Spring and fall seasons, Abela, Alentejo
Seasonal Volunteers, Open Call
We are excited to invite volunteers to join us through our seasons at the Traditional Dream Factory, supporting every area of the regenerative farm and co-living development in Abela, Alentejo, Portugal.
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are interested in living, learning, and contributing to a vibrant and growing community based on respect for the land and each other. As a volunteer at TDF, you will have the chance to participate in a variety of activities, events, and workshops happening throughout the season.
What to know before applying
Volunteering is rooted in genuine contribution
TDF is a living, working regenerative project, and the energy and care people bring here is what keeps it alive. We welcome volunteers who are excited to roll up their sleeves and actively participate in the work of regeneration, whether that is in the garden, the kitchen, or hospitality. This is not a place to escape or to stay cheaply. It is a place to show up fully for the vision of a bigger, brighter future.
Minimum stay of 28 days
This allows enough time to truly settle in, find your rhythm with the community, and make a meaningful contribution to the work here. Shorter stays do not give enough space for the kind of depth and trust that makes the experience worthwhile, for you, for us, and for the land.
Arrivals are on Tuesday mornings
New volunteers always arrive on Tuesday morning for an onboarding session, followed by a landing circle. Please plan your travel around this.
Daily contribution
A daily contribution helps keep everything running. We ask volunteers for 14 euros a day for food and 4 euros a day for utilities, VAT included. In return for your work hours you receive a dorm bed, a camping spot or a van parking spot, and you will be fed really well: abundant, nourishing meals made with quality ingredients from our garden, plus specialty teas and coffee. Food is one of our love languages here and a big part of our culture.
Portuguese wage earners
We know the cost of living keeps climbing here, and we want to make it possible for more people from this land to stay with us. If you are living in Portugal on a genuinely low Portuguese income, write to us before you apply and we will find an arrangement that works.
Working hours are 9am to 1pm, daily
We keep to this schedule. The day starts with a playful 9am stand-up where we decide on the tasks together. These hours are not flexible, because they hold the group flow in the mornings. If you have morning meetings or commitments, this may not be the right opportunity for you right now.
Coming with children
If you are coming with children, please ask the space host about whether this can be organised in parallel with volunteering.
From volunteer to resident
Full work exchanges, which we call residencies, are for specific skilled roles and require a one to three month full-time commitment. Anyone hoping to become a resident at TDF must first complete a 28 day volunteer stay, so we can get to know each other.
Rituals and community life
Our volunteer program offers insight into the weekly rituals of our community, with sharing spaces for deep listening, community care, and co-created workshops and skill swaps.
Skills and qualifications that can support us
Before you apply
- Read the Pink Paper
- Read the visitors guide
- Any specific questions, write to the space host at space@traditionaldreamfactory.com
Applying opens the volunteer application form.