Off grid Tiny Castle in Central Portugal

About this assignment

Clean, tidy individual or couple.
Ideally experienced in offgrid.
An Animal lover, who is happy to sleep on the same bed as the dogs.
Someone who wants to be somewhere peaceful.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Walking the dog twice a day.
Feeding the two dogs and cat daily.
Giving medicine to one dog daily.
Making sure the water tank has water in it. (Pumped from well, it’s done through solar power)
Getting drinking water from the font. (Two in walking distance)
Tidying up after yourself.
Emptying the compost and compost toilet once a week. (Full training provided)
No use of unnatural chemicals.

What are the good features of the property and location

I’m fully off grid, with no neighbours. Views of Monsanto one side and the Garduna / Estrellas on another. No light pollution so awesome sky scapes.

I have two solar systems. There I see a washing machine and fridge. USB Charging points inside and outside.

The tiny castle has a bedroom with eco wood burning stove. A bathroom with shower, sink and compost toilet. A kitchen / living area with full sized oven and hob, washing machine and sink. Table and chairs with a sofa.

There is a firepit and seating area, so long as it’s allowed (check daily on a link I provide) you can enjoy a real fire under the stars or during the day.

The land is around 4000m2 and there’s over 100 trees, olive, pear, apple, orange and lemon.

Positioned in the middle of two villages, lousa and escalos de cima. There is a lot of history here. Shops, markets, fonts, cafes, cash machines 10 min walk away.

There is a walking track right past the castle into the landscape with stunning views.

The nearest supermarkets are in Alcains which is a 15 min drive. The city is 25 minutes drive.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

Please consider the environment here.

Can you handle living in the countryside and manage the resources efficiently?

The water comes from the well, filling the tank takes around 45 minutes. You plug in the pump and press a button, then turn the water pipe to open.

The water heater and the washer take a fair bit of power. So you can only use them when there’s enough sun powering the batteries. Usually between 10am-3pm.

The internet works well but as with all things sometimes it has its moments, particularly if there is a storm or solar shower.

Can I bring my own pets?

Yes
Restrictions: Must be wormed and flea treated plus neutered / castrated.

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