Profile information
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
21 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
50
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Since 2019, we've been nurturing the seeds of transformation on 1.5 hectares of young woodland near Paredes de Coura. Our aim is to grow a thriving food forest and co-living space while addressing the pressing challenges of our time. While we've laid the groundwork, we're seeking fellow pioneers to help shape the next chapter of our Silverto's story.
🌿 Our Vision (Want to make it yours too?)
We're developing:
🌳 A flourishing food forest, with some trees already establishing nicely
🏡 A co-living space that balances privacy and living together
🌍 A hub for new rurals, digital nomads, and seasonal workers
♻️ A model for regenerative living in the face of global ecological and social challenges
We're acutely aware of the global challenges we face—climate change, resource depletion, and social upheaval. Our project aims to be a small but meaningful response to these issues, exploring ways to live more sustainably and regeneratively.
🌱 Current Status
🏡 Our stone house renovation is complete, providing a cozy base
🍳 The kitchen, workshop, and living room are functional and welcoming
🌳 Planted trees in our food forest are establishing well
📚 Our library is growing
🚀 The exciting work of further developing the land continues
👥 Current Cast
👨🌾 Mathijs: Founder, Dutch philosopher-physicist, IT pro, and permanent resident since 2019
👩🦱 Berilay: Space Momma, cook, massage therapist and UX & Marketing designer, copy-paste specialist, permanent resident since 2024
🤔 You?: We're actively seeking pioneers to help cultivate Silverto's future
🤝 Our wonderful neighbours: A growing network of local friends who enrich our daily lives
💪 Join the Growing Circle
We're able to host 2-3 households (singles, couples, or small families) ready to roll up their sleeves and be part of our evolving story. Here's how:
🌱 Start with a 3-8 week "taster" experience
🌿 If we click, return for a 2-3 month deeper dive
🌳 For those all-in on the vision, we'll explore a 9-12 month co-creation period
This is an opportunity to be part of something special. The work is hard but purposeful. The conversations are deep, sometimes challenging, as we continue to shape our vision together. We balance our awareness of global issues with a commitment to joyful, meaningful action.
If you're excited by the idea of joining and helping Silverto further develop, this is your call to adventure. We're not a finished utopia —we're a fertile ground with strong roots, ready for new growth and fresh perspectives.
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
Interests
Outdoor activities
Languages
Gardening
Culture
Pets
Farming
Movies & TV
Self development
Van life
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Technology
Events & social
Carpentry
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Plant care
Yoga / Wellness
Animals
Camping
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
At any given time, we usually have 3-6 people staying on the land. This creates a cozy atmosphere while still offering plenty of personal space. Here, you're not just joining our project — you're becoming part of a warm regional network with opportunities for:
🧘♀️ Local yoga classes
🍻 Friendly gatherings at the neighbourhood bar
🌡️ Rejuvenating visits to nearby hot springs
🎉 Lively parties, concerts, and cultural events
📽️ Movie nights & discussions
🥾 Hikes to nearby waterfalls
🍲 Creative dinner events
Mathijs is eager to share knowledge with his background in physics, informatics, and interests ranging from technology and economy to deep ecology and social interconnections. At Silverto, we thrive on a diverse exchange of ideas, from practical skills in sustainable living to philosophical discussions.
Help
⏰ Contribute about 3 hours daily, 5 days a week to nurturing our dream
🧹 Maintaining clean and comfortable spaces, sharing common household tasks (cleaning, cooking, shopping, animal care) - this is the only absolutely help we need
🌱 Additional options to join in:
- Pruning, chipping wood, preparing firewood
- Clearing weeds
- Pointing our newly built walls with lime mortar
- Light maintenance of our guest caravan
- Forest maintenance with our dedicated forest managers 1-2 days/week
- Caring for our two cats (one diabetic) when owners travel
💰 We propose to equally share living expenses - or you can buy and prepare your own food if you want
🌱 Be prepared for the challenges (and rewards!) of sharing land with a group of people
🗣️ Communicate your needs and limits clearly
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Turkish: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Accommodation
🏠 Our renovated stone house with common kitchen, bathroom, workshop, and living room is our common area
🚐 Guest caravan with comfy bed, small table and sink, fast wifi and off-grid solar system (Diesel heater ready to be installed)
🚙 Dedicated space for campervans with water, electricity and fibre internet
🏕️ Forest camping spots for those who want to immerse in nature (tent and blankets available)
🚿 Indoor bathroom with toilet and shower, plus idyllic solar shower in the forest
🚽 Dry toilet that helps feed baby trees
🏠 For long-term visionaries (1+ year residencies):
-A raised insulated round (7.5m) wooden deck (suitable for a yurt, dome or your creative suggestion),
- Two additional spots inside the forest for tiny houses etc., and
-Two locations which are legally constructible.
What else ...
This is an opportunity to be part of something special. The work is hard but purposeful. The conversations are deep, sometimes challenging, as we continue to shape our vision together. We balance our awareness of global issues with a commitment to joyful, meaningful action.
To ensure you've read our profile, please start your message with the word strawberry. This small gesture means a lot to us in selecting like-minded individuals for Silverto. Since we receive too many requests, we will not be replying messages without the word strawberry. Thank you!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We've excellent fibre (full wifi coverage) in the house and throughout most of the forest.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a dedicated parking area with wifi, water and electricity available for cars and small/medium-sized (camper)vans.
Can possibly accept pets
We can receive guests with *well behaved* dogs, chickens, donkeys, horses and ostriches. 😜 We are not able to accommodate cats 😿 beyond our own.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (17)
I was a little… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.6)
Cultural exchange:
(4.4)
Communication:
(4.3)
I was a little… read more
I was in Silverto for a total of 3 weeks and mainly looked after the house with property and the two cats. It was my first workaway experience and really perfect for it.
Mathijs gave me a very good and clear briefing and was always available the when I had a question. He is very… read more
You kept our plants alive, you helped us build our chicken coop and definitely exceeded our expectations!
Hope to see you again, soon!
We stayed in the yurt for 10 days and in the caravan for another 2 weeks. The yurt was… read more
They even performed same repairs, did some small works and made us a delicious surprise. :)
Autonomous, intelligent, emphatic, hard-working and respectful, I couldn't ask for anything more!
He has very good communication skills and he is doing well with organizing and delegating tasks, always giving options on what a volunteer can do.
He shared many interesting stories from his trips and from his life in Portugal and he knows a lot about many different things.
Together with Diego, they were more than… read more
She singlehandedly did more work than we all did during our volunteering weekend, was amazingly loving towards my cats and she has amazing heart-opening abilities, truly listening and truly seeing others without judgement.
They took care of my cats for a view weeks and I hope to meet them again some time soon!
