Living soil farming
Leiria
Hello !! Last year has been amazing working with and hosting woofers so we are enthusiastic to host again from Mid-march 2026 ! With this year's experience, we're looking for people willing to stay for at least 1 month. It gives enough times to create links between between us, get confortable with the work at the farm and the area , as well as beeing autonomously on certain tasks. (For arrival dates, see the bottom of the description.)
1. OUR PROJECT
Fazendinha is a small-scale farm that aims to feed the local community and allow us to make a living from it. Our aim is to implement methods to produce in a more environmentally and labour friendly way, on a local scale and to create a link between consumers and producers. Inspired by different methods and currents of thought in the last ten years in regenerative agriculture in Europe and elsewhere, our farm is building up day by day :) We started this project three years ago and each year brings its share of learning and discovery!
Our farm land is 1 hectare and allows us to work on a human scale. Our market gardening methods are based on a permanent bed system and mainly manual tools. If we do not reproduce our seeds, we make our own plants. The farm space is therefore organised into different spaces and tasks: the nursery, the gardens, the greenhouses, the washing room, the tool room and the markets!
To introduce ourselves in a few words, we are a couple, Maxime and Anna, 38 years old, both from Belgium, and we started on a virgin piece of land. Beyond market gardening, we also invested a lot of energy and passion in the self-building of the farm's infrastructure. Passion is certainly a word that suits us both and that we hope to pass on to you if you decide to join us in this adventure!
This year, we will also count Michael in our team ! Joining Fazendinha on a full time basis this year Michael is from Indiana in the USA. Michael and his wife, Lydia, volunteered with us for 5 months in 2025.
2. WORK AT THE FARM :
Volunteering hours are Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 13:30. We meet at 08:00 to start the day together, have a coffee/tea and divide up the tasks.
We tried to organise the work so you can go though different task during the week, from nursery till harvest. The tasks are mainly carried out collectively : all together or by group of 2 or 3.
- Help in the nursery
- Help in the field (preparation of beds, planting, weeding, harvesting, maintenance of crops)
- Help in the tomato greenhouses
- Help in the washroom.
- Help in the kitchen and for general house tasks (everybody does his/her part).
3. WHAT A WWOOFer's DAY MIGHT LOOK LIKE ?
08:00: We start with a collective meeting to share tasks and define collective and individual activities and objectives.
08:30: Start of the activities
10:45-11:15: Break
12:30: One of the group prepares lunch.
13:30: Lunch together
Afternoon and weekend : Enjoy your day!
The work on the farm can be intense at times, but we want it to be adaptable to everyone's abilities. We hope to be able to communicate well and find a space that suits everyone. From the heavier work, to the precision, from the field to the plate :) Of course, we have to keep schedules, but we are sure that together we will find a space for everyone. The important thing for us is to share a mutual desire to help each other and to respect our commitments :)
4. WHERE WILL YOU SLEEP ?
You will be staying in a fully equipped house in Serra Del Rei, 10 minutes walking from the farm. Serra del rei is a village located 10 minutes by car ( 30 minutes by bike) from the ocean and beautiful beaches. For information, we do not sleep in the same place, we will sleep at the farm during the season. If we have lunch together, we do not plan to eat together in the evening. There will be enough food for you to cook at home. There is currently one cat the house ( potentially more in 2026)
The area is a very popular surfing destination and you will find many activities but you will also find some totally isolated places and beaches :) From the farm, you can also make ballads in the nature which surrounds it.
5. SOME INFO ABOUT THE REGION :
Well, the area is beautiful !!!!! Both the people and the landscape. It's also a great climate for working outside :) 10 minutes by car ( 30 minutes by bike) from Ferrel and Baleal, you will find many restaurants and various activities. The area is very well known for surfing, so there is plenty for surfers to do! It is also possible to make many walks along the hundreds of kilometres of beach with breathtaking cliffs. We have a bicycle that you can use. There is also a bus service during the week to the beautiful medieval village of Obidos or to the town of Caldas da Rhaina. If you have a motorised vehicle, the region offers many treasures to discover.
6. DURATION OF STAY :
As explained above, we're looking for people willing to stay for at least 1 month ( or more). It gives enough times to create links between between us, get confortable with the work at the farm and the area , as well as beeing autonomously on certain tasks. We also really want to welcome everyone properly, so here are some more precisions on arrival date and departure.
ARRIVAL DATES :
> Arrival has to be on a SUNDAY and departure bewteen friday afternoon and sunday morning. Here below are the sunday where we can welcome you !
- sunday 15 of march 2026 : Full
- sunday 12 of april 2026 : Full
- sunday 10 of may 2026 : Full
- sunday 7 of june 2026 : Full
- sunday 5 of july 2026 : Full
- sunday 2 of august 2026 : Full
- sunday 30 of august 2026
- sunday 27 of september 2026
- sunday 25 of october 2026
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS DESCRIPTION. LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU SOON! IN ANY CASE, HAVE A WONDERFULL TRIP !
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Flower farming
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
Certified organic
1
Hectares
|
2.5
Acres
Anna & Maxime
Member since 2023
Languages spoken:
English, French, Portuguese
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 92%
Response time: typically within 3 days
Leiria
Peniche Bus station / Obidos Bus station
Reviews
Lucas
United States
•
May 2026
We stayed for 2 months working at Fazendinha and it was an extremely informative and fun experience. Max, Anna, and Michael are all great people to work with and I feel like they really took us under their wings and welcomed us to the farm.
They put you directly into the work on a well planned schedule. Monday-Nursery, Tuesday-Harvest, Wednesday-Bed Prep, Thursday-Planting, Friday-Harvest.
It’s a simple and consistent schedule. It really helps getting up to speed, because each day has a huge variety of tasks associated with it.
Max, Anna, and Michael all have pretty different personalities. However, they compliment each other to make the farm great. Max has an endearing laid-back attitude mixed with a ton of practical knowledge. Anna brings a high focus/energy that helps everyone stay on top of their jobs and do them right. She is well informed on every aspect of the day to day on the farm. She was always helpful and good to us. Michael was helpful for us to integrate into the social circle and feel like friends with them all. He is a kind guy with a caring attitude. His wife Lydia is similar in that regard.
This is definitely a gritty hard work experience. At the end of the day, this is a small commercial farm. It’s how they pay the bills. Treat that fact with respect and it will be a fantastic time.
Nothing is so hard that people of average physical fitness can’t adjust to it, but there will be an adjustment period.
Jump in, have fun, learn a ton.
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Lucy
Australia
•
December 2025
My time at Fazendinha with Anna and Maxime was simply amazing! The farm is so beautiful, and each day holds both learning and fun. The house facilities are amazing, and of course all the fresh food from the farm!! It was such a pleasure to work with Anna and Maxime and the other WWOOFers - our shared lunches everyday are something I will cherish. Additionally, Serra d’El-Rei and the surrounding towns are the perfect place to explore on weekends - the beaches are beautiful and the options for food/drinks are endless. Would highly recommend Fazendinha to all WWOOFers!!
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Reply from Anna & Maxime
Thanks you so much Lucy !!! For your great energy, always good mood and awsome work :) Special thanks for sharing some of your knowledge too !!
We wish you a great world tour !!
Bejinhos amiga,
Anna & Max
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Hanna
Sweden
•
December 2025
This was our first WWOF-ing experience and to summrize we had a great time at Fazendinha. We learned so much from Ana & Max - about bio farming and farming in general and all that it entails. We stayed for three weeks in November and despite moving into low season the pace was pretty high and there were plenty of tasks to do. However, very manageable and the days went by almost too quickly!
The accommodation for volunteers are very nice, comfortable and convenient.
We defintely recommend Fazendinha <3 Thank you so much Ana & Max and the other volunteers we met during our stay.
All the best,
Hanna & Ilja
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Reply from Anna & Maxime
Thank you so much Hanna and Ilja !! Thanks for your great work, and motivation even with rainy days !!!
It was a pleasure to host you guys !
Have a great trip
Anna & Maximé
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Becca
United Kingdom
•
November 2025
Overall, I had such a wonderful time at Anna & Maxime's beautiful farm. I learned a ton about regenerative farming and the importance and they were both very open to sharing their endless knowledge! Their passion was also very infectious :)
As it is a market garden, there are certain tasks set out every day (each day tends to have a different focus), which is ideal if you want to really understand how a farm might be run, especially a market garden. As someone with no previous experience, it took me a little time to find my feet, but it was always rewarding to build up my confidence. I’d recommend asking what tasks are likely during the months you plan to visit, as the work can vary with the seasons.
The house is perfect: super spacious, fridge and cupboards stocked, and plenty of things to do. You also get your own room (unless you're in a couple), which I really appreciated. Great outdoor space too - great for relaxing after a day on the farm. Also super close by to amenities, and most importantly, the beautiful coastline!!
Overall, it was an incredibly rewarding experience, not only for what I learned about farming but also for what I learned about myself. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. It’s an experience I’ll always cherish, and I hope to be back in the future :)) Thank you!!
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Reply from Anna & Maxime
Thanks you so much Becca for your time here ! Your dedication, your interest, and awsome mood !!!
It was a real pleasure to have you with us. Thank you also for your wonderful feed back !
We wish you the best for your future aventures :)
Beijinhos 😘😘
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Friedrich
Germany
•
November 2025
We had a very very very very nice time at Fazendinha!!! Anna and Maxime are so cool and also chill. The work is very interesting and we really learned a lot! We always rode down to Baleal beach by the bikes wich they had for us and went surfing. But there is also lots of other stuff to do in the area. And if you are lucky, maybe Maxime plays some football against you. 🤓
The house is also quite big and there is really nice food!! 😋
We would really recommend this place and would love to come back one day!!
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Reply from Anna & Maxime
We were really lucky to have you for 6 weeks in our farm ! Thanks you so much guys !!! Your incredible energy, respect and good mood were such a pleasure !!! You know how to get the job done !!!
Thanks you so much !! wish you the best for your next adventures !
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Rivka
Czechia
•
September 2025
I was very lucky to have spent a month at Fazendinha during May-June, and as my first WWOOFing experience ever, it couldn’t have been more amazing! Anna and Maxime are incredibly welcoming, heartfelt, fun and inspiring people with a lot of knowledge about what they do! I felt at home from the first day I arrived, mostly because of their energy, and the house was also a truly lovely place to stay in– super comfy, spacious, with lots of delicious food and the best flat mates–other volunteers.
The work on the farm was super enjoyable, and every day was different (nursery, bed preparing–fitness day, planting, harvesting, packing veggies for the markets), but always with a clear structure. If you’re interested in learning as much as you can about growing crops, from the first step to the plate, this is definitely your place!
There was always plenty of work to do, sometimes demanding, but the feeling of reward afterwards was just priceless! Moreover, the coffee breaks and lunch times together were such a special part of each day.
The surrounding area is beautiful– you have everything you need and even more, and you can easily uber to nearby cities like Caldas da Rainha or Òbidos, which are definitely worth a visit too. The memories I take away from my time spent there are truly unforgettable!
A big thank you for everything, Anna and Maxime– I wish you all the best with the amazing work you do and in your lives! Hope to be back one day again.💖
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Reply from Anna & Maxime
Thanks s much Rivka for your feedback !! It was so great to have you !!!
We have been really impressed by the effort you have put on the work, even though it was sometimes heavy !! Thanks for all your laugh and remarkable cooking :)
Whish you the best !
Bejinhos
Anna & Max
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