When I first heard about Quinta da Carvalheira, it sounded like a charming farmhouse in rural Portugal – but I had no idea just how deeply it would touch me. I was among the first guests to experience their new coliving vision, and those ten days didn’t just pass by… they quietly grounded me. They reminded me what truly matters: community, good food, and living in tune with the land.
The house and its story
This farmhouse is rooted in centuries of life: originally the agricultural heart of the village Carvalheira de Cima in the 17th century, it belonged to Inês’s great-great-grandparents and once supported families with fields, a mill for olive oil and a wine cellar.
In 2022, Inês felt the call of her roots and came back to restore the Quinta with a regenerative future in mind – transforming it into a Center for Learning and Regeneration.
You can feel that history in every corner. The walls carry stories, the old furniture has soul, and every renovation decision seems to be made with care and love. It’s a place where tradition and modern living meet halfway – where remote workers like us can thrive without losing touch with the land and its past.
How it feels to live there
The house hosts private rooms and dorms, and bathrooms are shared – a design that encourages both solitude and meeting. There are two kitchens and two living rooms; one living room became our evening heart: we would gather there by the warming fire, from wood we got from the shed. Inside there’s an activity room where we praised yoga.
Outside there’s also a covered outdoor activity place – a lovely event-ready spot with a roof where workshops and gatherings already happen. The grounds beyond the house are wide and inviting, shaped to be used with permaculture and slow-growth in mind. Everything around the Quinta feels like an invitation to breathe deeper, walk slower, notice more.
For a tour around the Quinta see here.
Animals, food and people – a small ecosystem
Life here moves at the pace of nature. Two playful cats weave in and out between people, and the chickens and ducks roam freely – ensuring the soil stays healthy while adding their quirky personality to everyday life.
And then there’s Simone. Her cooking is not just food – it’s a form of storytelling. She showed me so much about regenerative cooking, using what grows on site and transforming it gently into meals that tastes like magic.
Learning here happens naturally: Inês and the team share knowledge about permaculture and regenerative nutrition in the most hands-on and patient way. Nothing feels like a lecture; everything feels like discovery.
Click here if you want to get to know more about the team.
Planting a permaculture bed – the layer method
One of the highlights of my stay was creating a new permaculture bed together. I was fascinated from the start.
It’s a beautiful, almost poetic system of renewal: you start by laying cardboard as a weed barrier, then add compost and other organic matter, invite the worms to do their work, and finish with leaves as mulch on top. The cardboard breaks down, the worms and microbes compost the layers, and out of what was once waste grows new life.
A reminder that everything is connected: the soil, the plants, the animals, and the people who tend them. It felt like watching regeneration in real time – and it filled me with an unexpected joy.
What you can do there
Quinta da Carvalheira is a place for moving your body and slowing your mind. During my stay we did yoga, and explored the landscape. There are opportunities for climbing and forest-based practices like mindful walks or “forest bathing,” fruit gathering when in season, and lots of hands-on farm and garden work. Even small tasks – collecting eggs, checking on the hens – become meaningful actions that knit you into daily life. You become a part of the rhythm rather than a visitor watching it.
The honest view – it’s a beginning (in the best way)
Of course, the Quinta is still evolving. Some areas are rustic, some routines are a work in progress. But that’s exactly what makes it so exciting: you can feel the potential everywhere. The foundation – the land, the community, the mission – is strong, and the vision is clear.
Nothing here is superficial or complete – everything is growing. It’s a place in motion, and being part of it felt very meaningful.
Why it resonates with The Coliving Way
Quinta da Carvalheira embodies what I believe coliving should be:
- community over convenience
- learning over consumption
- nature over noise
It’s a place where hospitality, healing and purposeful living come together. A place where you can grow roots – even if only for a short while.
I left with muddy shoes, new knowledge, a calmer heart, and a strong desire to return in spring. I want to see the permaculture beds bursting with life… and witness how this beautiful project continues to unfold.
