Eco Retreatcenter in Portugal

In November 2016 we bought a beautiful 2 acres piece of land in Central Portugal, at the feet of de Serra da Estrella. Our plan is to build an ecological and self-sustainable bed and breakfast/yogaretreatcenter, where everybody can feel at ease, wether it is to spend a great holiday or to find a peaceful place to recover from the stress of daily life. We will organise several retreats every year for people with burn-out. Our venue will also be open for more artistic courses and holidays. We want to make it a community project, where the people of our surrounding villages can work and organise events too.
We will offer daily yogacourses, massagetherapy and counseling.
The land has a big flat surface suitable for permaculture, which will provide us with organic crops.

Valérie Pas is an Ayurvedic therapiste, yogateacher and blogger. It is her mission to help others feel at their best and come to their full potential. I am deeply concerned with environmental issues and living in nature brings me happiness.
Ward Huysmans is a Europian Treeworker and interested in permaculture. Together they are a great team in going for their dreams and supporting eachother in it. Their two kids Aiko & Corazon enjoy playing outside and going along with their parents to different places on this planet.


Since firehazards are a big problem in Portugal, we changed our plans from mainly wooden cabins and yurts to building an Earthship as the main house. This will be more resistant against the treat of fire, but increases the cost for building substantially.
An Earthship is a passive house that is build in a selfmade hill, making it one with the landscape that surrounds it and maintaining a relatively constant temperature. The structure is made up with the use of old tires and other recycled materials.
We want to build th Earthship ourselves to keep the costs low, which means we will need a lot of volunteers too for all the work. This is a big project, with all the newest techniques in renewable energy. This is impossible to achieve with the two of us. All the more fun working on it together.

Here's the list of what we will do with your support:

-The volunteers need to be given shelter and food.
- We will build a beautiful yogaroom, with mountainview, to teach to around 25 people.
- Several yurts and caravans need to be set up on a concreet floor, costs estimated 2000€.
- Building permit: +- 2500€
- Plans architect: +- 2500€ 
- An ecological swimmingpool and waterpurification system. 
-The Earthship needs to be prepared, materials bought, electricitysystem and waterdrainage. The total cost is estimated on 20000€
- A big Solar system for the whole project. Costs estimated still 2500€. We bought already a starter installation of 3000€.
- Plantation of fruit trees, cost estimated 1000€.

In the summer of 2018 we are heading back to set up a base camp for volunteers with yurts and solarpanels.

In september 2019 we plan to make the move and start a new life in Portugal.

For every donation you will be send a letter with our appreciation and the invitation to come and visite us at our project. Feel free to talk to us on volunteering for the project!

Check out the different bonuses. You can donate starting from 5€.

If you prefer banktransfer instead of online banking, use BE84 0016 0809 1359 and note 'crowdfunding'.
We will add you to the 'off line' donators and same bonuses apply, evidently.