Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Detached Cottage on Off-grid Farm
Portugal, Viseu
Pets
- Dog(s)
- Cat(s)
- Chicken(s)
- Goat(s)
- Farm animal(s)
1 goat, 2 sheep, 2 chickens, 2 cats, 1 dog currently...
Duration
- Dates: variable
Testimonials
They have 2 testimonial s (view below)
About this assignment
We are looking for a couple with a strong interest and ideally experience of living off-grid, who have their own transport and financial means to support themselves, such as online work, which would allow for longer-term commitments.
The property is set in the mountains of Central Portugal, totally off-grid and remote - a peaceful and traditional place to escape the modern world.
Sitters should have experience of living off-grid, know how to fix simple problems themselves and have a certain hardiness which is required to live in the mountains.
The property is comfortable, warm and offers amazing views over the highest peak in Portugal - great for nature lovers, walkers, poets and gardeners - the old dog loves to have short walks and the cat hunts mice and plays freely.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
To take excellent care of all the animals ( cat, dog, goat, chicken and sheep ), to keep an eye on the gardens and buildings and to walk around the land and check for any issues and to try to fix them or to notify the owner to get instructions or additional help.
What are the good features of the property and location
Remote, clean air, clean water, peace and privacy - expansive gardens, forest, historic walks, mountains and rivers - Central Portugal is a cultural and ecological jewel.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
You will need your own transport and to cover your own living costs ( food, gas and bring your own internet, if required ) - electricity & water are provided free, but all are limited!
We are open to explain anything about the place, to discuss options and to listen to any idea :)
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
10 May 2024
About this home owner
MindMyHouse member since October 2019
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Testimonials
Co-living in paradise land...
My 2.5-month stay with Ray, Dora, and the furry pet gang, was no ordinary house/pet-sitting. It was rather a co-living opportunity. Before moving in, I drove to meet Ray and Dora personally to see if our paths could meet. When I arrived I fell in love with the place and we spent the morning together, they showed me the land, I met the animals, and we had a pleasant time around a lovely lunch. A few weeks later, I moved in into their detached stone house, a little bit apart from the main house, which is great for privacy. It takes a lot of determination and vision to turn a place in ruins into the paradise it is now. I am very admirative. Ray is the kind of person who can solve any problem around the house and the land, he is a master in problem-solving. Dora puts a lot of love into gardening and nurturing the soil, making things grow, baking, food preserving, and caring for the chicken and animals… And she makes the most delicious grape juice I ever tried! Even though we had different online working schedules, we found time to work together on some projects. The tasks during my stay involved pruning, clearing the land, animal care, - especially chicken-sitting :), general system maintenance, wood cutting, farm composting work, getting the gardening patches ready for summer, greenhouse… Ray and Dora are easy-going and great company, clear and concise communicators. They are generous in sharing their space and knowledge/skills about their lifestyle. For me, it was a good balance to have my private time and space and also be able to share meals, life/travel stories, games, and movie nights. Living a frugal and happy lifestyle like Ray and Dora do, you get to understand what it takes to interact with natural resources, manage your needs, and understand the impact of our daily lives on the environment. I am very grateful I got to spend some time there and hope to meet them again in the future.
Rocio, Spain, 29 April, 2024
Mountain living
Ray is a friendly and helpful homeowner who was available for us to contact whenever needed. He gave clear instructions on how to maintain his property so we felt relaxed during our stay. Ray's property is beautiful and has everything you need. We stayed during the winter months and were able to use the wood-burner so it was really nice and cosy and we never felt cold. There are many great walks in the surrounding mountains and the town of Viseu is about 25 minutes away by car. Ray's pets Yogi and Ranger were both really well behaved so they were easy to look after and fun to play with and take for walks. This was a great experience for us to spend time in such a beautiful and peaceful place. We both have really happy memories of our time there.
Manon, 06 May, 2020