Looking for the perfect place to start your own permaculture project?

Hi, me and my partner have been learning about permeculture, we have been to India, Greece and Tenerife to see some farms in action.
We currently live in Catalonia (we are english) we are looking for a place to start a food forest where it is cheaper and were considering Portugal. Although we were hoping the canaries would be an option aswell because we love tropical fruits. So if anyone has suggestions on that too?
Anyway a big must for me is access to clean fresh drinking water on the land and land that already has some fruit, nut & olive trees established.
We also prefer to be in a warmer sunny spot.
Somewhere quiet and private yet close enough to a community or village.
Also another advantage would be need to somewhere that actually has public transport as I'm not that keen on relying on a vechile but I understand that might not be possible.
We are thinking to do some work exchange in Portugal to experience the perma scene there.
But any suggestions in the meantime most welcome  

Hola holaaaa family!

we are also a group of 5 heading to coimbra castelo area by the end of feb searching for a land. we've been hunting some properties and arranging some visits but definetely everyone of us think is better to head to the area and talk with locals. for what I've been reading lately there is a big community already on this are of people following values like sustainability and moving forward to apply permaculture. we would be really drawn to meet some people and get to stay for a few days with you or near your area to get to see your projects in the land or get some contacts to help us moving forward

We'll be traveling with a motorhome and another vehicle.

thanks

manuel carasa wrote:Hola holaaaa family!

we are also a group of 5 heading to coimbra castelo area by the end of feb searching for a land. we've been hunting some properties and arranging some visits but definetely everyone of us think is better to head to the area and talk with locals. for what I've been reading lately there is a big community already on this are of people following values like sustainability and moving forward to apply permaculture. we would be really drawn to meet some people and get to stay for a few days with you or near your area to get to see your projects in the land or get some contacts to help us moving forward

We'll be traveling with a motorhome and another vehicle.

thanks

Which direction are you driving. We could put you up for a night of you are coming across the North.

Mandy Launchbury-Rainey wrote:

manuel carasa wrote:Hola holaaaa family!

we are also a group of 5 heading to coimbra castelo area by the end of feb searching for a land. we've been hunting some properties and arranging some visits but definetely everyone of us think is better to head to the area and talk with locals. for what I've been reading lately there is a big community already on this are of people following values like sustainability and moving forward to apply permaculture. we would be really drawn to meet some people and get to stay for a few days with you or near your area to get to see your projects in the land or get some contacts to help us moving forward

We'll be traveling with a motorhome and another vehicle.

thanks

Which direction are you driving. We could put you up for a night of you are coming across the North.

We are coming from porto going south direction to bussaco by the end of feb so most likely by the 3 or 4th we'll be in the area of coimbra castelo

manuel carasa wrote:Hola holaaaa family!

we are also a group of 5 heading to coimbra castelo area by the end of feb searching for a land. we've been hunting some properties and arranging some visits but definetely everyone of us think is better to head to the area and talk with locals. for what I've been reading lately there is a big community already on this are of people following values like sustainability and moving forward to apply permaculture. we would be really drawn to meet some people and get to stay for a few days with you or near your area to get to see your projects in the land or get some contacts to help us moving forward

We'll be traveling with a motorhome and another vehicle.

thanks

Hey did you find something and how are you doing right now ? is Portugal in a lockdown? I want to travel to Portugal as soon as possible with the same idea looking for land near communitys. At the moment i am in the canary islands(lockdown) but i want to follow my journey in Portugal, would love to hear from you and ofcourse other people of the forum! best wishes

Hello everyone,

A newbie here, currently in the U.K.
I came across this website (last night) after searching online for various topics that were being discussed here.
A little about myself, I'm a 31 year old female, lived in the U.K for the majority of my teen and adult life. Originally from France. I've also lived in other countries, the last one being (Gozo- in Malta).
I moved there wanting to be somewhere sunny and not too populated, but quickly found that my time came to an end there when my heart directed me onto something else.

Thus I'm here.
A little dream of mine, or the realisation that a simpler life (in a warm climate) was what the heart desired.
I'm now in search for simplicity or simplicity has been searching for me all along.

Like many I too have similar aspirations as to the ones being relayed on this forum.

My current Goal is as follow.
To build a little place I can call home for a while, where I can put roots figuratively and literally
Like many of you the goal of owning a little piece of land to grow food and live simply has been my heart's longing, and yet for many years I have chased many endeavours totally un-realed to such inate goal.

The creshendo of such longing came to a head personally for me at the start of this year (2020) with situations in society (as you all are aware-The pandemic, lockdown etc) pointing me in the longing that of my heart's desire.

Though the heart's desire can sometimes seem convoluted (when we push against it and try to ignore it)

I'm replying to this thread, because it rings so true.
I too am looking for a small land.
From my research and reading this thread Castelo Branco would be a good place from what I've gathered.
I envisage a small plot with some fruit trees(nut trees if lucky), a small stream and a well would be the icing on the cake.

You see my budget is somewhat very restricted and thus I throw it out there, my luck may come. (My luck vehicle hasn't let me down in all my years- only my patience has from time to time )
But patience I have no option to be- as it has been decided my heart's taking charge and thus I have no choice to follow lead.

I'm looking at online PDC courses, as having a good base for Permaculture and sustainable living will serve me well in the long run.

I may be shooting for the stars here- but the whole idea is to design and self build a little cottage/tiny house of sort, for this I will be attending tiny house build workshops. (To get a feel if I can accomplish such a task by myself, with maybe the help of a friend or two-due to my limited budget and also the need to construct something exactly as I see it in my minds eyes- would be an accomplishment I know I will cherish after the facts)

I wish not to bore any of you, but needed to spill my heart out- as this dream has been in my head. And during the lockdown, I'm taking pro-active steps towards this each and everyday.
Though there's only so much one can do on the internet.
I've been looking at multiple sites for land- came very close to finding the almost perfect plot- only that it was sold before I had even found the advert.
I know many of you have mentioned that it would probably be better to travel to Portugal, to get a feel and talk to locals...
But due to the current situation, my search is restricted to being only on the web.

I would be forever grateful if anyone has any leads for for a plot being sold currently meeting my requirements?
A small plot
A well
A small stream
Possibility to build a tiny home on
Some fruit and Nut trees already on the property

All for a very modest budget in Castelo Branco or any surrounding areas where rain can be harvested throughout some period of the year.

I don't have many skills in this area that I can Offer, as I'm just starting out on this journey but keen to learn- so will be taking some workshops and online classes.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. (I hope you are all well and in good Health and Humour)

Hello dear Permies!

I'm very happy to have found this forum and all the information about Portugal which I've already found in it! I'm also very happy to see so many of you having done or are in the process of doing the same thing as we wish to do!

My wife and I have just arrived in Portugal around a week ago after a journey that took us through Italy and France over the least 14 months, in which we visited and lived in several communities. We have been in Portugal the first time two years ago where we did the PDC here, and we promised ourselves that we'd be back sooner or later!

During our stay in France we started taking more seriously the dream of buying land in Portugal and having our little homestead. We have started looking into what are the most important things we want on our land, and we hope to define these clearly enough so as to know what we want to search for. We are both quite inexperienced so this is all new for us!

We know for sure that one or more water sources, a couple of fruit trees, being distant from large infrastructural projects and permission to have a non-permanent structure such as a yurt are a bare minimum for us. We are still contemplating what size of land we require as well as if it's important for us to have a small building or ruin with permission to rebuild.

We searched for land online to get an idea of how expensive they are, and we know that most affordable areas for us are the ones around Castelo Branco.

We are currently living with a friend in the area of Sintra, however we plan to soon drive through the Castelo Branco region as well as around Guarda so as to see if we like the areas and hopefully start talking a bit to locals as well.  

We would love to connect with any of you who have permaculture projects in the regions and maybe even meet you in person and see your projects!

We would also be happy to receive any recommendations in relation to these regions and on how to go about scouting for land. Are there any parts of these regions that you recommend over others?

Hello

I'm so excited about finding this thread. This is exactly what my husband and I are hoping to do. We live in London but my husband is Galician, and we are hoping to buy a plot of land in North Portugal. It is so exciting to find so many like-minded people! Just a message to say Hello for now and then I'll write more later

Tina

Hello, my name is Paige.  I've been looking for some land in Norway for quite some time, preferably near running water (a small river) for a place to settle down in nature and build a tiny earthen home.  However due to health concerns, we need to be near a hospital, or atleast an hour away.  I've been having a tough time finding any land on its own for sale with these requirements,  could you help us? Thank you so much for your time! Have a beautiful day!

Hi there..i was just reading the letters going to and fro and became quite jealou and anxious. What we started planning is almost word for wprd te same. All our lives my husband and i want to live in Portugal...Castello B area...river front..fruit trees all kinds...little of this little of that...to be self sufficient...fix a building as our home. However we are also trapped without much money. Born and bred in South Africa. Speak no Portugese. Want to buy the land..hubby must find and agricultural job..quilified for that and then live one day at a time. You guys make it so easy to do but for us getting a D7 visa is a mountain to climb. Also want to go to market with produce..make friends en enjoy our community. I wish i could close my eyes and open and be there already. I'm scared there will be no more bargain hunting ground left because others get visas so easy

Robbie Emmens wrote:Hello are people still reading this thread?

We are a group of 5 looking to leave England and build a life in rural Portugal. Be great to get some help from people doing this currently if anyone can help?

Thanks

Rob

Oh my word seems that the area iv set my hart on will soon be totally over populated:(

Jessea Paige wrote:Hello, my name is Paige.  I've been looking for some land in Norway for quite some time, preferably near running water (a small river) for a place to settle down in nature and build a tiny earthen home.  However due to health concerns, we need to be near a hospital, or atleast an hour away.  I've been having a tough time finding any land on its own for sale with these requirements,  could you help us? Thank you so much for your time! Have a beautiful day!

I have similar issues. I think your best bet to find good formable land and places for small farms Is within 30 minutes of coimbra. Your best hospitals are going to be in lisbon, porto, and coimbra, I believe
Fundao, Pedrago Grande, There are a lot of options.
I'm curious what you have found so far

Karen Wakefield wrote:

Robbie Emmens wrote:Hello are people still reading this thread?

We are a group of 5 looking to leave England and build a life in rural Portugal. Be great to get some help from people doing this currently if anyone can help?

Thanks

Rob

Oh my word seems that the area iv set my hart on will soon be totally over populated:(

there is plenty of land and space. Yes a lot of people are moving there, but it's not overpopulated. The Castelo Branco Area has a lot of space. For me it's a bit too dry in many places. And a bit remote. It's a little more for the off grid homesteaders, and people seeking solitude. I like the people out there
A little further north and into the mountains is still good gardening, a lot more water coming from the ground, and closer to services in coimbra
Insta stepbeyondjohn

Thanks to the OP and all of you for sharing in this thread. A wealth of information for someone like me who’s still in the “dream” stage. I hope you guys have been successful in your endeavors and I’m excited to start planning my journey soon. I’ll be using this thread for inspiration.

If one can stand 42 degree Celsius in the summer, plenty of water by Alqueva dam.
I settled here 5 years ago. offgrid. No people. Just cows and sheep. 2 hr from Lisbon and about the same to Algarve. No crime, no noise. I leave my keys on the door when i go for a walk. I wake up to the chirping of the birds.

I got contacted by a guy a couple of days ago..... he was asking if there was a taxi service🤣🤣🤣
Then when i mentioned the inevitable "maintenance duties" like clearing the land, he said his only duty was himself. Must I say he had 0 money and little experience  .....
The beauty of offgrid living is that NATURE keeps these pests away😁

I wonder if some youtubers are creating certain unrealistic expectations??
I have NEVER seen a farmer with smooth hands and perfect nails.... that should mean something😈

Artagnan Comus wrote:Thanks to the OP and all of you for sharing in this thread. A wealth of information for someone like me who’s still in the “dream” stage. I hope you guys have been successful in your endeavors and I’m excited to start planning my journey soon. I’ll be using this thread for inspiration.

Welcome to Permies Artagnan.  Best wishes for your journey.  We have been successful so far but the endeavours for us is much a journey still in progress, but never the less a fabulous one.  We look forward to seeing how your journey progresses.  The dailyish emails have a lot of great informatin and food for thought.  You can access them through your profile.
Cheers