Join my nature sanctuary with creative and practical projects in Porto, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi! My name is Chandni and I am indian-portuguese. I am 31 years old.
  
  I recently sold my apartment in the city, packed my life into boxes and started over in nature. I currently live with my pets - Shiva (1,5y dog), and 3 beautiful cats - Niko, Gipsy and Goa.
  
  
  I have travelled quite a bit around the world and this is the first time I will be a host rather than a workawayer!
  But the best journeys I have had were inside myself.
  
  
  Who are you?
  Someone that loves and respects animals - non negotiable :)
  Open minded, easygoing and self sustainable!
  Driving license mandatory and comfortable with driving!
  
  
  My House:
  My house is my sanctuary.
  I live in a 6-bedroom countryside house, which requires a lot of maintenance and small tasks during the day.
  I work remotely so I spend a lot of time here.
  The house is surrended my mountains and trees, isolated enough to make you feel at peace.
  
  
  Location:
  The house is located in a small village 1h away from the city of Porto (by car) and 1h30 with public transports.
  Nearest train station is 30min away: Marco de Canaveses
  There is no uber (nor uber eats ahah) around here but its very close to any services you might need, including a big supermarket.
  A car is necessary to get your way around, or a bike! I have my car and I dont mind helping or sharing it when necessary.
  
  
  What can I share?
  Stories, laughter, honest conversations
  A taste of life in the Portuguese countryside
  I am happy to cook together, explore the area or simply sit in silence

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Events & social

  

  Writing

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Languages

  

  Music

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Dancing

  

  Camping

  

  Beach
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Experience rural Portugal — peaceful mornings, starry nights, and friendly locals.
  
  Meet my animals (dogs and cats) and experience life in a home shared with furry companions.
  
  Learn about Portuguese culture from someone who grew up here — from food and traditions to local ways of life.
  
  Hear stories and perspectives from my Portuguese–Indian background, and how that mix has shaped my worldview.
  
  Share meals, swap recipes, and enjoy long conversations about life, travel, and personal growth.
  
  Learn about gardening, sustainable living, and my journey with psychedelics and intentional living.
  
  Explore nearby villages, local markets, and the Douro River area together.
  
  Exchange knowledge — I have a background in psychology, work as a coach, and run a support group in Porto, so we can dive into conversations about human behaviour, relationships, and self-development.
  
  Teach me something from your own culture — a skill, a craft, or even a favourite dish.
  
  Join in creative projects like designing a natural swimming pool, building a dome, or improving the land.

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  Help

  Important Boundaries
  Heavy or technical work will have assistance or professional support if needed.
  Safety first.
  No one will be expected to do something beyond their skill level.
  This is about collaboration, not exploitation.
  
  Important: You are comfortable driving (manual car, I can share mine or if you want to rent your own) for small errands and overall living here.
  
  🔨 Main Projects (Summer 2026)
  Outdoor & Land Projects
  Building shaded sitting areas (wood structures, fabric tension shades, etc.)
  Creating pallet furniture (sofas, tables, benches)
  Designing cozy outdoor corners
  Improving pathways
  Small landscaping improvements
  
  House Improvements
  Painting walls
  Refreshing indoor/outdoor spaces
  Improving outdoor flooring (decking, leveling areas, etc.)
  Small construction adaptations
  
  Creative Development
  Looking at the house and thinking:
  What does this space need?
  How can we make it more functional?
  How can we make it more beautiful?
  How can we make it more “Sanctuary”?
  
  Housitting and Pet Sitting help
  I would like to have someone in the house taking care of my pets and the overall house wellbeing.
  
  I want someone who doesn’t just “do tasks”, but someone who can also see possibilities.
  
  The dream project: I’d love to build a natural swimming pool/lake on my land (if you have experience with this, you’re my hero!) and I would love to create a beautiful dome space (for relaxation, gatherings, or maybe even stargazing nights) --- this is not to be done solely by the workawayers - I am in the process of finding a paid team, so if you actually have experience with this, it would be a paid job!
  
  🧠 Very Important: The Energy
  
  I want someone who:
  Feels excited by transforming a space
  Has done similar projects before
  Can show photos of previous work
  Understands rural realities
  Is emotionally stable
  Can live in shared community without drama
  
  If you have ideas to make the space even more beautiful or functional, bring them on. I’m always open to a little creative magic.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Sleeping arrangements:
  You will have your own bedroom and a shared bathroom
  Full access to the kitchen
  Plenty of natural Light
  Wifi
  Access to a jacuzzi
  Access to a beautiful cold water tank from the mountain
  Access to a small work-in-progress gym
  
  Mostly, I can offer an open heart, a comfortable space and the feeling that you are welcome just the way you are.
  
  This is a quite rural area, perfect if you enjoy nature, peaceful morning and starry nights. The house is surrounded by fields and trees.

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  What else ...

  My house is located in the beginning of the Douro Valley, you will have lots to explore!!

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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

  The Wifi is good but when shared slows down - its possible to buy an extender, something I am open to if this affect the lifestyle of remote workers.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  I have a big land where you can park your camper

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  Can possibly accept pets

  You’re welcome to bring your dog. I have a big fenced property for them to run around. My dog, Shiva, is very sociable, so I can only host friendly dogs who are proven to get along well with both other dogs and cats.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Goa

  Gipsy

  Shiva

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