Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
2 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 41 days
Feedback
8
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
July 2022, Lars, our dog Athos and Ayla moved from the Netherlands to Portugal.
We found our dream home in de Gouveia area.🍀
There are two big houses that we have to renovate and 4.5 hectares of land. The land is surrounded by boulder rocks to climb and go on hikes. There is a stream and three big wells.
We are starting a food forest and permaculture garden. There will be sheep, chickens, and pigs to maintain the garden, feed the soil and to have good company.💚
This is the very beginning of our big project. We have always wanted to live a self sustainable life, and now it's finally here! Our new home is completely off the grid, but still a short walk to the little villages Vila Franca Da Serra and Vila Ruiva. Also, just a 15-minute ride to Gouveia, a small big city :)
We are both still young, love to have fun and meet new people. We want to share this beautiful place with workawayers from all over the world.
Our dog Athos was born in 2021. He is very kind, smart, and gentle with everyone.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will experience a self sustainable project from the very beginning. How do you start and what do you need to become self-sufficient? Maybe this gives you inspiration and the tools to start your own project one day.
Lars is an ecological gardener in the Netherlands and can teach you a lot about the land, soil, trees, and everything you need to know.
Ayla works remotely. On her free days she helps with the project, and spends her time doing yoga, reading, cooking.
We would love to learn some Portuguese!
Help
Project overview:
Year 1 – 2024 :
Renovation of off grid house and volunteer/guest room
Renovation of studios for tourism
Rough clean up area
Remove blackberries
Dredging the stream and wells
Pruning trees
Starting vegetable garden
Build stables for chicken, pigs and sheep
From year 2 – 2025:
Herbs/flower meadows
Lay out green fertilizers
Creation of food forest
Building an eco swimming pool
Construction of a raised terrace with pergola and bridge
Build stables for chickens, pigs and sheep
From year 3 - 2026:
Build natural clay-houses
Maintenance of food forest
Pot, store and process food from forest
We love to have big (vegetarian) meals together. Ayla enjoyes to experiment with new meals. We will appreciate help in the kitchen.
(We will need to work a maximum of 4 hours a day, weekends are off. We are not strict at all, but like to have volunteers that like to work, clean up after theirselves and make a change.)
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
French: Beginner
Portuguese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We want to learn more Portuguese! We are still beginners.
Accommodation
We have multiple small/medium tents you can use. For big groups of volunteers we have a big safari tent. We can also provide sleeping suplies, just let us know what you need. There is more than enough space to stay with us with your own camper van or tent.
There is basic accommodation, since we are in the progres of renovating the houses. We have a compost toilet and outside shower. The spring and river beaches close by will also be a nice refreshment.
After the house renovations are finished:
The main house has two floors. Upstairs, our family will live. Downstairs we have a big floor where we will make bedrooms for the volunteers and guests. There will be a kitchen and bathroom, and a big living area as well.
What else ...
We will have a lot of fun. The area is beautiful and located next to the national park Serra Estrella.
You can visit Torre, the highest mountain of Portugal. In the right season, you can ski here.
There are river beaches close by and the beach is an hour drive away.
The land is surrounded by boulder rocks to climb and make hikes. There is a stream and three big wells.
We like to go on hikes with our dog, make fires at night (in winter), play games and of course enjoy a well deserved siesta!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (6)
I enjoyed… read more
Jelmer also showed up for various other tasks,… read more
During the midweek we were working on the renovating of the main house with Lars.… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I enjoyed… read more
Jelmer also showed up for various other tasks,… read more
During the midweek we were working on the renovating of the main house with Lars.… read more
With Lars I was working at the the house restoring the walls which was super exiting! Ayla is a super carrying Person and cook's delicious meals🥦.
All in all it feld like working and spending time with friends💃
Im excided to follow the process!
Wish you all the best 😘
We would have loved to have them over for a longer time and as we told them, they are welcome any time!
Hilde and Aron were… read more
The time we did spent with Ayla, friends and Athos was great as we could already see how kind they were.
The area is beautiful, their land is too and has great potential. Right now, it is still very basic as… read more
