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Description
I'm originally from California and work in tech for my day job. I bought this property to live the dream of self-sufficiency and to prove you can never be too old (or young) to live and work on a farm. This is our first year renovating a 300 year old stone house and vineyards (for personal use only). I've been adding new vines for wine, cleared several terraces and fields, and have built a greenhouse. I have an animal barn that I am converting to a temporary living quarters for friends and volunteers with an incredible view of the Tamega River. My next project is a chicken coop.
My husband, former world champion boxer, putters around, helps cook and adds a funny French character to our life here in the farm. We were nomads for 8 years, living in many countries in Europe and in the US, and finally found a place to call home. We are foodies and love sharing our meals with people.
All of this is organic as the farm hadn't been lived on for 30 years. I'm planting vegetable beds using the French Intensive bio-dynamic methods and have been harvesting vegetables for the last few weeks. I do a lot of the work myself because I love learning how to do things, but I also love learning from the neighbors about how things have been done here for centuries. There is a plunge pool and the river is about 500 meters down a steepish hill, with incredible swimming. It is a little organic paradise. I love hosting big fusion lunches and dinners and do so at least once a month because I love meeting new people. We have one young cat.
for personal use only (no produce is sold)- Volunteers can help with planting and harvesting food from the garden, planting flowers, helping with the vines (I've learned they need a lot of love) and whatever needs doing on this 1 hectare farm (half of which is on a hill looking down on the river).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Interests
Farming
Events & social
Videography
Technology
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Art & design
Books
Plant care
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Writing
Carpentry
Dancing
Cycling
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Nature
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Farm owner is American and speaks English, French and Italian. Boyfriend is French and speaks English and French. There are activities in the area with lots of expats and others who are into organic farming and re-wilding the land who have parties and pizza nights etc, so a great opportunity to meet new people too. As a software company owner I can share about humanitarian technology. Plus I know how to cook incredible food, raise organic vegetables and manage huge complicated projects like rebuilding this abandoned farm, quickly and beautifully. I hope to find volunteers who are mature and good at communicating, independent and who love to initiate and follow through. I love young people (and old) and the only requirement is that people are physically strong and able to go up and down stairs and up and down fields as this property goes up a hill and has many terraces.
Help
I'd like help digging and maintaining vegetable beds, and there is an opportunity to learn about growing grapes as my neighbor/vine manager spends time on them a few times a week. Volunteers can help on the land or help with the various DIY projects depending on interests and abilities. I have a workshop and tools and love learning all of these things too. We are going to build a chicken coop, clear some of the land for things to grow (not sure what yet). Volunteers are welcome to learn skills from visiting artisans and to participate in of the farm projects. I am a gourmet chef and vegetarian (although sometimes I do cook meat) so the food is delicious. We will probably build an outdoor kitchen together so that volunteers can also make their own meals, but meals will also be available in the main house.
The ideal stay of a volunteer would be for 2 weeks to one month, but we are open to longer stays too.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I love learning new languages, so am determined to learn to speak Portuguese this year. I have only ever learned by living in a country and love working things out by just trying.
Accommodation
We currently have one room in the house with shared bathroom, but we're building volunteer housing with compost toilet and warm shower with views of the river surrounded by grape vines. There is a place for a small camper van to park. Open to discuss the options. Camping is also an option. And meals will be prepared and/or food provided for the outdoor kitchen.
What else ...
There are busses 20 meters away but the volunteer has to figure them out. The village with pharmacy, grocery stores, hardware store, gas station, restaurants is a 10-15 minute walk. The river is about a 15 minute walk. We are 20 minutes by car to Marco de Canaveses and Penafiel, and 40 minutes from the Porto airport (by car), and 45 minutes to Porto. Lots to do in time off, plus there are other families that host volunteers so a big community for meeting people nearby.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Tigresse
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