Jan 10, 2009

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE


We shall be holding a permaculture design course at the land from the 28th March - 5th April 2009.
This is a 72 hour course, spread over 9 intensive days of practical experience and learning the principles, methods and applications of permaculture, sustainable land design and growing.

The course will be led by Lesley Martin a teacher with twenty years teaching experience and it will cost 150 euros including food. Believe me, this is a bargain, compared to the usual costs of such course.

Accommodation is camping so bring a tent and your sleeping bag.

We will need your confirmation and a 50 euro deposit till the 1st of MARCH so that we know the number of attendees and see if it's viable to run the course.


We'll also need 3 or 4 volunteers to help us with the meals, as we'd like to attend the course ourselves. That would be great !!! If you want to come to help, we'd also need your confirmation till the 1st of MARCH. Thanks a lot !!!

Please contact us for more information .
our house number is 275561057.
Or simply post a comment here.

Jan 5, 2009

WHERE WE ARE...

We are at the Mount of Oaks, which is the original name of the place where the land stands...
it's part of the village POVOA DE ATALAIA, which is a nice 20 minutes walk from the land.
The nearest cities are CASTELO BRANCO in the south and FUNDAO in the north...

BUT BEFORE YOU COME, MAKE SURE THAT YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARE COMING SO WE CAN HAVE A PLACE PREPARED FOR YOU...you can find our contacts below...
SO FAR WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST WE'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU... WE DO HAVE SOME GUEST ROOMS (1 wooden cottage, 1 caravan and 1 Van), BUT IF YOU CAN, BRING YOUR OWN SLEEPING BAG AND TENT...

WE'RE ALSO PLANNING TO HAVE A SEASON OF REST FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, BETWEEN 30TH NOVEMBER AND 15th FEBRUARY...FOR US TO BE ALONE AND GET REFRESHED FOR NEXT SEASONS... SO WE'D PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE ANYONE AT THIS TIME IF POSSIBLE...



so, if you come by CAR
you can choose this google map or follow the directions below. We suggest the google map for larger vans or caravans. 

You have to get the A23 (Guarda-Castelo Branco), and in either direction you get out at the CASTELO NOVO exit... Follow the directions ALPEDRINHA- ESTAÇÃO CAMINHO FERRO... You will get to the N18, where you can either turn left to Alpedrinha, or RIGHT TO SOALHEIRA / ESTAÇÃO DE CAMINHO DE FERRO...GO RIGHT :-).........After you will TURN TO YOUR LEFT to ESTAÇÃO CAMINHO DE FERRO / PÓVOA DE ATALAIA / ATALAIA DO CAMPO... You will easily spot the train station and you will cross the rail tracks (under a new viaduct)...keep on driving on that road... You will see the sign saying “Welcome to Póvoa de Atalaia”...keep going a bit more...NEXT , TURN TO YOUR LEFT, where you see the sign to PÓVOA DE ATALAIA, you can also see a saint statue easy to spot... this is the main road in PÓVOA DE ATALAIA... Keep going straight...the cobble stone road will start at the JUNTA DE FREGUESIA... Keep going straight...you will find a CAFÉ on your left side -CAFÉ CENTRAL, another CAFÉ right after that on your right side - CAFÉ TÍLIAS, and right after that you will see the RUA DIREITA, on your left side (just before the church building), TURN THERE, AND FEW METERS, TURN LEFT AGAIN on RUA DA CONTINA (you won't see any sign on that angle, so, just remember that after you go on Rua Direita, it's just few meters and you have to turn left again)... It’s a narrow road between stone walls... When this walled road end you will reach the dirt road... Just keep going straight, and when there are possible turns you HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO SOME COLORFUL FABRICS (pink and black, quite obvious, but not massively big) HANGING ON TREES OR BUSHES TO SHOW YOU THE CORRECT DIRECTION :-)... (another reason not to arrive at night)...
But it’s not hard !!! 
In any case, contact me on 965429083 if you need help... or ask people for Bárbara...
Before entering the land, you will see signs for parking... I would prefer cars to stay outside...then you can walk down and uphill (to your right)...you will easily see caravans parked and the stone house that is our main hanging out place and common kitchen... FEEL WELCOME and at home...
 

OBS: the google map on the mount-of-oaks blog gives you another way, for larger vans... chose what you prefer :-)

o.k, if you come by train or by feet :

the nearest train station is called CASTELO NOVO, but it's actually closer to POVOA DE ATALAIA then to CASTELO NOVO...(might be confusing)
check out for schedule on www.cp.pt
From the train station you need to go to Povoa de Atalaia, which is still a bit of a walk down the car road (the opposite direction of the mountains...they will be at your back)
When you see the sign that says Povoa de Atalaia on your left, with a statue of Santo Estevao, follow to the end of that road... (look for the car details if this is not so clear) you can stop by in a cafe for a drink :-)...just next to the church building, to the left you will see the "Rua direita" , turn there..right after you have on your left again, the "Rua da contina"...that will lead you to the dirt road...follow it and be really careful to notice the pink and black stripes hanged on the trees wherever you have 2 possible ways :-)... Ok, you must be able to make it... preferably in the day light...
I don´t mind picking up people on the train station, but it's not always possible... specially if it is a last minute call :-(
( I hope you understand that...thanks !!! )

WELCOME HOME !!! you made it !!!


Note: If you are flying into Portugal...you can get to Porto (cheapest Ryanair flights) or Lisbon...In Porto you need to get a bus to FUNDAO (www.rede-expressos.pt), and then a train to ALPEDRINHA ...in Lisbon, you just need to get to ORIENTE train station and get a train to ALPEDRINHA... (www.cp.pt)
Here are again the web sites where you can get the schedules:
www.rede-expressos.pt (for bus from Porto...If you wanna come straight to the land you must be sure you can take the 10am or 2pm bus in BATALHA, close to SAO BENTO metro station)
www.cp.pt (for trains)

Hope all this helps... :-)

OUR CONTACTS:


Mobile (Barbara) : (00351) 965429083
E.mail : whitestone2004@gmail.com