Description
In the midst of a natural landscape, lies a special place surrounded by meadows, streams and forests. In a little hamlet (group of farms), one old farm with a constructed area of 800 sqm and a land area of 12 ha is available for us to develop and to experiment on.

At this place we are building a free space that gives us room for the good things. For us, this means that want the place to be "free from" many economic, political, social and ideological conditions, but at the same time it should be "free for" the development of potential and positive goals.

We consider ourselfs as pioneers, trying to build regenerative perspectives in the rural area. Here we can experiment a life in community that is oriented towards the common good. For a life in the countryside and this region, we develop practical plans, models and concepts. This includes, for example, the projecting of strategies for the repopulation of some of the many abandoned places nearby. In the future some of them could be transformed into self-sufficient eco-villages. Meanwhile we get prepared with the necessary practical knowhow at our place by experimenting to find the best ways to strengthen our degree of self-sufficiency. This will include for example the expansion of plant diversity and the development of foodsecurity. Along this way we will experiment with different concepts like edible forest garden, syntropic agroforestry systems and nature-compatible food cultivation.

First of all, however, we need energetic support for a new start in the countryside and for shaping the place. We want to focus initially on the following fields of activity (we have many smaller and larger projects in mind):

I. Building & handicraft
II. Agriculture & vegetable gardening
III. Water management & hygiene
IV. Energy & heating technique
V. Forestry & fruit growing

We would like to host volunteers who want to stay 3 weeks and longer. During that time, we would like to try to build stable teams, so we can acquire and apply new knowledge (that takes some days). In case you may want to stay longer then 3 weeks please communicate your interest when you write us.

We are a group of 5 people at the core of this project (aged 28-42) with different backgrounds (Architecture, Psychology, Biology, Sociology and Social Work, Informatics, Permaculture...) from Germany, Spain and Switzerland.
As most of us still have some obligations in society, not all of us will be on site. To develop a life in a remote and rural area is a long process. If it is possible, we want to have always people (either projectmembers or volunteers) with different skills around, so we can learn from each other. Normally this means (if possible) a minimum of 4 people. In warmer time of the year we will expand our capacitiy with big tents.
Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Pratique d’une langue
Aide avec des éco-projets
Enseignement
Jardinage
Bricolage et projets de construction
Aide dans une ferme
Cuisine/repas pour la famille
Aide à la maison
Entretien général
Aide informatique / avec Internet
Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre
...
...
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
We strive to cultivate practical and theoretical knowledge. We want to acquire knowledge independently while forging cooperatives with others. This means that we will cooperate, when possible, with differents associations or educational institutions.

The place will develop, also with your valuable help, into a place of education and learning, where we will work on different projects on important topics such as community building and psychology, resilience, transition, self-sufficiency and permaculture. So if you are interested in regenerative thinking, there is a lot to learn and experience, discover and try out here.

Here you will find an open field of experimentation, you can bring in and implement your ideas, learn and practise handicraft skills, experience and shape the transformation of this place.

People can become part of the network around the project and may develop projects with us for a longer period, so we can develope new perspecives for a life in the remote rural .

In summertime we will have a lot of people around and have different workshops at this place.

We will also focus on self-development and self-improvement. We want to learn and apply different methods. Designing our habits does have a great impact on our way of life and what we can achive.
Aide
Be prepared.
Starting in March, we continue our work and different projects. A side from the things around our place outside, like horticulture and cleaning the land, we prioritize the building which was abandoned for some years, especially to be able to stay in the winter and spring time. We want to build compost toilets/ dry toilets for inside and outside, this project is in process. We have running water, but we still need to fix the boiler to get hot water. And there are problems with the old drains.
We have an old fire place in the kitchen, we are preparing to fix some parts of it, so we can use it again. Near the bedrooms we placed a wood stove to give us warmth at night, but the roof around the chimney still has to be adapted. And some broken windows should be sealed and repaired. The house is a rustic stone house with an intact historical wooden structure. The old owners left the old wooden furniture behind, so the four bedrooms are original antique. Hence there can be some dust (in the cold winter month sometimes a bit moisture and a bit mould) but nothing that can not be cleaned. If you are kind of insensitive, robust character and not too afraid of cobwebs and dirty hands and you want to join us in improving the enchanted place and you consider yourself a pioneer like we consider ourselves, you are invited.

Our projects are varied and our activities depend on the season. There is a wide range of possibilities.

What kind of "physical" work does the place need?
- Installation of a new stove
- Repairing the old, traditional kitchen stove
- Winterising the shelter
- Maintenance of the building
- Repairing the old drains
- Repairing and renovation of all broken windows, puttying of single glazing with window putty, sanding of frames, repainting.
- Build compost toilets outside to solve our wild toilet situation
- Build wooden shelters for firewood
- Depending on the season, forestry and woodwork, felling trees, chopping and stacking firewood.
- Clearing overgrown plots of land for agricultural use.
- Professional pruning and replanting of fruit trees and shrubs.
- Create beds, build raised beds, plant annual vegetable and herb beds in mixed culture, create perennial, edible beds.
- Build a safe fireplace. Remove dead wood and branches in the area, mow the meadow extensively.
- Build an outdoor kitchen
- Prepare level areas for tents on the uneven ground
- Build a greenhouse
- Renovate and beautify all areas in the building

Which tasks do you like the most? Please tell us which of the following tasks from the list you would like to help us with. Do you have other ideas how you could support the project or special skills? Write us.
Langues parlées
Allemand: Courant
Anglais: Courant
Espagnol: Courant
Français: Débutant
Hollandais: Débutant
Portugais: Débutant
Hébergement
Normally we can offer one room per volunteer. Depending on how many people are joining we have to adapt our capacity and arrange the space accordingly. We have mattresses and sleeping mats. Best would be to have a sleeping bag with you. We also can offer tents in case you want to camp on our land. Especially in the beginning of this project we think that sensitive people with a low level of sufficiency should reconsider participating, as the building was abandoned for some years and we have to set up a new infrastructure.

We want to build compost toilets/ dry toilets for inside and outside, this project is in process. We have cold running water in the house. At the moment we still do the laundry by hand and there is no warm water except heating it on the gas cooker. This means also a cold shower. What is not a problem in summer, but can be uncomfortable in the earlyer months in springtime. As we still have some problems with the old drains, better no showering at the moment.
And since our waste water ends up directly in nature and we plan to recycle the grey water, we only use ecological and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional cosmetics and cleaning products on site, which we want to produce by ourselves in the future.
At this moment there is still no stove in action. And some broken windows should be sealed. Again, this is not a problem in summer, but can be a bit uncomfortable in the earlier months in springtime.

We adapt to nature and try to integrate ourselves as good as possible into the natural cycles. That means we use for example self-produced biodegradable soap or toothpaste, because all substances immediately enter the ecosystem and have interactions with flora and fauna and also us humans. So we should think about the products we use, they should be compatible with us and the environment

We try to offer different kinds of basic vegetable foods, which we would like to prepare together. We are planning to plant a garden to provide us with an all kinds of vegetables, but at this point we still have no vegetable production. We are starting to integrate wild nutritional plants and mushrooms, when they are available, into our meals. Consider bringing yourself some products for your personal needs, the next place where food can be bought is in Samos, a walk around 8km away.

Get prepared. Consider bringing the following items for your stay:

1. Please bring yourself suitable work clothes and outdoor shoes.
2. All-weather clothing is of great value. Clothing that keeps you warm. Also think about sun and rain protection (e.g. headgear, rain jacket).
3. A Sleeping bag. Depending on weather, time of year and capacity, we may also set up one of our tents (small and large ones), so a sleeping bag (and whatever else you need for camping) is valuable. Currently we have 4 sleeping rooms. It would be important for our planning to know, whether or not you could sleep in one of our tents, in case more people want to participate. Please give us an information on this.
4. Water bottle: The house is supplied with water from one nearby spring. There are other springs with good water quality in the Vally, so having a refillable water bottle is of value.
5. Soap or toothpaste, just like other products, should be biosphere-compatible.
6. Headlamps: can be worth its weight in gold.
7. Earplugs, just in case nature is making to much noise at night.
Autres infos...
The place offers some great perspectives. Here you can still find a divers landscape with interesting natural spots, the rural unpoisoned side of this world.

After we did our work in the woods, the fields or around the house you can go for a hike to one of the waterfalls to take a shower (recommendation for the hot days). In other ocasions you can explore a nearby natural cave. In the valley we are surrounded by a chestnut forest with an interesting microclimate with some very old big trees, natural monuments in distinct habitats for fauna and flora. The area is decleared „biosphere reserve" and „special area of conservation".

From time to time we will make expeditions to find interesting lost and abandoned places, document them and determine if they of interest for new projects.

How to get to us: Santiago de Compostela > Province of Lugo > Sarria > Samos > Project Site
Our projectsite is 8km away from Samos at the „Camino de Santiago" and 920m above sea level.

A. In case you are entering the country by airplane you should look to the nearest Airport, which is „Aeropuerto de Santiago de Compostela“. It has some good connections inside of Europe. To find cheap connections take a look at azair.com

B.1 From Santiago one option is the Bus UTE XG802. It goes once a day from „Santiago E.I“ at 11:00h, makes a stop at the airport „Aeropuerto Rosalía de Castro (SCQ)“ at 11:15h, makes a stop in „Sarria E.A.“ at 13:06h and makes a stop in „Samos (Renche)“ at 13:25h. There are of course other connections from the bigger cities to Sarria or Samos, take a look at monbus.es/en

B.2 Depending from where you are coming, taking the train to „Sarria" may be an option, take a look at renfe.com/es/en

B.3 Consider doing part of the „Camino de Santiago“, Sarria and Samos are part of it and have a good hiking route and a lot of hostels nearby. From „Samos“ or „Samos (Renche)“ to our place one can hike up the Mountain (500m up).

C. For the last details to get from „Sarria“ or „Samos“ to our Project Site, please ask us before your planed arrival.
Informations complémentaires
- Accès Internet
- Accès Internet limité
- Nous avons des animaux
- Nous sommes fumeurs
- Familles bienvenues
Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads
At this moment we have a mobile-intenet-access. At our place you get (depending on provider) a good remote access: 3G ("movistar") or 4G ("orange"). We are working on more options, so we can set up a coworking area some time soon.
Espace pour garer des vans
Yes. We will find a place for your campervan.
Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux
In case you have an animal with you speak to us before.
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Plus de 2
Nombre d'heures attendues
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.