Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
4 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
15
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Details
Description
We are a family of six, originally from the UK. Since 2014, we have been living off-grid on a small quinta (approx 1 hectare) in the Serra do Açor region of central Portugal.
We’d love for you to be part of developing our dream of living more sustainably and in balance with our surroundings.
Prem works 4 days a week as a web programmer and spends much of the rest of his time planting trees and shaping the land for optimal water retention and growth.
Roshnii is a birthworker, mentor and workshop facilitator working part-time from home and is the main guardian of the vegetable garden.
Our four kids, aged 16, 13, 9 and nearly 1 are home and community educated, so play a big part in the daily life in our home and land.
We like playing games, reading stories, watching movies and generally having fun. Our other interests include music, art, yoga, meditation, science, travel to name but a few. We are a vegan/vegetarian household.
Our home is a rustic schist building powered by solar electricity and heated by woodburner. The land is spread over several terraces that lead down to a beautiful stream. In our valley live several other families and diverse wildlife.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have both been volunteers ourselves and know what a positive experience this exchange can be.
We can offer you the experience of being immersed in off-grid family life, living close to nature in a beautiful environment. We are happy to share with you what we understand about organic growing and permaculture principles, although we acknowledge that we are learning all the time.
We are passionate about natural health, including pregnancy and birth, vegan/vegetarian diet, alternative forms of education, socio-economic change, conscious communication, parenting and personal development.
And of course, if you are not a native English speaker, you will naturally become more fluent staying with us.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
You can help us in a number of ways.
On the land, we need assistance with planting and maintenance of land and garden. This includes:
Gardening – preparation, sowing, planting, weeding, mulching, watering
Reforestation – planting native trees, clearing invasive species (eucalyptus & mimosa),
In our home, you could support us with cooking and cleaning as well as spending time with our children. Help us with DIY
With our work, you may have skills or interests related to our other work, such as IT, writing, language or marketing skills.
We encourage you to share your own passions and expertise with us.
We are looking for self-motivated, enthusiastic individuals who are happy to be part of lively family life.
We propose a one-week trial period in which we get to know each other and decide whether we are all happy to continue the volunteer arrangement. If, for any reason, any of us feels we are not compatible, we can part ways without any hard feelings.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate
Hebrew: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are all (adults and kids) very keen to improve our Portuguese so we actively invite native Portuguese speakers to come and stay with us and help us practise general conversation and possibly more.
Accommodation
From April – September we can offer you accommodation in a tent with shared use of an indoor kitchen and bathroom.
If you wish you can bring your own tent / van.
In the colder months, we can offer indoor accommodation.
What else ...
In our local area, you will find traditional Portuguese villages based on subsistence farming and an incredible mountainous landscape with terraces and water systems built over centuries. The nearest villages are a 20-30 minute walk away. There is a network of beautiful walking trails around here as well as many magical rivers, waterfalls and swimming spots.
Larger towns are a 40 minute drive away, where you can find libraries, shops, supermarkets, swimming pools, cinemas etc.
One of the special features of this area is the thriving international community of people who have come from all parts of the world to find a new way of life here based on principles of permaculture and sustainability.
Amongst us we arrange regular markets with crafts and local produce, workshops, music jams and events, communal work days and other classes and groups to participate in, such as singing, dance, writing, yoga and many more.
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
Feedback (7)
During the days i helped to clear land ( broom and brambles ) gather and cut wood, and build a wooden fence out of mimosa trees.
Evening times… read more
George gave us lots of help on the land, clearing paths and brambles and helping to build a natural woven fence, among other things. He fitted in really easily with… read more
It was very good for us to practise… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
During the days i helped to clear land ( broom and brambles ) gather and cut wood, and build a wooden fence out of mimosa trees.
Evening times… read more
George gave us lots of help on the land, clearing paths and brambles and helping to build a natural woven fence, among other things. He fitted in really easily with… read more
It was very good for us to practise… read more
Thanks Hannah, it was super… read more
It was our first time doing the workaway and so we weren't sure what to expect, and we are very pleased to have chosen this family for our first experience.
Surya, Kali and Sashi are really amazing kids, the whole family is very talented and very conscientious.
The environment is very beautiful and its a… read more
They were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and fun to have around.
Artem is a skilled carpenter and craftsman. Michelle was a great help in the garden, and is an expert in natural health and kinesiology.
Thanks for your help, guys!
They cooked delicious food and helped around the house, which lightened our load. The kids loved hanging out with them.
They took care of our house and land for a month while we were… read more
The description of the profile is really accurate.
There was a lot about natural birth that Roshnii taught us, we saw first hand how unschooling/community schooled kids work (Surya, Kali and Sashi are all so different from each other. We had a blast with them, always playing games or having a… read more
They were a real pleasure to have around. They were fun, hardworking, conscientious. They helped make even the least glamorous tasks seem appealing and took a positive attitude to everything.
The whole family enjoyed their company. They were… read more
