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Beautiful new permaculture food forest and healing community near Viseu, Portugal

  • Favourited 589 times
  • Last activity: 26 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hey hey :)
    I'm Andrew, a 35 year old English guy, and have very recently bought a small quinta (just under 1 hectare) near to Sao Pedro do Sul in the Viseu area together with a friend.
    This is the very start of an exciting long term project where we intend to create a small community, and a thriving and abundant permaculture food forest, with a focus on medicinal herbs and mushrooms.
    We also want to put a lot of emphasis on making this a space for healing. I meditate every day, and do yoga quite often, but the aim is also to integrate many different healing modalities, including qi gong, dance, massage, and plant medicine. So not only the plants will thrive, but all life here!
    We want a community vibe, and that includes volunteers like you, so a longer stay is preferred (at least 2 weeks). This is so that you can settle in and feel at home, and become part of the ecosystem :)
    Special call out to those travellers who are looking for more long term involvement- there is space for you if it feels right!
    Update for winter stays: Hot shower (heated with wood) is set up and working nicely, also I do a fire bath at least once a week (which is like a hot tub!). Comfy campervan with good gas heater is the main guest space in winter.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I have studied quite a bit about permaculture and herbal medicine and forest gardening, so there is a lot to learn about plants and gardening, and the design approach. I'm not suggesting I can offer a permaculture design course like experience with formal training, but rather a real life implementation of permaculture concepts, and getting to know a lot of very cool and useful plants.
    It is also a great chance to get involved and gain first hand experience around setting up these kind of projects from the beginning. I have volunteered at so many established projects over the years, where many things were already in place, and therefore I never learned about how to go about installing such things myself. Now it's time gain knowledge and resourcefulness by researching, and doing, and empowerment through collective support.

  • Help

    Help

    So there is a wide variety of projects that are just waiting to get underway here. As I am here by myself at the moment, a wide range of skills (and also common sense and a willingness to get involved and put energy in) will be very much appreciated!
    Setting up some basics of off-grid living is a priority at the moment, and also getting the terraces ready for planting.
    Carpentry and building skills would be most welcome (but not essential).
    Projects that I am eager to get going include:
    - Constructing a treehouse/ deck
    - Building a new improved compost toilet
    - Clearing the forest, collecting and organising wood...
    - Making the outdoor bathroom beautiful with bamboo and tiles.
    - Establishing a little nursery for germinating seedlings and nurturing young plants.
    - Sheet mulching and other tasks for the food forest (including planting trees etc)
    - Perhaps digging out a pond and setting up a rainwater harvesting system.
    - If you have skills with building/ furniture making/ engineering of any sort, then just let me know and there is space for
    a lot of creativity and freedom!

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Portuguese: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    There are several options here, although I must emphasise that this is not going to be one of the more comfortable places out there! So we have a ruin that has sound and solid walls, floor and a roof- so it is dry and flat, but not very well insulated.
    4m canvas bell tent (glamping style)
    Comfy campervan, with good gas heater for the winter months (making it warmer than my sleeping space!)
    Or you can put up a tent, and I can provide a very comfy mattress and warm sleeping bag. I can provide a tent if you don't have one, and if you would prefer to camp...
    I do have a sheltered area with cooking facilities just outside the house, where we can hang out, have bonfires, and watch the stars.

    I love cooking, and eating good food, and will happily cook for you on the gas cooker or open fire. I grow quite a lot of veggies and also buy from my vegetables from my neighbour, who grows everything organic, so they are super fresh and local. There is a lot of fruit from the trees, and I will be cooking mostly vegetarian (although I don't mind if you want to get some meat occasionally to cook).
    Update: awesome 4m canvas bell tent for the spring/ summer/ autumn months. The upstairs of the stone house now has lime plaster, a sealed window, and functional door.
    P.S. no WiFi, but ok 4g signal 👍

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    As you can see, we are very close to the Vouga river (which looks more like a lake because it is dammed), so you can swim there, and also in the beautiful stream with pools also just a couple of minutes walk from the land.
    Basically, if you love swimming, this place is paradise- two amazing and very different swimming spots less than 5 minutes walk away!
    Theres are awesome mountains around, and lots of nice areas for walking, and local markets, so together we can get to know this area :)
    If you don't mind roughing it a bit, or have a campervan, then I am open to hosting in winter, but the weather can still be quite wet and cold then- so come with good warm gear!
    If you have any questions- don't hesitate to reach out!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    great parking space available with the best view on the whole property!

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    yes, I love dogs, and have one young female dog now :)

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week. I am aware that I am not offering so much in the way of comforts, so more of a do as much as you feel (within reason) approach is better I feel.

Host ref number: 999424794195

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Accuracy of profile: (5.0)

Cultural exchange: (4.7)

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