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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
7 Jan 2025
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Details
Description
Hi there! We are Lars and Denise from Garden. We are passionate about regenerating landscapes on as big scale as we can. Since we are losing 12 football fields of fertile topsoil every minute on our planet due to destructive agricultural practices, we want to do something about it. As good soil is the key to good food. And good soil starts with trees.
We are inspired by the principles and practices of Syntropic farming — which respects and mimics nature, where the cycling of an intelligent diverse system is the basic fertiliser we need. By mimicking a natural forest, our forest gardens promote biodiversity and resilience, while also providing a home for countless species of plants and animals. We are applying these principles in a natural park in the region of South West Alentejo, Portugal which is experiencing increased droughts and desertification.
We started the project two years ago on this land and have over 9 years experience in agroforestry and land regeneration in Portugal. We love sharing our knowledge with others and have hosted volunteers on our project since it began. If you share this active approach and love being outside working with others, let's plant the change you want to see in the world!
We are striving to live in harmony with nature and each other and have a lovely shared volunteer house and you are welcome to pitch up a tent or bring your van. Our volunteers share meal times together, which we also sometimes join in on.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in agroforestry and self sufficiency, learning from Lars who has over 9 years experience in agroforestry and is happy to share his knowledge. There is lots to learn from how we grow our tree nursery from seeds, propagation techniques and how Syntropic farming principles and philosophy influences our approach to living a harmonious life in harmony with nature. There are many opportunities to connect with the local community through events in the area, including local markets, gigs and cultural events.
Help
Volunteers help us with a variety of tasks, including reforestation, planting vegetable gardens, preparing areas for planting, setting up irrigation systems, plant propagation, and caring for our tree nursery and vegetable gardens. In return, we share our knowledge of Syntropic agriculture, no-dig gardening, and many other regenerative practices we have learned over the years. We work together as a team, sharing the daily tasks.
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Portuguese: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We’re eager to improve our Portuguese we're happy to learn from you and help you practice your language skills too.
Accommodation
We offer volunteers their own room in our self contained 4 bedroom volunteer house, which has a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with a hot shower, washing machine, bedding, fridge etc. We have compost toilets outside and a yoga deck over looking the river Mira. We eat mainly vegetables from our own vegetable gardens and/or have a local organic vegetable supplier where we order weekly vegetable boxes, the fruits and dried goods are provided weekly from local markets and local supermarkets. Vegetarian meals are cooked together or separately depending on the desires of the group.
What else ...
We are 20 minutes by car to the beautiful beaches on the west coast, where there are opportunites to hike the fishermans trail (Rota Vincentina), surf, explore the local towns and take in the national park. There is lots going on in this areas with weekly markets and concerts, yoga, dance and many other workshops being offered in the area that you can connect with in your free time. A car is very helpful to get around and people also car share with others via local telegram groups and hitch hiking works quite well too.
We have a weekly cleaning afternoon on Thursday's which is part of the working week, that everyone takes part in to maintain a clean living space.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We are on a 9 hectare land with beautiful spots to park your camper and river access for swimming.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
