Profile information
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
12 Apr 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
3
Email verified
Country info
Badges (1)
Details
Description
Hello dear readers,
Welcome! My name is Steef, and I live in the countryside near Castelo Branco. My children and I share a piece of land in a peaceful, natural setting. My kids (13, 8, and 6) are with me part-time and with their mother the rest of the time.
This eco-project is about creating a beautiful place where plants, animals, and people can thrive in harmony. It’s a family place—but in the broadest sense of the word. As you can imagine, it’s a lot of work, and since I’m currently managing things mostly on my own (apart from the kids, of course), help is always very welcome.
When the kids are here, they help around the house, follow their studies, and are homeschooled. One additional challenge is that I’m unable to drive, which can make daily life a bit more complicated.
We would love to have more animals again in the future, but there are still many things to build and organize first. At the moment, we have sheep, dogs, a cat, and chickens. This is also the first year I’ll be attempting a garden on my own—until now, most of my time has gone into building and maintaining the place.
I am visually impaired, which means some tasks take a bit more time or need a different approach. Life here includes both the social side of sharing a home and the practical side of running a household, sometimes at a slower pace.
Since I take care of most things here, I’m very open to seeing who comes by and what they enjoy doing. There’s always something to help with, such as:
Gardening
Landscaping and design
Maintenance tasks
Household tasks and cooking
Creative projects (especially cob building and sculpting)
A large part of the house is made from cob, so there’s always something to shape, improve, or finish. Artistic people who enjoy adding beauty to a place are especially welcome.
It’s also a big plus if you have a driver’s licence and are willing to help with occasional drives. Also, my eldest dauger would love to learn working a sewing machine. It wuld be awesome if someone would help her with that.
From time to time, I travel for a week or so, so house-sitting could also be an option if that suits you.
Helping hours are flexible and something we can discuss together to find a balance that feels good for both sides.
I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned over the years—working with animals, building a house (mostly with natural materials like cob and wood), and living a more self-sufficient lifestyle. If you’ve never worked with cob before, it’s a wonderful and rewarding experience.
You’ll be surrounded by nature, with a beautiful lake about 3 km away. On weekdays, there are a few buses connecting to Castelo Branco.
At the moment, conditions are still quite basic. There is unfortunately no proper bathroom yet (other parts of the project took priority), but I hope to at least have an outdoor shower soon. There is running water, a washing machine, internet, and electricity through off-grid systems.
The caravan previously used for volunteers is no longer usable. When my children are not here (roughly 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off), there is space in the house. Otherwise, staying in a tent is the only option I can provide for now. Bedding can always be arranged. If you wish to come with a van, this is always possible! Just let me know your wishes and needs, and we see to arranging something that works.
I know this isn’t ideal—but perhaps it will attract someone who sees the potential and enjoys being part of building something meaningful, including future volunteer accommodation and a proper bathroom 😊
I’m looking for responsible, open-minded, and friendly people. I often work in the evenings, and of course my children need my attention as well, so a certain level of independence is important.
If you have skills to share—or simply enjoy teaching or engaging with kids—that’s a big plus.
I speak Dutch and English fluently. My Portuguese is intermediate (and improving), German is manageable, and I’d love to learn French. For the kids it is pretty much the same, but they play in every language!
If it feels like there could be a match, I’m sure we can find a way to make it a great experience for everyone involved.
Don’t hesitate to send a message with questions, ideas, or feedback. I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you here..
Love,
Steef
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House & pet sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Architecture
Art & design
DIY & crafts
History
Music
Plant care
Gardening
Languages
Carpentry
Outdoor activities
Beach
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Fitness
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Living natural and eco-friendly is a big one, unschooling / homeschooling and living with awesome kids, farming, building, language.. Lots of openings to learn about life =) And I am always happy to share knowledge about anything I think I know something about. Let us learn from each other!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
There is always something to do, so it should be quite possible to find something that sparks your interests. If you come with kids, my kids will be happy already. There are always the garden to be minded, enough possibility to provide more beauty on the inside or outside. For example helping with and sculpting with cob. Digging, maintenance and tons of small DIY projects. Since I am visually impaired help in the household is always very much appreciated. Light painting, cleaning the land, you name it, we got it!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
German: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Languages truly spark my interest—I’m always curious and eager to learn. I love the beauty of language and the growth it can bring, especially for the children. I would love to become fluent in Portuguese; although I’m currently intermediate, I’d be happy to help as I learn along the way. I can confidently share English and Dutch. I'm open and interested in any language you can offer!
Accommodation
The caravan previously used for volunteers is no longer usable. When my children are not here (roughly 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off), there is space in the house. Otherwise, staying in a tent is the only option I can provide for now. Bedding I can always arrange. Just let me know your wishes and needs, and we see to arranging something that works.
What else ...
There are weekday bus connections to and from Castelo Branco. These days, there’s a lively atmosphere in the surrounding villages, with a growing community and plenty happening—such as workshops, small markets, dance classes, and occasional gatherings, often with a more alternative and creative spirit. About 3 km from here, there’s a large lake, perfect for peaceful walks or a refreshing swim.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a good and stable internet connection through ethernet and WiFi.
Space for parking camper vans
We had all sizes here already, from vans to trucks. There is a limit, however. Feel free to enquire and see if we can figure something out.
Can possibly accept pets
I like to keep this option open, but there are quite some animals here, and the surrounding area also has quite some livestock. So it is something to be discussed beforehand.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
The Woolluminati
At the moment there are four woolly sheep, without a ram. Firstly, they would need a new shed to stay in before they are going to bring babies into the world again!
The Cheeky Chickens
Always enthusiastic about food. Currently one is finding open windows to come flying in the toolshed to eat the cats food. They all like to chill in inside spaces, if they find the chance. Guilty pleasure: dogfood.
Griezie
Named by the youngest daughter, when she was very litle. Basically meaning Grey!
Ama
The female elder of the tribe, and longest animal companion on the quinta.
Sedna
The youngest dog of the tribe, very enthousiastic and playful.
Spirit
The smallest one of the tribe, always liked by all. The eldest daughters dog, who is even allowed in her bed.
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (3)
The area has a beautiful scenery. You can have magical walks with only nature sounds in your ear. The atmosphere is very chatty and relaxed. Jasper… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
The area has a beautiful scenery. You can have magical walks with only nature sounds in your ear. The atmosphere is very chatty and relaxed. Jasper… read more
