Volunteer at Keela Permaculture Farm in Portugal

We count on people to help keep the place growing, happy and alive.

Volunteers planting trees — Photo: Volunteers are making a compost pile.

Volunteer date Options:

We prefer our volunteers to start on set dates so that we can welcome you together and give you a tour. We usually have about 5 volunteers here, which increases during our permaculture courses.

14th Oct 2024
11th Nov 2024
8th Dec 2024
9th Jan 2025

Volunteering Option 1: Cook and hosting (Jan 2025 only)

We are looking for someone to help us with cooking and hosting during our courses and retreats. This includes making breakfast, lunch, dinner and general cleaning on rotation. We are also accepting Erasmus chef internships.

Volunteering Option 2: Yoga teacher (+ gardening or cooking)

We are looking for a volunteer yoga teacher to teach the other guests daily classes. The rest of your time, participate in the farm-to-table kitchen or in the garden.

Volunteering Option 3: Land, market garden and forest volunteering

This is the core of our project. Growing food, stewarding the land and is the area that we need the most help.

Volunteers helping build our straw bale house

One Tree Hill — We have good views, relaxing spots, no noise pollution, stars and the sound of nature all around us

What is included when you volunteer at our permaculture and yoga farm:

Healthy organic meals, much of which is from our farm or neighbouring farms
Get closer to the food you eat
Practice farm to table cooking
Daily yoga or workout classes. (usually, we rotate between the two)
See permaculture systems in action
Time to relax, unwind and get back to nature
Learn new skills in permaculture, natural building, healthy and sustainable living
2 days off to relax or visit local places, usually, once per month we spend one of these mornings helping local communities and farms
Experience being part of a community!

What is expected of you

You start on the set dates so you can be part of a group
Physically and mentally fit
Have a positive attitude.
Look after our tools and equipment as if they are your own
5 volunteer days
5-6 hours per day volunteers
Willing and interest to learn and work hard
Assisting with community tasks (cooking, cleaning, lighting fires etc)

Usually on the last night, we make our pizzas in the wood-fired oven for a closing party

volunteer permaculture — We have areas to eat and hang out both inside and outside

Community Facilities

Community straw bale house – a large house with a fully functional kitchen, dining room and chill-out area, charging stations, a projector for movie nights and free WiFi
Yoga deck with a view
Outside hang-out areas: stone circle, BBQ area, food forests.
Long drop vermiculture compost toilet
Washing machine (1 EUR peruse including organic washing liquid)
3 showers: 1 Indoor shower room with wood-fired hot water in a tropical greenhouse, 1 outside solar shower open to nature, 1 natural waterfall (cold shower and only during winter and spring)
45 acres (18 hectares) of land to walk with many chill-out spots, hammocks and viewpoints
2 dogs, 3 cats and 9 chickens to interact with daily 🙂

We have an inside shower powered by wood and this outdoor solar shower

Local Village

The village is small and quiet and has a cafe with a small convenient shop (with free wifi) and is a 25-minute walk from our farm.

A volunteer collecting out daily fresh salad from the garden

Food

We are mostly vegetarian, but we can cater for strict vegetarians and vegans if required. We can offer occasional meat from our own animals as well.
Most of our food is grown on-site but others are locally sourced.
We can also cater for most allergies, including gluten, lactose etc. Gluten-free products tend to cost slightly more than normal, so we charge EUR 10 extra per week if you like this option.