vision

THE VISION...








Mount of Oaks (Monte dos Carvalhos) began in 2006 and in the first years, hundreds of people passed through, staying from a few days to a few years as pilgrims, painters, builders, gardeners, and dreamers.
From its beginning, Mount of Oaks has been a stage for playing with various notions of sharing of resources, knowledge, spiritual experiences; a time to seek solace in nature, and a platform for people to gather and talk. We have been working over the years to practice the ideals of living in community and from the land, interdependent with neighbours, and dedicated to the principles of permaculture.

Whether you arrive when we are picking olives, making soaps, sowing or harvesting vegetables, or if you come specifically for a workshop, course, or a retreat, you will be warmly welcomed.
The main goal of the project is to create a safe space for people to engage with themselves at a deep level in the tranquillity of the countryside. We seek to offer solutions to those suffering from everyday stress and depression by encouraging a connection with nature and simple living in the midst of a living community, based on mutual respect and openness of heart.
Our locally sourced food is nutritious to both the body and the soul. When you visit you will observe the simple daily rhythms of work and rest, cooking and cleaning: the basics of living. And beyond that there are many activities that happen here. The list below might give you a taste of the variety that is available:

CARING FOR THE LAND that includes pruning trees, preparing irrigation, working in the garden to prepare beds or sowing seeds in the polytunnel: our aim is to feed the soil with good organic matter so we have healthy soil and, therefore, healthy nutritious food.

CARING FOR ANIMALS that includes taking Xico, our donkey, to pasture, collecting eggs from the chickens, feeding the worms and giving affection to our cats and dogs.

OFFERING OUR KNOWLEDGE we run regular Open Days in English or Portuguese where we offer natural building workshops as part of our focus on environmental education. In the past we ran PDCs (Permaclture Design Courses), but now we welcome people who would like to come and help, visit or experience a real life community project based on permaculture principles.

OFFERING SPACE TO OTHERS we offer our space for people who would like to run courses or workshops that agree with our aims. School groups and scout groups are also welcome for day or camping trips.

CARING FOR EACH OTHER that includes a space for yoga and stretching for builders/gardeners. We offer Thai massage and Indian head massage. Creating a hospitable experience is very important to us and we seek to practice a non-violent approach to life and communication with each other.

CREATING AN ECO ECONOMY : with products to trade, share or sell, we process medicinal or culinary herbs, make balms, shampoos or soaps, cure olives for eating, and prepare vinegar or our olive oil to sell.

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