Community living, nature and personal development in Alentejo, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  This is more than a regenerative project. It is a living, rotational community space in the Alentejo, where we have spent more than five years growing as an educational and cultural exchange rooted in land stewardship, community living, and regenerative practice.
  
  We are now entering a new phase: deepening the foundations of the project and calling in a more committed core team and deeper stewards — people who are serious about living more regeneratively, taking responsibility for their impact, and contributing to something that outlasts us. .
  
  This is not a retreat, hotel, or cheap holiday for casual participation. It asks for awareness, accountability, self-regulation, and the ability to communicate honestly, take aligned initiative, and contribute with maturity.
  
  For those who are looking for a shorter, more experiential stay, there is a '' simple volunteer pathway'' which asks for 4 weeks and requires less awareness and responsibility but also has more strict structure .
  For those who feel ready for deeper involvement, our 3-month ''Anchor Stewardship pathway'' is for people who are ready to co-create, learn, and step into a core-creator and holder role with greater trust and autonomy. If this sparks your curiosity let us know
  
  APRIL/MAY: closed to new intakes
  JUNE: intake days : Standard : 15th, 19th, 22nd // Anchor Intake days : 8th, 15th, 19th and 22nd
  
  About us as hosts
  Anthony and Ana are the hosts and founders behind the project. Together, we are working to create a space that nurtures self, community, and the land through a more radically responsible way of living, one that is not only held by people but also by alternative and regenerative systems.
  
  Anthony’s background having grown up in Africa, is rooted in a life close to nature, and his work over the last 6 years has focused on social-entrepreneurship . Supporting and building systems, stewardship, and leadership that support regeneration and collective responsibility.
  
  Ana’s work weaves together healing, creativity, activism, and the digital and creative side of the project, helping to share and support the work we are building here. She brings much of her attention to healing with the feminine through cyclical living, embodiment work, and natural healing modalities.
  
  We are also human and learning as we go. We do not claim to meet every individual’s needs, but we do value open, direct communication and mutual respect. Personal growth is ultimately each person’s responsibility, and one of our roles is to help create spaces that support without having to depend on any one person.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Videography

  

  Technology

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Events & social

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Van life

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Charity work

  

  Art & design

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Music

  

  Plant care

  

  Performing arts

  

  Gardening

  

  Carpentry

  

  Astronomy

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Dancing

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Outdoor activities
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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

  Our home is a space of ongoing regeneration—of land, self, and community. Visitors engage not only in project-based activities but also in shared rituals and regenerative rhythms that support self-inquiry, responsibility, and connection.
  
  These contributions aren’t “extra tasks”—they’re part of community living and lifestyle. Typically, these shared activities require about 7–10 hours per week in total, and are not part of the formal work exchange
  
  💫 What you can learn and explore here, as well as what we hope to learn more with you:
  
  ✨Community life: shared cooking, check-ins, sharing circles, and collective decision-making.
  
  ✨Personal growth: learning radical responsibility, embodiment practices, and sacred daily rituals.
  
  ✨Skill-sharing: opportunities to explore land stewardship, water systems, community dynamics, and creative expression— guided by our team and open to co-learning.
  
  ✨ Regenerative practices (, community living, personal autonomy within interdependent systems)
  
  ✨ Radical responsibility and the empowerment that comes from co-ownership
  
  ✨ Skills and mindsets for resilience in climate-challenged environments
  
  ✨ Co-creation and collective decision-making
  
  ✨ Sacred living: embodiment, ritual, creativity, and healing modalities
  
  Rather than formal training or professional development, this is a living environment where we share what we know, learn together, and invite curiosity into everything we do. We hope to welcome as many people who care about people, nature and the life that makes this world precious and to share and be part of creating that.
  
  🌱 We celebrate diversity and welcome people of all backgrounds. We aim to co-create an inclusive and liberatory space rooted in care, presence, and respect for the Earth and each other.

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

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  Help

  We're a not-for-profit project focused on ecological restoration, communal harmony, and soul-led living.
  
  We’re looking for reliable, self-directed, and experienced humans , who have a keen willingness to learn and contribute. If you are ready to contribute meaningfully, take initiative, and bring love into your daily actions, we would be keen to co-create with you. Practicing radical self-responsability, conscious communication, and knowing how to self-regulate are skills that are deeply valuable here.
  
  Below we list examples of the type of pracitcal skills, work and experiences we can share with you depending on our current situation since we work with the elements which are present (for example we do a lot of landscape water retention work on the land during the rain months but not in the summer) :
  
  Community or eco-village living
  
  Land stewardship, permaculture, or regenerative systems and their infastructure
  
  Project coordination or community facilitation
  
  Digital media, systems design, and AI-led systems and content creation
  
  Permaculture gardening & compost systems
  
  Native Forestry, food forest, and other types of reforestation
  
  Building water retention features or forest corridors
  
  Social media strategy & storytelling
  
  Supporting community rhythms, rituals, and roles
  
  on the side we also have spaces to welcome and share
  
  Coaching, embodiment, healing, or educational facilitation which you can also do and facilitate in your private time and exchange within the space if you desire to use this opportunity for a cultural/educational or otherwise exchange
  
  💡 You’ll mostly guide your own hours and energy flows, with a mix of structure and autonomy. We’ll support you to work in a way that aligns with your energy, gifts, cycles, and clarity.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Afrikaans: Beginner
  French: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  Flexible and Adaptable Contributions:
  We offer various exchange options to align with individual needs and our project goals. These options are fluid, allowing each flexibility between them as long as responsibilities are met. As we are a not-for-profit nature restoration project, we have incorporated these exchange options that allow the project to exist and offer these experiences to travelers.
  
  EXCHANGE OPTIONS
  
  Our exchange system is designed to balance individual capacities with community and project needs while fostering learning and responsibility. We offer a variety of options to ensure the sustainability of the project as well as to serve the different needs of those who come - for example, some desire to work more hours, some less, some prefer to have the food provided whilst others prefer to provide their own.
  
  As we are a private project and our host Anthony finances the majority of costs, the project itself is of a NON-PROFIT nature and therefore we have different exchange options that honor the individuals and help ensure that this project can teach, empower and ensure that culture exchange exists.
  
  We offer a variety of flexible exchange options to meet individual needs and project sustainability. All options include:
  
  Accomodation
  
  Access to vegan food ingredients (from garden & store)
  
  Compost toilets, outdoor showers, shared indoor and outdoor spaces
  
  WiFi (communal spaces only – not in tents)
  
  Community events ,circles and rituals
  
  🌀 Work Exchange Options:
  
  15 hrs/week →OPTIONAL no provided food (bring your own) or contribute €45/week with access to +3 meals per day
  
  20 hrs/week → OPTIONAL 2 meals per day or +3 meals for €30 / week
  
  25 hrs/week → no financial contribution - 3 meals per day
  
  ✨ Private accommodation available for anchors or those offering extra hours/skills.
  
  🥗 Communal vegan lunch is shared most days. Breakfast/dinner are DIY, with supplies included.
  
  Volunteering Pathways Accommodation:
  🛖 Anchor Stewards : Private room and bathroom shared with max 1 other person (friend, partner etc) , private Bell Tent or bring your own setup
  🏕️ Standard Volunteer: Large shared Bell Tents, or private camping tent, hammocks, camper van spots or bring your own setup
  🚌 Pickup from local town bus stop is available upon request for arrival/departure
  
  **If you come from a low-income country we can offer a discount on the contribution per request
  
  Dining & eating: We practice conscious consumption; all communal meals are vegan. Lunch is a communal experience and dinner and breakfast is open for everyone to prepare for themselves whether using any of our supplied ingredients or otherwise personally sourced like for those who have special dietary requirements outside of what we offer
  
  Cleaning Responsibilities: Maintaining general cleanliness and a pleasant environment is a collective duty that is not counted as work hours. Regular and consistent efforts are required from everyone to uphold the well-being of our shared spaces.
  PLEASE NOTE : If you do not cleanup after yourself , you will be made aware of it and if this happens repeatedly, we will ask you to leave!
  
  Note: There is no running hot water available in the house but ,we have solar showers and there are hot showers in the Village
  
  If you've read through all of the profiles please use the codeword 'Purpose & Responsibility' when applying so we know you are serious ;)

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  What else ...

  An Invitation to Deeper Connection
  
  We want to share something important: the way you experience us—whether as hosts, friends, family, or something entirely unique—is shaped by the dynamic we create together. We hold space with trust, respect, and openness for everyone who walks through our doors, but with so many incredible people passing through, it’s not always possible for us to initiate every connection deeply.
  
  That said, we truly cherish those who take the initiative to approach us directly, share their desires, interests, and what’s meaningful to them and send us a personal invitation to connect, go for an adventure, do something silly, sit under the stars or something else. These moments of openness allow us to bond on a deeper, more personal level.
  
  We’re also aware that, at times, projections can arise—whether of past experiences with authority figures, teachers, bosses, or even parents. While it’s not always easy, we understand this is part of the human journey, and we’re here to move beyond those narratives with you. We’re not just hosts; we’re fellow humans on this journey, ready to connect authentically, free from past patterns and if you share these triggers and projections with us we genuinely appreciate it to be able to develop our own unique connection beyond projections and into our own magic.
  
  We're not looking for passive helpers. We're calling in co-creators—people who want to live differently, love more deeply, and regenerate with the land. Whether you're here for 6 weeks or 6 months, you are part of something sacred: the weaving of a new culture.
  
  And if you’re someone who feels ready to go deeper—to explore your path as an Anchor Steward, help lead projects, co-hold rituals, and be part of a growing, rooted family—we’d love to chat.
  
  Reach out with your heart. We’ll meet you there. 🌿.
  
  Come with curiosity, leave with growth, and help create a more regenerative world with us!

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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 space has unlimited wifi but it doesn't reach everywhere

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We love having people who bring their vans and own setups - we are also happy to provide a variety of project materials so you can also make your setup space more enjoyable during your stay

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Due to our dog Cacao (17kg) who has trauma with other dogs, we can only potentially per individual request welcome other dogs who are generally bigger than her, are social and not overly sensitive. Their humans need to be able to be trauma informed on some level and be able to work with the potential integration conflict that could take place whilst the dogs adjust and get to respect each other.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Rambo

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  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does Workaway allow some hosts to charge a fee?

  
  

  Workaway provides opportunities for non-monetary cultural exchanges where hosts provide food and accommodation in return for help from Workawayers. In some exceptional cases, a small fee/ donation request (typically no more than 5 dollars per day) may be approved for hosts such as registered charities with a history of positive volunteer feedback. Any fee must directly go to the charity and can only be used to cover the volunteers' food costs. This will be clearly marked on the host's listing.
  

  Listings by agents, "middle-men" or projects that appear to profit from a volunteer's stay are strictly prohibited. Any fees must be discussed and approved in advance by the Workaway team.

  €45/week for food

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