Help us build an off-grid Fablab, Food Forest, Mechanics, and Furniture Making on a Farm in Barão de São João, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  We are building a FabLab within a farm as a non-commercial, not-for-profit initiative. We aim to foster a community of thinkers, artists, makers, and farmers who can learn, create, and share technology to enhance everyone's lives. This is not a business but a community project, and we operate entirely on a voluntary basis.
  
  At the moment, we are finishing renovating a ruin and constructing a vermicompost toilet, along with all the accompanying amenities, such as a compost tank, shower, we are also planning to build another treehouse or a hobit house.
  
  Our 22-hectare farm is situated in the picturesque western Algarve region of southern Portugal, surrounded by stunning beaches and quaint villages. Though secluded, it is just a short drive from the nearest village, Barão de São João.
  
  Our project seamlessly blends low and high-tech elements. Initiated on a long-abandoned farm, we are building everything from the ground up. I began constructing the farm's infrastructure in late 2016, from roads and lakes (for rainwater collection), to renovating the ruin, setting up lab machines, and establishing a solar grid. We are mostly off-grid, but still rely on purchased gas for cooking.
  
  The idea is to farm with help of tech, or to tech with help of the farm :-). We aim to create a space where thinkers, artists, makers, and farmers can learn, create, and share technology to enhance everyone's lives. The lab will cater to a diverse range of individuals, from farmers and artists to inventors, surfers, and hackers.
  
  We are a family of five with two girls and a boy. Our farm is home to four dogs, three cats, and happy chickens, all coexisting harmoniously!
  
  With so many tasks and areas to cover at the moment, you'll certainly find something that aligns with your interests. And if you'd like to explore new areas, you are more than welcome.
  
  Please note: Arrivals should preferably be on Mondays during daytime. We do not accept arrivals on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Upon arrival, we will show you the farm and ask you to sign a form with emergency information and acknowledgment of some of our rules. If you would like to see the form ahead of time, you can request it and we will forward it to you.
  
  Winter in the Algarve typically features warm daytime temperatures, but it can be cold and rainy for days, interspersed with sunny afternoons and rainy nights. The weather can be somewhat unpredictable, but temperatures never drop below 8 degrees Celsius. Be sure to bring boots, work gloves, and a raincoat.
  
  Food: We do not supply food.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  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
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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

  Learn about digital fabrication while helping to build an environment that benefits the surrounding community. We will explore both traditional and innovative construction techniques. Imagine combining adobe with 3D printing or creating your own surfboard.

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  Help

  The help we need covers a wide range of tasks:
  
  - Woodworking
  - Mechanical work
  - Programming
  - 3D design
  - Architectural design
  - Setting up pumps and helping build machines
  - Renovating the ruin using traditional methods
  - Agriculture, planting experimental and traditional crops
  - Setting up our website
  - Building accommodations for helpers and guests of the lab
  - Piling firewood
  
  Please do not apply if you are uncertain about our place or the duration of your stay. Short, interrupted stays can disrupt the experience for other volunteers and our routine, as we invest significant energy into each new person.
  
  If you are looking to stay with us while searching for a job and need a place to stay, please do not apply unless you can commit to a minimum of 2 weeks. Again, interrupted stays can disrupt our routine.
  
  The Farm may not be suitable for everyone, as some of our installations are simple and rudimentary. Keep in mind that we are in a constant process of improvement and started from scratch.
  
  At the moment, our focus is on the house and general infrastructure.
  
  Ongoing projects include making solar panels for water heating, completing the lab setup, building a toilet and shower, improving lab machines, planting vegetables and fruit trees, and feeding farm animals, among others.
  
  I have built a milling CNC, 3D printers, and laser cutters, and plan to use these machines to assist in building various projects. Additionally, it is my intention to document each process and release the information online.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner

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  Accommodation

  We offer comfortable a caravan and 6-meter bell tents. Guests with their own camper vans are also welcome. Our facilities include a compost toilet, an earthworm compost flushing toilet, a sink, and hot showers. For families traveling with children, we kindly require the use of a camper van, as our sleeping arrangements are communal and shared with other adults.

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  What else ...

  When volunteering with us, please keep the following points in mind regarding sleep, food, work, waste, and other aspects:
  
  - Expectations: Enjoy beautiful views, a quiet and peaceful setting, physical labor, dirty hands, and the opportunity to use your skills.
  - Food: We may occasionally host a BBQ or pizza party, but you are responsible for supplying your own ingredients and cooking for other meals. You are expected to rinse and wash your dishes and cook in rotation with others.
  - Leisure: Experience surfing and great weather most of the year, charming small villages, and numerous biking and walking trails in the area.
  Work Commitment: Our work arrangement requires 3 hours of focused work per day, 5 days a week, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. This mainly includes tasks related to farm infrastructure, renovation projects, agricultural activities, and tech-based work. It's crucial to note that daily responsibilities such as personal and communal area cleaning, meal preparation, firewood gathering, as well as personal projects, self-learning, and participating or leading workshops do NOT count towards these work hours. These are part of communal living and personal growth, which we highly encourage outside of the assigned work hours. When departing, we kindly ask all guests to clean their living space, and bring back borrowed items.
  - Vegetable garden: You are welcome to take what you need from our garden, but our variety is limited, so you may need to supplement with additional vegetables.
  - Waste: We separate some waste, so please place leftover food in the compost bathtub.
  - Smoking: Smoking is prohibited inside the caravan and house. Be aware that cigarettes can cause wildfires, which is a significant concern, especially during summer months.
  - Drugs: We do not judge personal choices but ask that no drugs be brought onto the farm.
  - Accommodation: Guests will stay in a caravan or tent. The caravan is quite new and can comfortably accommodate a couple and two singles (in a double bed and bunk bed). You may have to share the caravan or tent with other males and/or females. Please keep it clean, organized, and well-maintained.
  - Personal hygiene: We provide an outside flushing worm compost toilet, a compost toilet, a sink, and hot showers. Bring your own towel, sunscreen, and biodegradable shampoo/soap, as we strive to be as sustainable as possible.
  - Travel and transportation: We recommend coming by car or renting a scooter in Lagos. We can often give rides, as we frequently travel to town and surrounding areas. Barão de São João village is a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk (2 km) away, offering bars and restaurants. A bus stop is 4 minutes away by car, connecting you to Lagos, where the nearest train station and supermarkets are located. If you arrive at Faro Airport, you can take a bus or train to Lagos, and we can meet at the station.
  - Our pets: We have 3 cats and 4 dogs, including one large dog that loves to play. If you dislike, fear, or are allergic to large dogs, or are uncomfortable around them, please do not apply.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  Our work schedule, with just 3 hours a day, is ideal for digital nomads, as it allows volunteers to focus on their paid work or engage in tourism activities. However, our internet connection is a mobile internet (4G router) that can't be guaranteed 24/7, so if you rely on the internet for income, we recommend investing in a local 4G internet plan.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Guests are invited to bring their camper vans, as we have plenty of space to accommodate them. Please be aware that we are unable to provide electrical hookups due to our commitment to living off-grid and relying solely on solar energy.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  3 hours a day, 5 days a week

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