Help with reclaiming, repurposing and maintaining an old house and garden near Santarem, Portugal

Details

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  Description

  I am a retired Brit living in village close to Almeirim in the Santarem area of the Ribatejo. The main industry here is growing and making wine. After 10 years living on the Silver Coast I moved here and have acquired an old house that used to be an adega ( facility for commercial wine making) that I have been restoring from it's ruinous state into a comfortable home while preserving some of its unique heritage.
  
  I have several friendly dogs, two Lusitano horses (the horses dont live at my house) and work sometimes as an equestrian writer and trainer.
  
  Please be specific about what dates you want to come having first looked at my calendar. If it is in red there is no current availability. I will not be answering messages asking for stays outside of the times marked as potentially available in my calendar (which used amount to to about 80% of messages I got until I added that note)
  
  Please read and digest my whole profile before you message me.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I feel competent to impart my knowledge of ... gardening, Horse training, Cookery (see my feedback), The British sense of humour. Spurious advice gleaned from six decades on the planet.

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  Help

  Our goals.. maintaining the garden, weeding, harvesting, planting, preserving ( and eating ) fruit and veg. Seed saving, propagation. Continuation of landscaping. Various reclamation projects involving painting and carpentry/furniture restoration or repurposing. I try to task volunteers with jobs they are both competent and happy with, everyone can do something of value.
  
  Aptitude for cleaning and tidying appreciated. An interest in DIY skills carpentry particularly, painting , mosaic, repurposing and reclamation projects desirable. An artistic bent might be allowed expression. No under 18's please. We are LBGT friendly. English speaking is a requirement for all volunteers (it doesn't have to be perfect!) Applicants need to be self starters, willing and able to get out of bed in the mornings, not physically weak and with the ability to follow simple instructions without constant supervision. I provide food. Please state your food preferences or aversions prior to arrival or anything else that might be an issue for you.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Two guest bedrooms . When reclamation progresses guest apartment will have its own separate bathroom, currently has to share main bathroom.

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  What else ...

  There are country walks and hiking, bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, post office, bank, chemist, hairdressers and more in our small town. There is a small grocery shop bar/cafe about 100 metres from home. The main shops area is about 1km away. In Almeirim (5km), the nearest big town,there is much more bustling life and a bus station. Across the river in Santarem (12km) you may even find night clubs and a railway station. I'm sure there are local bus services but you'd have to Google them.
  
  People tell me that I have a great sense of humour but it is a little dry. The following comments have been added due to the experiences I have had with previous WW'ers
  
  I like vegetarian food so long as I can have meat with it. Vegetarians are welcome but any who want to lecture me about that will get short shrift. Sorry no vegans, I had too much grief with them already.
  
  Alcohol is very cheap in Portugal and drugs decriminalised. I occasionally enjoy a glass of wine (often as little as 30cents a glass in the cafes here) but take a dim view of people who want to come here just to get smashed out of their faces on one or the other and spend nights sleeping in bushes on their way back from the bars.
  
  Smokers outside the house are ok, but bear in mind any fires are strictly prohibited during the at risk drought season and anyone starting one potentially faces jail time.
  
  Yes we have WIFI but only if you bring your own appliance to receive it with.
  
  Couples - It's challenging sometimes I know (I have 3 ex-husbands) but having high volume domestic screaming/slanging matches in the street outside my/our neighbours houses will not be tolerated.
  
  Having spent my life as an Agnostic shift worker and in animal care I do not give weekends or public/religious holidays any priority. Your work week will start the day after you arrive and after 5 days have 2 off. If you are intent on having weekends off arrive on a Sunday afternoon.
  
  I'm not even sure why I have to say this but apparently I must... If two of you come both need to work.
  
  If you arrange to stay for 2 weeks unless. We have a major disagreement I expect you to stay for 2 weeks. I have put off other people who wanted to come so it is a slight on both them and me to leave without notice after a few days.
  
  Please check the health of any still living grandmother's you have prior to agreeing to come here. Last minute cancellations due to death or unexpected hospitalisation of the aforesaid seems to be a risk.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Fibre internet

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Easy access. Suitable for any size of vehicle

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Sociable dogs yes but not children under any circumstances.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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