolut beste Entscheidung für mich, nach einem stressigen Alltag im kalten Deutschland hier Erholung zu finden.
Es ist ein paradiesischer Ort.
Ruhe, Vogelgezwitscher, die süßeste Gesellschaft seiner Hunde und der Katze, himmlisches Essen in feinster Qualität, die wohl… read more
Sie waren gefüllt mit guten Gesprächen, tollem Essen, schöner Musik, lehrreichen Momenten und vielem Mehr!
Das Arbeiten in der Natur war für uns ein Highlight. Wir konnten viel über Permakultur lernen und Dirk hat uns viel selbst ausprobiert lassen und darauf geachtet, dass wir… read more
We both really enjoyed our stay at Dirks farm, it is a beautiful land in the valley surrounded by forest, its peaceful and very relaxing to be there.
The day of leaving, we both felt like we been there for many months, the place felt like a home. We had a wonderful time working on the farm… read more
This was my first workaway experience and I'm so grateful for that. I remember the first wow effect when we got to Dirk's place - beautiful valley surounded by forest and only a few houses. Place covered with sunshine almost all the time. Lya and Tessie happily running around us. They are so sweet, playful and always cheers… read more
dirk is a great person, he really cares for his animals and his land, and he was willing to teach me a lot about the inner workings of a farm. he also was happy for me to tag along on beach dog walks, and nights at the new local bar that had opened - very fun!
i would enjoy coming back, but next time i would… read more
She stayed only a few days (because I didn’t have more space), but me and the other Workawayers liked her spirit, and we really spent a good time together.
Nymphe, thank you again and all the best.
I just want to say that I am incredibly grateful...
He is an open-minded, positive, easy-going person which likes to laugh as well as good exchanges. He was always helpful, worked a lot on my land and had also his own ideas and initiatives.
We had a great time and I can definitely recommend him.
Firstly waking up is the most peacefull thing there when stepping outside. The green hilly area is beautifull, it's warm and the two dogs always give you a warm cuddly welcome. If… read more
We had many extremly funny and pleasant meals all together but also some really interesting and sincere conversations .… read more
It was our first workaway experience and it was amazing. We were informed about what to do and then we were really autonomous about the work to do on the land.
We had the opportunity to do several task, discover about principles of permaculture (for example the care of trees), and being… read more
He stayed on my farm for three weeks and it was a real pleasure to have him here.
Giacomo was a great help. He is an open-minded, positive, easy-going and intelligent person. He was always helpful, worked a lot on my land (also with his own ideas and initiatives) and helped around the house with cooking and cleaning. He… read more
Helen is a quiet and respectful person, and she is always willing to help wherever help is needed.
We usually started working after a long breakfast and it was always… read more
Daniela was a big help for me. She was very involved with my project and contributed a lot to it’s development, by work and ideas, she had an easy and loving contact with all of my animals, and she… read more
Dirk's place is a wonderful small farm, close to nature, allowing for many opportunities for inward and outward learning. Above all, I appreciated Dirk's openness and interest in learning and co-developing… read more
