We are a land-based living project in the Alentejo, one of Europe's driest and most climate-stressed regions. For five years we have been restoring depleted land and building regenerative systems, growing into an international, experimental, rotational community. A registered non-profit association. Over 800 humans from more than 110 countries have come through this space to volunteer, learn, contribute, and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Where and what

The Alentejo summers are real. Water is precious. The land was depleted when we arrived and is slowly returning to life. We build self-sufficiency systems, water retention, soil regeneration, revegetation and reforestation, and natural infrastructure.

Work changes with the seasons. Summer is resilience, infrastructure, maintenance, water management, food systems, and creative work. Spring and autumn are planting, harvesting, regeneration. Winter is system design, water infiltration, and preparing the land for the next cycle.

Who you'll meet

Anthony — main steward of the land, and the one handling pre-arrival communications. Born and raised in Africa, with a background in social entrepreneurship and regenerative leadership. He blends land-stewardship knowledge, systems thinking, and regenerative approaches.

Ana — co-steward. Feminine embodiment guide, clinical herbalist and natural gynaecologist, trained in traditional Samkhya yoga, and a creative being. She leads the digital, animal care, and creative side of the project.

Where we are right now

We are in transition, moving from a fully rotational volunteer model toward a core team with deeper roots. Still hosting volunteers, with more structure and clearer roles.

This is not a community in the traditional sense. Governance is not shared with newcomers. It is communal living: a working, shared, rotating space where humans come to contribute, learn and connect. Your voice has room here, and your influence on day-to-day life grows as the space is honored and respected.

What you'd be joining

Volunteer Program — four weeks minimum, structured mornings, flexible afternoons. The main pathway. We recommend coming with an open departure. Most humans find the deepest nourishment with extra time.

Next intake days: 20 and 27 July · 10 and 24 August · 7 September

Exchange options

All options include accommodation, access to vegan food ingredients, compost toilets, outdoor showers, shared indoor and outdoor spaces, WiFi in communal areas, and community events, circles and rituals.

• 15 hrs/week — bring your own food, or contribute €45/week for 3 meals a day
• 20 hrs/week — 2 meals a day, or 3 meals for €30/week
• 25 hrs/week — no financial contribution, 3 meals a day

Communal vegan breakfast and lunch is shared most days.  dinner is self-organised with supplies included. Private accommodation is available for those offering extra hours and skills. If you come from a low-income country, we can discuss a discount on request.

Alongside the exchange, community life asks around 7 to 10 hours a week: a community role, cooking a meal, cleaning after it, joining a meeting. These aren't extra tasks. They're what living here is.

Accommodation

Volunteers get large shared bell tents, private camping tents, hammocks, camper van spots, or their own setup. Pickup from the local town bus stop on request.

Be ready for

Limited water. Solar hot water that works well on sunny days. Compost toilets, not flush. Insects and wildlife: ants, flies, mosquitoes, occasional mice, birds, bats. Four kilometres from the nearest village. Sleeping spaces that may not be fully private. Living closely with others.

Cleaning up after yourself is collective duty and not counted as work hours. If it happens repeatedly that you don't, we'll say so, and then we'll ask you to leave.

What you can learn here

Land stewardship, permaculture, regenerative systems and their infrastructure. Water retention features and forest corridors. Native forestry, food forests, reforestation. Permaculture gardening and compost systems. Community facilitation and project coordination. Digital media, systems design, storytelling. Radical responsibility, conscious communication, nervous system regulation. Skills for adaptive climate resilience.

What we offer depends on the season and what the elements are asking for. We do a lot of water retention work in the rain months and almost none in summer. Skill-sharing goes both ways, and there's room to co-facilitate what you bring.

What's particular about this place

We bring together influences that are unusual to find in one place, rooted in practical land work, with the resilience of African ways of being and the structure of European living. We are experimental, adaptive, and serious about building systems that work.

Some honest words

This is not a healing centre, and we are not here to hold your process. Healing happens here often. The land, the circles, the guides we've built, and the Mandala role system create the conditions for it. If you tell us what you need and we can offer it, we will. But it's something you seek and take responsibility for, not something we carry for you.

The space is still evolving. Some things are raw, some are being built. Volunteers help us build. If you arrive looking for polish, you'll be disappointed. If you arrive ready to contribute to something growing, you'll find your place here.

The communal space is usually 10 to 15 humans, up to 25 in summer, mostly international and English-speaking. We welcome all backgrounds and identities, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergent. If you have access or support needs, tell us in your message so we can be honest about what we can hold.

Apply if

You want to contribute meaningfully to land-based work and communal living. You're ready for real conditions in a real environment. You want to learn by doing. You're curious, humble, proactive, and can handle a challenge. You're looking for a meaningful exchange rather than a free holiday.

When you reach out, tell us

Why this project specifically, not just any volunteer project. What you'd like to learn or contribute. Your available dates. Which contribution model you're aiming for. Any needs, limitations or desires we should know about.

We read applications carefully and usually reply within a week. If you don't hear back, a gentle follow-up is welcome.

Please use the codeword 'Purpose & Responsibility' in your message so we know you've read this properly.

Much respect and love 🌿