Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Reply rate
73.7 %
Usually responds within 16 days
Feedback
6
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hi, we are Mark and Suzan. Mark is 37 and from England. Suzan is 37 and from the Netherlands. We met a long time ago on an island in Australia and since then have been making many adventures together. Our latest adventure, after living in Amsterdam for a number of years, was to move to the beautiful Portuguese countryside. We bought an old farmhouse and accompanying land, around half a hectare (4400 m2). We have been renovating the farmhouse and starting a permaculture food forest. We have completed the farmhouse and also just completed a guest house made from cork. Both buildings follow many sustainable principles - use of lime mortar, high insulation, solar panels, etc.
Our goal is to complete the guest house and surrounding land for the summer. We also want to turn the land into a rich, organic, biodiverse, food-producing, insect promoting paradise. This will take a while but we are now at the exciting stage of planting trees and bushes.
We know about building and are learning all the time about permaculture. We need help between March and April.
Both Suzan and I have online businesses, therefore we split our time between working online and working on the house and land.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live in an agriculturally rich area of Portugal, with enough rain and plenty of sun to grow anything you want. We are learning ourselves about permaculture and growing nuts, fruit and vegetables. The house we are building follows sustainable principles. We are living in a Portuguese community with a local wood-fired bakery, Chicken Piri Piri, market with fresh local produce and surrounded by traditional farmland and forest. We are both outgoing people and love to socialise for example we like to have an evening with the firepit, barbecues and listen to music. If you like sports such as surfing, kite-surfing, running, football, yoga or mountain biking we would be very happy to join you and take you out.
Help
We're looking for friendly, hard-working and low-maintenance people. You will be working on gardening, landscaping, wall building, irrigation systems, general maintenance, planting trees, chopping and organising firewood and strimming grass. If you are open to it there could also be baby sitting our 1 and 3 year old boys. But this is only if you wish and we discuss this beforehand.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Portuguese: Beginner
Accommodation
You will get your own separate and spacious newly built house with two bedrooms, bathroom, stocked kitchen etc. We are flexible and would be very happy to cook for you but if you prefer to cook yourself and shop for yourself we can give you an allowance for the supermarket. Either way, the fridge will always be full and yours to use. We call ourselves flexitarians and mainly eat vegetarian food but are flexible with our diets.
What else ...
We are also close to the towns Caldas da Rainha and Obidos, both are historically interesting towns. In addition to this Peniche is 30 minutes drive away and one of the best places in Portugal to surf. Foz do Arelho beach is also a great beach to surf and even closer at 15 minutes away. The surrounding countryside is very nice to walk in and we have mountain bikes you can borrow to explore the area.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We work online ourselves and have 1gb fibreglass internet throughout the house. Each room also has a desk to work from.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a large parking area next to the house where you can put a campervan. We have downstairs showers and bathroom which can be used. There is also access to the water mains.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
Thank you for: working so hard for us, being respectful and great company, doing that little bit more, taking our dog Lexie for a walk every day (She misses you), talking to us about books and introducing us to new music.
You were awesome and would be welcome back.
Mark and Suze
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:
(5.0)
Thank you for: working so hard for us, being respectful and great company, doing that little bit more, taking our dog Lexie for a walk every day (She misses you), talking to us about books and introducing us to new music.
You were awesome and would be welcome back.
Mark and Suze
