Join us in a remote beach community to restore stone watermills and preserve nature in Maia, Azores, Portugal

Detalles

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  Descripción

  My name is Alexandre, 32 years old, from Maia - a small town on the north coast of São Miguel. I am a researcher in collective intelligence and decentralized systems, and have lived in several countries, including mainland Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, and Belgium. For the last 7 years I have been studying for my PhD, and alongside my studies, I regularly returned to São Miguel to care for and develop a special piece of land near my hometown, in a place called Viola.
  
  Right above Viola Beach, a wild and secluded beach that is only accessible by a hiking trail, our land is surrounded by freshwater springs, ancient watermills, beautiful waterfalls, and by the ever-present Atlantic Ocean. Work on the land started in 2018, initially by me and my family, then close friends, and in the past two years, workawayers. We have cleaned invasive species such as canas (giant reed) and conteiras (yellow ginger lily), grown vegetables, planted fruit trees and hedges, and progressively built infrastructure to host more people, and more parties.
  
  In the past couple years, we organized 1-month workaway events, hosting groups of 6-8 volunteers. We dream of becoming a thriving remote community, where everyone feels at home, whether they grew up in São Miguel, or arrived yesterday. The host of the workaway is me (Alex) during the year, and during the summer months my friend Romain joins me to help organize larger events and reply to workawayers.
  
  Our goal is to preserve the beach and surroundings, gradually reintroduce endemic species and develop a large permaculture project that combines traditional Azorean knowledge, sustainability, and experimentation.
  
  Joining us this summer will be much more than simply helping with a project — it will be a learning and sharing experience where you'll meet people from around the world, create unforgettable memories, and discover Azorean culture and beautiful nature.

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Proyectos artísticos

  Práctica de idiomas

  Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos

  Jardinería básica

  Proyectos creativos DIY «hazlo tú mismo»

  Cocinar para toda la familia

  Ayuda doméstica

  Mantenimiento básico

  Ayuda informática
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  Intereses

  

  Deportes de aventura

  

  Playa

  

  Acampada

  

  Senderismo

  

  Montaña

  

  Actividades al aire libre

  

  Naturaleza

  

  Deportes de equipo

  

  Deportes acuáticos

  

  Arquitectura

  

  Carpintería

  

  Cocina y alimentación

  

  Bricolaje y manualidades

  

  Jardinería

  

  Historia

  

  Música

  

  Cuidado de plantas

  

  Agricultura

  

  Autodesarrollo

  

  Sostenibilidad

  

  Tecnología

  

  Videografía

  

  Vida en autocaravana
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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

  As a local, I can offer you a genuine experience of Azorean life.
  
  Beyond learning and sharing about land restoration, permaculture, traditional construction, and homesteading, you'll also have the opportunity to participate in local festivities, summer festivals, family gatherings, and community events. We regularly organize meals, celebrations, and social gatherings with friends, family, and neighbours.
  
  Our property is located near a popular hiking trail, so you'll naturally meet travellers from around the world. Friends, locals, and fellow travellers often stop by, and volunteers are welcome to invite anyone they want to.

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  Ayuda

  There are tasks, activities, and experiences for everyone, depending on your interests, skills, and physical abilities. Whether you're passionate about nature and ecology, hands-on construction (building, carpentry, plumbing), creative arts, or simply contributing to community life, there is always something meaningful to do.
  
  LAND & ECOLOGY
  - Clearing invasive species
  - Weeding, trimming, and hedge maintenance
  - Turning canas into compost and mulch
  - Planting and protecting endemic tree species
  - Permaculture projecting and design
  - Composting and controlled burning of organic matter
  - Maintaining the vineyards (and enjoying the grapes!)
  
  CONSTRUCITON & RESTAURATION
  - Splitting rocks using shims and electric hammers
  - Building dry-stone steps and walls
  - Converting an ambulance into a tiny house
  - Learning natural construction techniques
  - Restoring traditional Azorean watermills
  - Beach clean-up days
  
  MEDIA & ARTS
  - Drone and GoPro filming
  - Video editing for YouTube
  - Creating a large glazed ceramic mosaic panel
  - Experimenting with local creek clay and sand
  - Collecting driftwood and stones for decorations and handmade tools
  
  HOMESTANDING
  - Cooking for the community
  - Collecting drinking water from the spring
  - Cleaning and maintaining the site
  - Fishing from the rocks
  - Chopping firewood
  
  ADVENTURES &CULTURES
  - Hiking hidden trails
  - Swimming at secluded beaches and springs
  - Exploring villages and landscapes across São Miguel
  - Discovering Azorean cuisine and local traditions
  - Dancing at local religious celebrations and village festivals
  - Attending summer festivals and cultural events
  
  COMMUNITY & FUN
  - Meeting people from around the world
  - Playing board games
  - Bonfires and parties
  - Hosting visitors, travelers, and locals
  - Sharing stories, experiences, and skills

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas hablados
  Inglés: Fluido
  Español: Fluido
  Portugués: Fluido
  Francés: Principiante

  Este anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
  Este anfitrión ha indicado que está interesado en compartir su idioma o aprender otro.
  Ponte en contacto con él para obtener más información.
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  Alojamiento

  The workaway area is centered around an outdoors/roofed communal area with sofas, woodstove, a traditional stone oven, gas stove, and a fully equipped kitchen.
  
  SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
  - Stone house with one double bed and one sofa bed
  - Two spacious tents (standing height) with two single beds each
  - Plenty of dry, grassy areas for volunteers who prefer to bring their own tents or hamac.
  - One camper van spot in front of the house and a parking down the road.
  
  FACILITIES
  - The property has electricity, internet (5-15 Mb/s), running water, and access to fresh drinking water from a spring just two minutes away.
  - 1 shared bathroom.
  - Warm and cold spring showers are outdoors, with a privacy curtain.
  
  FOOD
  - A fully stocked fridge is provided for volunteers.
  - On work days, cooking responsibilities rotate between hosts and volunteers alike.
  - We maintain a communal grocery list for shared meals, while individuals are also welcome to buy and prepare their own food .
  
  GETTING AROUND
  The nearest towns, Lomba de Maia and Maia, are respectively 3 min and 10 min by car, and 30 min and 45 hour by foot following the coast trail. However, there are many opportunities to travel with hosts, family members, friends, and visitors coming to Viola Beach.
  
  I also have several vehicles available for rent. It is much easier to explore the island by vehicle.
  - Toyota Yaris
  - Renault Twingo
  - 4x4 Mitsubishi
  - Three electric bicycles

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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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  Puede acoger a nómadas digitales

  In addition to working on the land, I am a researcher in collective intelligence and decentralized systems who works remotely. Hence, at Viola we have electricity, internet (15Mb/s), and I have computer screens. So it is a suitable place for laptop digital nomads, despite there not being much space available or dedicated for the purpose.

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  Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas

  There is a spot for a car or a campervan in front of the house and a parking down the road.

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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  Mis animales / mascotas

Seguridad Web

Habla con usuarios que han visitado a este anfitrión

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