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Description
We are Ana and André, a young couple (both 33) with a little baby named Eva. Ana studied biology and forest management, while André is an archaeologist, both did the permaculture design course. We have a great love for this mountain and dream to live self-sufficiently in tune with Nature and to restore the native woodland and natural pastures using ecology, permaculture and old land management techniques to create a rich, biodiverse and fire/drought resistant landscape! For this we have a starting, not profit oriented, ecology and heritage preservation project. It is about 100ha of abandoned land in a very remote part of the Serra da Estrela, at 1100m of altitude, where you can expect to be surrounded by mountains and enjoy stillness and the sounds of Nature. We keep heritage breeds and plant varieties and have 40 sheep, 12 beehives, 3 dogs and 2 cats, a small vegetable garden, recenty planted orchard and chestnut grove, rye fields and about 80ha of land to reforest, some of which has already been planted or seeded. There is an archaeological site with ancient graves inbedded in stone. We sometimes make the local Serra da Estrela cheese and use some wild plants as food and medicine, skills that Ana can share with you. This place seems lost in time, and there are still some other shepherds around who still live by the tradicional ways, maybe you can meet them sometimes! Our place is isolated but in the heart of the Natural Park, and there are lots of beautiful natural and historical places to discover by foot or in a car trip’s distance. If you are looking to be somewhere quiet, want to learn about local ecossystems, animals, agriculture, history and culture and are eager to help with physical work outdoors, this is for you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Interests
Hiking
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Culture
Pets
Farming
Books
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Plant care
Photography
Music
History
Gardening
Animals
Team sports
Outdoor activities
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Mountain
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Experiencing life in a very remote part of rural Portugal, inside the Serra da Estrela Natural Park
Learning a variety of off-grid skills like gardening, animal keeping, foraging, cheesemaking, solar energy, permaculture,...
Learning about local species and ecossystems
Learning about the shepherd culture and portuguese history and archaeology
Sharing your experiences, culture and skills with us!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
In 2022 the land burned, and lots of our work has been destroyed. We also have a new little baby to take care of and André is finishing his master´s degree, so we need help with some tasks around the home and garden that we will do mostly together learning from each other.
Languages spoken
Portuguese: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
We still only have the option to host Workawayers in tents we provide or travelling in their own campervans. We have a lovely space with shade and drinking water available. There is a basic solar shower outside.
Near our house we can provide electricity and have wi-fi with unlimited internet connection that you can use.
Lunch will be had together at working days, as for the rest of the meals we will provide you with groceries.
Vegetarian / vegans are welcome, but please be aware that we are not and we raise our animals for food.
What else ...
Keep in mind that to arrive at our land you will have to drive through about 7km of dirt road, which condition depends on the weather and maintenance done by the municipality. It is usually good enough for a normal car to drive through unless it rains a lot.
The nearest small villages are Folgosinho, Linhares and Videmonte (all +- 13km distance), all have small grocery stores, restaurants and a very limited bus, and the nearest towns with supermarket, pharmacies, more buses and other commodities are Gouveia and Celorico da Beira (+-25km)
There are beautiful surrondings and sites to explore in walking distance (mountains, abandoned hamlets, valleys and rivers...) and other special places nearby (peak of the mountain, glacial valleys, historical villages, natural pools, forests,...).
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have unlimited wifi connection at home which can you can acess here or if you park your van near enough (no shade, so it's more difficult at Summer)
Space for parking camper vans
There are some flat spaces apropriate for parking a campervan, and one spot with shade beneath two big trees and drinking water nearby.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Photos
