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Evaluación del anfitrión
100 %
Last replied
5 jun 2025
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90.0 %
Usually responds ≤ 9 dias
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Busca al anfitrión perfecto
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UPDATE
I am looking for a few Workaways to help around the farm.
I need a hand with tasks, like strimming a fire break around the house, cleaning the pool and building a new chicken coup.
I prefer long term volunteers who are looking to help the project grow, rather than those after a quick holiday and some Insta pics.
People with gardening and permaculture expertise are especially welcome.
Digital Nomads and house hunters also welcome .
GENERAL
Hi, I'm Paul. I have big old beautiful (but basic and unfinished) farmhouse set in 6 ha of wooded valley in the middle of rural Portugal. It is 40 minutes walk from the lovely country town of Serta.
Over the past 10 years I've welcomed hundreds of Workaways to my home, to experience a different way of life, in a safe and friendly communal environment. They have helped me gently push this project forward.
We follow the Workaway model of four hours a day, six days a week for basic food and lodging. The work will be physical.
During the summer we tend to start around 7am, since by 11am its roasting, but the rest of the year 9am or 10am works fine. We'd be grateful if you could get yourself out of bed and fix yourself breakfast ready to start for then.
I dislike rules & rotas and instead prefer to activate the inner community spirit we all hold within us. There are plenty of tasks and we expect everyone to pull their weight in a giving and friendly manner, with a sense of community. When everyone pulls together it is the most beautiful way to live.
This is obvious, but I have found it worth saying; the farm doesn't revolve around creating an entertaining holiday experience for you. I am a busy man with a lot going on. You are very welcome to come enjoy my home and join our team, but you need to be supportive of the group, self contained and ready to entertain yourself.
From experience, I find its best to work on a one week trial basis for both parties. If either you are not happy with us, or we are not happy with you, then we part company after a week (or when convenient), with no hard feelings.
We all take turns to cook/wash up, and we expect you to take regular turns too. Please have some simple cheap veggie recipes prepared. We nearly always eat vegetarian in the house, although I do eat meat when out.
If you need a special or expensive diet please let us know when you apply.
In the house we communicate in English and so being able to speak good conversational English is ESSENTIAL.
If you have a drug or alcohol problem /dependency, or a serious mental health issue, please let us know before you arrive. Also, if you hold extreme religious views or consider yourself to be superior to other races, please don't wait until you arrive to tell me! :-)
There is plenty of peace and quite with miles of forest, hills and river to explore.
The house is large, there is a big communal kitchen and living room, I have a separate apartment and we have a couple of private rooms plus a large dorm for guests/workaways.
In the summer the house stays nice and cool, despite temps outside regularly reaching over 40 deg (and we have a pool!).
In the winter, there are many days when its 20 deg in the sun, but very cold in the shade. Nights in Dec or Jan can get down to -5 deg but the rooms have heating (from the woodburner), so as long as the fire is lit it is pretty cosy. Still, you will need warm clothes, good shoes and waterproofs, since it can also rain a lot in the winter and spring.
The house has two hot showers, flushing toilets and a washing machine.
There is also a nice space to do yoga.
We have Starlink WiFi ( working well). We do accept digital nomads.
Beautiful Natural Swimming Pool - no chlorine, the water is cleaned by plants!
There is a derelict barn on the site, (we call it the Chicken Hotel), which has 39 double rooms. One day, I dream of making this into accommodation to host yoga/massage/music/creative retreat but this is many years away, so yoga teachers, hold your horses!
The possibility of trips out. We often go to a big lake for a swim or have dinner at a restaurant.
There are also plenty of local festivals, concerts and a cinema to attend.
We are happy for you to smoke on the terrace, which has a fabulous view across the valley.
For rainy days we have musical instruments, games, books, table tennis and a projector for movies. We like to play board games when we have time. Carcasonne and Catan are both favourites.
We have several guitars, banjos, a fiddle, electric piano, clarinet, harmonicas, melodica, trombone, cajon, full drum kit and even a double bass for you to make music on. I am happy to share what I know.
I regularly get involved with the local Portuguese musicians to put on gigs and are often visited by my UK/USA musician friends. I am in coupe of local bands playing blues, rock and roll, bluegrass and oldtime.
We often host concerts and parties concerts at the house .
We have two dogs (smart Tasca, loving Baloo) and a cat (Menina), all whom are exceptionally sweet. Still, probably not the place for you if you don't like dogs...
THE OWNER AND THE VISION
Hi, my name is Paul, I am from London.
I guess I am a mix of entrepreneur (with ethics and compassion) and a hippy dreamer (that actually gets stuff done).
In 2004 I set up a community folk music pub in London, which I still own and run (despite getting nearly destroyed by Covid). I also have a tourist accommodation business in Portugal. These support this farm project. The farm is not a commercial business.
In June 2015 I bought this beautiful, abandoned terraced olive farm in Central Portugal. My intention is to create a little paradise through permaculture, music, community, left wing activism and positive deeds, although I have hardly started yet.
My dream of living communally in the countryside began 33 years ago, after a long (hungover) night analysing how I should live. I have had this dream in my mind when making most of my life decisions. I now need help making this dream a reality.
Cheers
Paul
We are not a commercial business. We do not expect Workaways to replace local workers.Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje
Práctica de idiomas
Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos
Jardinería
Construcción y bricolaje
Cuidado de animales
Ayuda en una granja
Cocinar para toda la familia
Ayuda doméstica
Mantenimiento general
Cuidado de casas
Objetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión
Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje
I can teach you how to use tools and about the basics of building/farming/mechanics.
If you are interested in playing music then I have lots of instruments and a little knowledge to pass on.
If you already play I can help you record or perform in Serta. We have a partnership with local professional recording studio and I am connected to the local council and venues. We also host gigs on the farm.
I often take workaways to local events, out for dinner or out to swim in a river of lake.Ayuda
I will need loads of help to get this place in order.
Strimming, gardening, tidying, light maintenance etc.Idiomas hablados
Inglés: Fluido
Alojamiento
Its a big house with bedrooms and dorm rooms.
There is lots space to camp and/or park a camper van.Algo más...
The nearest town Sertã is 5 minutes away by car or a 40 min walk. It has 3 big supermarkets, cinema, bus station and many restaurants. They also have regular little events and concerts which can be fun.
There is also a shop and cafe 10 minutes walk in the other direction, in the village.
The farm is surrounded by wilderness and there are lots of great walks in the dramatic hills,forests and by the river. The dogs will show you around.
There is also a massive lake with a beach and cafe 25 mins drive away, where you can swim/boat/waterski etc.
The farm is very quiet so besides watching the birds and walking the digs you have to make your own entertainment but we have instruments, games, projector + films, craft projects and books if the peaceful nature gets too much.
Sertã is well connected to Coimbra, Tomar, Castelo Branco, Porto and Lisbon by buses (Rede Express or Transdev), I will collect you from Serta bus station.Un poco más de información
Acceso a Internet
Acceso a Internet limitado
Tenemos animales
Somos fumadores
Puede alojar familias
Puede acoger a nómadas digitales
Este anfitrión ha indicado que le encanta acoger a nómadas digitales.
Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas
Este anfitrión puede proporcionar un sitio para autocaravanas.
¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?
Más de dos
Comentarios (37)
Communication was good and they arrived without drama. They came to dog sit for me, while I went away for work. When I returned the dogs were fit, healthy and happy and the house was perfect.
Totally recommend these people, they are trustworthy, helpful and very athletic which is perfect for… read more
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Comentarios
Son opciones de calificación adicionales para cuando los miembros dejan sus comentarios. Se muestra la calificación media dejada en cada opción.
Precisión del perfil:
(5.0)
Intercambio cultural:
(4.8)
Comunicación:
(4.9)
Communication was good and they arrived without drama. They came to dog sit for me, while I went away for work. When I returned the dogs were fit, healthy and happy and the house was perfect.
Totally recommend these people, they are trustworthy, helpful and very athletic which is perfect for… read more
Needless… read more
He is keen and listens well. We would welcome him back.
The summer heat was difficult for me, but we chose our own work hours,… read more
and friendly people and take a good care of workawayers. I had really great time with them and feel they are now more friends than hosts. Work was decent and satysfying, always within timelimit. And the place is really beautiful. Paul also took us on local market which was very… read more
Thank you!
Thanks you 🙂
He has my wholehearted recommendation.
Stuart is a professional welder and as such can build you pretty much anything you want out of steel. Like all professionals he benefits from reasonable equipment and a project a manager who gives him clear ,… read more
Total pleasure having him on the farm.
Intelligent, interested, capable, helpful, hard working, kind, caring.....I could go on but you get the idea. Amazing considering she is so young.
I can totally recommend her for your project, just send her back this way afterwards.
We wish her luck with all her adventures.
I was there for the olive harvest which held a real community feel to it, it was great to experience and learn about how it's all done. We even had a group… read more
Yes, that room can be chill. I checked daily if they were ok and suggested they move to the warmer dorm next door but they said they were fine.
The ceiling lights that went down during some rain but we still had table lamps around so no one was in the dark.
The WiFi was indeed broken. Courtney and her friend… read more
They got thrown in the deep end here, when they arrived in the middle of a music festival we were holding, but with practically no instruction they immediately found their feet and started to be useful. Over the next few months they continued as they started, working hard in the… read more
We worked hard but I lo E gardening and getting a result so for me it was great. I cleared all the Ivy off a long and… read more
Magic land and quirky property in the process of been restored, there are… read more
I wish 1 in 10 Workaways were half as good as Ryan.
Paul is truly inspired by his property and it's great to share in his inspiration, making everyone feel like they have an important role to play in helping him build his dream!
Work was always very varied at the… read more
My experience with this community was my first workaway and I couldn´t ask for something better.
Nice people, nice talks, Nice and healthy food, good enviroment, beautiful views, nice bed, nice shower and a beautiful small town very near from the farm.
If you are looking to be… read more