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Évaluation d'hôte
100 %
Last replied
5 sept. 2024
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96.2 %
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Trouvez votre hôte idéal
Séjour min. souhaité : Au moins deux semaines
Infos
Description
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FROM THE END OF AUGUST AND ALSO FOR THE OLIVE SEASON IN NOVEMBER!
A couple, based in beautiful Portugal, with five horses, six dogs, two cats, several chickens, and two dwarf goats. Accommodation is in a large modern caravan (maximum 2 people) next to the house plus all meals in exchange for 5 hrs a day over 5 days or 4 hrs over 6 days. We're flexible for the right people!
Please note that volunteers MUST be able to understand/speak English. This is for safety - if a horse is about to kick you*, you don't have time to use a translation app!
*One horse has kicked one volunteer once, about 7 years ago :)Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Pratique d’une langueJardinageBricolage et constructionS’occuper des animauxAide dans une fermeAide à la maisonEntretien généralEchange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
This area of Portugal has a traditional culture and lifestyle which is very different from the more developed tourist centres. Volunteers learn how to care for horses and other animals in a natural setting and can explore the historically important city of Tomar.
Aide
We have hosted around 250 volunteers since 2011 and many have returned (some several times!) and become firm friends. We have learnt a lot from our experiences which is condensed below:
This is a busy farm and the help is physical - poo picking daily in the rain, sun, mud and dust therefore you must be reasonably fit. You must have some life skills such as being able to paint, chop wood, do basic DIY and be confident around the animals. 90% of the help is outdoors; gardening, painting and general maintenance.
We don't micro manage volunteers so you should be a self starter who can do tasks on your own initiative. We are social people and enjoy eating together in the evening, chatting and playing board games. We value 'down time' for both ourselves and volunteers; expect impromptu visits to the lake in the summer or movie days during the winter.
Household chores are shared - if you enjoy cooking or baking you are very welcome!
Our horses are all retired - apart from the occasional short hack - but you are welcome to groom and chat with them whenever you like.
The area is rural and there are no shops within walking distance; there are buses twice a day to/from Tomar. If you can drive we have a car you can use as long as you pay for the fuel so please bring your driving licence.
Please note we can't accommodate families or volunteers travelling with their own pets.
Being old in body (but not in spirit!) we prefer volunteers over the age of 25 but it's not a hard rule.
We ask that volunteers take a Covid test prior to arrival.Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Portugais: DébutantHébergement
Modern caravan converted into a cabin or annex (both contain one double bed plus workspace). Shared bathroom and kitchen.
Autres infos...
Beautiful area, close to the historic town of Tomar and the lovely Castelo do Bode reservoir for all water sports.
Informations complémentaires
Accès Internet
Accès Internet limité
Nous avons des animaux
Nous sommes fumeurs
Familles bienvenues
Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads
Excellent, unlimited Wifi. We both work from home and there is a workspace in the volunteer accommodation.
Espace pour garer des vans
Plenty of space and electric hook up available.
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Deux
Nombre d'heures attendues
4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (79)
Throughout our stay, we learned many new skills, including animal care… read more
Photos
Feedback
Ce sont des évaluations supplémentaires en option lorsque les membres laissent un feedback. La note moyenne pour chaque option est affichée.
Exactitude du profil:
(4.9)
Échange culturel:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)
Throughout our stay, we learned many new skills, including animal care… read more
I can highly… read more
We had a great one month stay with Sarah and James on the farm despite some unusually wet weather.
We were lucky enough to be there during olive harvest. It was super cool to be involved in the process from start to finish.
Other than. Olive harvesting we took care of all the lovely animals daily. All of whom we miss… read more
The accommodations were comfortable and cozy, with excellent wifi and even better sleeps.
The countryside was absolutely beautiful, and the animals... I can not say enough of how much I loved the sweet animals, all very happy to receive… read more
The job was easy to do once you get use to all the names and the routines, you get assigned with a couple of extra tasks everyday but nothing hard.
There is plenty of food and the place to stay is clean and has everything… read more
I was made to feel welcomed and at home from the moment I arrived. All of the animals are absolutely fantastic characters and have the best life provided for them - it was a privilege to contribute to… read more
THIS GUY IS AWESOME!!! We've hosted well over 200 volunteers - Alex is comfortably in the top five. He's a brilliant worker who will take on any task without supervision and see it through to completion. In the… read more
We'd be very happy to welcome her back and can highly recommend her to future hosts.
Sarah & James are a friendly, open-minded, sociable couple that will invite you to their world and treat you as a friend or a family member.
What to expect? Daily chats and inspiring conversations, drinking coffee / tea /… read more
The job you have to do is not very hard and it will keep you active and fit.
If… read more
Thank you so much for these last wonderful weeks. James and Sarah are very caring and funny and we quickly felt comfortable living with them. All the animals are so affectionate and fun to be around with all different characters. We would do the daily routine in the mornings feeding the horses and… read more
My 5-week experience at the farm was far more rewarding and wonderful than I could have imagined. You guys made me feel totally at home and I am so very grateful for having had this opportunity. At first, I had to get used to the situation because every day on the farm was different and required different skills. But… read more
Togehter with the other workawayer Padraic we always had fun, doing garden work,… read more
Sarah and James are the perfect Hosts, we have so many good memories and are missing this place already.
The Work-times were great. Waking up early in the morning and doing the daily routines, and then heading up to some great building projects made a lot… read more
They were with us for just over four weeks and achieved so much - from the olive harvest to converting a shed into a useable room, helping with the animals, gardening, building fences and the day to day running of the… read more
24 hours after she arrived Maaike decided to leave - she didn't really give a reason. She seemed… read more
They achieved a huge amount of work in that short time from making a new gate to (lots!) of weeding and looking after the animals - all done with enthusiasm, common sense and good humour. They were also excellent company, great… read more
The work was never too hard and the hours never too long and they were very flexible and relaxed about it. Apart from the morning… read more
Very, very happy to recommend Yasmin to future hosts but we'd much rather she came back here instead!
Communication about our stay with Sarah was easy and everything was clear right from the beginning. One could see that she is a very experienced host. We slept in the caravan right next to the horses which was comfortable and gave us some privacy. It was also… read more
Thanks for having us and all the best!
Georg
Staying at Saras was such an amazing experience. I really didn't know what exactly I was getting myself into, being that I've never really been around horses before. I was a bit nervous, but completely up for the challenge. It turned out to be a time… read more
This workaway with Sarah James and all our animals was my first experiences in workaway. I should say that is was a really good experience for me.
Sarah make you feel at home, and even I was stress and shy, I feel confortable in the place.
Then we have to learn the… read more
This is a perfect example of the ideal Workaway. The work is pleasant and well explained, non-repetitive and well managed. The animals are all adorable. If you want free time for you, you will have and if you want to participate more, it is also possible! Sarah is a very social… read more
As… read more
The work was fairly simple and varied… read more
Sarah and James are very warm persons and the welcome excellent.
We felt like sibling , comfortable in the commons places to do as if we were at home.
The caravan is very cosy.
We ate each days some delicious, very… read more
Except from taking care of all the animals twice a day work changes from… read more
In addition, Max is very good company, intelligent, thoughtful and good fun to have around; he's also respectful of the… read more
Be prepared to work! With nine horses, seven dogs, two pigs, goats and chickens you must be reasonably fit.
We really enjoyed our time and whish we… read more
We just left yesterday, but we already miss our farmer life, the beautiful place, the lovely animals, and Sarah & James, the most generous and welcoming hosts! (Let's not also forget about Sarah's fabulous cooking skills, and the delicious meals she prepared for us!)
I can't believe we… read more
The working day starts at 0730 where the main tasks are feeding… read more
He is an excellent cook, very handy with a hoover and not afraid of getting his hands dirty! He has completed a… read more
All the animals are so loved and well taken care of. Aside… read more
In addition to all of this, the area is pretty and Sarah is a great cook! Thanks for… read more
Sarah cares for her animals and she cares for her workawayers too and therefore you can always count on her to provide what is needed when you need it.
The area itself is… read more
We had such a great time working and getting to know you and all of your lovely animals, this was the perfect first work away experience. We both felt like we gained a lot knowledge and experience in both building/maintenance and working with the horses and the other animals. We would highly recommend… read more
Taryn is a confident, natural rider and isn't afraid to try new challenges and work on her own… read more
They are great company, very easy to be around and always laughing. I highly… read more
I felt at home as soon as I arrived. I had my own accommodation in their self contained cottage, which was great and really well equipped.
Aswell as enjoying working with the horses etc I was also included in lots of social… read more
They are great fun and always get stuck in with all the work with the workaways. Their stable is an amazingly laid back and comfortable environment and I always looked… read more
Silent but full of power and enthusiasm.
Views and nature are amazing.
Wonderful food, perfect housing, beautiful trips and people with open hearts.
You should definitely make this experience - Sarah and James are amazing as well as their four happy dogs and six great horses!
I miss them… read more
Sarah and James are so welcoming and hospitable it is hard to leave.
The work was physical at times but very enjoyable as we all worked together, as many hands make light work.
The produce in Portugal is fantastic and the meals were fit for kings,… read more