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Welcoming some help on our farm in Alentejo, Portugal

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are currently looking for one or two helpers to help us with several projects from the end of March 2024 onwards.
    Please note before accepting a position at our place we have 8 yes 8 dogs which live in, yes live in the house with us. You must be happy living with 8 dogs. We are getting fed up of helpers asking to come and then saying they like dogs but only in pictures.


    We are retired and now live on a 3ha organic farm in Alentejo, Portugal, so have lots of jobs and long term projects that we would like to achieve. For this we have decided that we do need some help to develop. We have a pig, sheep, hens, ducks, tortoises and dogs. We grow most of our own food.

    We are in a very beautiful and rural area and you can develop the Portuguese language with help from the locals who do not speak English!

    We are an hours drive inland from the Algarve and just 30 MILES from the stunning west coast beaches. Our village has one bar and the next village which is 4km away as a small shop. The village is very very quiet with no nightlife so please don`t come thinking you are coming to a tourist resort. This place is for people who like being in touch with nature, and enjoy being apart from big cities.

    WE HAVE LIMITED WIFI and so to make sure that we can all have access and enjoy this, we have to limit availability and must stress that there are NO DOWNLOADS allowed. We have had past experience of people using our limited system to its limit leaving everyone including us with no WIFI at all!! This is beyond our control and is not acceptable and so this is what we must do preserve it for everyone and hope that people can accept this for the right reasons.

    The farm is a working farm and at times is dusty or muddy depending on the weather so working boots and working cloths are essential. If you ARRIVE without proper WORK BOOTS you will be asked to LEAVE as this is a serious health and safety issue. Our working day is usually from 8 until 1700 yes long hours(often this is just feeding and cleaning the animals but we do have plenty of breaks).The days work that we expect you to do is start at 8am where you will be given the task of cleaning and feeding some of our animals this usually takes about 20-25 minutes in the morning. You then come to the house for breakfast at 8.30 am. Breakfasts are varied and usually include porridge, cereals, toast and sometimes eggs. After breakfast is finished and the pots and the kitchen are tidy by yourselves we all start work again at 9am prompt. From 9-1 various projects will take place with yourselves or by all of us as a group, with a short mid morning break. Lunch will be taken around 1pm as soon as the project is finished. Lunch is normally sandwiches or homemade soup, after the lunch pots are cleaned away the afternoon is yours to do as you please, unless we are on a big project and we will ask for your help in the afternoon but this is not common. We will then repeat the morning animal feed, clean and walk routine. This is usually done between 4-5pm depending on the season of the year, with winter being earlier than the summer. After the evening animal routine's your only task will be to sort the kitchen after the evening meal. The time of this meal varies again depending on the season. You will generally do this five days a week. By prior arrangement if you want to go off and leave the farm after lunch and not do the last animal routine this is ok with us IF you make up time by working slightly longer before lunch. You work five days per week and have two days off. We go to shows ,markets and events and you are always welcome to come with us. I am afraid that we are not the busy resort on the coast so please make sure you read and study our profile before contacting us. Our nearest big town is Ourique which is about 19 km away. If potential workawayers book to come and stay with us and then do not arrive for what ever excuse (think we have heard them all now!!) especially the one about grandad being seriously ill and you can not leave your family at this time, have had this one three times so far this year.Please note that we will give you a bad report, as this is just bad manners and totally inexcusable on your part. Once we have accepted someone we do not give back word or not turn up to meet you!! If you find this offensive then you are probably this type of person! If you do not find it offensive then you are the one for us!! (Reliable).

    PLEASE NOTE That we abide by the workawayers ethos that in exchange for your help we provide good food, good accommodation and drinks including wine or beer with your meals. WE DO NOT PAY ANY SORT OF ALLOWANCE if you need to earn money whilst you are travelling then please go to a job agency.

    WE MUST ALSO STRESS that we are passionate about all of our animals and their care is of the utmost importance to us. When you are asked to care for any of them we expect you to do it properly, if you are found NOT to be doing everything properly after being instructed. You will be asked to LEAVE!!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We endeavour to introduce you to Portuguese culture and life by visiting local markets and events as they happen during your stay. We speak English and Portuguese and aim to learn you the basics of the local language. Any projects that we do will learn you new life skills to share with other helpers and hosts along your travels, we are all about learning here.
    We are big on animal husbandry, you can learn about all aspects of animal care both for pets and farm animals. We do tractor work, for those who show ability and are here at the right time for this to happen.
    We are constantly doing construction jobs which again we will teach you many skills.
    Our aim is to make your experience with us a pleasure for both of us.
    Glynn was a trainer in the Fire Service for most of his career so is used to teaching people.

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for someone to help us with general day to day running of our farm such as feeding the animals, weeding, planting, grass cutting, pool maintenance, dog feeding and possible animal minding for the odd day off. We feel we have a lot to offer and although there is plenty of work to do the emphasis is on fun too! We have 8 dogs that live in the house and are very loving but the dogs are our children and so if you are not dog friendly we are probably not your best choice. If you love dogs ours always love you back. We have 8 dogs that live in the house with us. So you must be happy with dogs not just in picture form. Ours bark, poo,kiss and Are very friendly once they know you.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    accommodation is offered in a large 6 berth touring caravan with out door kitchen and bathroom facilities or a basic room in the upper lodge (with views to die for)
    We do have limited WiFi available

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We would like to point out that whilst you are staying in our home we will provide three meals a day with drinks but if you go out either on our own or with us you are expected to pay for ALL food and drink that you have. We think this is fair as if you are out and about you are not working for us and it should be your responsibility to provide for yourself. Also anyone who does not stop the full time that you agree to for what ever reason apart from death may have to make their own way back to the bus station. The reason for these two notes are some every inconsiderate helpers who came with the idea of getting what they can and them saying " their mom had died and they had to leave." only to be found two weeks later on the beach.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day help on one project or as stated in profile (max 25 hours/week)

Host ref number: 174129376231

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