Our community is growing steadily and this year we have many things planned. Will we achieve all of our goals? That would be a stretch, but it is definitely exiting.
First of, this years Festival Santito will be on July 25th. It’s a Saturday which will be a lot more convenient for local visitors. We’ll have a smaller celebration for our residents and volunteers on the 27th. So mark it down in your agenda!
Speaking of volunteers, we are open to hosting. Our accommodations are constantly being upgraded and this summer we will have several rooms available in addition to ample camping spots with water & electricity. Naturally volunteers have a spot at the dinner table or barbecue fire-pit. Some tasks we can use help with:
Clearing land
Cleaning up and/or stabilizing ruins
Restore a small ruin to house our currently semi outdoor kitchen.
Setting up electric fences for our sheep
Training the sheep
Improving paths
Collecting, cutting and storing of firewood
Here it is in full color:
The square building in the center is what we call ‘the church’. To the left of it is a smaller ruin with a roof that is semi-intact. This we would like to restore and convert to a guest kitchen / bar.
Take the old roof off, increase the height of the walls by one foot, build a new roof using sandwich panels.
Our sheep need a safe enclosure, to protect them from the occasional wolf visit. This ruin makes for a great barn, but needs a new (metal) roof.
The field adjacent to the barn has mostly been cleared
A thousand or so square meters are still overgrown. After this has been mowed, we can erect an electric fence around it.
Last year we created this parking / camping area. It can accommodate ten cars but for this year we’d like to increase capacity to 25.
This old structure will be the basis for an art studio.
After land has been thoroughly cleared, like here, the old walls need to be restored.
This building is collapsing and needs to be stabilized and/or partially taken down
Beech tree seedling. Although Galicia is well within its natural range, beech trees are surprisingly absent. Not in Penadexo!
Our apple orchard needs to be prepared for grazing. That means restoring walls and setting up an electric fence.
The first section of the chestnut grove we cleared a year ago, but a lot of wood still needs to be processed.
One of the few flatter areas. We want to make it a potato field. That means clearing it and put up an electric fence to protect them taters against those damn hogs.
Last year we planted these kiwis and made a rudimentary trellis that definitely needs improvement!
This dam is an inlet for a water reservoir used by firefighters. It is in a sorry state with a lot of leaks. Repairing it will not only improve its existing function, but also make it a very nice swimming pool for the hottest months
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer this summer please get in touch now. Or if you like to sponsor any of these exiting projects let us know
One thought on “Plans for 2026, become a volunteer!”
Howdy! I left the United States 2 and a quarter years ago to find a free country to settle down in. It does not appear there is any such place and I would like to help build one. I have worked as a migrant laborer in multiple countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany and Albania. I worked on building at the Montelibero site in Dobre Vode, Montenegro for five months. I have experience in water and wastewater infrastructure, construction including concrete, basic electrical and skilled plumbing as well as farm work with animals and plants. I am currently working in Albania and I will be working as a maintenance person in Montenegro from May to October. I would like to visit your community and lend a hand at some point, whether it is this year or next. I would especially like it if some accomodation, food allowance, compensation and vehicle use were possible while I work there.
Howdy! I left the United States 2 and a quarter years ago to find a free country to settle down in. It does not appear there is any such place and I would like to help build one. I have worked as a migrant laborer in multiple countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany and Albania. I worked on building at the Montelibero site in Dobre Vode, Montenegro for five months. I have experience in water and wastewater infrastructure, construction including concrete, basic electrical and skilled plumbing as well as farm work with animals and plants. I am currently working in Albania and I will be working as a maintenance person in Montenegro from May to October. I would like to visit your community and lend a hand at some point, whether it is this year or next. I would especially like it if some accomodation, food allowance, compensation and vehicle use were possible while I work there.