Help reforest a valley and bring an old farm to life in Folques, Portugal

Infos

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  Description

  Hey! Welcome!
  
  I am looking for a work awayer from the 15th of March on. Preferably a female, since there is gonna be already another workawayer here at that time and I think it is nice to have some company.
  
  My place is about natural building, Syntropic forestry (kind of food forest) and rewilding.
  I always try to have 2 or more workawayers, so you can go on adventures with other persons when you have your time off.
  
  Natural building:
  One of the houses is already functioning. Still a lot needs to be done. General facilities are in place, though rudimental. I want to make them better and beautiful this year. We will be pointing an old schiste wall, cobbing (plaster of clay and sand) two inside walls and build a rocket stove. We are gonna use tadelakt on the bathroom and make it a beautiful room. The the dry toilet house needs to be finished to a beautiful place with making sure there is a basin to rinse your hands. The reed bed filter needs some maintenance and I want to adjust a few things.
  
  Rewilding
  In the meantime the planting of the native forest is done (with the help of fantastic workawayers!). 8.000 native trees in 2022 to expand a beautiful riverside forest. Now I need to work in it sometimes to promote the forest and to make sure the wildfires in the summer dont burn everything down. It is plain cutting and pruning. Very enjoyable tasks. Sometimes we need to dig ponds and ditches. Less enjoyable, but nessecary :)
  
  Syntropic garden and food forest.
  Also here we need to do some digging: finishing ponds, swales, Though most of it is almost done, some last details need to be added, some maintenance and mistakes need to be adjusted :)
  Syntropic sounds boring. It is not. It is one of the most beautiful methods of restoring a natural forest while providing yourself with food.
  
  You stay in a basic wooden cabin away from the main house. I added a picture of it, so you know what to expect.
  
  Oh , and by the way: My name is Machiel, a biologist and graphic designer and I bought a 4 ha land in the hills of Portugal in 2021. It is a beautiful place, a valley with an old orchard along a stream, an abandoned motor cross park, a small creek half-of-the-year-running down the mountain and some ruined houses. A 3 ha hillside stretches out behind the houses.
  
  You ll learn a lot about reforestation and syntropic forestry, a bit about natural building and how to start a permaculture garden.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Politique/justice sociale

  

  Vie en van

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Ferme

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée

  

  Cyclisme
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  You are in a remote area in Portugal. Reforesting and nature is what I can offer. Though there are sometimes some (free) cultural events in a city 20 min by bike from here.
  
  I love a good discussion or a good laugh. I am getting to know more and more people around that are creating such beautiful places, so can take you to other inspiring homesteads as well.
  
  As a biologist i have a lot of theoretical knowledge. I can tell you a lot about reforestry, why and where and how. At the moment I try to pick up practical knowledge about growing food in my area.

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  Aide

  So if u want lots of different activities, including creating basic utilities, woodworking, designing, garden creating (permaculture, food forest and a few annuals), setting up a chicken coop, a bit of reconstruction and planmaking, this is your spot. Other activities: Levada & pond creation / Weeding the syntropic forest and vegetable garden (most of the weeding is different than it sounds. I actually like doing it, since it does not involve very meticulous selecting of plants). / companion planting in orchard / building the outdoor kitchen, maintainance in the pine forest on the hill, while slowly transforming it into a natural forest.
  
  Normally we start at 8 with yoga and breakfast ,We work till 1, have lunch and then u r off to do what u want. In the summer we might start a lot earlier, at 7 start working. I know it is early, but trust me, you will thank me when the heat starts.
  
  If you want, join with a short run and some stretching (wouldn't dare to call it yoga :) before the work starts.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Hollandais: Courant
  Allemand: Intermédiaire
  Français: Débutant
  Portugais: Débutant

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  Hébergement

  I have a cabin. You can see it as a kind of glamping. It is amazing to sleep on the land in the cabin, with a bed and some furniture. I have a small solar panel for recharging your phone. But most of your devices you can recharge in the main house.
  
  If you want, I can provide two smaller tents, An airmattrass for two persons is available. You can bring your own van or tent. There are beautiful spots to set them up.
  
  There is running water and a flush toilet, but not always a hot shower (depends on the sun). I use a dry compositing toilet, wash under a cold shower or swim in a nice small swimming pool very close-by. I love the experience, but you should be aware of that I can only offer these basic facilities at the moment.
  
  If I get the permission, I am gonna build a new place in 2027.
  
  Food I mostly cook, unless u like to help. My cooking is vegetarian, and try to be vegan, though sometimes I add cheese or egg. But not a problem if you are vegan. When the sun is out, i like to use my solar cooker. Washing dishes: No washing the dishes for the cook. Seems fair.

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  Autres infos...

  I have 2 bikes to explore the surroundings. There are many beautiful spots and walks closeby. I am just discovering everything myself. Feel free to join!
  
  I have some games and some books. I love to go mountainbiking, and u r welcome to join. A great café is a 10 minutes by bike.
  
  I have been a work awayer myself before I started here. Some experiences were great, Others not so. I strive to make it a great time for u, but I am also busy running my company. So be aware I am not always available for activities!
  
  If you come, i can pick you up at the local busstation, where busses go to Coimbra. From there busses and trains go to other major cities. I will provide a document to help you with the travelling details when we are in contact.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  My internet is limitless.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  There are pretty spots on the land where you can park your campervan. I can provide you with electricity if the day has been sunny. Thought in winter you need really good tyres to get up the ramp of the land. But you can park on my dirtroad.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

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