Ecovillage Open Week

A gathering at our growing ecovillage to experience life here, get to know the group and the land, and find out how it works to join as a resident co-owner

Activity days:

Monday 6 - Friday 10 October 2025

Getting to know each other, experiencing life at the ecovillage project

+

Ecovillage Workshop days:

Saturday 11 - Monday 13 October 2025

Workshops and question/answer sessions about the project and how it works to join long-term

Participants are welcome to come for one part or both!

Location

Quinta do Guarda Rios,

Nelas, Viseu, Central Portugal

Exact location shared upon booking

Co-created Activity Days

Time to be together on the land, help with tasks at the ecovillage and share activities, including:

Cooking shared meals together
Work sessions (optional) to help with natural building and gardening
Singing and cacao circle
Conscious movement dance
Arts and crafts for children and adults
Heart sharing circles
Time to ourselves
Visiting a local market

Ecovillage Workshop Days

Meals and children activities are organised by the core team, to give participants time and space to focus on the workshops, aimed at those interested to live here as long term visitors or full-time residents.

Sessions and workshops on offer:

Tours of the land
Governance, decision making and Joining process workshop
Finance, livelihoods, project ideas workshop
Permaculture design and building licencing workshop
Questions and answers about joining

Accommodation

Flat spaces to camp or park a campervan included

(limited campervan spaces, please book in advance)

Caravan €15 per night one adult, €20 per night 2 adults

4m diameter yurt €10 per night one adult, €15 per night 2 adults

See visiting page for details

Finance

We are trying a new way to handle money – based on trust, transparency, and collective responsibility

To confirm your spot, we ask for a registration deposit of €50.

At the end of the gathering, we hold a transparent bidding circle where we openly share how much we, the organisers, would like to raise for the event.
Everyone bids anonymously how much they feel to pay. We add the bids and announce the total. We repeat the bidding, aiming to reach our goal.
At the end of the bidding circle, everyone gives the amount they bid, in cash or transfer. If you bid less than the €50 deposit, you can take money back.

If you feel unsure or uncomfortable with this alternative finance method, please reach out to us and we can talk about it with you.

Full details here

Boundaries:

No smoking, alcohol, cannabis or recreational drugs on site
(unless part of a group ceremony)

No meat, animal products, sugar, caffeine or junk food in communal areas

(can be in own space)

Who is this event suitable for?

Those who:

Want to celebrate with us at a co-created event
Want to learn about ecovillage life
and/or are actively looking to join an ecovillage
Like the idea to join a new project and help shape it
Enjoy living off grid with basic facilities

You are welcome to first visit and help set up in the weeks before the event, before committing to reserving a place.

Staying Longer

Participants are welcome to stay with us longer, to integrate the gathering experience, get more of a feeling for living here, get to know us more and help out more with the work tasks.

As a full work exchange of 25 hours per week, food and camping included

Part work exchange of 15 hours, camping included, with €5 per day contribution to food

Paid visitor arrangement

(see visiting page)