Join us for our olive harvest and stay in our stunning house surrounded by nature near Serta, Portugal

Detalles

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  Descripción

  We are not a commercial business.
  
  Update, Sept 2022 - Getting ready for the Olive Harvest
  
  We've had a lot of personal stuff going on over the long hot summer and so haven't had Workaways, but now the weather is cool enough to do the tasks around the farm which are piling up. Plus November is the Olive Harvest.
  
  We are looking for a team of around 8 motivated helpers.
  
  We are ONLY looking for Workaways that can arrive between 24th October - 28th October and can stay until at least the 20th November.
  
  We are having a start of harvest music party on Sat 29th Oct, so that will be a good way for us to get to know each other.
  
  Olive Harvest
  First we need to do some cleaning and preparation .
  We will start picking around 1st November and probably pick for around 3 weeks.
  We pick my trees plus trees belonging to friends around the area. Its nice, varied work and you will see a fair bit of rural Portugal.
  When the weather is good we pick all day (up to 8 hours). When the weather is bad we take time off.
  You won't be asked to help more than the 24 hours a week agreed by Workaway.
  Once we start picking we need to pick 500kg and get them to the press within 24 hours to ensure the quality of the oil. We produce very high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
  I am happy to explain all the process and do a tasting of all the oils we make.
  
  We take the Olive Harvest seriously and it is not a good time for lazy, flakey people to visit. But if you are a physical person with a good attitude, this is a lot of fun :-)
  Cheers Paul
  
  General
  
  Please note - This is not an offer of a free holiday. We need you to be genuinely useful and add to the project. There are easier placements out there if you just want to relax. On the plus side, we've created an exceptionally lovely Workaway for you here and we promise your hard work will be worth it.
  
  We 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.
  
  In the house we communicate in English and so being able to speak good conversational English is essential.
  Julia also speaks Portuguese, German, Italian and Spanish. I only answer messages in English. Thanks.
  
  If you have a drug or alcohol problem or dependency please let us know before you arrive :-)
  
  WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
  
  A friendly environment in our stunning (unfinished) house, set in its own private valley surrounded by trees.
  
  Peace and quite with plenty of forest and river to explore
  
  The house is large and we have some private rooms for Workaways plus a large dorm. In the summer the house stays nice and cool. Most rooms have heating (from the woodburner) for the winter, so as long as the fire is lit it is pretty cosy.
  
  Nice mattresses and bed linen so you get a good night's sleep.
  
  Hot shower.
  
  Three meals a day made from fresh locally grown produce. We eat veggie or vegan in the house although I do eat meat when we go out.
  
  Please note - we are really happy to provide you with great fresh, healthy, but basic ingredients. If you require expensive supplements, specialist products or wish to eat abnormal quantities of anything, then we kindly ask that you buy these yourself rather than deplete the communal supply.
  
  Do-it-yourself Wood-fired Pizza Parties!!!
  
  The possibility of trips out on Sundays (our day off). We often go to a big lake or have dinner at a restaurant nearby.
  There are also plenty of 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.
  
  We provide (some) free beer and wine for our hard workers.
  
  A washing machine for your clothes.
  
  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 two double basses for you to make music on. I am happy to share what I know.
  
  We regularly get involved with the local Portuguese musicians to put on gigs and are often visited by Paul's UK/USA musician friends. Paul is in a local bands and we regularly host music parties on the farm or in the summer at Julia's river beach cafe.
  
  We have WiFi (now working reasonably well)
  
  Plus the town is only 40 mins walk away.
  
  We have three dogs (smart Tasca, loving Baloo and greedy little Curu) and a cat (Menina), all whom are exceptionally sweet. Many of our friends, who regularly pop over, also have dogs, so this is probably not the place for you if you don't like dogs...
  
  We also have 3 rare breed chickens running around free, causing trouble and hiding their eggs
  
  WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FROM YOU
  
  Four hours help a day, six days a week. The help is physical, so expect to be tired. 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.
  
  Any gardening and building skills are very much appreciated but if you only have energy, enthusiasm and willingness to learn, then that is also grand.
  Please however do let us know when you apply, if you have never used basic tools such as an electric drill.
  
  Taking your turn, unprompted, to cook, wash up, lay the table, clear away and keeping the house clean.
  Please let us know if you have always lived with your parents and have not taken care of yourself before.
  
  We have communal lunch and dinner together every helping day. We see meal time as a very important part of the day, so please join us.
  We want to hang out with you!
  
  We would very much like it if you could try to integrate with the other people living in the house. We usually have around 3 to 5 workaways (although sometimes 15 during the olive harvest) plus friends, musicians and random strangers in the house at anytime, although it varies daily. When everyone pulls together it creates a really lovely atmosphere.
  
  Your smiles, enthusiasm, ideas, recipes, crafts, opinions, jokes, games, music and anything else that you can think of that makes community life fun and rewarding.
  
  ABOUT THE FARM AND ITS OWNER
  
  Hi, my name is Paul.
  
  In June 2015 I bought this farm, a beautiful, abandoned terraced farm in Central Portugal. My intention, along with my lovely Brazilian /German girlfriend Julia, is to create a little paradise through gardening, music and community. The farm is set in its own stunning, private valley close to the nice little town of Serta. Come and share our home.
  
  My dream of living communally in the countryside began 30 years ago when I spent a long night analysing what living environment would suit me best. I have had this dream in my mind when making most of my life decisions.
  
  So my hopes and dreams for the Quinta (farm)....
  
  I would like to increase the beauty and biodiversity of the place, even as building work commences.
  
  I would like to follow organic/permaculture principles and welcome expert advice. Currently finishing the house is the main priority but we did have half a dozen terraces laid out for veg.
  
  I would like everyone on the farm to do tasks together in a friendly manner with a sense of community. I dislike rules and rotas, instead I prefer to activate the inner community spirit we all hold within us.
  
  The general principle for staying will follow a Workaway model. Four hours a day, six days a week for basic food and lodging. We all take turns to cook, and we expect you to take regular turns too. Please have some simple cheap recipes prepared.
  
  I would like us to grow as much of our own food as possible. We already have had some amazing veg and fruit and are planning for much more next year.
  
  Apart from growing food for our own consumption we can also grow to sell. Anything of good quality we can bottle or jar can be used in my pub in London.
  
  There is a derelict barn on the site, (we call it the Chicken Hotel), which has 39 double rooms, and, when developed, could host yoga/massage/music/creative retreats. This is some way off so yoga teachers, hold your horses!
  
  I would like to engage with and complement the local community. This has been going well and we have formed strong ties and friendships. The Portuguese are charming people.
  
  I would like to hold an annual musicians festivals (100 people) plus smaller parties through the year.
  
  I would like to reforest the entire valley with native/food forest trees. We have felled several hundred Eucalyptus and Pine trees. This area has escaped the forest fires for decades but it was sensible to make the farm safer. The area around the house is now clear, safe and planted with fruit trees.
  
  I have spent the past 18 years building up a folk music pub in London. I still own the business and am hoping the farm will tie in with the great music scene we have in London. I have now put on dozens of gigs and festivals in the local town, to great success, and we have a steady stream of skilled and experienced musicians through the house.
  
  I'd like to one day build a small recording studio in the old pigsties. Two albums have been recorded here already.
  
  I enjoy a challenge and don't mind working hard!
  
  I guess I am a hippy in some ways but I am not just a dreamer, I guess I am also a capitalist in some ways, but with ethics and compassion.
  
  If you would like to get stuck in please get in touch.
  
  Cheers
  Paul and Julia

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Práctica de idiomas

  Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos

  Jardinería

  Proyectos de construcción y bricolaje

  Cuidado de animales

  Ayuda en una granja

  Cocinar para toda la familia

  Ayuda doméstica

  Mantenimiento general
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  Objetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión

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  ¿Que es esto?
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  We can show you the building skills needed for the jobs you do and power tool use (if we trust you!). I even teach some sensible Workawayers to use the tractor.
  If you are interested in playing music then we have lots of instruments. I can teach you basic guitar and banjo. We can also introduced you to the local musicians and even get you gigs.
  We are gradually learning Portuguese, Julia is teaching us.
  Everyone goes to the market at least once which is fun and a bit scary. Those old Portuguese ladies drive a hard bargain!
  We regularly take workaways to local festas and concerts.
  On Sundays we sometimes take our little motorboat out to explore the huge local lakes.

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  Ayuda

  I will need loads of help to get the place in order.
  
  I am looking help restoring the buildings, gardening, weeding, planting and farming (perma culture)

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  Idiomas hablados

  Alemán: Fluido
  Inglés: Fluido
  Español: Fluido
  Portugués: Fluido

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  Alojamiento

  Its a big house with bedrooms and dorm rooms.
  There is lots space to camp and/or park a camper van.

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  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 which can be fun.
  There is a beautiful river 10 mins walk through the wilderness from the farm and a lovely secluded lake down the valley through the forest.
  There is also a massive lake with a beach and cafe 25 mins drive away, where you can swim/boat/waterski etc.
  The nearest bar is only 400m away at the end of the drive, it's got a pool table and table football.
  The farm is very quiet so besides watching the birds you have to make your own entertainment. We have instruments, games and a selection of films 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.

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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  Horas esperadas

  No more than 25 hours per week. Don't mind if Workaways take time/weekends off to go explore Portugal

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