Permaculture at Eco Juice Detox & Yoga Retreat
Faro
* WE CURRENTLY HAVE SPACES FOR MALE VOLUNTEERS FROM JAN 31ST, FIRST FEMALE VACANCIES ARE FROM MARCH 4TH, UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN VAN TO STAY IN*
* THE USUAL STAY IS AROUND 1 MONTH, SHORTER STAYS SOMETIMES ARE POSSIBLE SO FEEL FREE TO ASK*
Hi! It's Richard and Hanneke here, the volunteer coordinators at Moinhos Velhos! As well as our roles here helping to bring volunteers to our wonderful retreat we've also both volunteered extensively ourselves so we know how to create a good experience! There have been volunteers coming here for about 30 years so we've a good system! Hope to see you, Richard & Iris
1. Describe your project, your place, and its inhabitants (including animals):
Located in a tranquil valley, this is the site of an internationally renowned juice fasting/detox & yoga retreat centre that is surrounded by organic vegetable gardens & fruit & nut orchards.
At the moment we are looking for volunteers to help in our vegetable gardens and maintaining the grounds.
About ourselves:
Since it's inception 32 years ago the grounds at Moinhos Velhos have been developed following the organic principles of synergistic gardening & permaculture. There are over 40 mature varieties of fruit & nut trees alone. We currently need help on our grounds to assist in new eco-projects, tree & vegetation maintenance & to increase food production yields.
Moinhos Velhos is a holistic health retreat for fasting, detoxification, cleansing and purification of body, mind and spirit for our clients. At the same time we want to maintain our permaculture and conventional vegetable gardens and greenhouse to provide us with a greater yield of organic food.
What we are looking for:
Working in our organic and permaculture gardens, also helping with landscape gardening. With the gardening we generally have preference for wwoofers who can stay with us longer term, at least 4 weeks. In exceptional circumstances we can do shorter stays too.
About the work:
As well as our permaculture garden we also have a organic vegetable garden and greenhouse. We need volunteers to sow, plant, harvest, weed and so on. Apart the vegetable gardens, we have several plant gardens to trim, weed, strim and mulch all the time. Our 15ha of forest also keep us busy from time to time, cleaning, chopping wood fire, shredding material for composting, and on and on.
We also have more 'general' volunteer positions too, helping make juices, cooking, cleaning etc.
We work six hours a day, five days a week with two days-off.
What we provide:
Your own room, sometimes solo, sometimes shared. Each includes a bed, chair and shelves. We provide all linens and towels.
The bathrooms are shared by all volunteers.
The food is mainly vegetarian and cooking is shared by all volunteers.
We have free Wi-fi. There is one computer for sharing in the living room, but you are welcome to bring your own laptop also.
There is sometimes a staff car available for use on your days off.
We speak English as the common language on site.
We tried to keep this post short and informative at the same time, so if there is any information missing, you are very welcome to contact us, you can also have a look on our website too!
We are looking forward to meeting you!
The Moinhos Velhos Team
Certifications: Not certified
Internet access available
2. List the activities that WWOOFers will participate in and what you want to teach them:
We are a community, and when the juice detox programmes are running, it is possible to join the yoga and meditation classes (space permitting - sometimes we have to rotate between volunteers) and afternoon talks. We also have lunch and dinner together, and the sauna is available for staff use in the evening too.
3. What could a WWOOFer's day look like at your site (time slot for participation in activities, expectations...)?
The agreement is for 6 hours per day, but during the hotter seasons it's possible to manage the time in the garden according to what suits you. But essentially we all have breakfast before 9, then head off to do tasks, have lunch together at 12.30, then tasks, then dinner at 6pm. If you wanted to join classes then yoga is between 8 and 10, talks are at 4pm, and meditation workshops (which can also be movement classes and visioning workshops) at 7.45pm.
4. Play the guide! Talk about your own hobbies (music, cooking, etc.) and those possible around (hiking, swimming, etc.):
As there is usually 10-15 of us living on site there is a wide range of interests, but generally lots of interest in holistic and natural healing, yoga, dance and movement, nutrition, and generally living enriching lives!
Important:
As a place where people come to relax and cleanse away from their normal chaotic lives, we want to create a peaceful ambiance, where people can build their consciousness without distraction or undue toxicity. With this is mind, we don't allow drinking alcohol on site (except on special occasions), drugs are strictly prohibited and non smokers are strongly preferred. If you smoke please let us know in advance (we don't allow it on site!)
We are relaxed (and generally light and fun!) but not a party atmosphere - more meditative, to support the guests experience. This type of energy isn't for everyone, we are away from the town so you need to be comfortable out in nature and in your own space!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
Former WWOOFer
16
Hectares
|
39.5
Acres
Detox
Member since 2023
Languages spoken:
Dutch, English, Portuguese
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 86%
Response time: typically within 3 days
Faro
We're 13km north of Lagos where we can pick you up and bring you to site. The nearest airport is Faro, about 90 mins away on public transport.
Reviews
Agnieszka
Poland
•
February 2026
An amazing place with great people, highly recommend!
Viviane Corazza
Brazil
•
September 2025
My experience at Moinhos Velhos was incredible. I'm so grateful for this wonderful opportunity. The place and the people are truly special. I already want to return. Light and blessings to this incredible project that changed my life. Thank you for everything! With love, Viviane Corazza
Eva Maria
Sweden
•
December 2023
The nature, the garden the people is amazing! For me it was the perfect place to visit as a first time wwoofer in sep-okt. The hosts and volonteers was just wonderful souls to be around, laught, learn, and grow together.
I loved to work in the garden and greenhous, watering, weeding, harvest, saw and plant. I felt in the same time how I heald my heart and soul trough the soil and from the spirit of nature.
Thanks a lot for sharing a lot of knowledge about the place, farming and also about the way of living there. Last but not least I have to mention the food, let’s make it short: super delicious every day!
Thank you hope to see you again !
Love You Much!
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Amelie
United Kingdom
•
November 2023
A magical peace haven of wellness, spiritual connection and vitality. The leaders of Moinhos Velhos I found to be grounded, present and familiar. A place of freedom, expansiveness, productivity, togetherness and giving. I enjoyed my stay here. At first I was a little sensory overloaded, but I found myself to be deeply nourished on all levels as I relaxed. The garden is peaceful and alive. Abundance is the reality of this place. This place is balanced and undoubtedly aided by angels.
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