TEND & WELCOME:
A BIOINTENSIVE GARDENING & HOSTING APPRENTICESHIP 2027
Are you looking to deepen your experience with permaculture, build new skills, and put theory and systems design into practice? Learn by doing in our regenerative growing system, then share it with others as a co-host welcoming guests to the centre. Over one season, from April to end-October, you'll gain hands-on experience running a bio-intensive market garden while developing the hospitality skills that bring a working permaculture site to life. You'll leave with a kick-start for your own growing venture and the confidence to grow, host, and share what you've learned.
When? from the 1st of April 2027 until the end of October 2027
We will be processing applications on a rolling basis, so get your application in asap!
A QUICK GUIDE TO THE APPRENTICESHIP
In the garden apprentices will focus on two of our systems: the bio-intensive kitchen garden and the forest garden.
The bio-intensive kitchen garden is a regenerative growing system built on small-scale, intensive, high-yield principles. Our forest garden is 15 years old, designed using the seven layers of forest gardening and the concept of tree guilds. It offers a range of subtropical, temperate and Mediterranean species.
Our farm is organised into two kinds of structures:
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"Visible" structures, such as the Farm Hub, a space dedicated to all things garden related: tools, work spaces, a cleaning station for harvesting and more.
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"Invisible" structures, including a dedicated target plan and documents for weekly planning, ordering, nursery management and more. These also include the systems that keep our community running, which is where co-hosting comes in.
Co-hosting: caring for the people in the system
A farm runs on its people as much as its plants. As a co-host, you'll help volunteers and crew members arrive, settle in and find their place in the work. This includes:
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Creating and managing work rotas
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Welcoming and orienting new arrivals to the farm and its systems
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Holding regular check-ins with volunteers and crew
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Helping the team stay connected, informed and supported throughout the season
You'll work alongside our main host and learn the skills of hosting, communication and coordination that make a working community thrive.
YOU WILL:
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Gain valuable hands-on experience working in a bio-intensive garden and a forest garden
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Co-host the centre alongside our lead host, supporting volunteers and crew through rotas, check-ins and orientation
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Facilitate sessions during our permaculture design courses, guiding small groups of students through our 16 garden tasks, as well as hands-on activities like gardening, natural building and landscape design
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Learn to bake bread in our cob oven, then take responsibility for baking for the courses throughout the summer
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Receive mentorship and lectures to guide you along the way
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Earn an apprenticeship certificate on completion, plus a permaculture design course certificate at the end of the season after taking classes throughout
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION
APPRENTICESHIP OVERVIEW
THE APPRENTICESHIP IS SUITED FOR...
Anyone looking for an immersive experience in practical, land based permaculture design. There are no prerequisites needed to join, as the apprenticeship is experience-based. All we ask for is:
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eagerness to learn
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positive principles
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cooperation & politeness
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physically fit and willing to work outside in any weather
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a passion for the environment and sustainable systems
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A warm, welcoming attitude towards volunteers, crew and students, and an interest in looking after the people around you
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active engagement in co-living (cooking/cleaning)
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ability to spend time alone or with people as and when needed
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excited to live the reality of an off-grid daily life in the midst of nature
IT INVOLVES...
Apprentices will be responsible for routine tasks throughout their time here and will have a strong focus on farming and co-hosting the centre. The project lead will facilitate your work and guide you as needed.
Off-season (April-June) you will gain knowledge and experience which you will then have the chance to share throughout the summer course season (June-October) by facilitating hands-on sessions as part of our permaculture design courses as well as welcoming and onboarding new volunteers.
YOU WILL GAIN...
Along with valuable land-based knowledge, you will receive teacher training and gain experience facilitating group activities. As a co-host you will also develop practical skills in coordination, communication and community care, which are useful in any team, farm or project. We offer certification through our non-profit.
As part of your apprenticeship you will also get the chance to join classes held during the courses throughout the summer, which will then combine into you receiving a completed permaculture design course certificate.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
COST
We do not charge any fee to be an apprentice here. For 30 hours per week your exchange will include food and camping along with the training you will receive. Please note that due to the residential nature of the courses and life on a farm hours may differ throughout and some weekend work will be needed.
CAMPING
The campsite is a semi-wild area where we have created level terraces among the trees, mushrooms, and stones for people to pitch their tents out of view from the rest of the garden.
FOOD
We eat vegetarian meals (mostly vegan except optional butter and eggs) with ingredients sourced from our gardens or from local organic producers. We are not able to cater to specific diets.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please expect an answer on a rolling basis and within 2 weeks of your application. In case you were selected we will ask you to take part in a zoom call, if you were not selected you will also receive an email during that time.
ABOUT THE LOCATION
Terra Alta is an off-the-grid holistic-education host site where students and visitors alike get to see all 12 Principles of Permaculture in action. It’s located in between Almoçageme and Ulgueira, two quaint sea-side villages with easy access to amazing beaches and is easy to reach from Lisbon and Sintra. The following Permaculture elements and functions are on display, amongst others:
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Small-scale earthworks to collect and use surface runoff
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Hot & Cold Composting (Vermiculture) systems for boosting soil life, picking up on waste streams, and cycling nutrients
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Food Preservation
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Natural Building techniques utilised for dwellings and social spaces
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Renewable Energy technology featuring solar panels
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Social Permaculture structures
We treat Terra Alta's off-the-grid site as a teacher in its own right as participants get to experience Permaculture daily, learning from our existing projects and being part of our crew.
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