Volunteering at The Quinta Project: Grow roots. Help the land. Live simply.

The Quinta is where we live, grow food, care for trees, and welcome a small number of volunteers who want to support a land-based, queer-positive project in a spectacular but remote part of the world. Volunteering is based entirely at the farm, and does not include any work at the vineyard, winery, or Bar Salto.

This is for individuals who want to live simply for a while and contribute to the daily rhythm of rural life.

🌿 What You’ll Help With

We’re slowly restoring an abandoned farm and transforming it into a vibrant, living permaculture space. It’s a long journey, done bit by bit, with the help of volunteers, friends, and neighbours who pass through. The farm is also a very social space, with many visitors coming.

Tasks vary with the season and the rhythm of the land, but may include:

• Reviving old terraces and maintaining paths
• Planting herbs, vegetables, trees, and native species
• Helping with the food forest and edible hedgerows
• Clearing invasive plants and mulching new growth
• Supporting daily life: cooking, preserving, feeding animals, keeping shared spaces tidy
• Lending a hand during community visits or small gatherings

It’s physical, varied, and deeply satisfying work.

🏡 Life on the Farm

Volunteers stay at The Quinta, a rural property with stone terraces, olive groves, and stunning views. This is my/our home, so it is a private space. The farm is an “off-grid” property with some modern amenities, but expect rustic comfort, not luxury.

We offer:

Accommodation in a simple room

Food: vegetarian (mostly vegan), most meals are shared

A kitchen, outdoor eating areas, …

Friendly dogs, a very bold cat, and an open, queer-friendly community spirit

🌍 Who This Is For

You’ll enjoy volunteering here if you:

• Like physical outdoor work and don’t mind mud or mosquitos
• Are independent and proactive — I don’t micromanage
• Enjoy shared spaces and slow rural rhythms
• Respect queer and alternative lifestyles
• Are interested in permaculture, rewilding, or living more lightly on the earth

We particularly welcome individuals with initiative and ideas who want to build, grow, or support the invisible work that makes communal life possible. If you like wine (especially natural wine), you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know this aspect of life here and have many conversations about it with us. However, work in the winery, vineyard etc is not part of the volunteering.

Just so you know:
this is not for digital nomads or people looking for a place to stay while working online.
It’s not a retreat or a wine tourism experience.

📍 Where

The farm is not remote, but very private. Marvão is about 2.5 hours from Lisbon and near the Spain–Portugal border. The nearest villages are Marvão and Portagem, about 1.5km away. Portagem has a small shop, as well as several bars and restaurants. The closest supermarket is in Castelo de Vide, around 10 minutes drive away.

There’s no public transport nearby, but we can help you get here. That said, having your own transport is really an advantage in this area!

📝 Apply to Join

We host a small number of volunteers throughout the year. The minimum stay is 2 weeks, but stays of 4 weeks are preferred.

If you’re interested, send me a message to hello@quintaproject.org and tell us a bit about yourself, your motivation, and what you hope to offer and learn. I’ll then contact you to schedule a call via Zoom to meet and have an opportunity to get to know each other.