Monte dos Carvalhos

For the last 14 years there have been people at the Mount of Oaks. We have been evolving as a community project where we are practicing off-grid living, with little harm to nature, and with an attitude of service, creativity, conscientiousness and prayerfulness/mindfulness. We live in the countryside and are very well-placed to be an educational and nurturing space for people interested in living more resourcefully; people who want to spend some time closer to nature, and those who want to learn some new skills and make some new friends, or make friends with themselves!! The farm has the view of the Serra da Gardunha mountains in the council of Fundão, in the Castelo Branco district. We are off-grid and the few electric devices are powered by solar panels. At the project we host and run a variety of workshops and courses designed to promote a more natural, resilient and simple way of life. The project is a not-for-profit assocation and guests can learn more about the objectives and aims while you are with us. We seek to allow visitors an opportunity to live close to nature, and yet have a safe experience. It is as close to 'wild camping' as possible. Whether swimming in the pond or using our compost toilets, shower warmed by sun or fire, rest under a tree, read or enjoy the many bird sounds around you... the Mount of Oaks provides a base to come back to yourself in the heart of nature.

If you are interested in coming to stay we have the option of sleeping in our straw bale guest room which has a double bed, baby cot and option for a child’s bed. We have several tents and two bell tents to rent out. We also offer space for those travelling with a caravan or small van. All Facilities: Camping kitchen w/ gas Straw bale ‘Common Space’ N’jango (round structure near pond) 4 compost toilets 1 shower (solar heated or rocket stove depending on season) 2 fire pits with wood Pond for swimming Dedicated yoga/meditation space ‘Moon Disc’ STRAWBALE GUEST ROOM Guest room made of strawbales and earth plastered with an antique double bed. The value of exchange is 40€ per night, with a min stay of 2 nights. Included is the use of a baby cot, and option for a child's bed - this is 5€ extra per night. This also gives you access to our camping kitchen with all utensils and gas stove. If you stay for 7 nights, you only pay for 6. RENTAL BELL TENTS and ECO-TENTS We have 2 Bell Tent options - one happily fits a couple and kids, the other can sleep up to 6 bodies! Requests mattress with sheet, pillow and pillow case, with min stay of 2 nights. Option for organic cotton sleeping bag and inner if temperatures require it for extra 5€. This also gives you access to our camping kitchen with all utensils and gas stove. BRING YOUR OWN ACCOMODATION For those who are coming with their own accommodation we ask for 10€ per person, per night. 2 nights minimum stay. This also gives you access to all other common facilities including our camping kitchen with all utensils and gas stove.

Our location is a 20 min walk from the nearest village which has a friendly cafe with home made food and a few grocery shops for essencials. We sometimes provide some local produce and basic natural items if you are in need. Póvoa de Atalaia also has a museum of a famous Portuguese writer who was born here, Eugenio de Andrade. We are in farm land, so there are many nice walks you can make just around us, and delight with the landscape and it's beautiful olive groves, magestic cork oaks, sheep in pastures, and many birds like the whoopoo, woodpecker, kingfisher, bee eater, eagles, kites, storks, coocoos, and so many more :-) In any season there are plenty of things to experience and visit in the local area and you can make the Mount of Oaks your base for exploring the region.

If you are a nature person or love historical villages, this is definitely the area. From hikes, to climbing, biking, kayaking, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, snow (in its season), schist villages, Roman villages, Jewish settlements, and much more...Never mind all the local festas : cherries, cheese, "chocalhos" (shepherding and sheep), mushrooms, flowers, you name it... Check our web site's agenda or Fundao council page. In Castelo Branco you have the Cargaleiro Museum with his art collection and other exhibits throughout the year. There is also a castle and the palace gardens if that's your kind of thing. If you like food, this area also provides with amazing local and traditional dishes... don't expect any vegetarian or vegan, even though in Castelo Branco there are options.

We are living off grid, so you will get the chance to try your hand at living without mains electric while you are here! Our solar systems allow us the possibility of light and charging items where required. We are only a couple maintaining this farm, but because we are very open, we do provide opportunities for living in community when there are larger groups at the same time. Another unique aspect of this land is that the land was bought with donations, way before any crowd funding web page, simply by word of mouth, some prayer and what we see as a miracle :-) ... Feel free to ask us about it . So it is not private property but is under an Association- white stone, which you can also be part of if you would like to support what we have been doing here since 2006. Options for learning experiences while staying at the Mount of Oaks are : seed saving, drying herbs, making kombucha, fermenting foods, natural building. Every activity will depend on the season and our availability, and on an agreed value of exchange for our time :-)

Any season from MAY to end of SEPTEMBER: BRING YOUR OWN ACCOMODATION - 10€ (min 2 nights) RENTAL TENT (2,1m high) - 27€ for 2 people per night (min 2 nights) BELL TENTS 30€ per person per night (min 2 nights) STRAWBALE GUEST ROOM (double bed+extra single+cot if required) - 40€ (min 2 nights) We welcome PETS and CHILDREN as long as they are supervised at ALL times. We don't encourage the abuse of ALCOHOL or any DRUGS and we will invite people to leave if we find any behaviour unacceptable for us and for the safety of our other guests.