Category: Our Area & Community

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: A Letter to Dona Céu

    This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our visitors to say a few words about their stay. Dominik and Matic wrote this note to the lady who runs our local bar in Unhais o Velho.     Olá Dona Céu, (Scroll down for English) Vamos embora amanhã, por isso queriamos more »

  • Learning about Bees at The Hive

      Jeroen took a course on beekeeping organised by the local beekeepers co-operative some time ago, when we originally purchased our hives. I’ve never had any training in beekeeping though, so I was thrilled when The Hive offered another Introduction to Beekeeping Workshop. The Hive are a local cultural co-operative focussing on sustainable education. Apiculturist more »

  • Easter at Casalinho

    I’m pleased to report that the Easter Bunny appears to be well and living in central Portugal.   We heard rumour that he had a mysterious horned assistant this year.                     I followed their trail around the garden, a good opportunity to take the camera. Easter more »

  • Book up for a Summer Permaculture Design Course PDC

    So our summer schedule of courses is now live, and we’re taking bookings. This year we’re offering a choice of three Permaculture Design Courses, all certified by the UK Permaculture Association and taught by Josh Gomez. They’re differing lengths, so there should be one to suit everyone. This year, for the first time and at more »

  • Ruptured Pipe Causes Rio Ceira Flooding

    I was planning on posting more photographs of around the farm today, but yesterday morning a water carrying tunnel connecting the dams of Santa Luzia and Alto Ceira near to us broke, causing a torrent of water to come crashing out. The resultant flooding, from the ruptured tunnel and from the subsequent emergency lowering of more »

  • Convergência de Permacultura Mandala Garden Revisited

    Some of you may remember that in October the first Portuguese Permaculture Convergence was held locally to us, in Fundão. I recently revisited the site of the Mandala Garden built during the event. It’s looking beautiful in the winter sun.

  • Our Week in Pictures: 3rd November 2014

    Our weekly round up of what volunteers have been working on at Casalinho, our developing permaculture project in central Portugal. All change this week with a completely new group of volunteers here to work with us. Once again our work has been seasonally lead, with work in the veg garden and last minute winter proofing more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 27th October 2014

    Our weekly round up of what volunteers have been working on at Casalinho, our developing permaculture project in central Portugal.   There has been so much going on this week that it’s been hard to choose the photos! 1) What a handsome boy! 2) Our last batch of corn drying on the driveway. We cut more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 25th August 2014

    Festa, festa still this week, with the three day event at Malhada do Rei. As I write, we’re sitting in the smoke of the first fire we’ve experienced locally this year. It’s not close enough to be of concern to us personally, but is a stark reminder of how a dangerous a stray spark can more »

  • Our Week in Pictures: 18th August 2014

    It’s been another very sociable week and my feet don’t feel like they’ve touched the ground. We’ve got lots done though, as some of these picture testify.