Stays
The doors of the headquarters are open to associates: just ring the bell, go into the café/bar, order a lemonade, olives, a glass of red wine, a slice of cake or a simple coffee. Sit down or stretch your legs wherever you like. There are records on request and books, newspapers and magazines available. In the garden, there are tools for those who regularly want to collaborate on gardening tasks. The library/dining, leisure and work room may also be available for proposed activities or events organised by the association.
In the dorm room, kitchen and courtyard, we welcome individuals or groups of children, young people or adults, friends, colleagues, lovers or families for arts or science residencies (for which we may or may not collaborate in the areas of dramaturgy, directing, staging and technique), responsible tourism and/or occasional visits and celebrations, as well as for short and medium-term workshops. These can be multidisciplinary, in Portuguese, German or English, planned according to the interests and availability of the participants, whether they are beginners or experienced, but there are also permanent offers; we are available, in the areas of regenerative agriculture and theatre, subject to timely planning and pre-registration, for long-term courses. From time to time, we offer workshops run by non-resident artists, including ceramics, illustration and literature.
We recommend, for any type of attendance at these venues, a slowdown in the production of non-recyclable rubbish and in the pace of life and consumption, especially of invasive technology and industrial food.
Contact us by e-mail or telephone for more information and bookings!
PERMANENT WORKSHOPS:
Soil Recovery and Regenerative Cropping
One-to-one or in small groups, in view of future applications, the emphasis is placed on identifying the various soils as a determining factor for food capacity, with a focus on transforming poor soils. Ancestral knowledge of regeneration will be passed on in order to allow the development of plants and their fauna, as well as the phases of various applications and types of plants for each type of soil. The essential principle of this workshop lies in creating the possibility of harmony and balance between human needs and the maintenance of nature.
Deconstruction of the Self and Deep-Rooting in the Natural Community
One-to-one or in small groups, this 45-minute workshop promotes direct access to the natural space, as an integral part of it. Through immersive experiences, we are using all the human senses to explore different levels of contact with the soil, the animals and the plants. The focus is on healthy human involvement in nature's transformative processes. This workshop may involve some level of discomfort, which might be essential for the sensory apprehension of human identification with the ecosystem.
Bio-Construction and Practical Use of Recycling
One-to-one or in small groups, one-time or regular workshops are given on how to collect and process natural/recycled materials and use hand tools to apply them to the participants' specific ideas and/or to small, medium and large-scale projects in progress. Some examples are a chicken coop, a stone oven for firewood, fruit and vegetable dryers, nests, dykes and façades.
Vegetarian and vegan cooking
One-to-one or in small groups, in the garden and in the kitchen, this workshop favours the regional and seasonal fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs available in our garden and/or on sale. This cuisine of the land, rich in flavour and nutrients, is based on simple Mediterranean-style recipes ranging from soups and salads to roasts and sautés with an international influence. The traditional confectionery of jams, sweets and cakes is also included, as well as techniques for preserving seeds and the utilised food ingredients.
Basic Literacy, Portuguese, English and German Languages, History of Portugal and Portuguese Culture, Environmental Studies
One-to-one or in small groups, regular or medium-term attendance is recommended. Either courses (introductory or maintenance) or tutoring, e.g. school support or exam preparation: they can both use traditional techniques such as dictation, composition, conversation, writing and listening exercises, but also dramatic expression techniques, handicrafts, gardening and cooking. The workshop takes place not only in the library, but also in the kitchen or garden.
Creative writing
One-to-one or in groups, outdoors or in the library, this workshop basically consists of exercises based on observation and memory, after which, if the attendance is regular, it is possible to follow up on the texts produced. Oriented towards subjective (auto)biographical writing, with a focus on the re-signification of the self, the workshop offers readings of universal literature drawn from the diaristic tradition, correspondence and the theatrical monologue.
Theatre: body, voice, emotions, words and movement
For small groups of up to 8 participants, either regularly or just once, after which a short live performance or photographic/video recording can be made. The emphasis is on preparing the voice (breathing, articulation, projection) and the body (warming up and activating the parts) in space, as well as developing expression, imagination and the skills of observation, interaction, improvisation, discipline and endurance. Physical theatre, of words, objects and images, it is based on collective writing or pre-existing texts. The workshop takes place in the amphitheatre, as well as in the library and any alternative spaces in the natural environment.
