tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40181276706118276842011-12-29T22:41:33.733Za ViSiOn of... a mOnAsTic, lIfE GivIng, Ec0-cOmMuniTy...Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-47877908023330017162011-12-21T17:24:00.001Z2011-12-21T17:25:00.756Z

Yes, it's been again too long since the last time we wrote anything here... The main reason was that, since Emma and I came back in the end of October, there was lots of work we wanted done to prepare for the winter, and of course, the olive harvest, our main winter crop... The days were not so long, the sun rising between 7am and 7.40am at this moment, and setting between 5 and 5.30pm... You

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-49953036742043030862011-09-26T13:53:00.000+01:002011-09-26T14:16:08.135+01:00

If you´re willing to come and join us for one more olive harvest this year, come and visit in NOVEMBER ... get in touch by e.mail or a simple comment here just to fill you up with more details. It´s a time for community, share and fun ... Bring instruments, songs, stories and joy Thanks!!!

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1Póvoa de Atalaia, 6230 Fundão, Portugal40.0640321 -7.434465940.0397276 -7.4739479 40.0883366 -7.394983900000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-90595820236021043422011-07-03T18:24:00.000+01:002011-07-03T18:24:09.175+01:00

I was busy with my garden when I heard a truck coming... I was not expecting anyone... not that most of people who come by do get in touch before they arrive :-) ... I was just curious... First I thought someone got lost, but then I found out... This guy you see up on our biggest cork tree came here 9 years ago, the last time the cork was taken... he asked me if I wanted to sell the cork... I was

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-66069607826625840332011-07-03T17:47:00.000+01:002011-07-03T17:47:40.547+01:00

Check here to see my review on the last Permaculture course... I wrote on my personal blog together with other things that I experienced the last months, but I hope it's ok for you... you can always scroll to the parts where it those speak about the course... it was one with many unpredictable things happening in between, but it was a great one :-) !!! I just thought it would be easier for me

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-85191128573844936442011-03-04T19:16:00.003Z2011-03-04T19:20:29.680Z

Here am I to announce another PERMACULTURE COURSE here at the MOUNT OF OAKS, Portugal... As last years it will be taught by Lesley Martin who is a fantastic person, experienced learner and practitioner, and a great teacher in my opinion... I’m sure all the ones who did attend any course with her would say the same... It ‘s gonna take place from the 28th of May to the 5th of June 2011, and it’s

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-79703753786901197232011-02-14T17:58:00.001Z2011-02-14T18:01:48.772Z

 I'm starting the new season organizing... I really don't like mess and chaos... some chaos can be organized, but when it's messy it just gets on my nerves... We have this shed here where we'd keep the "useful junk"... it was just a roof actually, because the original idea was never finished... then it just became a place to dump things, not really organized... I really like recycling, and there

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-69262738368749958502011-01-08T18:37:00.000Z2011-01-08T18:37:27.978Z

Sorry for not posting for so long... I posted on my other blog and forgot to update this one, so  here goes... I'm actually away from the land since the beginning of December and I'm so looking forward to go back...I'm in Angola at the moment visiting my parents who were both sick, and now it's time to go back for a new season at the Mount of Oaks. A GOOD NEW SEASON TO YOU ALL

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-52525862136124941132010-11-08T19:06:00.003Z2010-11-08T19:27:04.118Z

it s been few weeks now that i cant use my computer. only to connect my internet modem in order to use my phone for internet, as im doing now... :-)My keyboard got few drops of rain and doesnt work anymore.but the rest is fine, fiiiiuu...but i can only use the mouse ...Im using my phone now for access internet and check emails, so i just wanted to drop a line to let you know.All my mail contacts

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-33677367630173295362010-10-03T18:46:00.020+01:002010-10-03T19:37:49.133+01:00

Finally I finished the Compost Toilet... well, there are still some details here and there, but I can always use a rainy day for that... I have other priorities now...I'm just starting another shed for fire-wood and possible working place as the rainy days are approaching...it's just behind the kitchen stone wall...But anyway, I will not write much on this post, as pictures will speak for

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-31086967662983836012010-09-26T14:33:00.020+01:002010-09-26T16:45:19.168+01:00

It's been a while since I last posted , but I've been quite busy in all sorts of things these last months...after the strawbale workshop I was in USA for a peace and reconciliation camp...check out for more here or here if that interests you... when I came back I found lots of work to be done, mainly cutting wild grass and brambles which were totally taking over...plus, a broken solar water

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-50068988292521650722010-06-12T17:11:00.035+01:002010-06-12T20:25:30.090+01:00

I thought I would have time to post every couple of days, but in the end I just didn't have the energy for it...so, this will be a bit long... but most of it pictures and videos, don't worry :-)here's the last day picture with all who got involved... except for Xico and Nuno who left us before...and Carin, a french girl who also joined us during the week... oh, and I have no idea where Lyna was..

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-25449732173307292232010-05-28T20:54:00.021+01:002010-05-28T21:58:47.620+01:00

We're only on our second day of building, and we're ready to raise the walls tomorrow... it's incredible how fast this kind of building goes... I'll not say much as the pictures will speak for themselves :-)We finished Lyna's Yurt on Sunday by the way... But my mind was already on the preparations for the workshop... that gave me time to do all the shopping for building material that we would

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-29451466870858972802010-05-16T12:06:00.017+01:002010-05-16T13:46:18.645+01:00

We've been having hard work weeks... mainly making a floor for Lyna's yurt, but also a wood shelter and a bit of gardening...We had Lyna's friend, Aurelie visiting for few weeks and a couple from Czech Republic for a week...But here goes some pictures of what we've been up to... this first one is the early beginnings of the yurt floor, with Aurelie helping out... she definitely went back to

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-15669171635578668742010-04-18T13:30:00.003+01:002010-04-18T13:36:42.897+01:00

Just to keep my promise to the ones who participated on the last PDC...Here´s a picture of the mulch bed you all made... with 2 weeks they are already quite big :-)... even though Muxima tried to sabotage it several times :-)you might need to enlarge the picture to see it , eh, eh... I just took it with my phone from the washing dishes place...It has been raining like crazy again... Tsss... but

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-20929604779921278212010-04-15T12:31:00.039+01:002010-04-18T12:50:59.848+01:00

Finally I'm writing about the week of the Permaculture course...even though I did wrote a bit on my blog ...sorry about that, but after all the work and preparations I needed a little break and I was not so fond of seating in front of a computer :-)Anyway, once again the course was brilliant... the people whom I got to meet are amazing and we had really good times together...either in the

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-50069881571573318822010-03-14T15:20:00.016Z2010-03-14T15:55:49.971Z

Soon we'll have around 20 people coming for the Permaculture design course and we still have some last preparations to be done...But so far it's all going well... we finally have hot water coming out of the solar water heater, but I'm still making sure every junction is well sealed ... here's the picture of the final look of the soalr heater, but you can see the last details ...the box finally

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-14655593528634200132010-03-07T19:23:00.009Z2010-03-07T19:55:45.159Z

Bonanza after the rain, right? I'm looking forward for that... do you notice in the picture our pond overflowing...the other one below is also overflowing...and there's water coming out from the floor of our kitchen because the soil is super saturated with water...It's been now 3 weeks with rain... some little brakes, but not enough... I have to be honest that we are getting a bit tired, and

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-36132473543056246842010-03-02T13:06:00.002Z2010-03-02T13:14:16.814Z

Just to let you all know that it is confirmed the second PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE this year... It will be from the 28th August to the 5th September...Just a little advice... this one that is about to start got full in not so much time and I keep receiving e.mails of people who would like to take part of it...that's why I decided to make a second one this year...and this is the only time it's

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-75353246054935162122010-02-21T14:55:00.002Z2010-02-21T15:00:32.545Z

We keep being busy here...Now Willi is fixing our entry road below, cuz it keeps raining a lot... and I'm still busy with plumbing...Next week I'll start the solar water heater and I'll let you know more about it all...As I'm also writing in my personal blog, so, if you don't mind, just click here for last week's review...Have a great week yourself :-)PEACE

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-43801532488741809522010-02-18T14:43:00.012Z2010-02-18T15:37:30.529Z

Last week I started to fix the irrigation system...actually, making it new and more suitable for our needs...(this is just the first stage of the bigger picture)I went to buy all the material I needed and I got all excited with the junctions and connections I had to play with..eh, eh...it's not an easy job, but definitely fun... It has been raining and even snowing again, so I got to work either

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-51659331699819821932010-02-07T18:00:00.019Z2010-02-07T18:49:10.925Z

The second part of the bath roof is almost done...few more Spanish brums (now I know the word for "giestas") and it will be done... I'm not sure if tomorrow or tuesday cuz it's said it's gonna be raining...Anyway, here are some pictures of this last week progress... I had fun, and Lyna cut all the Spanish Brum, which made it much more easier on the last day to cover it...the first thing I had to

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-38309414586267366742010-01-31T14:19:00.018Z2010-01-31T15:15:40.287Z

After one week work, our bath roof is looking nice, and I think stronger :-)...no more tarps and temporary fixing (we hope)...Me and Lyna worked well as a team, and we had 2 "angels" coming to help for a couple of days, Rute and Miguel...It's nice and encouraging to be building again...actually, I'm planning lots of buildings before the permaculture course at the end of March...so we can offer a

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-25395742268188680792010-01-25T14:55:00.005Z2010-04-18T14:53:41.063+01:00

I'm also planning a STRAWBALE BUILDING WORKSHOP from the 27th of MAY till the 3rd of JUNEThe teacher will be again Lesley Martin who has been teaching the Permaculture courses... Besides the fact that she is an excellent teacher and experienced gardener, she has also a degree in architecture which she approaches with all the permaculture principals of self-sustainable building, low impact in

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-57633949170464188002010-01-25T14:44:00.005Z2010-01-25T15:12:54.240Z

We reached more than enough participants for this next Permaculture Course next March, from the 20th till the 28th... I´m still waiting for some confirmations, but I think we have reached the limit...So, I´m thinking about the possibility to make A SECOND ONE THIS YEAR, either FROM THE 17th till the 25th OF APRIL, or else from the 21st to the 29th OF AUGUST.IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED LET ME KNOW AS

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-24882784315777348292010-01-13T12:57:00.002Z2010-01-13T13:02:46.144Z

we had snow here... :-) ... check out for the pictures here ... and here if you wanna see the flood that came after the snow melted and the rain poured :-) ...Oh my... what a wheather !!! Beautiful though...

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-11164694141938455412009-12-09T18:39:00.006Z2009-12-09T19:01:13.424Z

Next SPRING we'll be running another PERMACULTURE COURSE here at the MOUNT OF OAKS... As last year, it will be taught by Lesley Martin who is a fantastic person and teacher in my opinion, and I’m sure all the ones who did the last year course can say the same...It ‘s gonna take place from the 20th to the 28th of MARCH 2010, and it’s gonna cost 180E(if by any chance you’d like to offer more, know

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-69088183059245845072009-11-29T13:23:00.009Z2009-11-29T14:38:49.231Z

here's a little tour to see what we've been doing... Sieglinde cleaning the olives from the leaves... How to know how much salt goes in the olives after they are sweeten in water... Emma and Sieglinde packing the olives to take to the press...at the press...This press in Sobral do Campo is working 24 hours a day...yep, there's literally tons of olives to press at this time...And

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-57676161403849546702009-11-28T14:30:00.013Z2009-11-28T17:22:18.941Z

Finally we end up picking up all the olives to take it to the press... we got 120L out of 910Kg...good deal !!!I'll just post some pictures and videos for you to watch as there's not more to say......and excuse the poor quality of my wee camera :-) ...You can also check here for more on the olive harvest...Sieglinde defeating her fear of heights picking some olives on the ladder...even on a

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-64918478071792370732009-10-07T13:57:00.003+01:002009-10-10T21:16:36.359+01:00

the land has been blessed with lots of rain these days:-)And the olives are getting ready...I still don't know when the press is going to open to take the olives, but people are saying the harvest will be sooner than later this year...So, we'll appreciate help for the harvest...MAYBE FROM THE 19TH TILL 26TH OF OCTOBER...in few weeks... but I'll confirm it as soon as I find out about the press...I

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-24559964465454792652009-09-06T13:19:00.012+01:002009-09-06T14:14:27.178+01:00

I've been enjoying lots, building a roof for the washing dishes station... something I'd like to be done almost a year ago...Tim and his group came from Scotland to build the floor and we were supposed to finish it...but it never happened till now :-) ...mainly because people wanted to do many other things, and the one who said he could take charge of it, never really did... anyway... that's how

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-17647293477597765172009-08-28T16:41:00.008+01:002009-08-28T17:31:43.226+01:00

Summer is almost over...even though it's still sooooo hot...you can read some of the last events here on my blog ...I have to apologize for being so rubbish writing on this blog, but summertime is just not the most encouraging time to seat with a computer, specially when I don't have electricity :-)...Anyway, I just wanted to let you know of some ideas I have for winter projects, in case you'd

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-85154807902231040582009-04-16T15:11:00.039+01:002009-04-16T18:23:44.719+01:00

We just had an amazing time during the Permaculture course, as it was expected... so, let me share with you some of the things we experienced...Just before we started, Simone (who was at the land in the early beginnings) came with 7 other friends from Berlin, and they all helped us to set up the last things we needed for the course to start...It was a time for them to rest as well, so it was

Babahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306057912803556823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-55499908901763945142009-03-05T17:09:00.002Z2009-03-05T17:28:50.385Z

here are the general contents of the permaculture design course:An Introduction to Permaculture Ethics and PrinciplesCultivated EcologyWater in the LandscapeForests and TreesSoilsMicroclimateBuildings and StructuresSocial and Financial StructuresAnd ends with a Design Workshop.we already have a good amount of people coming, but let us know if you're still interested...It's gonna be great !!!

Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-42384242853128424462009-02-22T13:57:00.002Z2009-02-22T14:09:02.103Z

We're getting close to the 1st of March, the date we proposed to receive your confirmation to attend the Permaculture Design Course ...So far we have 2 brothers coming from Ghana, 1 american who live in Spain in another pioneering community who will bring a friend from Nigeria, 1 girl from Porto, still to be confirmed, and a group from Ireland also needing to be confirmed...It's looking good !!!

Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-14568635293551836302009-01-08T17:11:00.005Z2009-01-16T15:09:58.958Z

Permaculture Design CourseWe shall be holding a permaculture design course at the land from the 28th March - 5th April. This is a 72 hour course, spread over 9 intensive days of practical experience and learning the principles, methods and applications of permaculture, sustainable land design and growing.The course will be led by Lesley Martin a teacher with twenty years teaching experience.The

Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-14431139908791608292008-12-19T12:15:00.019Z2011-07-29T18:44:00.932+01:00

so far there is a seed... THE VISION (the potential of the seed)... ...a MONASTIC, LIFE GIVING, ECO-COMMUNITY... let me first bring you some ideas about these 4 concepts: MONASTIC :"in the world, but not of the world"... being separate yet part of... a spiritual way of living and being... reaching a balance between prayer, work, rest, fellowship and service an holistic & organic vision, where

Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018127670611827684.post-12128556614296781572008-11-23T20:03:00.000Z2008-11-23T20:08:45.711Z

working on it during the winter season ...

Mount of Oaks Communityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763695678862315936noreply@blogger.com0