Family home and perma gardens - rural
Faro
In June we still have room for 2-3 - direct availability. At our ancient site where both the Romans and the Celts have lived, you find our Quinta Quixote. We have a number of topics, a fruit forest, and permaculture with a banana circle, and we strive to optimize biodiversity and ecological landscaping—both Jan and Jeroen are biologists. Jan is also a certified MD and a yoga/qigong & meditation teacher.
We approach life as a small family, between 3 and 8 people. Mostly 4-6. And with our special tame 20 chickens, check out our chicken project on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChickenCastleQQ
We have created the most unique rainwater-collecting system of 600.000 liters of water- so we are self-sufficient. We have also been self-sufficient in energy via our solar-battery system. Off-grid for that all, but we have WIFI...
The essence for us is to teach you how to be present as a steward for our planet. That has something to do with awareness. The Quinta offers a laboratory for that: can you spot what is needed to do? And walk your talk - be conscious and watch - act without orders...but based on the flow!
Farming as meditation
One of our projects is 'Farming as Meditation,' which focuses on implementing permaculture—eco-landscaping and meditation in everyday farming life. Every day there is something to do in the vegetable gardens or on the land, as you can see hereunder! it is important for us that everyone brings awareness into working on the land, in the workshop, and in the kitchen so that we can maintain our feng shui/zen structure... Clean Kitchen Policy, for instance. Can you see what is needed to stay in the Feng Shui flow?
Current projects:
We always need people who are able and willing to cook and manage the kitchen for the group (2-8).
1. Manage the vegetable beds -getting weeds out- cleaning the beds and bananacircle.
2. Managing landscape to reduce fire risk
3. Eco-landscaping: Creating a flow of paths through the entire property. Create some space between the Mountain roses against wildfires. Get Creepers out of the Trees.
4. Get rid of dead wood and trees
5. Coordinate the kitchen and the cooking.
6. Clean the ancient celtic tomb from weeds - etc
7. Various handy-man projects at stables, geometric dome and outdoor gym.
Daily Flow at the Quinta
If you like to can join at 7.30-8.30 am for one hour of qigong/yoga/musculation* and various meditative techniques. Sometimes people from outside join us at the Magick circle in the hill, facing the rising sun or at the new yoga deck facing the ocean. Jan is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and sometimes leads sessions. We also sometimes have shamanic music) rituals.
At around 8-9 we have joint breakfast, and then we start. There is no fixed time schedule, most Wwoofers work for ca 4-6 hours a day, but if you have an off day you work less, and on an 'on' day you may work more. We go with the flow. Around 1 PM we have lunch and after chill time. Around 3-4 we start again. Joint diner around 7-ish.
If you have a driving license, you can make use of our old car to drive around. In the evening we might have sound-healing, shamanic singing, voice liberation workshop, or just chillin at the bigroom with some YinYoga. We have a separate library with a desk and WIFI for those in need to contact with the external world.
Location
The Quinta is located very much in nature, and many sacred places can be found at the property, old trees and old rock circles. In the hill one very special circle used for group meditations. Olive, carobe and pine trees, stone and cork oaks are the dominant trees. Meanwhile 15 tame chickens are happy roaming around.
How to come here? Best is via an Ueber, they are so cheap nowadays, and busses go really slow.
Site and housing
The property is located near Santa Catharine da Fonte do Bispo, in the Hills of Pocilgais at a dirt road - via a small path you can walk to the village in ca 30 minutes.There is a nice bakery, a money machine and a little supermarket.
You will be housed in one of the 2 nice, fresh, upgraded stable rooms, with drinking water available and an organic simple toilet and an outside shower. You can chill on a big terrace looking upon the vegetable garden. And you also have access to all facilities in the Quinta itself, for warm showering and all.
If we have more WWOOFers, we have a second, cozy room, the 'adega.' An old stone building from 1800, primitive but sufficient and quite romantic...
An art studio is part of the remodeled stable complex, just as a field kitchen and a bedroom are.
The Geodome is where I do my bodymind work, trauma release work, shamanistic healing sessions, acupuncture. So it is a private space. Just as the eastside of the quinta building, the deck and parasol area. For the rest all is available.
Our Aim and Focus
We strive to improve the entire biotope here at our Quinta to improve the biodiversity. Organic farming is not the only thing we do. We improve the landscape by removing uncontrolled bush growth and take care of fire-risk situations. The premises are quite diverse: hills and valleys and creeks. Biotope with oak trees, olive trees, and fields.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Forestry
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Traditional crafts
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Holistic management
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
2.5
Hectares
|
6.2
Acres
Accommodation
Jan
Member since 2020
Languages spoken:
Dutch, English, German, Portuguese
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Faro
Faro
Reviews
Frederikke
Denmark
•
May 2026
I spent three weeks as a WWOOFer at the Quinta !
And honestly, I know I won’t return home quite the same person.
This has been more than a journey.More than volunteer work.
It has been a life-changing experience.
I’ve lived closer to nature than I have in a very long time.Felt the calm in the garden, in the kitchen, with the chickens, in the wind, and by the ocean.Seen waterfalls, beaches, and sunrises that reminded me how little it actually takes to feel truly alive.
I’ve fed the chickens, cooked meals, worked with my hands in the garden and on the land, and been part of a place where flow is not just a word — but a way of living.
A place with space for presence.Yoga. Meditation. Reflection.And the feeling of being a meaningful part of a community.
Conversations without masks.Silence without discomfort.
Feng shui, energy, and balance have been a natural part of everyday life at the Quinta.And that is exactly what I’m bringing home with me:
The understanding that life feels lighter when you stop constantly fighting against it.
I’ve learned to listen more closely to my body.To my needs.To my intuition.
That life can be lived with more balance and flow.And that living consciously is a lifelong process.
To rest without guilt.To be present without constantly needing to move on to the next thing.
A quiet kind of freedom has grown inside me.Not the loud or reckless kind.But the kind of freedom where you can truly feel yourself again.
Thank you to Jan, 🙏 for helpin...
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Reply from Jan
Nice to hear. II hope after my reacting here that you can again put a request in, the system seems a bit scrambled.
Nicola
Spain
•
May 2026
An incredible experience! I feel like a family since day 1 and Always clear communication regarding the tasks and helping each others. I learned construction techniques, tree pruning, and things about chickens that I didn't know before 💖🐔 and much more. The food and accommodation were excellent, and the surroundings are simply magical. Thank you for having me, I hope to be back soon!
With gratitude and a warm hug ✨️🐣
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Reply from Jan
You are always welcome back! It was great to have you here; thanks for all the axing and mixing.
Ali Ersin
Portugal
•
April 2026
Jan has a very generous hosting model that considers the needs of the wwofers and allows them to be in their natural state. He prioritizes the needs of the wwoofers, and this is very important in creating a family atmosphere. There is always work to be done on the farm, including gardening, a chicken project, renovations, and artistic projects. As a chef, I must say that it was also a fun cooking and eating experience for those interested in the kitchen. Also, although participation is not mandatory, the yoga and meditation activities, which are done in a disciplined manner, are quite helpful for motivation. It has a very ideal location, where you can be isolated in nature on one hand, and observe local life because it is a 20-minute walk to the town center.
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Reply from Jan
And Ali is also always welcome Back!
Andrea
Italy
•
September 2025
Great place and amazing people
Kimberly
Canada
•
May 2025
Jan is a lively, intuitive and fun steward of Quinta Quixote - a peaceful sanctuary of gardens, paths, meditation nooks, and even a labyrinth surrounded by beautiful rolling mountain scenery. Quirky and lovely chicken friends are awaiting to get to know you and working mindfully at whatever task you're doing is encouraged!
In the just over two weeks I was there, the tasks I volunteered to take on included: weeding garden beds and planting seeds and seedlings; pruning fruit trees; weeding the labyrinth; weeding the driveway; and preparing either lunch or supper daily and keeping track of food inventory. I also helped to organize and clean the delightful art space available to all.
The accommodations are clean, comfortable, and private sith cozy beds snd bedding fresh off yhe clothesline. The food is delicious, nutritious and abundant. Jans hot chocolate is exquisite! This is a lovely spacious, flowing and creative place to connect with nature, yourself, and others. I hope to return!
Thank you for having me Jan! All thr best to you!
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Amelie
Germany
•
March 2025
Hello,
I had a wonderful stay at Quinta Quioxte! Jan is a very open-minded and generous host. There is a lot of freedom on the farm to get involved with your projects, to learn and discover. I can recommend everyone to visit this great place and get to know all the chickens. Thank you very much, Jan,
I had a lot of fun with the lemons!
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