Volunteering

Volunteering at Quinta da Luz

We are delighted you are considering volunteering at Quinta da Luz. We look forward to meeting you as you come to help in its continuing evolution.

The Serra through our olives

It is important for all involved that before arriving you know what the Quinta is about. In that way you will ensure you gain the most from your time here. So please take the time to read the “The Quinta da Luz” page to be clear on what is happening at the Quinta and that you are the right volunteer for us! Should you resonate with what you have read then email telling us a bit about yourself and we can set up a Skype or Zoom call to come to know each other better.

Some Practical Points

We ask that our volunteers help us for up to five hours a day, five days a week during

Now for the Afternoon Cooling Dip?

the Spring and Summer months with weekends free. During the months when the days are shorter five hours a day may not always be possible in the garden. In return we will provide food and accommodation as well as the opportunity to experience the tranquility of Quinta da Luz and the area.

Working hours can be flexible and are usually determined by weather and what needs to be done. When you arrive let us know your preferences and what you wish to learn and we will take these into consideration when planning work. We ask for a weekly contribution to meet household costs.

Our horta and original fruit cage

As you may have gathered, there is ongoing creation and evolution underway and so maintenance at Quinta da Luz! Work includes gardening, pruning, weeding, water channel clearing, ground preparation, planting, cleaning ponds, wood chopping and stacking, pine needle collecting and bramble clearing to name a few.

Depending on the season you may find yourself preparing ground, planting, picking or sowing seeds, and then there are our olive trees to tend! Picking the olives is usually from the end of November on. In August and September the focus is usually on irrigating, harvesting and processing our abundant produce such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melon, beans, lettuce, broccoli etc..

There is also work inside the house, including cooking and cleaning. Often there are rooms to paint!

Olives at Quinta da Luz

Each year in November or early December we pick the olives on our 84 trees. Since our first picking in December 2013, the record of kilos picked and olive oil returned from the lagar shows:

                                                                                        Year Kilos Litres

2013 220 33  – 2014 140 14 – 2023 117 11

2015 500 68  – 2017 465 70

2018 270 34 –  2019 326 37

2021 490 71 – 2022 190 21

In good years we also pick olives to eat, leaving them to soak for almost three months before combining with our own rosemary and garlic for our visitors, and ourselves to enjoy.

José our local pastor guiding his flock past the Quinta

The need to prune the olives every year means at the end of each year there is also chipping and mulching to do, after harvesting. At the Quinta, we continue to create a form and structure on the land, bring as much as possible into production so flexibility is essential.

We are open to hearing people’s ideas and inspirations, so please do set them out. They often provide an interesting topic for conversation at meal times!

Nutrition at Quinta da Luz

A day’s picking at the Quinta

The diet at the Quinta is primarily vegetarian with lots of fruit, vegetables, greens, nuts and seeds. In the colder months we make soups, roast chestnuts and enjoy the cooler airs. Everyone that has visited has enjoyed the simpler diet and seems to go through a cleansing process and leave much healthier and calmer than when they arrived.

With that said, everyone’s body responds differently to the diet so people are welcome to cook if they so wish.

Guidance for Volunteering at Quinta da Luz

Because we are interested in living a conscious holistic life we have a few rules to support this during your stay:

  • No drugs
  • No smoking – it is a major fire risk
  • No drinking (other than an occasional glass of wine with a meal)
Summer evening view from our terrace, with the pergola that Jack built

Our accommodation is set out in “The Quinta da Luz” page. When you request to volunteer at Quinta da Luz, please let us know the dates you are thinking about and how long you would like to stay. We prefer volunteers to stay at least two weeks – many have stayed far longer too!

Each bathroom has bio-degradable soaps and shampoos as we intend keeping the water as pure as possible for the next users and caretakers. Towels are also provided.

March snow on the Serra

Other things to bring – hat, work clothes and boots, sandals in the summer for pottering about. A musical instrument should you play one, or even just your voice and repertoire of songs! We are building our “educational” library for volunteers so we ask that if you wish please bring a book or other material that you are willing to leave behind. It is your choice if you want to have insurance that covers medical care including transportation home, accidents, and loss of property.

Make sure your insurer knows that you will be a volunteer on a working Quinta. Obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in case you need medical treatment whilst in Portugal, either as the result of illness or accident.

To Volunteer at Quinta da Luz

Another Of The Wonderful Sunsets On Show At The Quinta

Interested in volunteering at Quinta da Luz, please email Caroline via the online contact form. Once we check on availability, we will contact you by email and set up a time to do a quick Skype or Zoom call. For those of you looking for more of a challenge and preferring life under canvas and only basic facilities, you may be interested in volunteering at Quinta da Ribeira.

We look forward to meeting you, enjoy your stay as a volunteer at Quinta da Luz.