Create a retreat and rural learning centre

In a basic a description to start. The vision is to create a learning centre and a place of refuge and retreat for those who struggle with the urban city 9 to 5 life and are looking to learn some of what it means to live in a self sustaining rural way, to attract these people who would like to help establish and later work voluntarily on the land to sample the way of life. The project would be entirely not for profit or run commercially but to have the aim at being self sustaining.

There are many living in towns and cities who are held by responsibilities and wish to make a change, even if for a brief period, to sample something slower and maybe learn about things such as, wild plants, natural traditional building and so on.

The aim is to acquire some land in Portugal that has at least the parameters of a water supply from a water mine or well, and or preferably a river, some established fruit and nut trees, good quality soil to plant but also good quality clay to construct some simple earth structures. This is possible in Portugal with the soil type. Also, at least one or two ruined buildings that are possible to renovate to a reasonable standard. Again, a common practice in Portugal, as there is much land that has ruined traditional structures available.

These structures can then be used for education seminars, as meeting places and venues or accommodation.

The aim would be to house 3 or 4 people maximum at one period in which they would have the chance to learn about the local biodiversity and all methods of self sustaining lifestyle. Participants would be encouraged to re vitialise perhaps skills they feel they have neglected and to be involved in artistic endevours if they have a desire to do so.

The idea would not to create a place where there is a pressure to work in a certain way or to deadlines but to maintain a curiousity about all aspects of the environment and work to their interests and own times, as the aim is to allow each person to find out what it is they prefer and what benefit they will gain.

People who for example, have never really been in a rural place or farm, might benefit from some informal chat and so on about the land and the lifestyles, to see how they are progressing and how they feel.

It is known from experience that some who desire to make a switch to a rural life, can find it a huge culture shock and first and quite daunting, so it is to de mystify and simplify and demonstrate that it is not so daunting, although perhaps a level of steadiness and keeping prioritising can be required !

What the project will not be is simply just another "yoga retreat" centre or similar, charging high prices. This will be a "down to earth" hub, interested in hearing the contributions and ideas of those who maybe have never been on a farm before.