A center for Being, community, meditation, ecology, and art.
Santarém
Hi, my name is Nimrod, and in 2023 I founded my dream project - Mata House - in central Portugal. Mata House is a center for Being, community, healing and art. It is a place for seekers, people who wish to transform themselves, and to help direct the world towards a better future. The project's values are: Freedom, compassion, connection, expression and awareness.
Mata House are located in central Portugal, in the green Portuguese countryside.
Mata House aims to create a group of self-aware people who are able to work together. People who are willing to make an effort, to take on the challenge to discover what a new human society can look like. People who are willing to compassionately, honestly, work together on themselves, and on various projects.
How can work be joyful, yet productive? How can we nourish our body, our heart, our joy, our connection, while “getting the job done”? How can we trust, relax while facing a challenge, and actually enjoy what we do? This is what we wish to explore. For that we use various practices: meditation, dance, communication tools, Sufi practices, 4th way and more.
The volunteering period also has a practical aim – to maintain and develop Mata House. This work will be our “research lab” to explore human relationships, connection, communication and collaboration.
The basic exchange is 5 days a week, 5 hours a day, in exchange for living in Mata House and participating in classes and the group process. Meals will be cooked by the group or personally. The minimum stay is 14 days, but we suggest you come for more, or at least leave yourself the option.
In each period, we will have several major projects, which will be determined according to the supply of materials and the number and skills of volunteers. Aside from that, there are always routine jobs to do such as cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc.
You are welcome whether or not you have any special skills. However, we give priority to people with specific work skills, especially carpentry, construction and gardening. You don’t need to be especially fit or young, we had people here from 18 to 75, and everyone has something to contribute. All you need to be is generally healthy, in body, mind and spirit.
Accommodations are in spacious, light and airy rooms in Mata House. The rooms have wooden floors, simple furniture, and there is a big balcony around the house. The house has central heating, and is naturally cool in summer. Necessities such as towels, linen blankets etc. will be provided. There is very fast fiber internet WIFI, which will be open to volunteers. Mata house has a big, beautiful garden, and a big pool you can enjoy. The land is full of plants and trees.
The number of volunteers will fluctuate. There can be as little as 4 people in the house, or as many as 20. The main language of Mata House is English, although there are usually speakers of other languages too.
If you seek to understand yourself and others, if you are willing to work, internally and externally, come join us.
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Forestry
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Traditional crafts
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
1.6
Hectares
|
4
Acres
Nimrod
Member since 2024
Languages spoken:
English, French, Hebrew, Portuguese
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 4 days
Santarém
Torres Novas
Reviews
Sofie
United States
•
December 2025
Mata House was a wonderful experience. I am beyond grateful for everything I’ve learned and everyone I met. I can honestly say that I’ve never been in an environment so welcoming and accepting. The work was enjoyable and diverse. Everything that is offered at Mata house is offered with the idea of “only if you’re comfortable”. Even if this is a new experience, you will be able to try what you’re interested in and you will feel no judgement if you decide not to participate in something. This was an unforgettable experience for me and I’m so grateful to Nimrod for creating this environment and the other volunteers I got to know. Thank you! ♡
Read more
Dana
Czechia
•
December 2025
Mata House has been a most welcoming place for me during a very challenging time. Nimrod is empathetic and honest, and makes an effort to make the house feel like a home. I am very happy to have experienced Mata House and recommend it to anyone who feels like they need a new experience while being supported and cared for.
Inês
Portugal
•
September 2024
I very much enjoyed my time at Mata House. It was steeped in a heartwarming, friendly atmosphere where everybody was invited to be and share with others both through spontaneous activities and planned ones such as in dedicated sessions (Gurjieff's movements, Contemplative Dance Practice, collective readings, etc). I very much recommend it if you're someone seeking genuine connection with others alongside spiritual understanding and growth.
The work at the time concerned mainly the remodel of a house annex to turn into a studio for activities with garden beds preparation running in parallel.
Read more
Adelia
United States
•
September 2024
An experience at Mata house is nothing short of Inspirational, Blissful, Satisfying, and an experience of self discovery.
Opportunities to share your own skills and learn new ones are respectfully and kindly presented by Nimrod; And most Wwoofers gladly participates in an ultimate vision of creating a Community of Wellness, Ecological harmony, Spirituality, and the Arts.
Nimrod exemplifies great organizational skills, and each day begins with meditation, work using consciousness of self observation, then a delicious breakfast made by international Wwoofers who are present, followed by more work, another break for meditation and later another wonderful lunch!
The living environment at Mata house is harmonious, comfortable and clean and Nimrod as well as the residents take pride in keeping it that way.
My experience at Mata house exceeded my expectation!
Thank you Nimrod!
Read more
Till
Germany
•
August 2024
It was an incredible experience of work(inner and outer), play and connection for me at Mata House. It's not the usual woofing experience, because it's not just about exchanging work and accomendation, there's so much more thats beeing offert if you are willing for it. On the one hand, there are very interesting tasks that are very varied and where you can learn a lot. But there is also an incredible amount more to learn, for example what a sustainable communitylife can look like. The Mata House has given me a wonderful space to work on myself, where a lot of new impulses are being given through various exercises and group dynamics. I think anyone who is willing to be open to new experiences will have an incedible valuable time here.
So thanks a lot Nimrod and Mata House, I appreciat deeply what you are offering here.
Read more
