You might have heard about the European Voluntary Service.

The European Voluntary Service (EVS) provides young Europeans with the unique chance to express their personal commitment through unpaid and full-time voluntary activities in a foreign country within or outside the EU. In this way, it seeks to develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people, thus contributing to reinforcing social cohesion in the European Union and to promoting young people’s active citizenship.

The Volunteers get full support for accomodation, food and travelling.

You might be asking now Why I’m writting to you????

Well, I develop a partnership with a NGO here in Portugal and we are developing a project in our farm, where we’ll create a space to develop activities in the Social, Educational and Environmental field.
For that we are looking for one more volunteer, (we already have one Italian volunteer that its interested to come).

The volunteer has to be under 30 years old and I believe must be European Union Citizen.

We are of course looking for someone that can fit and agree with some basic concepts that we practice in Raízes and in our partner NGO.

1-We fully support Organic Farming
2-We promote local production and local ecological enconomy
3-We fully support and practice Vegetarian food
4-In work we look to develop equal relations where all people have an opportunity to be themselves and share their knowledge and criativity
5-We are not bosses to tell what to do…We like to be autonomous and we like to work with such people aswell.
6-All of us look to develop alternatives to live in a more sustainable way…ecologically and economically.

If you know someone that might be interested please let me know…or tell that person to write to me.
Very soon I will have a description of the project that I will send to any person that wants to come for 1 year living in PORTUGAL!!!

By the way….the farm where we’ll develop the project is 15km from Porto City and 2 Km from the Sea…and ofcoarse the cherry on Top of the Cake…We are great people, nice and pretty…but not rich!!!

Thank you all, and hope you can help me to find someone. I would prefer to find someone that somehow some of you already knows.

Kisses and hugs

Pedro

pedro.rocha@raizes.org

I will be doing a permaculture course this November / December and I am looking for a place immediately afterwards (could also start before) where I can do 2 years permaculture practical experience for my diploma.

I’m looking for a place with nice people who have a garden / land, and would like me to do some permaculture there, and who are able to supply everything necessary for that – tools, seeds, etc.

I studied social padagogy and social work but don’t want to have a city life where I go to work in the morning and come home in the evening. I want to work where I live, and grow my own food. Ideally close to other lovely people.

I worked for one year in a garden in England as a volunteer and now this year in Portugal at Vale das Lobas, so I’m not a trained gardener, but i have some experience, and i´m longing to learn more. After the permaculture course I will already have more theoretical knowledge.

I’m a calm person, I like to be with nice people, I need nature around me. I love animals, and I am a vegan. I also like children very much and have some experience with them, so a place with children and animals is not necessary but would be nice, and I’m willing to babysit also.

I need to pay my insurance every month and also I will need a bit more for basic stuff like soap, charging my phone, buying a bus ticket, etc. so I would need a position where I would get around 100 euros per month plus food and accommodation. Internet access would also be good, so I can keep in touch with my family and friends in Germany.

If you can offer me a place, or know someone who might, please email me: philine.meessen@googlemail.com

My name is Rade and I live in London at the moment but I am looking at moving to Portugal/Spain in the very near future.

I would like to be as self sufficient as possible, live off land, grow some of my own food, live close to like minded people who care about each other and help each other out.

I am 34, a sound engineer but I have been studying and  experiencing sound and spiritual healing in the last 3-4  years (it’s a life long study but it’s lovely experience) and  that is where my heart really is at the moment. I would also  like my place to be a place where people could come and  express their love for life, in which ever way feels best  for them, a place of healing (which is everyone’s birth right)  and a place where people are happy to help each other on  their journey through life.My other interests are yoga,meditation, energy work, herbal  medicine,work with kids,music.

I have a beautiful 5 year old daughter Aurora who  occasionally spends some time with me (a week or so every  month, as at present she lives in Spain with her mother) so  a place that’s safe and inspiring for kids, somewhere where  they can explore and be their true loving selves, is my  vision. She adores horses (and all animals) and has had a few  riding lessons while with me in London, and with her  guidance I have fallen in love with the beautiful energy of  these animals.

So, I am looking for a place where I could spend this winter at, a community maybe or a project that might need  some help, house sitting is also an option. I’m not really  sure that full time WWOOFing would suit me at the moment, as  I might have to come to London a few times during the winter  and would have my daughter around a few times, but if some  sort of an arrangement (just accommodation maybe for a few  hours of help and general good vibes) comes up, I would be  very interested. But, of course, I am open to other ideas  and as long as our energies blend harmoniously, the set up is secondary.

Please let me know if you might know of a person/place that could be interested in my proposal. Thank you for taking the time to read my ad.

Looking forward to hearing from you…

Warmest greetings,
Rade

Horário: 19 setembro 2011 às 18:00 a 31 outubro 2011 às 19:00
Organizado por: João Goncalves
Telefone: 969680009
Tipo de evento: eco-construção

Vamos criar condições e oportunidades personalizadas para um pequeno grupo de voluntários trabalharem e aprenderem a construir de acordo com a sua capacidade física, durante o período mínimo de 5 dias.

Entre em contacto e informe sobre a sua experiência profissional, o grau de envolvimento e tipo de trabalho físico que pode executar.

Caso a caso, avaliaremos se podemos criar as condições para a sua participação.

Temas e fases do plano e execução:

- geo e bio-localização, acessos, fluxos de energia e materiais

- guardar e libertar energia – desenho de sistemas passivos de aquecimento e arrefecimento

- alicerces

- estruturas de madeira

- rede de água

- água quente solar, do composto e de biomassa

- massa térmica e isolamento – paredes com toros de madeira – “cordwood”, e sacos de terra – “super-adobe”

- telhado

- janelas e portas

- sistema de purificação de águas cinzentas

- estufa anexa

- casa de banho

- sanitário seco

- anexos que servem o abrigo (espaço da lenha, carro …)

- compostagem com minhocas

- paredes e telhados vivos

- armazenamento da água da chuva

- logística da execução, organizar o local da construção

- compra e manutenção de ferramentas

- compra e transporte de materiais de construção

- aluguer de serviços

- segurança e vizinhança

- construir e servir a comunidade

http://permaculturaportugal.ning.com/events/eco-abrigo-em-permacultura-na-beira-baixa

Recent Fires very close by to us have given us a rude awakening – We are in desperate need of some volunteers to help us with some land clearing – it will be hot hard work and we can’t pay you in anything other than lunch & a dip in the river – Can anyone help?????

We are Debs & Johnny with 14 rescue dogs and a cat as our family – we live in a couple of yurts on the river Mondego near Nelas – there are never enough hours in the day for just the two of us and with trying to earn a living and caring for the dogs we haven’t been able to keep on top of our land – this morning (10th Aug) thank heavens a fire was contained just a couple of hundred metres away from us and to be honest we’re scared and are in desperate need of some volunteers to help us clear our land urgently.

Because we have so many dogs, (who will incidentally will be in their own secure runs, in case anyone feels overwhelmed by just the thought of them let alone the hard work!!) – we have decided to have an open weekend where we are asking, ne begging anyone who could even give us an hour of their time for free, to come and give us a hand clearing the fallen trees, deadwood and undergrowth –strimming etc – a mixture of light and heavy work – so all sizes welcomed

Friday, Saturday Sunday – 19th, 20th & 21st August 2011
Please turn up anytime from 7am onwards, for a long or short as you want.

We don’t have many tools so if you have anything you are able to bring with you such as gloves, a hat, basic clearing tools, i.e. rakes, sickles, snippers, hoes, stimmer/ brush cutters etc that would be great.

We haven’t got a lot to offer other than a very grateful smile, hopefully some laughs, a dip in the beautiful river, (the kids will love it ) drinks and a picnic style lunch for anyone who wants it – (although if anyone wants tea with cows milk or meat with their lunch would you be so lovely enough to bring your own as we are vegans with caravan fridge and limited power supply

If anyone has got this far and is brave & kind enough to help, so that I can have a rough idea on numbers for drinks & catering if there is any chance you could get in touch and let me know what day you might turn up. Please can you message us and I’ll send you our address & directions on how to find us down here in the valley

Thanks so much for reading this, any help would be really appreciated by us all x

Debs & Johnny

We are a family of three (Derek, maiken, and Una) that bought our lovely quinta a couple of years ago, and we have finally made the move to stay here. The quinta has lots of fruit and olive trees and is situated less than 100 meters away from the river Alva.

The work you will participate in will be:

- Earthbagging (We are going to build and are almost done digging out the foundation for a halfmoon shaped, earth-bermed, earthbag house), so the bagging will start very soon! The work on the house will also include, depending on when you are coming, cob, liming, glass bottle wall and much more).

Photo Source: www.tinyhousedesign.com

- Lime rendering and pointing (we are making a small old granite goat shed into a beautifull relaxation room, we also have a retaining wall that needs lime rendering).

- earthen floors

- babysitting could also be part of the work if you’d like

You will experience the life on a working quinta. Right now we are camping, and there are lots of nice spots for your tent. We have plenty of fresh drinking water. Outdoor shower and kitchen are also in place. We expect to have one or a couple of wwoofers here at the time, and are looking for both short and longer term wwoofers.

Regards Maiken, Derek and Una

maiken@blichfeldt.dk

d_hornor@yahoo.com

Near Porto Covo, Alentejo

Please e-mail lefferth@gmail.com

Thanks.

Up to now , progress at The Hive has moved on, steadily creating more beds for planting and beds for volunteers.

Our new poly tunnel is up and functioning, and we have had visitors from many countries, giving their help, inspiration and thoughts.
Our plans for the coming year include restoration of some of the buildings, new structures, and the ongoing Permaculture projects, including workshops of Introduction to Permaculture, natural building materials, renewable energy, and many more.

We are looking for more volunteers to join us in long term or short term capacity, we have had many short term visitors, but feel that the project will progress further and more consistently with people who are committed to coming and residing long term within the project.

We encourage people who are visiting to bring fresh and new ideas that will enhance the ongoing project.

We have been embraced by the local community, who have enthused and participated in the revitalization of the village Rossio.

Since the Hive has been running, it has attracted other permaculture projects within the local community.

We are looking for people to share the responsibility of the project, up until now it has been financed from a finite single source and are now looking for ethical investors, who would appreciate living and working within the project.

If you feel you could have any constructive influence within the project, i.e. web design, fundraising, design and construction, volunteer co-ordination, etc, please get in touch via email or phone.
The current project manager is returning to the UK to raise awareness and fund raise for the project, and we are looking for a dedicated self motivating person who feels they could manage the project for a period of time.

At present Andy, who has been with us for the past two years, is taking responsibility for the works and daily runnings of the project.
Please get in contact if you think you can HELP in any way.
Cheers RAY

http://www.thehiveportugal.org/

Contacto: 919934065
fredcabral100@hotmail.com

I’m 33 years old, graduate, experienced in agriculture and organic farming in Portugal and elsewhere in the world, seeking work in the area of organic / permaculture, where you can continue to develop experience in the area at the same time, I have put into practice the knowledge acquired so far.