Come stay on a farm near Evora, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  Hi, we have have a small farm near Évora in Portugal.
  The farm is located 35km (20miles) from the city of Evora just 150 Km from Lisbon and 100km from Spain.
  This farm was bought mainly to have our horses close to us since we work in this region and to try to have a more self-sufficient and sustainable approach to life.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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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

  We want who comes to help us to have the most enjoyable time possible, but we hope you understand that we won’t be able to take you out to visit the area too often. Our jobs and the work at the farm won’t allow much time to do it. You'll have to do it on your own.
  However, the farm is located between 3 small typical Portuguese villages on walking distance (around 3Km), each with a tiny grocery store and a local bar where the locals meet for coffee and social company. They are always very pleased and excited to see strangers coming by. Even if they don’t really understand foreigners since mostly only speak Portuguese and maybe a little bit of Spanish.
  There's also Évora just 35 Km (20 miles) away and is one of Portugal's finest and most delightful little towns. It is a true open-air museum with a large number of wonderfully preserved monuments and buildings of public interest that led UNESCO to protect it as a World Heritage Site.
  Closer to home (14km) , there's also the town of Arraiolos where you can visit the Castle, the Arraiolos Tapestry Museum and the "Aldeia da Serra" exibition which is a terracota sculpture garden.
  You can also go to the Divor Lake where you can swim, go fishing (you'll need a fishing licence that you can get at Évora) or bird watching. (HEADS UP: the lake is 15km from my place so if you're not bringing a car your options are to call a taxi, take a bus until half the distance there or to go with Rute on your free days, on her way to her job).

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  Help

  PLEASE READ CAREFULLY OUR PROFILE AND ASK IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. Some people that we've hosted haven't done it and get a little surprised when they get to our place.
  
  That said, we're looking for positive and motivated people that are not opposed to getting their hands dirty. There are lots of different tasks that help with is needed and help required will vary according the time of the year and what needs to be done. You can always send an email specifically asking about what we’ll need you to help with during the time that you intend to stay.
  There are plenty things to do and new things to do show up every day. Unfortunately, during the week we usually work full time and do not get much time to tend to all the things that need to be done. The progress with the work to be done will vary with the weather and the skills and abilities which you will introduce. Nevertheless, we won’t ask anyone to do anything we wouldn't do ourselves.
  We try to treat everyone as individuals, attempt to help within their personal abilities and if possible we'll try to give you new experiences and knowledge. I'm (Rute) a DIY kind of person so I know how to do pretty much a little of everything.
  
  We must warn that although some of the meals that we cook are vegetarian and that we've been trying to eat more vegetarian meals (they’re cheaper and healthier) the truth is that we're also meat and fish eaters so while we can cater for non-meat eaters the menu may not be the greatest every day. Also we must warn that the Vegan philosophy doesn’t really work for us (don’t get us wrong,we don’t have anything against Vegan people and respect their beliefs but there’s just to many restrictions regarding food) so if you’re a Vegan and want to come give us a hand at the farm we'll be delighted to host you, but you’ll have to cook all your meals.
  
  Starting and ending of the day will depend on the weather. But if the temperature expected for any given day should be high you may have to start working as early as necessary to take advantage of the morning’s low temperature. FYI, on June, July and August sunrise is around 06h00m in the morning and by 10 a.m. it can be already extremely hot. Temperatures may go up to 43º Celcius or more!
  You won’t be expected to help outdoors during extreme heat or rain. WeI don’t do it, so why should you have to?
  In the summer, if the expected temperatures are to go above 38ºC working hours start around 06h30. We’d be grateful if you could get yourself out of bed and be ready to start on time by then.
  Yes, we realise that it is indeed very early for many people, (especially because you’ll probably be on vacations) but you'll have the afternoon all to yourself to relax, take a nap or if you so desire it go summing at the lake. Or just simply stay by the pool.
  If it’s not going to be that hot than helping hours start around 07h00a.m. in June, July and August, and 08h00a.m. the rest of the year.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Italian: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  WARNING: The house where the workawayers usually stay is being repaired and the house's recovery is still a work in progress. Therefore, the conditions will NOT be the best. This is also the reason why we won´t be able to host more than two persons at the same time, since they'll have to share the room.
  
  Breakfast will be taken in "your" house and you may have to cook either or lunch or dinner, depending on our work commitments. Nevertheless we'll all eat together at least once a day at the main house. Unless you prefer to have all the meals at the workawayers place. It's up to you.
  Also on your free days you'll have to cook your own food.
  We'll provide the ingredients necessary whenever you have to cook your own meals.
  We will provide you food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but any other food or drinks that you might want between meals will be on you.
  
  Although your room is off limits to us,we’ll need free access to the common areas of the house to get to the other rooms where there are the tools and the horse riding gear.
  Based on previus less than perfect experiences with other workawayeres - thankfully not that many - we think that it is mandatory to warn/remember whoever wants come to our place that although you'll be living in your own house you're still a guest and therefore we expect you to be responsible and mature enough to respect the furniture in the house and the house rules.
  If you prefer there's also lots of space for camping or you can even bring a caravan.
  
  Be prepared with working gloves, a pair of jeans (or any other kind of long leg trousers even during the summer), walking/working shoes, at least a sweatshirt/jacket (even if its during the summer because sometimes it gets cold in the evening) and warm clothes during the winter.
  
  HEADS UP: The Portuguese sun is unforgiving. To work comfortably outside you should have some sort of hat and maybe a light, long-sleeved shirt. If you neglect to cover up the sun will bite you and it will not be fun. Especially if your skin is really white!

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  What else ...

  We like to meet new people and make new friends (hopefully!). We've have been hosting workawayers since 2014 and new friends are always welcome.
  That said, we know that some volunteers are looking mainly for a cheap vacation and some of them don't like the hard work; we totally understand it, but help is needed around the place and that is the main reason why we’ve became hosts. If we ask you to do something it is expected that you to do it and not spend half of the time sitting down waiting for time to pass.
  
  We'll need to know the precise date you will arrive and the approximate date you plan to leave (We can always extend your stay if we get on great, but the walls are not elastic so we do need to do some forward planning).
  If possible, plan to arrive on a Friday. This is not mandatory. You can come any other day of the week. It's just easier for Rute since she'll be the one picking you up at the bus/train station.
  
  Bear in mind that the farm is located in a quite rural area. It’s a great place to relax and if you enjoy horses and animals in general and a quiet rural way of life we think that you will enjoy volunteering at our farm. Nevertheless, we advise you to bring at least one book or something else to occupy some of your free time.
  If you are looking for big crowds and sophisticated wine bars and nightclubs this experience IS NOT suitable to you.
  
  If you want to you can also take the bus to go to the nearest towns.
  Although there are several buses during school time (SET-JUN) and some during July, in August there aren't any.
  The bus stop is around 5 Km from our place.
  
  Your animals are welcome. Nevertheless, like we said, we have dogs. One of them is a MALE dog. So if you’re bringing a female dog you may end up leaving with a litter of puppies since he's a very love giving animal to the ladies. Whichever animal you want to bring please be advised that it will not be allowed to stay inside the house. At the most it can stay in the garage.
  Also, it's not unusual to see foxes, rabits, quails, falcons, wild boars and other wild animals.
  
  Finally, we think it is extremely important to point out that usually hosts spend some of their time and resources by at least preparing their home for a helpers visit (at least we do). There is nothing obligating a workawayer to go to a certain host house and it’s in their right to have a change of heart and decide against going there. However, we find extremely annoying and a complete lack of good manners when people change their mind about visiting and don’t inform the host. There may be other people interested in coming and by not giving the host a heads up, as soon as possible, these rude people are putting in jeopardy those other people’s stay at the said host house. There is no need to make up excuses and what not. Just inform that you won’t be coming after all. We don't think it to be that hard.
  We don’t know the rest of the hosts’ opinion on this subject, but by our book this shows a completely lack of respect, up bring and consideration for a host. We hope you understand this issue and that, please, if for some reason you contact us to come to our place and afterwards change your mind, let us know about it as soon as possible.
  Nevertheless, even if you decide not to come to our little place we wish to you all the best and happy travels.
  
  Looking forward to hear from you soon,
  Rute and Cris

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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

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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