Are there people out there who want to live in harmony with nature, practice permaculture, growing own organic fruit and vegetables, and enjoy life at a slower pace? I’ve got some experience of this in the last two years, and would like to do more, with an eclectic mix of folks from different backgrounds, with different skills and interests.

Either by joining an existing eco-community, run along sustainable lines, or to set one up with other like-minded, free-spirited individuals, couples, or a group.

The location of interest to me right now is the coastal part of Baixo Alentejo and northern Algarve, between Vila Nova de Milfontes and Aljezur, but I’m open to other areas and ideas too, if the land and people ‘click’.

The main criteria for land are predictably enough: a continuously flowing stream or river (or some other year-round water source), perhaps some ruins for reconstruction, or the possibility of getting permission to build, sufficient space to grow stuff on and to expand into in the future, and a peaceful location far from the madding crowds. I’m keen to build using taipa, adobe, palha and/or other styles and techniques of construction, having seen the benefits for myself.

So, is anyone else out there interested too? Please get in touch with me if you know of anything that might fit the bill, or if, like me, you’re looking to do something similar.

Alan Walton
email: delta_free (AT) yahoo.co.uk
or you can find me on http://permaculturaportugal.ning.com/

If you are not considering living here now, due to life commitments, but you wish to participate, you can:
• Make an eco-loan
• Make a donation

Eco-Loans
Your investment will empower Vale das Lobas to acquire the land required to create a fully sustainable ecological centre and organic farmers co-operative. You can invest as little or as much as you wish. When you invest, you can choose the terms of repayment, as one, two or three years, at 2 or 4%. As an eco-share holder, you will have first choice to buy the plots available for building eco-quintas and eco-moradias.
By making an investment now, you will support the development of this project, and you can choose the level of involvement that best suits you.
Eco-quintas are for permanent dwellings, as they include farm-land, and membership of the organic farmers co-operative.
Eco-moradias can be bought as permanent dwellings, or for holiday use.

If you currently have money in a bank or on the stock market, you are probably aware that the continuing financial collapse will soon enter another stormy phase. Surely now is the time to consider shifting your savings into an ethical investment, where it is serving something you can believe in wholeheartedly, and participate in the results?

Donations
We accept donations towards the creation of the Centre for Spiritual Ecology, which includes the renovation of the 16th century solar. In a few months, we will have created an NGO, with the goal of establishing a multi-faith centre for peace at Vale das Lobas. This non-profit organisation will run on subscriptions, donations and grants. Please contact us if you would like to make a donation, however small or large, or if you have experience in this field, and would like to assist us in the establishing of this organisation.

Riverside Artisan Village
If you would like to invest a larger sum, and actively participate in the creation of Vale das Lobas, we are now seeking collaboration. The Riverside Artisan project will have a gallery in the old olive mill, a working centre for production in a courtyard of workshops, and a rural hamlet for up to twenty dwellings, covering an area of twenty-five hectares. The mill will also be used to generate hydro-electricity. If you are interested in the development of the traditional arts, and you are able to invest time and money to bring this project to fruition, then please contact us now for more details.

Security
How can we provide security for your investment?
This project is a priority for the local government. It has support from the highest level. We have a signed agreement wherein the president of the region has personally pledged that the project will have all the support it needs to bring the Centre and the Organic Farmers Co-operative into being. In this agreement, permission to construct dwellings has been given in outline. We are now working with out architects, engineers, surveyors, and legal team, to establish the detailed planning authorisation.

The land is powerful ancient land that has only ever been farmed by traditional methods, from the time before time, until this generation. Now it seems abandoned. But it is merely resting, gathering more strength, awaiting the next phase.

We have no debts with the bank. All financing is from personal investment. This project is eligible for EU funding, both for the creation of the centre, under the rural redevelopment scheme, and for the organic farmers co-operative, for clearing, irrigation, and production.

Every euro or cent that you invest here will be spent on acquiring and preparing lands for farmers and artisans to join the project. There is no doubt that they will come. There are already perhaps thousands of families migrating away from urban life, having sold their house or flat, in search of their dream to live sustainably, in an ecological community. We have researched very carefully. The climate, rainfall, altitude, crop and tree type, surrounding economic activity, and the traditions in the region, all point to this being an ideally suitable location for this project to succeed.

When we have twenty families or individuals committed to joining the project (and there is space here for more than forty), we will have repaid all eco-loans with interest. We expect this point to be passed by December 2012.

Korashan Centre for Spiritual Ecology will be made up of the multi-faith centre, housing also a natural healing clinic, a meeting house for groups, accomodation and refectory. The centre will offer seminars, conferences, courses and training. The permaculture gardens and forest will be managed and maintained by key workers. There will be a training programme offering people the chance to apprentice in these areas. Artisans will have a regular paid role in the year-round programme, providing workshop modules to course participants.

Barro Luso Lda is our ecological landscaping, forestry and building company. The law in Portugal prohibits individuals from building their own house. The licence to construct must be issued to a registered building company. Barro Luso will provide all the services required by a buyer who wishes to live in an ecological dwelling. From the design stage, to the finished house, Barro Luso will manage the process to ensure that you get exactly what you want. Whether you want the house built by us to your specification, or you would like to build it yourself, with Barro Luso providing the back-up and legalisation, we will provide the exact service to suit your needs.

This is the team of skilled people we are now seeking to recruit into the project:

• Landscape architect
• Forest manager
• Permaculture / Biodynamic farm manager
• Cobb and/or rammed earth builder
• General builder, with emphasis on Lime Putty and Stone.
• Clean Energy consultant, with knowledge of mini-grid systems.
• Administrator
• Fund raiser
If you would like to offer one of these services to Vale das Lobas, please contact us.

These are some of the traditional artists that we hope to have working here:

• Blacksmith
• Ceramics
• Cloth making and embroidery
• Jewellery
• Sculpture
• Woodturning
• Furniture making
• Yurt making
• Felt making

If you are an artisan, and you would like to find out more about living at Vale das Lobas, please contact us:

http://www.korashan.com/webpages/contact-us.html

Lagar / Olive Mill

Permission to build a house of up to 178m2.

Organic vegetable/herb/flower beds. Chicken run and pen.

3,590m2 (just under an acre) plot, gently sloping to stream and well on border.

Trees on the property; apple, medronho (strawberry tree), cherry, pineapple guava, oak, cork oak.

South facing. Ideal for solar power.

Riverstone drive and hardstanding flat area.

Views of farmland, hills and village. Ideal for stargazers due to unpolluted air/sky. Beautiful sunsets too.

Private and peaceful, not overlooked, but not isolated. 10 minute walk to nearest village.
Within walking distance of several traditional Portuguese bars, where you can get a 3 course meal for €5.50 a person (including wine).
Walking distance to beautiful river beach.
Situated in Central Portugal, 60km east of Coimbra, near county town (5km) of Arganil, (5km) market town of Coja.

Ideal for ecoliving, permaculture and an off grid lifestyle.

FOR SALE €35,000
or FOR RENT €50 per week (negotiable) to include weekly delivery of gas bottle and drinking water.
Try before you buy, rental reimbursed in the event of purchase!

http://www.pureportugal.co.uk/listman/listings/l0114.html

More photos:

http://pureportugal.co.uk/listman/exec/search.cgi?view=114&template=_photos.html

We are still in the initial phase and think that at this point it is essential that the group expands. A couple of people, no matter how enthusiastic and inspired, are not enough to set up an ecological village. The more people will join us, the greater the chance will be that our dreams will come true!

Find out more on our website: www.fortunaverde.eu

susanjnorrie@yahoo.co.uk

I ran an outdoors activities business in the middle Atlas mountains of Morocco for three years, so basic doesn’t bother me, and I am carrying all of the equipment to make sure off-grid living isn’t too tough. On leaving Morocco I decided to go self sufficient in Europe so I joined WWOOF and spent three months on a small organic farm in France learning the ropes of intensive organic agriculture. I have been studying Permaculture for the last year and my aim is to launch a veg basket scheme or AMAP as its know in France later in the year as the greenhouse and veg gardens come on line.

I would also consider perhaps joining up with an ongoing project along the lines of an eco village type thing. Basically I have the equipment and experience Im missing the land and decided to invest my smallish budget in the equipment to work the land rather than buy a piece of land and sit there with no money to bring it into production.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if anything else comes to mind.

Best regards
Fraser
fraser.cairns@gmail.com
–
skype: radcarper
www.permaculturesendaverde.blogspot.com
www.virtualworld360.blogspot.com