Off-grid Fablab and a food forest in Barão de São João, Lagos, Portugal

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  - Who we are a non-commercial, not-for-profit initiative. We are building a FabLab within a once abandoned farm, creating a place where thinkers, artists, makers, and farmers can come together to learn, share, and create. This is not a business but a community project, built and run entirely by volunteers.
  - What’s happening right now: Renovating a traditional "taipa" ruin. Building a vermicompost system, renovating a classic Land Rover, and creating an outdoor kitchen among many other projects. Planning the next treehouse (or maybe a hobbit house!). There’s always something new — from low-tech farming projects to high-tech experiments in the lab.
  - The setting: Our farm covers 22 hectares in the western Algarve, southern Portugal. The land has been slowly rebuilt since 2016 with roads, reservoirs for rainwater harvesting, solar power, and workshops for digital fabrication. We are mostly off-grid, though we still rely on bottled gas for cooking. We’re tucked away in the countryside, but just a short drive from Barão de São João, a friendly village with artists, surfers, and plenty of local culture. Stunning beaches and picturesque towns are close by.
  - The spirit: Our philosophy is simple: to farm with the help of technology, and to develop technology with the help of the farm. The FabFarm is a place for all kinds of people: farmers, artists, hackers, surfers, inventors, and anyone curious about combining creativity with sustainability.
  - Who you’ll meet: We are a family of five (two girls and a boy), living alongside dogs, cats, and a small flock of happy chickens. Volunteers become part of this environment, sharing both work and community life.
  - What you can do: Construction and eco-building, gardening and land care, digital fabrication and electronics, energy and water systems, and creative projects (design, art, prototyping). You can contribute with your existing skills or try something completely new.
  - Practical details: Arrivals are preferably on Mondays during daytime. No arrivals on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Upon arrival you’ll get a tour of the farm and be asked to sign a form with emergency contacts and basic rules (we can send it in advance if you’d like). We do not provide food, so volunteers are responsible for their own meals. Algarve winters are mild (almost never below 8°C), but can be rainy and unpredictable — bring boots, gloves, and a raincoat.

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Ajuda em projetos ambientais

  Jardinagem

  Construção/faça você mesmo

  Cuidar de animais

  Ajuda em fazenda

  Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras

  Ajuda a cuidar da casa

  Manutenção geral

  Ajuda com computadores/internet
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  Interesses

  

  Tecnologia

  

  Sustentabilidade

  

  Autodesenvolvimento

  

  Cuidar de plantas

  

  Carpintaria

  

  Esportes aquáticos

  

  Velejar/navegar

  

  Naturaleza
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  Objetivos de sustentabilidade da ONU que este anfitrião quer atingir

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  O que é isso?
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  Learn about digital fabrication while helping to build an environment that benefits the surrounding community. We will explore both traditional and innovative construction techniques. Imagine combining adobe with 3D printing or creating your own surfboard.

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  Ajuda

  How you can help
  We always have a wide range of tasks, so there’s something for different skills and interests: woodworking, mechanical work, programming, 3D design, architectural design, setting up pumps and machines, renovating the ruin using traditional methods, agriculture and planting (both experimental and traditional crops), website support, building accommodations for helpers and guests, and piling firewood.
  
  Current focus
  Right now we are concentrating on the house and general infrastructure: making solar panels for water heating, completing the lab setup, building a toilet and shower, improving lab machines, planting vegetables and fruit trees, and feeding the farm animals. We also use self-built CNCs, 3D printers, and laser cutters to support many of these projects, and we aim to document and share our processes online.
  
  Important notes
  Please only apply if you are confident about staying with us for the agreed time. Short or interrupted stays can be disruptive, as we invest a lot of energy into welcoming and integrating each volunteer. If you are mainly in the Algarve looking for a job and need a place to stay, please do not apply unless you can commit to a minimum of 2 weeks.
  
  Life here is rewarding but rustic. Our installations are simple, in constant evolution, and we started everything from scratch — so it may not be suitable for everyone.

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  Idiomas

  Inglês: Fluente
  Espanhol: Fluente
  Português: Fluente
  Chinês (mandarim): Iniciante

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  Acomodação

  We provide comfortable accommodation in a caravan and 6-meter bell tents. Workawayers with their own camper vans are also welcome. Facilities include a compost toilet, an earthworm compost flushing toilet, a sink, and hot showers. For families with children, we kindly ask that you bring a camper van, since our tents and caravan are shared with other adults.

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  Algo mais...

  Things to keep in mind when volunteering with us
  - Expectations: Beautiful views, a quiet and peaceful setting, physical work, dirty hands, and the chance to use your skills in meaningful projects.
  - Food: We occasionally host BBQs or pizza nights, but volunteers supply their own food for daily meals. Cooking and washing dishes are shared in rotation.
  - Leisure: The Algarve offers surfing, sunny weather most of the year, charming villages, and plenty of biking and hiking trails.
  - Work commitment: 3 hours a day, 5 days a week (9:00–12:00). Tasks usually include farm infrastructure, renovation, agriculture, and tech-based projects. Daily chores like cleaning, cooking, firewood gathering, and personal projects or workshops are not counted as work hours — they are part of communal living. Please clean your space before leaving and return any borrowed items.
  - Vegetable garden: You’re welcome to harvest what you need, but variety is limited, so plan to buy extra vegetables.
  - Waste: We compost food scraps — please place leftovers in the compost bathtub.
  - Smoking: Not allowed inside. Be cautious outdoors, especially in summer, as wildfires are a serious risk.
  - Drugs: Please don’t bring drugs onto the farm.
  - Accommodation: Volunteers stay in a caravan or large tent. The caravan is modern and fits up to 4 people (double bed + bunk beds). Spaces are shared and mixed, so please keep them clean and organized.
  - Facilities: We provide a worm compost flushing toilet, a compost toilet, a sink, and hot showers. Bring your own towel, sunscreen, and biodegradable soap/shampoo.
  - Transport: We recommend arriving by car or scooter. Barão de São João is 2 km away (5 min drive / 30 min walk). A bus stop nearby connects to Lagos (train, supermarkets, services). From Faro Airport you can take a bus or train to Lagos, where we can pick you up.
  - Pets: We live with 3 cats and 4 dogs, including a large, playful one. If you are uncomfortable around animals, allergic, or afraid of big dogs, this placement may not be suitable.

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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  Our schedule is light — just 3 hours a day — which makes it especially suitable for digital nomads. Volunteers have plenty of time to focus on remote work or explore the Algarve. Please note, however, that our internet runs on a 4G mobile router and may not be reliable at all times. If you depend on a stable connection for your income, we recommend getting a local 4G SIM card or internet plan to ensure uninterrupted access.

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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  Guests are welcome to bring their camper vans, as we have plenty of space available. Please note that we do not provide electrical hookups, since we are fully off-grid and rely exclusively on solar energy.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  Mais de 2

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  Meus animais / animais de estimação

  5 chickens

  4 cats

  3 dogs

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