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8 Apr 2024
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Description
This is a new Ecovillage project near Nelas, close to the Serra da Estrela Mountains, North of Central Portugal.
We are looking for people to help develop the project and also to join as resident members!
If you want to come and get to know us as a volunteer and potentially are interested in joining the project let us know, we can send you our website with more information on the land, vision, principles, becoming part of our cooperative and more.
The project has been initiated by me, Hari, 35 from UK, after living in Portugal for almost 6 years working and learning with other permaculture and community projects.
The vision is to create a place that enables a sustainable way of living from the land as a mutually supportive group.
The design includes a common area, with shared facilities, and individual houses suitable for 10 to 20 long term adult residents, plus their children.
The common area will include a shared kitchen, gardens, food forest, event spaces, spaces for the children, forest school, health space, temple, workshops, ateliers, studios, offices and more.
I started the project in Summer 2022 and have been holding gatherings to launch the project and attract people who are interested in joining the project as residents. Two residents have since joined, and we have some financial support towards buying the land.
We plan to hold more gatherings throughout the year and are looking for volunteers to help with these, and also at other times.
We ask visitors and volunteers if they can accept these boundaries:
Please no alcohol or recreational drugs (unless agreed as part of a ceremony, facilitated to serve the group)
Not at all on site, and also not being on site under the noticeable influence. Ceremonies should be proposed to the group first.
Please no smoking anywhere on site. You can smoke on the road just outside.
Healthy vegan kitchen. Please no animal product foods, caffeine, processed sugar/snacks in the shared spaces and at shared meal times. You are free to eat what you want in private in your own space.
It is possible and welcome to stay with us for a longer period of up to several months if we match.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Natural building
Off grid living
Community dynamics
Sociocratic governance
Authentic communication
We can organise workshops and activities amongst ourselves and for the wider neighbourhood, if there is motivation, depending on what people bring to offer. eg singing circles, music jams, massage, contact dance.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We plan to hold more gatherings throughout the year and are looking for volunteers to help with
>>cooking during the events, tidying and preparing the space.
We are also looking for
>>help with gardening, land clearing, improving our kitchen, setting up the communal yurt clay plastering and later in the year some natural building.
Another position could be a
>>child-care-role. Our 3 year-old community member loves to play, explore, dance, sing, and collect rocks and mushrooms... ;)
Ongoing tasks that also need some help are:
>>Collecting and cutting firewood
>>Working in the vegetable garden - watering, planting, harvesting
>>Cooking for shared meals
>>Social media, taking photos and videos of the place and our activities, writing blog posts
There is some flexibility for how to do the work exchange. We offer space to camp and park a campervan, and a tent if needed + basic plant based food.
Our preference is to ask helpers to pay around 35 euros per week for food and gas, with a work exchange of 15 hours per week.
If you eat less meals with us, we can agree a lower price each week.
Alternatively, for those who are able to work without guidance for some of the work hours, we can offer a full work exchange of 25 hours per week, food included.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Beginner
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
The shaded camping spaces are under the tall trees by the river.
We can offer you a simple tent with mattress and bedding, if you´re travelling without equipment.
There are a few flat spaces for campervans, with some shade.
Shared facilities available:
Straw house common kitchen
Compost toilets
Simple solar shower
Solar phone and laptop charging
We also have a nice caravan that is sometime available. It has a table and comfy seating, big double bed, kitchen and gas heater. There is no electricity in there yet, but there is phone charging from the solar power system in the common space.
This can be offered to people with particular skills, or who are interested to join as cofounders, or any other exchange we agree. Open to discussion!
What else ...
500m of riverfront to explore and enjoy. walks across the land.
Many river beaches (praia fluvial) in the area. In 40min drive you can be up high in the serra da estrela mountains for hikes with magnificent views, in about 1 hour drive you can reach the city of Coimbra.
Nelas is about 10min by car and has all shops, laundry, supermarkets, pharmacy, cafés and a small weekly vegetable market. There is also a hiking path leading to Nelas.
Every weekend there are different monthly markets in different villages in the area, where the local community gathers to offer their crafts, food, art, performances etc.
Many people have their own farms, permaculture or community projects, so there is a lot of networking possible.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have electricity for several laptops in the common house with a seating area and simple desk space. It can be suitable for computer work but not calls. Calls could be done by mobile phone elsewhere. There is good signal almost everywhere and we can at times share a Wifi router if needed for working, organizing, planning.
Space for parking camper vans
There are a few flat spaces with some shade.
Can possibly accept pets
Please ask first.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
15-25 hours per week, depending on our arrangement
