Volunteer and Intern Opportunity in developing ecovillage in Sunny Mid Portugal
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We are an intergenerational, international group of humans living joyfully together to support each other in our journey, co-creating and sharing harmony, abundance and happiness. At the moment we are 4 adult residents in Quinta Travancinha, (plus guests, friends, volunteers and visitors) in central Portugal. We welcome you to visit and be part of our daily activities in our IC (community).
Our intention is to live self-sustainable, harmoniously and in joy together, connected with nature, guests and other local and international valley residents in our bioregion.
Some of the things we do/want to do are organic gardening using syntropic, permaculture and bio dynamic methods, cleaning, carpentry, painting, fermented foods, drying and peserving, oil pressing, building, social media, video creation, editing, maintenance, solar, hydro and eolic. We have learned a few things in the process and we look forward to sharing them and also learning from what you have to share in a method that works for you and us. We have weekly open sharings and embrace feedback, both ways. it's easy to visit a farm and point all that needs doing, improving, fixing or repairing, we're well aware of them/imperfections and working on them, doers are joyfully preferred and are most happily welcome
Although we'd love to be able to be with you fully everyday in and out, given the many tasks and projects we have at the moment, and the few full time residents, this is not possible in every area. We are a better match with people who are mature, conscious, grounded, practical, love working outdoors, and taking on projects either independently or collaboratively. If you're the kind of person who is negative, complains/criticizes often without offering or implementing solutions, only talks/worst gossips, empty half glass, demanding, not flexible, needs supervision or taken by the hand daily this is probably not the place for you.
For some projects, like kitchen, hospitality, cleaning, reorganizing, decluttering, interior decoration, art, management, alternative construction there is someone usually available, as we have professional help at this time, but for other projects, like the garden, or chickens, irrigation, maintenance, paths, or syntropic forest we must divide the tasks and at times we can not be with you during your shifts on a daily basis.
Some months are better than others and this 2025 Autumn update is just a snapshot in time, as all changes, transforms, shifts and evolves in our IC. It is humanly not possible to often update every small detail on all profiles & sites we use. (We're also looking for support in this area)
We are often available for questions, ideas, feedback and suggestions throughout the day in a casual informal manner, and usually during lunch or dinner times. We have a garden/forest telegram group where we daily share lots of tips and info about what we do and you are free to stay in it even after you leave. We also have researched and documented our processes and projects and this is available to you if you are interested, so if you want to learn these are the ways we pass on/share our knowledge. We appreciate your initiative and you also sharing with us. We encourage visitors also to use apps, AI to share their findings and we can have a more stimulating exchange. We have learned no one has all the answers and we prefer to have a more dynamic exchange and not one sided, we are definitely not a classroom, and we do not have al the answers, but a place to share both ways, learn from research, experiences and continue improving, hopefully just like you.
We started a syntropic food forest this year and envision more green sustainable dwellings, an events centre, a sweat lodge, a storage facility, improving our paths and road, a health spa etc. Helping with this projects would be awesome and we are also open to your suggested projects and ideas if you have a skill that you want to share, once you come and we have the budget to make it happen.
Some of the things we do are: seed bank, seedlings, planting, chickens, in need of a chicken tractor, compost, humanure station, weeding, pruning, grafting, mulching, harvesting, cleaning, cooking, bee and insect hotel, H2O mgmt plan, construction, chillaxing, clay floors, clay art, painting, fermenting foods, hanging out, irrigation expansion, pump installation, full moon sweats, dancing, drumming, music, hikes, movie nights, open mic talent show, swimming, etc
Accomodation: There might be a room, a tall bell tent or a caravan, but you will certainly have comfortable, clean, dry and warm accomodation. We can confirm when you write to us depending on availability. We cook and share one warm meal a day 5 days a week, usually dinner and there are ingredients available for you to make your own other meal, if needed and eat during the day from the garden and fruit trees or enjoy a coffee, tea, kombucha or spring water. We welcome you to share your cooking style. We have a few bathrooms/ showers facilities available, yet encourage you to pee outdoors back to the trees. You are also welcome to join us in our outings and rides to the nearby towns or cities or alternatively use one of our shared community cars covering the fuel costs. Exchange is 25 hours a week.
Our hobbies are: Music, cooking, hiking, dancing, exploring, swimming, movies, art, languages, games, and cultural swap and stories.
Please No smoking is allowed, fire hazards are serious and it is illegal to have open fires, uncoscious smokers have destroyed hundreds of hectares of land and taken lives of humans and animals. No Drugs, No Guests on Property unless prior approval by ecovillage resident members, Keep your area Clean and Tidy and at least as received or better for the next person to come when you leave.
Certifications: We are not certified as it is prohibitely expensive and we are a small community farm, but everything we grow is organic and we use exclusively biodegradable products. Please leave harmful chemicals at home. We are not separate from Nature, nature is us and we are nature, anything that harms her, harms us and this includes our toiletries, toothpaste, deodorants, soaps, shampoos, cleaning products and others. We strongly discourage the use of chemicals, perfumes and alike for personal use as some are sensitive to them and it affects everyone negatively.
We are looking for old souls regardless of their age, who are mature, joyful, kind, conscious, gentle, responsible and want to live a sustainable, self reliant, basic but abundantly thriving lifestyle. Team players that are willing to do their fair share and complete consciously their assigned tasks while having fun and fully enjoying it. Please bring a positive, bright, willing and motivated attitude! Must be interested in eating healthy, local, in season organic food and not demanding to have luxurious items from other corners of the world year round!
We are compatible with open minded souls, comfortable with their bodies/who they are, self motivated ( proud in their contribution, wanting to have a tangible + impact/make a + difference and contribution to mother earth. We like hugs, and value direct, assertive, open communication, freedom, joy, self expression, opennes, integrity, dilligence and loving kindness.
We also have space for digital nomads, project or thesis writers and can reach out to us for more details.
Мы - межпоколенческая, международная группа людей, живущих вместе с радостью, поддерживая друг друга в нашем путешествии, сосоздавая и делясь гармонией, изобилием и счастьем. На данный момент мы 4 полный рабочий день люди, живущие в Quinta Travancinha, (плюс гости, друзья, волонтеры и посетители) в центральной части Португалии. Мы приглашаем вас посетить и стать частью нашей повседневной деятельности в нашем IC (сообщество).
Наше намерение - жить самостоятельно, гармонично и в радости вместе, связанными с природой, гостями и другими местными и международными обитателями долины в нашем биорегионе.
Некоторые из вещей, которые мы делаем - органический садоводство с использованием синтропных, пермактурических и биографических методов, строительство, уборка, краска, приготовление пищи консервации, строительство зеленого, социальных медиа, видео-создание, плотницкое, обслуживание, солнечные и ветерические. Мы узнали несколько вещей в процессе и мы с нетерпением ждем, чтобы поделиться ими с вами, а также учиться от того, что вы должны поделиться.
Мы представляем синтропный пищевой лес и несколько зеленых устойчивых жилищ, центр мероприятий, пот-хижину, хранилище, улучшение наших путей и дороги, Оздоровительный центр и др. Помощь с этими проектами было бы здорово, и мы также открыты для ваших предложенных проектов и идей, если у вас есть навыки, которые вы хотите поделиться, как только вы приедете.
Некоторые вещи, которыми мы занимаемся: уход за курами, необходимость построить тракторный автомат для кур, компост, сорняк, посадка, сбор урожая, хранение еды, хранение семян, уборка, приготовление пищи, мульчирование, строительство, краска, охлаждение, тушение, время от времени полнолуние пот, танцы, барабаны, музыка, походы, вечера кино, открытый микрофон, шоу талантов, плавание и т.д.
Размещение: Там может быть комната для вас или высокий шатер или караван, но вы наверняка будете иметь комфортабельные, чистые, сухие и тепло размещение. Мы можем подтвердить, когда вы пишете нам в зависимости от наличия. Мы готовим и разделяем по крайней мере одну еду в день 5 дней в неделю, и есть ингредиенты для вас, чтобы сделать свою собственную еду/ с как вам нужно. Мы приглашаем Вас также поделиться своим стилем приготовления пищи. У нас есть несколько ванных комнат, душевых кабинок и других удобств, доступных для Вас в разных партах собственности.
Некоторые из наших хобби: музыка, кухня, походы, исследования, плавание, кино, искусство, язык и культурный обмен и истории.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Forestry
Beekeeping
Wild foraging
Flower farming
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Green Building
Methods or systems
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Rotational grazing
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
Former WWOOFer
11.5
Hectares
|
28.4
Acres
Accommodation
Klaske
Member since 2025
Languages spoken:
Danish, Dutch, English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Guarda
Seia, oiveira do hospital, travancinha, viseu closest airport Porto.
Reviews
Karla
Denmark
•
January 2026
I spent 5 weeks at Quinta Travancinha in October-November as my first ever Wwoofing experience and I’m very grateful that I did:)
The Quinta is located in the most beautiful landscape with soft hills surrounded by quarts crystals, mossy rocks, ruins and a river with a small waterfall.
I worked from morning till noon and the work was quite varied, I mainly helped with establishing the subtropical food forest, laying clay floor and feeding the chickens which felt rewarding and meaningful. I didn’t have any previous experience with neither the subtropical food forest or clay floor but it was quite simple to learn and went like clockwork once you knew the basics. Aeshwa has a lot of knowledge and thoughts about the different processes that he is eager to share with you if only you’re curious!
I felt it was a really nice balance between work and free time and I had plenty of time to relax and explore in the afternoons and weekends; Exploring, connecting and immersing myself in nature!
For the time I spent here, it truly felt like a home. Everyone I met here, volunteers and residents, were genuinely nice and loving people who wanted the best for you and were accomodating and attentive to your needs!
It was a very enriching experience for me and I learned a lot about myself in the process. I feel lucky about the people that I met on my way, whom I made beautiful memories with that I’ll treasure for a long time🧡
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Ursula
Switzerland
•
January 2026
I can sincerely say that I spent a very versatile month (December 2025) at Quinta Travancinha.
My personal experiences were equally varied and enriching as were my encounters with residents, guests and co-volunteers.
Quinta Travancinha might seem a very remote and faraway location at first view. In fact, it appeared to me like a fairy-tale place because of the tremendous beauty of its countryside which is no wonder since the quinta is set in a region with deep Celtic roots.
I have to admit that it took me some time to adapt to the intense energy of the countryside as well as to the diversity of the community I encountered at Quinta Travancinha.
Having no idea of syntropical farming at first, I took my time finding my place with this organic gardening method whereas I always found an open ear for my questions.
I was blessed to meet an intergenerational, international group of humans that are striving to support each other in each one's individual journey.
Looking back at my time at Quinta Travancinha I am deeply grateful for experiencing the “tribe’s goal” which is (I am quoting): To live in community, be surprised by what every new day brings and live in harmony with the stunning soul connecting nature.
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Clémence
Portugal
•
November 2025
Je suis restée 2 semaines à la Quinta Travancinha et j'y ai passé de très bons moments.
L'endroit est absolument magnifique et magique avec ses collines verdoyantes, la rivière en contrebas et les gros rochers des géants. Les différentes personnes que j'y ai rencontrés ont toutes été très accueillantes et ayant à coeur que l'on s'y sente bien. Aeshwa qui s'occupe principalement des volontaires, de leur faire une visite complète des lieux et de les former sur le travail qu'ils vont ensuite effectuer, a été très attentionné et à l'écoute tout au long de mon séjour. Il est passionné et prend beaucoup de temps et de plaisir à partager ses connaissances et à transmettre son savoir.
Le travail s'effectue le matin de 8h à 12h et et les après-midi sont libres. Pendant ces deux semaines, j'ai principalement réalisé un sol en terre paille, participé à la création d'une forêt syntropique et je me suis également occupée des poules.
Les repas du midi sont préparés par les volontaires pour eux-mêmes. Pour les repas du soir, un système de rotation est mis en place pour leur préparation, et tout le monde (volontaires, habitants, invités) dine ensemble.
La maison dans laquelle j'ai été logée est très confortable et le salon avec sa baie vitrée donnant sur les collines alentours, est vraiment un endroit magique.
Je recommande!
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Kerstin
Germany
•
November 2025
We spent three visionable weeks at Quinta Travancinha. Elisabeth, Klaske, Aeshwa and Hans are very friendly and open-minded people and we enjoyed living and working with them.
We remember getting up early in the morning before sunrise, when it was still nice and cool in august. We knew, what were the tasks for the early morning: watering the plants, look for the chicken`s well-beeing and for the compost. After that there were always different things to do. Working in the islands, potato-harvest, help building a clay-house, plant cactus...
We had a very open exchange about the quinta-life and life in itself.
There is a big vision and we love to send our good vibes into the project.
Thanks a lot for the huge hospitality.
Lovely greetings, Kerstin and Peter with Sheela
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Maya
Germany
•
October 2025
I had a truly wonderful time at the Quinta Travancinha! During my stay, I helped to build and care for a syntropic food forest, which was an inspiring and rewarding experience. The people there were incredibly kind, open, and welcoming so it really felt like being part of a family. The atmosphere was relaxed yet full of purpose, and I learned so much about sustainable living and community life.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to connect with nature, learn new skills, and meet amazing people.
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Susanna
Italy
•
September 2025
This two-week experience was very positive for me. I met many people from various parts of the world and shared many beautiful moments of reflection and discussion with everyone. Elisabeth, Aeshwa, Klaske, and Hans were always kind and understanding towards me. I was also very lucky because I found volunteers with a great willingness to help and who assisted me in improving my English. I arrived at a not-so-relaxing time in my life and was looking for a place that could give me peace, and Quinta Travancinha gave me exactly that. I am grateful for all that I was able to learn, both in terms of gardening and for my personal growth.
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