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Host rating
65 %
Last replied
22 Nov 2023
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1
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Details
Description
Hey folks, I have a solid little stone house nestled in a magical valley in North Portugal. The land is densely forested with lots of native trees including heaps of big oaks, sweet chestnuts and medronhos (strawberry fruit tree). Below is a powerful stream with a series of pools and waterfalls, it's extremely green and lush. I'm currently setting myself up for off-grid living with solar, compost toilets, spring-water taps, wood burning stove. In the future I would like to plant a sub-tropical food forest, so for now I am weeding out invasive species and bio-engineering sections of the land which are very steep with grasses and bamboo, more specifically an Indian grass called Vetiver. Next step will be to repopulate these areas with native shrubs and trees and help rehabilitate the forest. So if any of those projects interests you. Sometimes I see the land as a huge, living, evolving art piece, since I am carving and shaping it, and layering more life/shades/colours, want to co-create a live art piece?
I have two neighbours in the Valley, my friend Andrew who is also on Work Away (maybe I can add a link here?), and a small family of 3 including a beautiful baby girl. Me and Andrew have a similar vision for the land and are keen to host yoga/meditation retreats, vision quests, men's and women's circles and maybe small festivals in the future. Mario, Yana and Jaia are literally the heart of the Valley in my eyes they radiate love, and they're almost completely self-sufficient. Their home and land, and what they have created is so idillic. Both my neighbours have dogs which are super friendly. Future joint community projects include a bicycle powered washing machine and hydro-power for Winter.
A bit about me, I'm in my early 40's, single, semi-retired, born in England but well traveled and lived the last 5 years in Australia. I would describe myself as really easy going and pretty laid-back, but with attention to detail, bit of a perfectionist (for better or worse). I like to practice yoga/meditation, and generally focus a lot on health. I'm currently eating a more animal based diet (locally sourced/grass fed/nose to tail) for protein/collagen and optimal nutrition whilst rehabilitating my knees which have started to show signs of age/wear and tear. I know this is a controversial subject with the rise and popularity of veganism, I've been there done that, I was vege/vegan for 10 years so I've got good reasons why I made the switch back. I also eat a lot of fruit, LOVE fruit, definitely one of my most pleasurable past times. Dancing is also a passion of mine and I love letting loose at Festivals or Conscious Dance events (ecstatic / 5 rhythms etc.). Other than that I keep pretty busy working on the land and just love being so nature immersed here.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
*3/4 yrs off-grid living including growing food / irrigation systems / chainsaw work / basic permaculture design
*40+ yrs of life experience
*Yoga/Meditation experience (10 yrs Yoga practice & 7 x 10-day Vipassana Meditation sits)
*Local Portuguese culture
Help
*Collecting spring water
*Chopping fire wood
*Weeding
*Planting
*Assist building projects
*Landscaping
*Co-pilot on City trips (maybe a spot of dumpster diving)
*Natural building (forest means lots and lots of wood)
*Fruit picking
*Making preserves (jams/chutney's/pickles)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I am super inspired and motivated to learn to speak Portuguese fluently, I want to get to know the local people on a deeper level.
Accommodation
Own Bedroom in Stone House with huge comfy mattress and organic cotton bedding OR large 6m Bell Tent in the forest also with huge comfy mattress (there is space in the lay-by for Campervans).
I will cook more of the same as what I eat to share with any volunteers (although my diet is pretty bizarre to some), or if they have different/more specific dietary requirements I can buy different foods or give volunteers an allowance to buy themselves. Then they can cook and eat when they desire. I'm pretty flexible.
What else ...
There are lots of walking trails, wild swimming options, local gatherings/parties, flea/farmers markets and festivals, both on the land and in the local area. I drive to town a few times a week and there are bus stops nearby but I've never taken the local bus.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I now have a Wifi router.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a quiet / shady / relatively private lay-by at the top of my track with lots of space.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
4 hrs per day
Feedback (1)
To everyone reading I can really recommend to go to that little land in Portugal and spend time in the nature that I, at a certain point, consciously called paradise with the community of Rich and the other valley habitants.
I was welcome since my first day.
What I liked very much about it was… read more
Feedback
To everyone reading I can really recommend to go to that little land in Portugal and spend time in the nature that I, at a certain point, consciously called paradise with the community of Rich and the other valley habitants.
I was welcome since my first day.
What I liked very much about it was… read more
