Casalinho

Author: Andrea

  • In the Doghouse

    Blue needed a home. Pete needed a project. Blue reminded us that volunteering at Casalinho isn’t just about goats! Blue’s new house is based on an old pallet and uses leftover planks and greenwood for the structure. Coloured offcuts from other projects create the lovely shingles effect. Finally, it’s roofed with broom over some old more »

  • Showered with Good Fortune

    Each year, WWOOF Portugal award one host farm a small sum in the form of the WWOOF Host Grant. We proposed that we build a shower block for the use of wwoofers and other farm visitors, with the water supplied from the river using a RAM pump, heated using the power of the sun, and recycled more »

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary (part 3)

    This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.   A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary  After a particularly busy and eventful week I’m heading back to more »

  • Downhill Racing

    This weekend the 2013 Portugal Downhill Cup was held in Pampilhosa da Serra. Much though we love our little corner of peace from the world, it’s a refreshing change to get out and about occasionally. And watching cyclists throw themselves down ridiculous slopes at least reminds you that you’re not the only loony in the world more »

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s diary (part 2)

    This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary.   A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary                    It’s lovely more »

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary

    This is part of a series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words. Serge is one of our longer staying volunteers, and has kindly agreed to share his diary. This is the first part of his story …   A Visitor’s Perspective: Serge’s Diary Today was my more »

  • Kidding About

    I’m very pleased to report that Branquinha has now had her kid, so that’s three out of six of our lady goats who have now birthed. This time it’s a healthy little girl, delivered without any problems. After my adventures at the weekend I must admit to being very relieved about that!       more »

  • Pass the rubber gloves …

    Many times over the past years I’ve marvelled at how much life has changed since coming to Casalinho. Sitting at my office desk ten years ago, the idea of pulling on the rubber gloves and sticking my hand up a goat to assist her giving birth would have been pretty alien, but that’s what I found more »

  • Gift idea – and help us build a windbreak!

    We’re planning a windbreak and privacy screen along the road. With our neighbour having clear felled his forest in the summer and the ‘improved’ road being higher than the level of our land this is becoming increasingly urgent. So what to choose? We’ve decided that the bulk of the hedge will be medronha (Arbutus unedo more »

  • A Visitor’s Perspective: Laura

    This is the first in a new series of posts where we ask one of our volunteers or visitors to say a few words.    A Visitor’s Perspective: Laura I have just returned from my third trip to Casalinho, I planned this visit after finishing my Masters degree and feeling that I was expending much more »