Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
31 Oct 2025
Reply rate
93.8 %
Usually responds within 6 days
Feedback
15
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Welcome to our cosy little corner of the world — a cheerful farmhouse nestled in the hills above Santa Cruz, on the lush and lovely island of Madeira.
I’m Tom, and I live here with my daughter Eli, our wise old dog Murphy, two slightly mysterious cats, a gang of chickens, some fish with attitude… and more lizards than we could ever count (they’re not officially pets, but they certainly think they live here).
Perched up in nature’s embrace, we’re spoiled with sunrise ocean views and a peaceful environment that inspires healthy living, sustainability, and meaningful connection. We love meeting people from all walks of life and swapping stories, meals, ideas — or just a good laugh over a shared moment.
Our home is your home while you’re here, so come as you are, make yourself comfortable, and feel free to join in wherever you like. We’re always up for good conversation, a bit of fun, and a meaningful cultural exchange — all with the goal of creating a genuine sense of connection and a feeling of home, together.
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
Interests
Pets
Sustainability
Vegetarian or vegan
Self development
Farming
Plant care
Music
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Cooking & food
Gardening
Photography
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Animals
Cycling
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Water sports
Mountain
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Fitness
Camping
Beach
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our aim is to create a mutually enriching space where travellers feel truly welcome and at home, while also contributing to the rhythm and life of our household. We see cultural exchange as something that goes far beyond the daily tasks — it's about learning from one another, sharing skills, and forming connections that can last a lifetime. We’re excited to share our home with you and hope it becomes a space of growth, laughter, and meaningful experiences for everyone involved.
Madeira is a treasure trove of natural beauty, and we’d love to show you some of our favourite local spots — from peaceful hiking trails and vibrant cultural events to secret snorkelling coves perfect for a refreshing dip.
Ideally, we’d spend time together in and around the home and garden, with your help on the everyday things as they come up — feeding the animals, doing a bit of weeding, helping with meals and keeping things tidy. Between the work, we love to unwind with board games or cards, lounge in the hammock, get creative with some art or music, or simply enjoy a good book.
We usually take short daily walks with Murphy ( and when time and weather allow, we try to head out once a week for a longer adventure — whether that’s the beach, the mountains, the forest, or visiting friends. You’re very welcome to join us on these outings, but since they're not always guaranteed, we recommend planning your own explorations too if you're keen to see a lot of the island or go on longer hikes.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We’re looking for open-minded, curious individuals to join us in the rhythm of daily life here at our little farmhouse. We value a collaborative spirit where everyone’s unique skills, stories, and ideas are not only welcomed but celebrated.
There’s always something to get involved in — from helping in the garden (think weeding, pruning, planting, or keeping the space tidy) to lending a hand around the house with things like cooking (bonus points if you use our homegrown veggies!), laundry, dishes, or light cleaning. We also have a few furry and feathered friends who could use some love — feeding the chickens, giving the cats a brush, or taking Murphy out for a walk.
Eli, my daughter, is a bundle of energy with a curious mind and an unexpectedly ‘old soul.’ She thrives on meaningful conversation, creative projects, and good company. If you enjoy sharing stories, crafting, building, or just spending thoughtful time together, your presence will be a real gift — and a great influence on her learning and growth. And if you’ve got a passion or talent you’d like to share, we’re all ears!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Accommodation
We’re happy to offer our Workawayers a cosy and private place to stay. Just beside our main house, there’s a small cottage with its own bathroom — your own peaceful little retreat.
Along with your private space, you’re more than welcome to enjoy the shared areas in our main house and garden, tucked away in a quiet and remote spot surrounded by nature. We aim to create a sense of community, where shared meals, chats, and spontaneous moments can happen naturally.
We believe a comfortable, welcoming space makes all the difference in a great Workaway experience, and we’ll do our best to make sure you feel truly at home here.
What else ...
If there are two of you planning to come, we’ve got enough space for both — as long as you’re happy to share our small garden cottage and a cozy (but big!) bed.
Just a quick heads-up: our home is in a more remote spot, not in Santa Cruz town itself. While there are a few buses that pass nearby each day, getting to and from Funchal (the main city) can take a bit of time. So, if your heart is set on spending lots of time in the city, our place might not be the most convenient base.
Public transport on the island tends to be a bit slow and not very frequent. Renting a car is quite pricey, and most guided tours leave early in the morning from Funchal. With that in mind, you may want full days off to go exploring, hiking, or joining tours. One option we’re open to is condensing work time — for example, doing 3 full days (around 8 hours per day) in exchange for 4 days of free time. It can take a bit more coordination, but if we talk about it in advance, it’s definitely doable.
Depending on our own schedule (and the weather!), we’re also happy to help with lifts now and then, in return for a small fuel contribution. While we can’t promise every ride, we often head out ourselves and may be able to combine our trips with dropping you off at nearby hikes, beaches, or places you'd like to explore.
If you have any questions about this — or anything else — we’d be happy to chat on the phone or via video call before you arrive.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (7)
We had a great variety of the tasks. Tami cooked colorful and delicious whole-food… read more
I mostly helped out with projects in the garden and I appreciated how Tom tailored the work to my skills… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
We had a great variety of the tasks. Tami cooked colorful and delicious whole-food… read more
I mostly helped out with projects in the garden and I appreciated how Tom tailored the work to my skills… read more
We had a lot of fun playing Board games, cooking, baking or doing creative tasks.
I was able to learn a lot about myself and collect… read more
During my free time, I was invited to various outings with Tom, Steff, Ellie and Murphy.
As the weather was not really good for a good part of… read more
In Tom, Steffi, and Eli's home, I felt very at due to the garden and its wide view. Since Tom… read more
