Beginning of a food forest and organic dairy farm in central Portugal
Castelo Branco
Let's just get right into what in the world exactly are we trying to do here: In 1988, a book was published titled "Permaculture - A Designer's Manual," and towards the end of chapter 12, it talks about species of plants that can stop the spread of fire. Plants like comfrey, figs, and mulberry have multiple uses in permaculture systems and can be propagated very fast from clone cuttings. And since this area is very prone to fire, we here wish to set up a nursery to sell these plants. That's the simple version...
But a permaculture project is never simple. For these plants to grow rapidly and multiply, we need to grow good+fluffy+fertile+wet soil on land that is mostly clay and rocks that turn to dust in the summer drought. How? Well, there's no simple version for the answer to that question. Permaculture? Absolutely, yes! And if that's what you want to involve yourself with (to learn, do, experience, and teach), then come and get it!! We offer free education and even PDCs for longer-term volunteers (minimum stay 3 weeks).
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Our project spans two lands, a half-hour walk from each other
On the bigger plot (~1.3ha) is an old little house with 5 bedrooms, a view of the lake, a functional kitchen, and even a traditional water basin we use as a pool. We have plenty of old fruit and nut trees you can pick from (Orange, Mandarin, Persimmon, Guava, Peach, Apple, Fig, Lemon, Cherries, Kiwis, Walnut, Chestnut, Pear, Grape, Strawberry tree).
You could stay in one of the rooms, or there is plenty of space to put a hammock, a tent, or park a campervan.
The smaller one (~0.4 ha) is where we aim to establish the food forest/nursery/veggie garden. It is off-grid, solar-powered powered and under construction. It's more secluded but also closer to town (a half-hour walk).
We are looking for people who would like to join us in our attempt to outgrow the current system. Our permaculture project is situated in an ideal place for rapid growth and expansion, where we aim to create a synergy between economy and ecology, ensuring both can thrive simultaneously.
We are especially looking for people who want to become part of the project long-term, become part of a business, part of a movement.
Right now, the trees' branches are bending under the weight of pears, apples, and figs, and the grapes are drying up, because we just lack the hands, the dedicated "human power" to build a business that brings these delicacies to the people. Nature is generous, and abundance is in reach, but it needs curious, courageous people.
People like you?
You're not afraid of entering a project in its initial chaotic phase, of making weekly plans, dividing up the work, and getting your hands dirty? You want to be a part of growing a new synergy of plants, animals, and humans? You are desperate for empowerment, meaningful work, "an alternative," or simply space to take a breather from the fast-paced, unsustainable modern life?
Come and get in contact with us! We are happy to answer any of your questions.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Sheep or goat farming
Dairy farming
Forestry
Wild foraging
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
1.7
Hectares
|
4.2
Acres
Accommodation
Matin
Member since 2023
Languages spoken:
English, German, Indonesian, Portuguese
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Response rate: 86%
Response time: typically within 4 days
Castelo Branco
The bus station in PedrogΓ£o Grande
Reviews
Julie
France
β’
August 2024
I passed one month at Matin and Annika's place during the time they wore in Germany. I was a kind of house sitting. I enjoyed the localisation, very quiet, close to the reservoir lake where I went to swim often. I also enjoyed the 30 minutes trail to walk from the house to the garden, by the forest, full of blackberries to eat.
As it's a wwoofing place, I was expecting more organisation with food and acomodation. I felt left to myself. The garden harvests where mainly zucchinis (I bought the rest of my fruits and vegetables at the market). I was milking one goat, but had no infrastructure and ingrΓ©dient to make cheese. The house was big, but very old and rustic: no running water in the kitchen (just one cold entrence in the bathroom) no insulation (very very hot in the house in the afternoon and at night). I felt it was a lot of work just to organize the basic stuff of a day routine without quality.
I also felt left to myself by having not a lot of communication with Annika and Matin, to ask me if everything was good. Even when I left, the new volunteers contacted me directly to organize everythig. I showed the work as I could and left without a word from the ownwers of the farm.
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