Sintra Natural Park accommodation in Portugal
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
We strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We recycle most everything, we compost, save rainwater , have a low chemical swimming pool, organic garden, low voltage light bulbs, low energy appliances, environmentally safe cleaning products, organic sheets and towels.
We heat the living/dining area and the kitchen with our own wood from pruned trees. We hope to have our solar hotwater system completed in the near future. We also dream of an electric car. Towels are only changed every three days, and sheets are changed once per week. We have quality well water.
We have bikes for guests to borrow. An well serviced bus stop is a 5 minute walk form our house. We offer shuttle service. Guests are encouraged to walk to the village shops, restaurants and beaches.
Community
We love this community and support it buy purchasing as much as we can from local organic farmers and small food poducers and the cooperativa ecologica (a coop to support small local, mostly organic, farmers). We shop at the small local shops and restaurants and avoid any big corporation owned chain stores.
We believe in being as sustainable as possible. We support local organic farmers and shop at local stores. We believe in buying fruits and vegetables that grow here and are in season. We belong and support the local organic food and farm cooperative and participate in their events which are open to guests.
We support and donate to the local chapter of the Salvation Army which runs home for senior citizens. We encourage our guests to shop locally, encourage guests to partake in the local cultural activities/workshops/music and art festivals/village festivities. We offer walking vacations where the local guide shares local folk lore, vegetarian cooking classes and creative fulfillment retreats. Our instructors are local people who have a deep sense/respect for this beautiful area.
We encourage our guests to walk to our village, eat and shop there. Our village is very quaint with all the shops still owned by local families where often 3 generations are working long hours to survive. We have local guides for guided walking, biking and fishing tours, who suport our ideals and who speak several languages, are knowledgeable about the historic lore of the area.
The materials for the renovation of our guesthouse are as sustainable as available. We have been able to up-cycle most everything. We have been careful to recycle as much of the building debris as possible.
The Cooperativa Ecologica 7 Nomes in Colares was founded 3 years ago by a group of local people who wanted to bring more awareness for organic agriculture, sustainable living, Permaculture, healing plants, composting and alternative therapeutic methods to the area. There is a small farm run by volunteers, a small shop selling the produce from the farm and from other area farmers and gardeners, workshops, documentary films, a small cafe and community get togethers. The volunteers of the Coopertiva Ecologica also organize an annual Alternative Lifestyle/Sustainablity fair in Sintra every September. We help as much as we can. Our guests are welcome to shop there.
Landscape
The Sintra natural park is a beautiful unspoilt nature preserve and our guesthouse is located in the heart of it. We love the natural beauty of our surroundings.
We offer guided and self-guided walking tours . We encourage our guests to read several of the books we have available about this wonderfu area. We have maps, 2 mountain bikes, and miles of walking trails right at our front gate. We encourage our guests to explore the area.
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