Adventure in Afurada, Porto: Build an Eco-Community! 🛠️🌱

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The experience

I’m opening up my place in Afurada to someone who wants to be part of a genuine hands-on project. It’s a special area with a mix of nature, history, and city life, and I’m at the very early stages of renovating the property into a small eco-community. If you enjoy creating, learning, and working with your hands, this could be a great fit.

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What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

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What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

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Requirements

Intermediate English

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

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What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

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Program Details

🛌 What I Can Offer
Your own bedroom with a heater
Shared meals + a fully stocked fridge
Use of an e-bike, regular bike, and trike (there are some amazing cycle routes)
Possibility of small trips (I have a car + caravan, depending on timing)
Close connection to both nature and the heart of Porto
Space to learn, create, and contribute to something meaningful
Bragging rights for being part of the community before hot water
🎭 Community & Lifestyle
Your personal goals are important to me, and I’ll do what I can to support you while you’re here. From exploring the area, getting into certain activities, or working on something more internal.
Porto has a lot to offer, and depending on what you’re into, we can dive into things like:
Ecstatic dance, sound journeys, and medicine circles
Climbing centres and other fitness options
Live jazz, electronic music, and plenty of local culture
I also play field hockey twice a week, and it would be great if you’d like to join.
I’ve lived in Porto on and off for five years, so I’m happy to help you find the things that resonate with you or explore new things together.
🎄 Availability
From December 7th. Ideally for a couple of months, but I’m open to flexibility around Christmas. You’re welcome to join me in whatever holiday plans take shape.
If this speaks to you, send me a message with your skills and what motivates you to join an eco-community project, and your realistic commitment in hours per day.

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Activities & Shift

🚧 The Project: For Those With Mental Fortitude (10 Buildings to Restore!)
It isn’t easy living (yet) — it’s a hands-on, early-stage project. I work full-time remotely, so for the first person, it’s important to be comfortable working independently. There are 10 buildings on the property, but we’re focusing on the first one so more people can join us!
Top Priority Tasks:
Renovate the Communal Kitchen & Living Space: Plastering, painting, ceiling repairs, floor tiling, and checking the roof for waterproofing. The current kitchen is basic (sink, cooker, lots of spices), and upgrading it will allow us to welcome more people to the space.
Upgrade the Shower & Get Hot Water: The current set-up is an outdoor hose and paddling pool. Its a cold blast so not for the feint of heart! There’s a proper water connection ready, so installing a real shower is high priority.
Gardening: The garden is large and overgrown but full of fruit and herbs: plums, figs, lemons, oranges, bay leaf, wild mint, diosperis. A stream runs through the property — clearing it may reveal a small hidden waterfall.
Green Energy Initiative: DIY hydroelectric and solar experiments to harness energy from the stream and reduce grid reliance.