Permaculture Farm, 17 km from Coimbra, eco-projects!
I'm Lucas, 36 years old, my parents are German, and I was born and raised on this little farm in Portugal.
I learned a bit about farming in my early twenties I started to get enthusiastic about permaculture. Since 2012 I'm living full-time on the farm, doing some projects at our place and in other farms around us.
In 2025 I did sintropic agroforestry curses and now we are in the means of creating our own food forest with this approach.
This April 2026 we will host a Curse about Syntropic agroforestry with a expert from Brasil, so we are preparing the land already.
Rafa (34) is my companion, and she is living with me since 2012. She is an amazing cook and very talkative! She's always happy to share stories and knowledge about Portuguese culture.
The newest member of our project is our daughter Pandora! She just turned 1,5 and she loves being outdoors!
The house has a garden at the entrance, some other green patches around the house, and a 1.5 ha land, where I'm creating hugelbeds (Hügelkultur) and making some experiences to improve the soil.
We have an Eco-Shower working with shredded branches/ wood chips that, by decomposing, produce heat during 10-12 Months - Right now the temperature is about 50º C and is used every day for showers and washing dishes.
Apart from the main house, we have built a little room in the middle of the forest. And that is the accomodation available for volunteers! It has 2 single beds, electricity and a beautiful view!
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Projects
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=== Garden ===
- syntropic agroforestry management
- Watering the garden
- Weeding the garden
- Picking vegetables/fruits (on the right time!)
=== Compost ===
I'm making many experiments to improve the soil quality, so we often cut branches and chip them in our wood chipper, to compost them or use as ground cover.
We have a compost toilet.
=== Jams and Conserves ===
During the summer we should find new and good ways to preserve our vegetables and fruits. We can freeze them, make jams, pickles and sauces. It’s a very important task that needs to be executed perfectly. If the jars aren’t well washed and sterilized all your work goes to waste!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * volunteering time * * *
Our approach is based on a family dynamic - everyone contributes as part of our project and can have opinions and suggestions to make it grow! And after being here as a volunteer, truly committed to our cause, you're always welcome as a friend. Working hours can vary between volunteers, different days or times of the year. When we need to teach you something you don't know it will take us time, so you might do 5h or 6h depending on how much you can do in that time.
You don't need to have any special skills, but you might leave with some :)
****** Minimum Stay 2 Week *********
* * * Rules for your stay * * *
- We need responsible helpers that are proactive and autonomous! We often try to have meetings and clarify all the tasks that you can do. Then you should feel free to do what you think it’s the most important tasks. That means that we need creative, honest and committed people to help us!
- The characteristic that we give the most value is the ability of using your own head to find solutions and to improve yourself and the place where you are. So please consider this for your decision.
- If you have any doubt, even if you think is a stupid thing: ASK! You will always find an answer; and if you ask twice is fine too!! :)
- You need to be truly devoted to the cause – volunteering work - because we're not a hotel, we are a farm where hard work has to be done!
* * * To Bring With You * * *
- Every volunteer must bring their own working boots/shoes, working clothes, some warm clothes because the nights are cooler and swimsuit.
- Every volunteer must bring a flashlight
- If you have a special health need, please tell us about that and bring your own medication.
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Forestry
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Traditional crafts
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
1.5
Hectares
|
3.7
Acres
