Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
6 May 2023
Feedback
12
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a Portuguese/Irish couple who love nature and wildlife. We live on the farm but in a separate house which gives you plenty of privacy yet we are easily accessible if required. This is an opportunity to share some new skills and spend time with good company.
It is a 3 hectare "Quinta" (smallholding) at the edge of the village of Vale De Prazeres, on an elevated site with stunning views. Our hope is to create a peaceful and sustainable environment that can be used and enjoyed by ourselves and others whilst respecting the nature around us and being as organic as possible. We speak fluently in Portuguese, English and French and some basic Spanish.Types of help and learning opportunities
GardeningDIY and building projectsGeneral MaintenanceFarmstay helpAnimal CareLanguage practiceUN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This is an opportunity to learn about farmland and woodland management, to learn about self sufficiency and organic farming. And also to learn some building work. It is also a chance to learn cultural traditions and languages.
Help
Looking for short and medium term people who would like to stay and work on our property.
We would want people who are willing to work 5 days a week for at max 5 hours a day. We are very flexible about working hours and tasks. We are looking for people to help mainly with reclaiming the land and forests, although there is also need for some minor building work. Some of the tasks include clearing of terraces, woodlands and paths and around the houses. Restoring paths, stone walls and cultivating terraces and a water mine. Build sheds for animals and storage, work on insulation for houses. It will be mostly physical work so you must have a reasonable level of fitness. If you come by train or bus, we can collect you from Vale de Prazeres or Fundao stations.
You MUST have your own travel insurance.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Fluent
Spanish: BeginnerAccommodation
The accommodation provided is a comfortable self catering house. It has a fully fitted kitchen, basic food is provided, electricity, hot running water. There’s a fully equipped living room. All bedrooms have beds with linen provided and have en suite bathrooms. Heating in the winter months is from a wood burning stove and wood is available. Wi-Fi is also available.
What else ...
Set in woodland, surrounded by nature where you can enjoy the varied landscape, flora and fauna. Olive groves, pine forest, cork oaks, mimosa and an amazing range of wildlife, especially birdlife: eagles, buzzards, woodpeckers, hoopoes and golden orioles to name just a few. Only 5 minutes walk to the beautiful village of Vale De Prazeres with all amenities: bars, cafes, groceries, pharmacy, atm, train station, etc.
The large town of Fundao is a 15 minute drive away, city of Castelo Branco is a 35 minute drive, and Portugal’s highest mountain 'Serra da Estrela' is also 35 mins drive with skiing in winter. A23 motorway is a 10 minute drive from here. Many historic sites are nearby: Monsanto, Castelo Novo, Sabugal and many more. Lakes and rivers with river beaches close-by.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (6)
Friendly, relaxed, discreet, polite, mature and really hard working! Some of the jobs in the farm were very physical but Julian was always going above and beyond our expectations. He was also very eager to learn about culture, life style, and the environment of the farm... all this, while giving us amazing insight of… read more
Stayed with Roger and Billy for two weeks, and time just flew by! They are both super hardworking and kind people! Felt very welcome from the start. During my stay we cleared some terraces, had a lot of fun pulling brambles and learned a lot about birds, trees, Portuguese and Irish culture and also themselves. Even tho some days were… read more
They were both very friendly and interesting people to talk to and we exchanged many ideas about plants and living in farms.
The accomodation is very good. I had a remodeled house all to myself were I slept confortably and prepared my meals in the fully equiped kitchen.
The work consisted mostly in… read more
Hard working, serious and dedicated they helped with new projects such as building porches for the houses and despite being a first for all of us they were fearless and great problem solvers! And all this while having fun!! They also helped with clearing big… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Friendly, relaxed, discreet, polite, mature and really hard working! Some of the jobs in the farm were very physical but Julian was always going above and beyond our expectations. He was also very eager to learn about culture, life style, and the environment of the farm... all this, while giving us amazing insight of… read more
Stayed with Roger and Billy for two weeks, and time just flew by! They are both super hardworking and kind people! Felt very welcome from the start. During my stay we cleared some terraces, had a lot of fun pulling brambles and learned a lot about birds, trees, Portuguese and Irish culture and also themselves. Even tho some days were… read more
They were both very friendly and interesting people to talk to and we exchanged many ideas about plants and living in farms.
The accomodation is very good. I had a remodeled house all to myself were I slept confortably and prepared my meals in the fully equiped kitchen.
The work consisted mostly in… read more
Hard working, serious and dedicated they helped with new projects such as building porches for the houses and despite being a first for all of us they were fearless and great problem solvers! And all this while having fun!! They also helped with clearing big… read more
The welcome is great, from the first minutes, we knew we would be happy here.
The accomodation is independent, very comfortable, quiet, the view is breathtaking, the kind of place where you want to stay live all your life!
We worked together, it was very physical, but always in a good mood.
They are very… read more
The house for the workawayers is modern and with new furniture. We felt very comfortable and enjoyed the heating matress. ;)
Rogério has a lot of knowledge and we enjoyed to listen to his passionate answeres.
We can totally… read more
During the week that we spend in the finca, we learned interesting things like moving trees and burning plants.
The house for the workawayers is modern and with new furniture. We felt very comfortable and enjoyed the heating matress.… read more